How to organize your room closet!

Closet Clutter. Most people suffer from it. How often have you said, “I will clean the closet when I have time” ? But the time just never seems to come.

With a little thought and some imagination closet organization can greatly simplify your life. The more organized the closet the more stuff you can put in it. Makes Sense Doesn’t it?

The following tips are designed to help you maximize your closet space.

Getting Started

• Have your Tools ready and on hand (Vacuum, Trash Bags, Cleaning Supplies etc..)
• Plan out your Closet
• Figure out what should be in there and what should not (If there is a more logical place for it, move it)
• Write down your space needs on paper
• Measure everything. (Dresses, Blouses, Shoes, Bags etc.) This way you know how much room you have and how much room you require.

It is not a matter of how much space you have as much as how you utilize that space.

Reorganizing

• Empty the entire Closet. Weed out items that don’t belong. Separate them by items you are keeping and items you plan on donating. (If some of the items are still in good shape you can even list them on ebay to recoup some costs for your “Organizing Fund/Reward Fund” )
• Clean the Closet Thoroughly. Vacuum the floor, wipe down the shelves.

• Measure carefully before installing any adjustable rods or shelving systems

• Shelves should be adjustable and designed for individual requirements. If you have deep shelves consider sliding drawers instead
• Install a light that turns on when the closet opens

Keep Items Visible & Accessible

• Categorize clothing according to season, type and color. Items that play together should stay together
• Store the clothes that you wear the most often within reach
• Invest in sturdy hangars. This helps the clothes maintain there shape longer and makes it easier to stay organized
• Clothes that need mending should be put in a place until they can be taken to the cleaners or mended. Do not put them back in the closet
• Do not store clothes in plastic bags. Plastic bags do not allow the clothes to breathe and may cause discoloration. They can also be hazardous to smaller children
• Use boxes for storage that can be easily identified. Clear plastic boxes are ideal
• Do not store your shoes on the floor. This leads to a sea of junk that collects dust. Try to keep the floor clutter-free. Shoes should be stored in plastic
• Hang Hats and small bags on pegboard with hooks
• Stuff hats and small purses with tissue paper to preserve their shape
• Belts or scarves can be hung or rolled up and placed in clear bins

The Linen Closet

• Roll Towels especially hand towels and hand cloth using the jelly roll method
• While storing tablecloths or linens make sure the folded side is out so that you can only grab the item you need
• Fold all bed linens as a unit (flat sheets and pillow cases within fitted sheets) This works good for towels
• Stack linens/Towels by room (Keep all sheets for the master bedroom together etc.)
• If your bathroom lacks space you can use the linen closet for backup supplies (Tissues, toothpaste and the like)

Redesigning your Closet

• Decide what function the closet will be. Will it be for linens? Clothing? Storage?
• Decide if you want to use drawers, doors, shelves or cupboards based upon what you will store the most
• Be specific about the size of space you need and what you’re storing
• Measure all items that you are going to store
• Leave space for future purchases
• Use Compartmentalized drawers and shelves for dividing up the smaller items such as jewelry, belts or even lingerie
• Pre-plan the arrangement by sketch or laying them out
• Consider a specialty closet company (They can provide a lot of insight and advice into designing your closet)

Misc

• Potpourri and sachets add a pleasing aroma to the closets
• Remember to put things back in their place. ” A place for everything, and everything in its place” will put an end to the frustration of hunting for those hard to find items. (Living by this rule will help you greatly simplify your life)