Print This Article Post Comment Add To Favorites Email to Friends Ezine Ready

How To Make The Most Of Your Closet Space

By: Mike1 Home | Home-and-Family | Home-Improvement


To make the most of your closet space it is important to set priorities, decide what you need, and to get rid of some of your stuff. It does not matter how large or small your closet is, at some point it is bound to become cluttered. Simple organizational tools and a mindset that you only need to keep things that you love are the easiest ways to keep your closet tidy.

To organize your closet and make the most of your closet space, take these simple steps:

See what you have - The first step out of any mess is to honestly determine what you have and what needs to be removed. Choose a day when you have several hours to devote to the project to begin. Although you do not need to finish the project in one day, the first step should be the most time consuming.

Before you pull anything from your closet, make sure you have somewhere to put it. While it is fine to place it on your bed, it probably is not smart to do that an hour before bedtime. Pull everything you own out of the closet. This means clothes, shoes, and storage boxes.

Survey the real estate - Once the closet is empty, look inside. It has probably been a while before you have seen the closet empty. You may have forgotten how much storage space you have. This is also a good time to clean the closet thoroughly, vacuuming or sweeping the floor and wiping off any shelves.

Gather the tools you need - What would it take to make this closet work for you? Do you need more shelves? More hanging space. Look at the type of clothes you store in there and then decide what would be the most efficient use of space. One example of this is if you normally wear slacks, skirts, shirts and jackets, a traditional one bar hanging system is not that efficient.

Consider hanging a second bar below the first. This doubles the space that you have to hang clothing. You may want to leave a small area with room for a few dresses, long coats or other longer items.

If you go to the gym on a daily basis, consider adding a couple of open baskets to the shelves. If you live in jeans and t-shirts, hang them in the most prominent spot in the closet. The clothes that you use most often should get center stage in your closet.

If you love shoes and have many pairs, it makes sense to invest it a specialized storage rack for them. If, however, you wear tennis shoes nearly every day, such an investment would be a waste of money and space.
The point to remember about gathering the tools that you need is that there is no one right answer. The tools that work for one person may not work for another. That is why it is important to pull everything out of your closet and think about what you wear and how often you wear it.

Indentify an area for auxiliary storage - The closet should be for clothes only. It also should not contain off-season clothes. You will need to find another area of your home for all the miscellaneous stuff that makes its way into the closet. Off-season clothes can be stored in plastic containers and placed in the attic, basement, or garage.

Put it back together - Once you have pared things down so that only your seasonal clothes and shoes are headed back into the closet, it is time to return everything to its proper place. If you have some new shelving or hanging rods to install, now is the time. How you choose to organize your clothes is a personal matter. Some people organize by color, others by outfit. The important thing is to develop a system that makes sense to you. Once you have outfitted the closet with the proper organizational tools and pared down what is going into the closet, you may find that the order that you hang things in matters less.

Maintain - Once you have a perfectly organized closet you will want to keep it that way. The easiest way to do this is by putting things away properly, every time you wear them. Never toss something over the arm of your chair or wear clothes straight out of the laundry basket. Every time you go shopping, before you place the new item in your closet, consider carefully whether there is an item in your closet that it can replace. If so, remove the item and drop it off at your local charitable organization immediately. The decision to do this not only prevents your closet from filling back up, but it may also reduce the amount of money you spend shopping.



Article Source: http://www.eArticlesOnline.com

About the Author:
It is important to set priorities, decide what you need. Determine what you have and what needs to be removed. Once the closet is empty, look inside. Decide what would be the most efficient use of space. It also should not contain off-season clothes. Once you have pared things down, it is time to return everything to its proper place.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Please Rate this Article

 

Not yet Rated

Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Home-Improvement Articles Via RSS!

Recent Related Articles From Home-Improvement

  • How To Organize A Clothes Closet
    By: Marilyn Bohn | Feb 4th 2008
    Is your clothes closet a disaster and you can't find anything to wear? Here are the tips you need to an organized closet. Read

  • How To Best Organize A Clothes Closet: 5 Steps To Take Today
    By: Jamie Jefferson | Dec 21st 2008
    Taking the time to get organized will give you more storage space, help you save time and give you a sense of accomplishment. By following these tips, you\'ll be able to get any type of closet organized and clutter free. Read

  • Go For Custom Storage Solutions To Lessen Kitchen Space Shortage
    By: Jacob Smith | Oct 28th 2010
    When planning on how to organize a kitchen, incorporating strategies to organize kitchen storage shelves or cabinets can turn even the most disorganized individual into a clutter solution expert. Here are some ideas that are sure to make organizing kitchen modular storage easy. Read

  • 7 Simple Steps To Turn Closet Chaos Into Closet Nirvana
    By: Janet Nusbaum | Aug 22nd 2007
    A well-organized clothes closet will save you time, frustration and free up much needed space for what is most important. Follow these 7 simple steps to turn your closet chaos into closet nirvana. Read

  • Closet Designs For The Cluttered Lifestyle
    By: Tom Houser | Feb 5th 2008
    Closet designs are meant to enhance or improve the usable storage space. Accessories such as shelving, drawers and hanging areas all work together to maximize the amount of space used for storage in a closet. The closet can be in any room in your house, as closet organization is important all through the home.

    Read

  • Top Five Kitchen Organizers
    By: Lisa Parker2 | Dec 23rd 2008
    Kitchens are one of the most difficult areas of the home to organize.Kitchen organization is made easier by the variety of organizational tools that are available.A drawer organizer allows you to get the most storage space possible.Canisters, preferably ones made of clear glass or acrylic, are an excellent way to make the m ... Read

  • Organizing Closets Folding And Hanging Clothes
    By: Jennifer Bailey1 | Apr 21st 2009
    Many individuals lead busy lives and experience hectic mornings on a consistent basis. Days can start out on a sour note if we cannot find our work clothes or that blouse that perfectly complements the skirt we have chosen to wear in a hurry. With an organized closet, you could avoid this morning hassle and get a much bette ... Read

  • The Wonder Hanger Will Keep Your Clothes Neat And Orderly
    By: AriannaJordan | Jun 23rd 2009
    There are so many of us that spend more time than we would like to trying to neaten up our closets so that we can use them for better storage spaces. We do this so that we can avoid having strayed clothes and other things all over the house. Many of us have asked for help on how to keep our closets neat and orderly. Read

  • Picking Out A Closet Organizer System
    By: Arturo R | Nov 14th 2006
    Closets are designed to provide extra storage space in a home while adding to the overall dcor. While closet designers do their utmost to try and accommodate all storage needs into a mass-produced closet design, the truth is that any closet you buy could a few customizations to fulfill your storage needs. With the common ... Read

  • Improve Your Finances By Improving Your Closet Organization
    By: Jeff Schuman | Apr 2nd 2010
    Whether you do it yourself or pay someone, the cost of closet organization will more than make up for what it?s costing you now to be disorganized. Take the time to get rid of what you no longer use and install a storage system that will save you time and money beginning immediately! Read


Copyright © 2005-2011 eArticlesOnline, LLC - All Rights Reserved
Terms of Service | Privacy Policy