If there’s one area of the home that gets a lot of action, but not a lot of cleaning, it’s definitely the closet. For some, organizing the closet is enough to send them into sheer shock, which is never a good thing. Luckily, there’s a lot of great ways to transform a cluttered closet into an efficient location to store all of your must-have items. Sure, some organization tips may cost a lot of money, but there’s also a lot of great ways you can transform the smallest of spaces into a roomy storage area without spending much at all. With a little shopping know-how and a few DIY tips, your closet can go from drab to fab in no time at all.
1. Use the Door
Generally, people somehow master the concept of using every single inch of floor space they can find. There is, however, one space that always goes unnoticed: the door. There’s a lot of things you can do to a door to ensure that it will help you with all of your storage problems. Believe it or not, but some places do design storage units for the back of the door, but you may be limited if you have a smaller door or one that folds shut. Of course, you could always think out of the box and upcycle a storage shower curtain into an awesome place to store shoes, socks, accessories or anything else that fits into the pouches. Another great option is a simple peg board, which you can find inexpensively in a number of department or craft stores. This can be installed on a variety of doors thanks to its ability to customize. Peg boards are great for hanging jewelry, scarves, hats and anything else you want to keep nice and neat. If there’s lots of space in your closet, then you may also want to install baskets onto your door, which could work great for light weight clothing and accessories.
2. Hanger Extenders
One of the biggest problems people run into when they’re trying to organize their closet is the fact that they have too many clothes and hangers to fit into the small space. These items can be bought at a variety of stores on and offline and are made to fit specific types of garments, if you like to take the best care of your clothing and accessories as possible. Of course, if you’re not so picky and you want to save a whole lot of money, you can make these extenders at home for next to nothing. The first thing you’ll need is the tab from a soda can. If you don’t drink soda or anything from a can, then you may want to ask around to see if your neighbors can help out with some of their recycled materials. Once you have your tabs, you simply slip them over the hook of a hanger. You may have to swap to thinner hangers though in order to make this trick work. Then,hang a new hanger into the bottom portion of the tab. You can usually do this two to three times before the items are too heavy.
3. Add Shelf Dividers
If your closet is like most, then it has a shelf that is neatly placed over the clothing rack. This shelf is a great place to store a lot of junk, but it could also be utilized for more clothing and shoes. Simply add a divider to the top to help make the shelf more efficient for stacking your foldable clothing, such as jeans and sweaters. Dividers can be purchased from a variety of stores, but you can also make up your own with an assortment of materials. This method actually allows you to create unique sizes and designs to suit your décor and personality. Another great way to use dividers to your benefit is to add them to a simple shelf under your clothing rack. If there’s no shelf then simply use the dividers to create one. All you’ll need is a top and bottom for the potential shelf and you’re all set for lots of storage options.
4. Add bins
One of the easiest ways to store a lot of your items is to add bins. These handy devices come in all shapes and sizes and allow you to store just about anything you can think of. The best thing about some of the bins is they actually come in drawer like form, so you can even replace the bulky chest of drawers that’s hiding in your room or closet, if you want to make more space. These bins are simple to stack too, so if you have a lot of stuff you can stack them to the ceiling if you want. Larger bins are perfect for shoes too, especially those that don’t need all of the extra care, and will allow you to enjoy a more organized look without a whole lot of effort. If you choose clear bins then your closet will also look like it has more space than ever, which will make all of your organizational efforts stand out all the more.
5. Utilize Shelving
A lot of closets, especially those in older homes or apartments, tend not to utilize the space that they should. Rather than letting the prime real estate of your closet go to waste, you can easily install shelves from top to bottom to help keep up with your storage needs. This will allow you to stack clothes, store old boxes and whatever else you may need storage for. Plus, there are a lot of innovative ways to add shelves to your closet, which are sure to stand out. You can even find a variety of ideas that will make it a breeze for you to install shelving that doesn’t require you to do damage to the walls, which is perfect for renters. With your new shelving, you should be able to get most of your items in the closet in an orderly fashion and may even find you have room for storage.
6. Know Your Hangers
Actually knowing what type of hanger you should use comes in handy in regards to keeping your closet less organized. Hangers that are thinner are probably the best way to maximize the space as they will allow you to push clothing that doesn’t need special attention to the back of the closet. Thus, you’ll be able to get more clothing into tight spaces. Of course, you should also keep into consideration that some clothing items do need special hangers. For instance, sweaters and any open neck tops often need a special sweater that will help you keep your clothing looking nice, while also preventing it from falling on the ground which can cause a sense of disarray. If you often buy clothes from department stores, then you probably have a pretty good collection of plastic hangers with clips. These are perfect for hanging up your boots that need extra attention, as well as scarves, belts and other accessories. You can even hang necklaces, bracelets and glasses on a wire hanger, if you have the extra space.
7. Add Another Bar
Generally, most closets have a single bar for clothing that is slightly raised to meet you at eye level. This is pretty convenient, but it also ends up leaving lots of space on the bottom of your closet. This space can easily be used to add in an entirely new clothing rack. Now, you don’t have to be alarmed by this because it’s not a huge renovation and it may not even take you very long at all to DIY the task. Basically, if you go down to your local home improvement store, you should be able to find a kit for the bar to rest on. Then, you simply cut the size you need for your space and you’re ready to go. If you’re planning on hanging lighter items then you can always use an adjustable shower curtain or suspension rod to create the same effect without drilling holes in the wall. This will give you more space than you ever expected and may even open up your closet a bit more.
8. Buy an Organizer
If there seems to be no other solution, or you just want to make things easier, then buying a closet organizer may be the route to go. Of course, you should always measure out your closet before you do anything. There’s lots of different sized organizers on the market and some of them actually are adjustable so you don’t have to worry about them not suiting your needs. You should also shop around for manufacturer’s coupons or simply look for sales online and in your local area. The more you shop around for a deal on the organizer, the better off you should be. The best thing about actually purchasing a closet organizer is they tend to be sturdy and can last for your years if you treat them right. They also offer more space for clothing and storage, no matter what size closet you started out with.
9. Add Illusions
One of the best ways you can make your closet look more presentable, even when it’s in total disarray, is to add a few illusions to the mix. For instance, color coding your clothing is a great way to make the closet look organized and actually creates a roomier appearance. Another way, that’s a bit easier, is to add a mirror to the back of the closet. If you’re feeling really ambitious then you could surround your walls with mirrors. This actually creates the illusion of more space and will make your closet double in size. Also, if you can find clear drawers, then you will add even more space to the room. These drawers work wonders for the eye and make finding what you’re looking for a breeze. Of course, if you can find mirrored drawers then you’re doing well too. Even adding better lighting will help make your closet spring to life.
10. Purge
Of course, when it comes down to it, one of the best ways to get your closet organized is to actually purge some of the things in it. A lot of the time, we simply keep adding stuff to the closet without ever removing the things we don’t use. This can really add to clutter that causes a lot of turmoil in your life. So, before you even think about organizing the closet, you may want to go through it. Pull out clothes that you haven’t worn in a while and try them on. You may be surprised how many you don’t like anymore or even how many don’t fit you quite right. Clothing that is old and worn out should probably be reduced too, so you can maximize space and your wardrobe. The same can be said of shoes, accessories and anything else you may have laying around. There’s actuallya few questions you should ask yourself about the items in the closet, so when you finish the purging it’ll almost seem like you’re looking at a new closet. Trust me, when you pull out the old, you’ll feel pretty good about yourself.
Your closet doesn’t have to be a sore spot in your home. Nor, does it have to be a place you want to hide away. With these ten tips, you should be able to organize your closet without spending a small fortune. You’ll feel amazing after you see the final results and you may even add a little time to your prep period in the morning.
