This month we are tackling the closets in our homes. Like all other areas of the home planning comes 1st. Since a closet is typically a small space, after you have decided what you actually want to have in that closet and what its purpose is, just go ahead and empty the whole thing.
If you did the 1st step the decision making should come pretty easy. Whatever fits the purpose of this closet should stay. Everything else needs to either be given away, thrown away, given back to the owner, or find a new home. Just start sorting into piles with these categories in mind as you remove the items and don’t turn back!
We will now cover some examples of different types of closets. Let’s begin with the…
Entry Closet:
Some quick tips-
1. You might reconsider how you use your closets, many people tend to use them for long-term storage, but try using them for everyday things and set up your closet to work for you. Reserve this space for things appropriate to the season (i.e. sun block and bug repellent in the summer; heavy coats, gloves and scarves in the winter).
2. Maximize your space. Hang hooks on the backs and sides of your closet to give kids a place that they can reach and be responsible for their things.
3. Hang an over the door shoe organizer and utilize the whole door but be cautious of stuffing those pockets with random junk!
4. The entry closet is a great place for a double closet rod because we don’t have longer items hanging in there. If your kids can do hangers you could use this instead of the hooks and give the kids the bottom rod for their belongings.
5. Use labeled baskets for higher shelves
6. If you need to coral papers in your entry you could try the over the door magazine holder and label each pocket accordingly.
Helpful Products:
Double Closet Rod Over the Door Organizers Labeling is Key!
Linen Closet:
Some quick tips-
1. Try to limit yourself to two-three sets of sheets per bed and three sets of bath towels, hand towels, and washcloths per person. This gives you one set in use, one in the hamper, and one in the closet ready to go.
2. Divide linens according to type: sheets, tablecloths, towels, etc. Then by room: master bedroom, kids’ bedrooms, master bathroom, kids’ bathroom. I like to store the extra sets of sheets under the bed of the corresponding bedroom in a rolling under bed container.
3. You don’t want to pack your shelves too tightly. Make sure there is enough room to get your hand in there and slip out what you need without everything toppling over.
4. If your shelves are adjustable, arrange the shelves to a height of about 10 inches for sheets and table linens and 12 to 16 inches for towels. Leave 18 inches or more from the top shelf to the ceiling for bulky items, such as blankets. If you can’t adjust the shelves, you can customize the space with shelf dividers, baskets and bins.
5. One of my favorite things to do is to keep things in the rooms where they’re used: table linens, kitchen towels and washcloths in the dining room or kitchen, guest towels and sheets would go in the guest room, etc.
Helpful Products:
Fabric Bins Under Bed Storage Adjustable Shelves
Bedroom Closet:
Some quick tips-
1. Organize hanging garments by type and color. By keeping like with like you can find what you are looking for at a glance.
2. Choose one type of hanger. Your closet will look neater if you use just one type- wood, wire, or plastic.
3. Manage the accessories. Purses, belts, ties, scarves, hats and other accessories can be stored on hooks attached to the wall. There are also special hangers you can purchase for scarves and belts as well as purse and hat organizers that attach to the closet door.
4. Safely store your shoes. It could be a hanging shoe organizer, a shoe rack on the floor, see-through plastic boxes, etc. Just keep the ones you wear most often around and store shoes you don’t wear frequently in labeled plastic boxes on a high shelf or under your bed.
Helpful Products:
Belts, ties & scarves Slim Line Hangers for pants & skirts Shoes and two pairs of boots!