Getting it Out of the Closet

So here in the apartment – we have a closet situation. It isn’t a horrible closet situation, but given that I had a whole closet in my house back in VA that was completely dedicated to shoes (hello – if you have two “linen” closets in one hallway it is totally acceptable to make one of those a shoe closet) I am a little less than pleased with the amount of space we have. Here, this one little closet has to serve as our clothes and linen closet. However, with some inventive organizing we have been able to make the most of our singular closet space.

However, that is IF you keep it organized. People, I have to share with you the disaster that has plagued me for the last several weeks …

 

  

 

Those pics really don’t do it justice. It was bad …

So I broke down this weekend and CLEANED out the closet. Again – I follow my mantra of remove everything, sort, and replace organized. Here are my tips for successfully organizing your clothes closet.

1. Seriously consider if you will ever wear that something again. If it has been too small for several years – it is probably time to let it go. If it was really trendy and is now a Glamour Don’t – it is probably time to let it go. If you said “I just need to take it to a seamstress/cobbler/dry cleaner” and you have not in 6 months – this is the time to either set up the date or let it go. 

2. Take stock of what you decide to keep. What basics are you missing? Perhaps those that just made it into the donate pile. I do this all the time with white shirts. I keep them forever and then when I do a big clean out I notice that they are not looking their whitest and brightest (and I know you KNOW what area of the shirt isn’t looking so good about this point). But I toss em and then I realize a week later that I have no shirts to layer. Bummer. So take note of what your staples are and make sure if you toss that you make some time to replenish soon!

3. Also, take stock if you are, as we like to say in retail, overstocked. Seriously – how many black turtlenecks does one girl need? If you could wear one every day of the week, it might be worth pairing back by your least favorite.

4. Finally – and this is the money tip if you were just scanning – when you hang all your clothes up, hang up the hangers the wrong way. You know – facing towards you (see below for a picture example). I know you think this sounds crazy – but do it … and then place a reminder on your calendar 3 months to go back through. Anything that is still hanging the wrong way you haven’t worn since you cleaned house.  At that point you know, you don’t wear it and haven’t since the last clean out! You can grant seasonal and/or necessity clauses. (For example, my interview suit gets a green light no matter what. So does my LBD – if it still fits!)

So the results from my cleanout?

 

  

 

Ahhh .. much more organized and look! There is an open space up there! Bliss!

Here are some great things to invest in if you are organizing a closet. 

Shoe Boxes - These are available from K-mart for $1.49 though I have gotten them at Wally World for as little as 88 cents! 

Stackable Closet Shelves - these are available from Wal-mart for $23.88.  I love these since there is so much "dead space at the top of closets were you could make useable - stackable space! 

Boot Shapers - Do your boots get all limpy and hung over themselves in your closet?  Get some Boot Shapers to keep them perky and standing tall!  These are $9.99 a pair at OrganizeIt.com.

Multiple Skirt/Slacks Hangers -Excellent ways to maximize your closet space.  These are available from Dormbuys.com for $6.49.  I had some fun browsing around on that site - totally geared towards college life but they have some great space saver ideas!

Shelf Dividers - Also found a great deal on these at Dormbuys.com these are another great way to organize out things like sweaters and jeans that you fold up on a shelf.  Only $6.49 for the small and $8.49 for the large. 

So, what are your closet cleaning tips?