Small-Closet Organization
Even the slightest sliver of closet space can produce major storage results when you think creatively. Maximize the space you have by identifying how to hang, fold, and organize everything inside your small closet while keeping it visible and within reach.
Wire shelf dividers keep stacks of sweaters, T-shirts, and jeans from toppling each time you change outfits. Encourage order by shifting seasonal items to the top shelf and organizing everyday items at eye level. Label shelf edges so everyone knows what goes where to avoid mix-ups.
Accessories from shelf dividers to stackable bins are a small closet's best friend. Innovative, off-the-shelf products from local home improvement centers can organize wardrobe and grooming essentials for convenience. Over-the-door hooks and organizers can save valuable hanging space by stashing coats, bags, or drop-zone items.
When a spacious closet system is out of the question, consider an easy DIY closet project. In just a few hours, you can customize a small closet with removable drawers. Basket-style drawers on runners easily slide in and out for easy access. Depending on the closet's width, you might need to install a vertical dividing board to support the runners. Use screws to secure the board to the bottom of the closet and the shelf above.
End the hunt for a matching pair of shoes with shoe storage that lets you see and access everything with ease. Open shelves eliminate piles of jumbled footwear and keep shoes perfectly paired. Adjustable shelves can accommodate any shoe style and make the most of narrow closet spaces. Use shelf liners to add a slip-resistant layer of personality to plain white shelves. If built-in shelves aren't an option, consider a freestanding bookcase.
Keeping items off the floor makes any closet feel larger. Easy, inexpensive solutions, such as hooks and hardware, create distinct places for every item. Here, hardware handles turn a tight space inside a closet into storage for hanging ties and scarves. Gently knot scarves after hanging to keep them from slipping to the ground.
Install "white" bulbs in your small closet, which will enable you to see colors more accurately. Place the light source in the center of the ceiling and ensure it's bright enough to illuminate your space. Track lighting and recessed lighting, which both generate considerable heat, should be used only in room-size closets.
Adhesive storage labels come in all shapes and sizes, but they all prompt organization and make life easier by answering the ever-present question of what goes where. Metal-frame label holders allow you to revise signage as storage needs change and are easily affixed to shelf fronts.
Closet Makeover
If you're like me, the most frustrating part of your morning routine is finding what you need in a midst of a disorganized closet. I'm Lacey Howard, editor of Decorating magazine, and today, I'm going to show you an amazing organizational makeover that will make your wardrobe sit up and take notice. Right now, this closet misses out on major storage potential. Shoes are lined up haphazardly along the floor. Handbags are stashed on a hard-to-reach high shelf, and blah bifold doors don't do us any favors in the style department. Why skimp on class in the closet? We said goodbye to this spindly wire-rack system, instead a pretty feminine dresser and new shelving gives us valuable closet real estate and help separate sheets from shirts. Finally, the closet is as functional as it is beautiful. The bifolds are banished in favor of silk taffeta drapery panels, and inside the closet, everything a girl needs to greet the day is within easy reach. Purses are displayed on a fabric-covered board. Helpful labels identify the contents of every box and basket at a glance. Even dirty duds looked elegant in a fabric-trimmed laundry bin on the floor. Don't let disorganization deter you! Make over your closet with organization and style. Trust me! A closet where everything is at your fingertips will put a smile on your face even before that first cup of coffee. For Decorating magazine, I'm Lacey Howard.
Related Links
