You have four choices: hang it, put
it in a drawer, store it on the floor, or shelve it.
Getting Started: Gather several boxes labeled: To Keep, To Trash,
To Sell, Undecided. Begin sorting. Don't try to find a place for everything
until your items are sorted. Group your items by category: shirts, pants,
shorts, tee shirts, jeans, sweats. Decide what will be folded, what will
be placed on hangers, what will go into drawers.
By planning wisely during your sorting process, you have eliminated the need
for many storage items. Use what you have around the house, then buy specific
sizes for the articles you need to organize.
Up off the floor! Use multilevel rods for hanging items. Bins and
shelf dividers keep folded items stacked. They are inexpensive to buy and
can usually be found in discount stores or home stores. The time you save
sorting through things on the floor or in drawers for purses and accessories
will be well worth the small investment. This will not only free up valuable
drawer space, but can eliminate the need for chest of drawers altogether.
Use hangers for ties and belts, cubbies for shoes and purses (cover divided
grocery store boxes from wine bottles or detergent bottles), hanging organizer
or fishing box for jewelry. Hooks for caps, bags, umbrellas and purses keep
things in sight for quick retrieval. When organizing your closet, keep all
blouses together. Sort by color,casual or dressy, long sleeved or short sleeved.
Do the same for skirts, dresses, slacks and jeans. If you maintain this system,
you can tell at a glance what article of clothing you need before you go
shopping. (You may also find you already have four white blouses and don't
really need another one!)
A hanging storage closet system purchased at home stores and discount stores
is a great portable alternative to built-in organizers. These hook over your
closet rod and have multiple milk crates suspended below. If you live in
an apartment or base housing, or just move frequently, this is a cost effective
solution to shelving and cubbies. For kid's closets, hang these on a lower
rod, then move to a higher rod as they grow.
Hanging organizers with clear plastic divided pouches organize and display
at the same time. These come with small pockets for jewelry or larger sizes
for shoes, pantyhose, scarves, etc. I've used them in lieu of junk drawers
for office supplies.
Shoe bags can be found at dollar stores, and the smaller ones are in mail
order catalogs or home furnishing stores.
Don't forget the door! Use over the door organizers such as laundry
bags, book racks, ironing boards, utility racks (good for storing tapes,
cds, cleaning supplies) and coat racks. If you can hook it, you can hang
it. These are great space savers.
These are just a few suggestions for organizing closets. Use the basic principles
of closet organizing for each closet in your home: linen, clothes, coat,
craft. By containing clutter, you'll find yourself well on the way to becoming
a bit more organized.
About the Author:
Debbie
Williams, owner and founder of
Let's Get It Together, is a
professional organizer and holds a bachelor's degree in Education. Debbie
has over 15 years of management and training experience and works as a freelance
writer for various entrepreneurial and parenting publications. She is the
editor of the online newsletter, Organized Times.
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