Tips to Organize Any Closet: Size Doesn’t Matter

With the nicer weather comes ‘spring fever’ and I am certainly not immune to it. Hubby and I spent a couple of hours last weekend decluttering the walk in closet that we share, in preparation for a move. I mentioned this to one of my Facebook fans and she admitted that she thought my home was magically organized all the time and that I ‘just had to twitch (my) nose like Bewitched!!’ Too funny! The truth is that decluttering and organizing a closet is a task that needs to be done regularly, much like weeding your garden. If you keep on top of it, the job doesn’t take too long; whereas, if you let it go, it can become overwhelming. Thankfully, it didn’t take us very long to weed out the clothes we haven’t worn in awhile and take them to charity (immediately afterwards). Somehow, a few of those horrible wire hangers (the bane of my existence!) found their way into the closet, so they were replaced. Now, the closet looks larger and more inviting to prospective buyers.

If you’ve got spring fever too, here are some tips to organize any closet, regardless of the size:

Small closet:

If you have a large amount of space between the top shelf and the ceiling, install a second shelf above the existing one to store seldom-used articles.

Utilize the often-forgotten storage space on the back of the closet door by hanging a vinyl over-the-door shoe organizer.  Multiple clear pockets allow you to store jewelry, cosmetics or belts so you can find them easily.

A double-hang closet rod allows you to maximize the vertical space in a small closet.  The second rod hangs from the existing one with metal hooks and is used to hang short items, like skirts, blouses and jackets.

Remove off-season items from the closet and pack them in plastic, air-tight under-the-bed organizers or vinyl blanket storage bags.  Make sure the garments have been washed/dry-cleaned and add a cedar product to deter moths.

Store pairs of shoes toe to heel to maximize space.

Medium closet:

Hanging Sweater Organizer, Courtesy of Container Store

Canvas 6-shelf sweater and accessory organizers work as instant hanging shelves to house everything from sweaters to handbags.  Suspend them from the existing rod.  Small baskets can be inserted into the compartments to store small items like scarves, socks or bathing suits.

Stackable clear shoe boxes with pull-out drawers take up less space than shoe racks and keep shoes dust-free yet still within view.

Use wire shelf dividers to create an instant wall that prevents your stacks of sweaters and t-shirts from toppling.

Large closet:

Replace wire hangers to prolong the life and maintain the shape of your clothes. Use padded hangers for delicate tops and wood or sturdy plastic for all other items. Use one color and style consistently to create a visually-calming, cohesive look.

Use clear plastic stacking drawers for folded clothes. Place shorter-hanging items together to open up space underneath for this 4 or 5-drawer unit.

Hang a mesh bag to temporarily house items that need to be repaired or dry-cleaned. Keeping them in view will be a constant reminder to get the job done.

Try some of these ideas and you’ll be amazed at how much smoother your life will run when you can find what you need quickly and easily. Organizing your closets will give you a sense of control, both in your home and your life. When you decide to tackle a closet, I hope you will take before and after pictures  share them on my Facebook fan page so we can celebrate your success together.  If you are not on Facebook, perhaps you can add a link to your photo sharing site with your  comment below.