Closet Organizing Tips: Systems for Conquering Closet Clutter

Written by: Andrew Porter

Closet organizing indicates that you value the simple home improvement of added closet space. Below you'll find simple ideas to get your closets organized:

A good suggestion for starters is to plan your closet with hanging rods nearest the outside walls. In most cases, this will give you the optimum access to shelves and drawer spaces.

For reach-in closets with double-folding doors, it's often better to put the drawers in the center where they're more easily accessible. For a closet with sliding doors, place the drawers on either end of the closet. Wardrobe Inventory.

Separate your closet into these categories:

-- What you currently wear -- What you've worn only a few times in the last 12 months -- What hasn't even been considered in more than a year

You might want to bag and store clothing from the second category above, and consider donating the things from third. Numerous charities appreciate clothing donations and will even pick them up from your home.

When storing out-of-season items, remember to always clean the items first and store all boxes in a dry place.

Assess the cloths you want to keep in your closet. Think about how much drawer space, hanging and shelf storage you'll need before you begin shopping for closet organizer kits and design ideas.

Do you share a walk-in closet with a spouse? Make the right side for one person's wardrobe, and the left side for the other. If you have enough space, the back wall can be shared.

One of the most trendy closet designs of modern home improvement uses drawers or baskets with long verticals of 24" shelves in the center of the side walls, with hanging space on either side.

If you don't have enough room for such a layout on each side of the closet, but you'd still like shelves, drawers, shoe storage or baskets, plan on using the side walls for hanging space and put a drawer unit on the back wall.

General Closet Organization tips:

Double hanging space of your closet by adding a second rod at 40" from the ground and adjusting the upper rod to 80".

Use your closet doors to create more space by adding over-the-door racks. This space can be used for cap racks, shoe storage, valets, towel racks or general purpose hooks.

To avoid wrinkling, avoid hanging garments too close together.

Use specific hangers in your closet to gain space and store items, like Multiple skirt hangers, multiple slack hangers, belt, scarf, and tie hangers.

To retain the original shape of your sweaters and eliminate hanger marks, it's usually good to fold them instead of hanging them. New hangers are on the market however, with rounded edges to prevent hanger marks.

As you use up closet space, think about adding garment racks. These come with wheels for easy movement, and many come with covers.

Walk-in closets can be thought of as a series of "reach-ins". Measure each wall separately and plan your storage wall by wall. Use corner shelving to craft the most of the space you have.

Institute just a few of these closet organizing tips and unleash the full joy of your "intimate space". You'll also see that this is one of the simplest forms of home improvement you can undertake.
About the Author

Andrew Porter is an interior designer, home improvement consultant and frequent contributor to ClosetOrganizer4U.com.

For more on closet organizers, closet accessories, storage organizers and design plans, visit: http://www.closetorganizer4u.com

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