3 Tips to Organizing a Closet

The closet is normally the first thing we see and use when we enter the home. If a builder does it correctly, most homes have the main coat or entry closet right at the front entrance which obviously makes a lot of sense. But with our busy lifestyles this closet in particular can be a primary source of a lot of grief and frustration as we rush in from a busy day or rush out to make it to school or work on time.

We all like to have this closet neat and organized at all times not only to help us start or end our day with some calm but also because friends and family will typically see this closet when they enter our homes and your front entry hall becomes the place of first impressions.

If your entry and closet looks like a bomb went off you can feel terribly embarrassed. Here are three tips to help you organize it for greater efficiency and functionality for your whole family…….and keep it organized.

Too much stuff

Sometimes the front hall closet can be extremely small. If you have a larger family it can be extremely challenging to keep this space neat and organized. Therefore, if space is at a premium only keep the items that are essential and that you require for the current season you are in. You then need to find some space elsewhere (even the basement if you must) to keep items that will not be used for a season or two.

Why keep a jacket or a pair of shoes in a closet when they will not be used for four to six months? Most children’s’ bedroom closets have sufficient space to house your children’s off season outdoor wear.

Buy the right products

When putting a system in place it is important that you have the right products that you will use for storage. My must haves for a hall closet are bins or baskets and shoe racks. Assign a basket to each family member and hold them accountable for placing their gloves, hats, scarves, etc. in the basket each time they come home. This will save a lot of time looking for items when they are in a rush to get out and the inevitable “Mom, where is …?”

Shoe racks are invaluable in freeing up space to stack shoes and opening up the top shelf for the baskets. If you buy the right products you will maximize the vertical and horizontal space in your closet.

De-clutter first

Start this process by emptying out the entire closet. Once you have separated the items that are to go back in the closet from the items to go elsewhere take a serious look at the items to go back in. Do they all fit the owner? Are they so far out of style that they won’t be used? Are they torn or damaged?

Now is a good time to purge these items and pass them on to other family members or donate them. This time of year in particular coats are badly needed for the less fortunate. Repeat this every time you rotate the items in and out of the closet.

Follow these simple guidelines to avoid stress in the morning and that embarrassment when guests come to visit. If your closet is just too much for you to tackle and you want a system of organizational that will not fail, contact us for a free telephone intake and have us tackle this project for you.