Out of all of the areas in our homes that have the ability to accumulate clutter, the closets are the number one culprit. The closet has traditionally been a place where you could store your things without them being in plain view of others; however, growing trends in closet organization have made it a billion dollar business in the United States alone.
Step 1: Clean it all out. When I was young, my mother used to tell me that before you could really organize anything you would first have to make a big mess. Pull out everything that you have crammed in your closet and take an inventory to see what you find. Get rid of any clothes that might be stuck in the back of your closet that are either out of style or just don’t fit anymore. The general rule of thumb is that we wear 20% of the clothing we own 80% of the time, so if you haven’t worn it lately – chances are good that you aren’t going too. Donate any old clothing to the Salvation Army or other service organization, or organize a yard sale to sell off your old belongings. Whatever you do, once you decide to get rid of it, don’t put it back in.
Step 2: Decide what you want to do. Once you have a totally empty closet, it’s time to take some measurements and decide how you want to organize your closet. Take into consideration the items that you’re going to be putting back into the closet and how you want the closet to function. Do you want to allow room for storage of luggage or other items? If so, now’s the time to decide so that you can install whatever pieces might be needed to facilitate the use of the closet space.
Step 3: Store it away. It’s a good idea to try to find an alternate location to store off season clothing such as a garage, attic, or under the bed. By purchasing some large airtight plastic containers, you can store these things outside of your closet without risk of being damaged. If you plan on storing clothing in plastic containers, be sure to pack them with some dryer sheets or spray items down with an odor eliminator before sealing the container. This will help to make sure when its time to unpack your clothes they still smell fresh and clean. By storing off season items, you can free up more space in your closet for the things you’re wearing or using now.
Step 4: Add some paint. Before you go all wild and crazy throwing stuff back into the closet, take some time to throw a coat of paint on the inside of the walls. Not only will this brighten up the area you’re working on, but it will also be a good time to repair and cover any damage to the inside of the closet walls.
Step 5: Organize. There are endless supplies of closet organization methods available. No matter what your budget, there’s a solution available for you. Check out your local discount centers to see what kind of closet solutions they offer, and decide on a system that suits both your needs and your budget. Adjustable shelving and racks will give you ample space to store not only your clothing, but also be able to neatly organize your shoes. Consider purchasing hanging shoe bags for inside your closet. Not only can you store shoes in the see-through pouches, but it’s also a good place to store scarves, belts and other small items. The see-through pouches on vinyl hanging bags make it easy to find what you’re looking for.
By following these steps, your closet can be completely free of clutter and you will be able to easily locate any item you’re looking for quickly and easily.
