From the Closet
- Closet Location
- Getting Started
The average person spends 55 minutes a day looking for misplaced items. How often are you searching for that belt or a specific pair of earrings or a scarf? Nothing starts a day off on the wrong note faster than when you cannot find the belt that goes with a particular outfit, the other shoe or the right hose. Regardless of the size of your closet, this room sends us off ready to face the world.
A closet that is a masterpiece of creative storage will start your day on a positive and time saving note, clothes come out of the closet ready to wear. No ironing or steaming required and we can locate any item quickly.
The holiday season can be the perfect time to give your closet a makeover. Most of us have a few days off this time of year, so why not plan to start the New Year with a resolution to create and maintain a more organized and efficient closet.
Location, location, location.
If you have out grown your existing closet, you may have to relocate. My husband and I both enjoy clothes and our closet was crowded. To preserve matrimonial harmony and to give myself more storage space I relocated my closet into a spare room.
If you have the space:
- Move your closet into an unused spare bedroom.
- Convert the entire spare room into a closet.
- Use the existing spare room closet for shoes and boots.
- Line the bedroom walls with shelves and closet rodding.
If you are unable to relocate your closet, you may be able to simply relocate seasonal clothing and rotate the clothes as seasons come and go in order to maximize storage space. I do this regardless of closet size.
Although I would have preferred to have my closet located off the ensuite, I love my new space. Here, I have ample space to organize clothing and accessories. I love my new closet; this is a room that I enjoy spending time in.
Getting Started
Where do you start?
- The easiest way to makeover a closet is to begin by removing everything from the closet. Trust me, removing everything is the only way to go.
- Sort clothing and accessories into ‘like ‘ piles.
- Once all your clothing is sorted into piles, shoes, boots, belts, pants, and so on, re-sort each pile into a keep it pile, needs repair pile, will never wear it again pile-this pile goes to the charity or donation box.
If you need a little inspiration or a push in the right direction consider finding a professional organizer at casaGURU for some personalized advice.
- Closet Prep
- Hanging Strategies
- Have Fun with your Closet Space
Closet Prep
Before putting any clothing back into the closet, take the time to look at the closet itself.
- Do the walls need a fresh coat of paint? I suggest keeping paint colours in the beige or neutral palette. Although, I often run a wallpaper border along the baseboard or at ceiling height in the closet to add a little colour and personality to the space. Look for a ‘closet suitable’ pattern or design such as vintage shoes, purses or cowboy boots.
- Should you install more lighting?
- Have you optimized storage space? Use every available space for storage. Install shelving that goes to the ceiling and hooks behind the door. If you have the floor space, a center island is a wonderful use of space. On a budget? An old dresser may be substituted for a new island.
- On any available wall space hang ‘plastic pouch or shoe pocket hangers’. These plastic pouches originally designed for shoe storage are perfect for storing hairpieces, bathing suites, tights and hosiery, or belts. Try storing socks in baskets on the floor. I have one basket for white sport socks and another for dark socks.
- Hang a bulletin board in your closet for inspiration and shopping lists. When you see, a great looking outfit in your favorite fashion magazine simply cut out the photo and post it on your bulletin board. When you need a little inspiration, recreate it from your own wardrobe.
- Check your local yellow pages for stores that offer second hand store fixtures for sale. One of the best additions to my closet was a second hand store fixture. A used clothing rack now hangs clothing I need to put away, just picked up items from the dry cleaners, and tomorrow's outfit.
Hang in There
When clothing goes back into the closet, invest in hangers.
- Thick plastic hangers are best for clothing and are inexpensive.
- Clothes look and hang best when they are all hung on the same type/style of hanger.
- Be sure to hang all your pants in one section, long sleeve shirts in another, skirts another and so on.
- Arrange clothing from light to dark. For example, I hang my pants starting from white pants, then beige, orange, red, purple, blue, grey and then to black pants at the opposite end of the rod.
Have fun with your closet space.
Trust me, organizing can be "fun".
- Convert a mannequin into a lamp.
- Use colourful store bags to store out of season or seldom worn hats and gloves.
- Faux animal fur hat boxes add a touch of style and inspiration to shelves.
- Do not forget about fragrance. Keep clothing smelling fresh with potpourris and cedar closet blocks.
Behind every well-dressed man or a woman, is a well-organized, highly efficient and creative closet. If clothes make the man then the closet makes the clothes or at least the success of the outfit. This is probably one of the most personal spaces in your home. Make it not only functional and extremely efficient but also simply sensational with personal touches and a true sense of style!
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