More closets?

[HOMEWriter]

Shawn,

Do you really need more closets? Or could it be that you need less stuff ?

Here's a challenge for you, and for anyone else who cares to take it ~

Go through the closet and see how much stuff hasn't been used in over six months. And if it has been used once or twice, is it possible that you could use something else instead of that object?

Remember, the more stuff you have, the more you have to take care of - that causes more stress! If you haven't used something in close to a year (besides your generator) you should consider getting rid of it! If it's in good shape, there is bound to be someone else who will get more use out of it.

Kelly H.

[Shawn]

Kelly,

I actually went through all my closets two weeks ago and threw a bunch of stuff away.... and I still do not have enough room.

Maybe I should have you come over and help me

Shawn

[Crafty Amanda]

I love it. Then you can come over and help me too! :D Seriously tho, I have bad storage space in my closets, but my brother is remodeling my basement so hopefully things will look better soon!

[HOMEWriter]

... that organizing closets, or anything, is very similar to designing a web site, or a garden, or anything else. Your first step is to decide what you want to keep in the closet. Then you need to get a paper and pencil and sketch how you'd like to see the closet look.

Items to be stored, because they are not used daily, or even monthly, like wrapping paper, can be put up high. Things that you use daily, like towels, bed sheets, etc, need to be down low and accessible.

I know one woman who took the doors off of the closets in her children's rooms. She then placed their dressers inside the closets. Still room to hang stuff on the side, and more room in the bedroom! I would love to do this, but my dh thinks it's weird!

But, once you sketch out how it should look, go to a local home building store (around here we have Menards and Home Depot) and check out their closet organizing materials. Measure your closet first, so you know what size you need, and buy a kit first. Then you can add on as you go.

My question is: How did our parents manage without these closet organizers?? I look into my unorganized closets and I think "what a bunch of wasted space!" (See, my home is far from perfect, but don't tell anyone!)

Amanda, I've seen your home - you have it easy since you have moved so much ... you hardly have any stuff! My home is about as organized as yours, only I have 14 years of accumulated STUFF!! We've slowly started to dig out, though. It's almost liberating!

Kelly H.

[ladyinmaille]

I have my clothes a little too organized I guess. What I do is have the slacks or skirt, shirt, sweater, sweatshirt, and jewelry in a plastic zip lock bag - one day's outfit, all on 1 hanger. Just a wee bit of overkill, I know. But I have to be to work by 6 am and if I didn't have my outfits all ready together, I'd never make it in time. I do go through my outfits 2 times a year and get rid of what I know I didn't wear. If its unusable, I cut it up for rags, save the buttons, zippers, etc. If it can be worn, I take it to work to see if any of the girls want anything and then it goes to Goodwill or Salvation Army. Trust me, that is absolutely the only thing in this whole house that is organized.

[HOMEWriter]

Here's your knight in shining armor ... or should I say lady in maille! Maybe you could work out a swap - she organizes your clothing closets and you oil her chainmaille?

Kelly H.

PS: I'm still giggling over the picture I have in my mind of a large chest freezer with a pair of kicking legs sticking out of it ... Somebody call Ladyinmaille's hubby, she's fallen in again!!!

[ladyinmaille]

Yes, it is quite a site when I go digging in the freezer. I think I will tackle getting it under control next weekend and then I will know what is in the bottom of that dungeon. Actually, the chainmaille only needs to be swished around in the tub with dawn dish detergent but if anybody wants to hold my legs while I go diving into the freezer.......................

[kimmyo]

Well today I cleaned out the front coat closet.

I used the advice I got from the Organizing Class I'm taking.

1) I started by taking everything out of the closet. Then I got 2 boxes and I put stuff to get rid of in one and stuff that needed to be stored somewhere else in the other.

2) Then I swept it out and dusted it good.

3) Then I put all the coats we use back in the closet along with the vacumn cleaner.

4) I hung a basket on the wall inside the closet for gloves and boggins.

5) I also hung a hook on the inside wall to hang extra extension cords on.

6) I put a plastic shoe box on the shelf to hold vacumn cleaner bags and belts.

WOW! What a difference! I have a box of stuff to carry to the thrift store, and a box of stuff to put away in other rooms. Its a start though! Baby Steps!

[Crafty Amanda]

That's excellent!! The closet is so hard for me, we have soooo many coats with all these family members :-( BLAH

[Janie]

I'm new to this, at least you have closets , my husband had to make a makeshift one when we moved here, that was nine years ago. I keep telling myself I don't need more room, just less stuff. We did go through our closet, DH got rid of Dockers he only wore once before he outgrew them and some shirts that I took, I did get rid of too tight pants and some other things, but we didn't gain a lot of space. I cleaned out bathroom cupboard and put some blankets there from closet. This made space for the gardening club stuff, I'm the secretary. Hope to build a back porch this summer to put all the coveralls and boots that are hanging and sitting behind the front door. I understand about the freezer, make DH get stuff out, he wanted the chest instead of upright.