Organized at Last!

I just finished writing up an outline for a closet organization presentation that I will be giving to a retirement community in tomorrow and though I would post it here as well.  Some of the information has been covered in the 2 previous posts.  it is just presented a little differently.  Hope you find it useful.

Organizing to Maximize Your Closet Space

STEP 1:  Removing items that you no longer use.

1)    Doesn’t fit
2)    Doesn’t look good
3)    Haven’t worn in over a year
4)    Out of style
5)    Out of Season
6)    Needs laundering
7)    Needs altering or mending

STEP 2:  Create groups for the items you have removed from the closet.

1)    Move to another area to store until next season
2)    Donate or give away
3)    Alter or mend
4)    Clean

If the item doesn’t fit, doesn’t look good, or you haven’t worn in over a year – ask yourself these questions:

·    When was the last time I wore it?
·    When will I wear it again?

If it was more than a year, but you are not ready to let it go, move it to another closet or to a clearly labeled box you can store under the bed or somewhere else.  If you have not missed needed the item after 6 months, you will probably not wear it again and can get rid of it at that time – but get it out of your closet for now.  Mark your calendar for 6 months out so you will remember it is there and do something with it.

·    Would I buy this if I didn’t already own it?

If you would not buy the item today because you don’t look good wearing it, or it is out of style, or doesn’t fit you can probably get rid of it.

·    Why do I not want to part with it?

Is it because it has sentimental value for you?  Does it make you feel good or does it make you feel sad?  Do you have a box of memorabilia that you could store the item with?  Would you be able to revisit the same memories if you were to take a picture of the item?  Perhaps you have a picture of you wearing the item.

·    Who else could use this item?

If you want to make a little money on the item, there are consignment shops that will take clothing items that are in good condition.  If they sell, they will pay you a percentage of the sale price.

Do you have a friend or relative who could and would wear the item.  Why not give it to them.  If not, donate it to a favorite thrift store.  Most will pick up.

·    Act on it.

For the items in your pile that need to be mended, altered, or cleaned – get it done before you return them to your closet.

STEP 3 – Organizing your closet.

·    Store likes with likes:
Skirts with skirts, pants with pants, shirts with shirts, dresses with dresses

·    Hang light to dark

Next arrange clothing from lightest to darkest.  Since it is often difficult to tell the difference in black and navy blue, If you have both – hang the navy items on one color hanger and the rest on another so it will be easy to know what color your selecting to wear.

·    If you have to store last seasons clothes in the closet, keep them together in one area of the closet.

·    If you need more hanging space, and you have a single rod now, add a double hanging rod that attaches to the top rod to create more hanging space for short clothing.  You can also use the top rods to hang seasonal clothing and the bottom rods for the items you’re wearing now.

·    Most sweaters and light-weight knit tops are better stored folded.  To create more space in your closet for folded items, add canvas shelves that you can hang from the top rod.

·    Keep your shoes off the floor under your clothing where they are hard to see and go get to with hanging canvas shoe bags or over the door shoe racks.

·    If you are storing folded items, shoes, or purses on the top shelf of closet, use clear shoeboxes, canvas boxes or bins with labels, or baskets.  It will be easier to get them off the shelf without knocking other items off.

·    Add a valet rod or hook to hang your outfit as you’re putting it together in the morning.  When you pull it off, if you are not laundering it, you can leave it hanging on the valet hook to air out overnight before hanging it with the rest of your clothes.

·    Have someone install hooks on free wall space or get a hanger with hooks for hanging belts and necklaces.

·    Use a scarf hanger to hang your scarves.

·    If you have jewelry or scarves that you only wear with a specific outfit, store them in a pocket of the outfit, or hang from the same hanger.

If all of this sounds overwhelming, hire a closet designer to create custom storage in your closet and a professional organizer to help you organize it.

As a closet designer I will inventory the items in your closet and work with you to create the storage systems that will best maximize your storage space while also taking in to account ease of usability.  The components including the shelves and rods are easily adjustable to different heights.  While a custom closet system will cost more than shelves and rods you can buy from Walmart or Target, they are sturdier and will be easier to use in the long run.

If you need help sorting through your closet and organizing the items, consider hiring a professional organizer.  As professional organizers, Diane and I will never tell you that you have to get rid of something.  Instead, we will help you through the questions so you can decide what you want to do with it.  Depending on what you want, we will either sort your piles for you to put away, or help you put them away.  It’s important that you participate so you will know where everything is.  If this is not possible, we will organize everything for you and leave you with a list of where items are.