Tuesday, November 27, 2007 2:01 PM
How can we keep our closets organized?
Order a pizza, open a bottle of wine, grab your hubby, and start purging your closet. If neither of you has worn it in two years, toss it. Formal stuff can stay (if it still fits), but store it in the back of the closet or in another location where it’ll be out of the way.
Then put into piles everything that’s left, according to how it needs to be stored. Sort items into “hanging,” “folded,” and “other,” and label each pile. This will help you decide if you need to add more shelves, clothing rods, or bins to what you already have.
Now that you can see your closet again, re-strategize your storage. Make use of every possible area -- especially vertical space and behind doors, which are often overlooked.
∙ Use the floor space under tall rods with short-hanging clothes for drawers or stackable bins.
∙ Oddly shaped wall? Use it for extra shelving or to put a laundry hamper.
∙ If your hanging pile was the largest, think about where you can add an extra clothing rod (below an already-existing rod is often a good spot).
∙ And if your folded T-shirts are the bulk of your wardrobe, you may want to read our fashion message boards(!). But in the meantime, add some extra drawers or shelves to accommodate your stash.
Lastly, buy any closet add-ons that would make your wardrobe more accessible, visible, or flexible. The more storage you have, the easier it is to keep everything organized. Brightly colored storage boxes are an attractive way to keep like items together. And be sure to label each box or drawer to avoid endless digging.
[Nest-pert] The Container Store