Guide to Organize Closets

Running out of room for your wardrobe?  Do your closet shelves flood over?  Closet space is at a premium in many homes but even the smallest and most-cramped of storage spaces can be efficient if it is neatly arranged.  Follow these guidelines to organize a closet that reflects your own needs, style and taste.

So many times our closets reflect our lives of yesteryear.  Clothes that no longer fit our bodies or lifestyles consume valuable space better suited to meeting our current needs.  Reclaim your storage space in four easy steps.

1. Commit
The most obvious of steps, committing to a more organized closet is often an emotionally charged decision.  Which is more important to you: saving time and money as you maintain your wardrobe or hanging on to those jeans of yesteryear?  Half-hearted attempts at closet organization are doomed to failure.  You must be decisive and sure in order to be thrilled with the fruits of your organizational labor.

2. Clean
Everything comes out!  You will be amazed at the impact of seeing everything you have shoved into the recesses of your space.  Be sure to leave yourself adequate workspace and then pile it all up in one place, making a heap of problems to solve. 

Now that your wardrobe has been removed, prepare the space to receive your purposeful choices.  Clean out the cobwebs, wipe down the walls and shelves with an all-purpose cleaner, dust the baseboards and sweep and mop the floor.  Now stand back and admire your clean slate.  Imagine the way you will use this fresh new space in your life.

3. Plan
Decide now how your own needs can best be met by your new closet design.  There are many commercially available closet organization systems but the best one is the one you will actually use.  Simplicity and consistency are important characteristics of any organized closet.  Whatever system you choose be sure that your clothing is easily viewed. 

A common method of organization is to divide your clothing into types: dresses, skirts and trousers, jeans and shorts, tops and blouses.  Sweaters should always be neatly folded and stored flat on shelves within easy reach.  Belts, scarves and other key accessories should hang neatly nearby for easy integration into your wardrobe selections.  Select hooks from which you can display these as reminders to keep your outfit fresh.

4. Purge
Place 2 boxes between your heap and the closet door.  Label these “out of season storage” and “donate/give away.” Hang a trash bag from the door to receive those items beyond repair. Place a small laundry basket to the side just within the closet for clothing in need of mending.
Remove items from the heap one by one and ask yourself the following questions:

• Does this item fit?  If no, immediately place it into the donate/give away box.  


• Have I worn this item within the last year?  If no, immediately place it into the donate/giveaway box as well.


• Is it in season?  If no, fold neatly and place into the “out of season storage” box.


• Does it need repairs?  If yes, place in your mending receptacle.


• Can I commit to wearing this regularly?  If yes, hang or place it neatly inside the closet.  If no, immediately drop it into the trash bag or donation box.  

Be ruthless.  Your organized closet should reflect your current tastes and desires.  If the item is truly a sentimental piece inappropriate for regular wear (wedding dress, graduation cap and gown, Grandma’s hand knit sweater), find a permanent storage space where it will be protected from the wear and tear of closet occupation.