Life
Tips To Revolutionize Your Closets
My closet is a constant source of frustration. It never stays organized and I often have no idea what's in the back. And because I'm not blessed with a walk-in or the money to hire someone to "customize" it, I just want simple ways to organize my closet that I can actually use. And I know I'm not the only one who feels this way. I've seen my friends' closets, too (sorry, guys).
In an article for Reader's Digest, professional organizer and author of Clutter Free and Organized said, “I've worked hands-on with so many clients and they all tell me the same thing — they tend to pull everything out of their closets and then they run out of time and they push it all back in, which makes it worse than it was to begin with." And according to a survey conducted by The Huffington Post, 84 percent of recently stressed Americans say they are stressed about the state and clutter of their homes. The article also noted that research has shown that home clutter and disorganization has shown to increase levels of the stress hormone cortisol in our bodies and result in decreased productivity.
Basically, closet clutter is very real and it truly can negatively affect our lives. And the truth of the matter is we're likely never going to just wake up one day and be magically perfectly organized people — most of us need tools and methods in place to save us from ourselves. So if your closet space is getting the best of you, here are seven organizational tips that can definitely help.
1. Multi-Use Hangers
OIA 4 Tier Arm-Slack Rack With Clip, $10.98, Amazon .com
These tiered hangers are awesome for skirts and pants. They not only help keep similar items in one place making them easier to find, but they save precious real-estate in your closet, which is hugely important if you don't have a ton of space to begin with.
2. Hanging Shoe Rack
Honey Can Do 24 Pocket Odt Peva Shoe Rack, $8.96, Amazon.com
A hanging shoe rack over your closet door is a great way to economize space on your closet floor, and also just makes the shoes you wear most often super accessible and easy to find. This is a great tip for anyone who has spent way too much of their life crawling around in their closet, digging around in frustration for a missing shoe.
3. Use A Belt Hanger
Natural 12-Belt Hardwood Hanger, $8.99, Amazon.com
Belts are one of those things that don't exactly fit anywhere super well, and can take up a lot of space rolled up in a drawer. A simple belt hanger works wonders in solving this problem, and takes up almost no space.
4. Declutter
In an article for Apartment Therapy, site editor Janel Laban extols the virtues of simply decluttering as an amazing first step to organizing your closets. "Turn around all the hangers in your closet so the hooks are pointing towards you (wrong way round). When you wear something, put it back with the hook the normal way. In six months, any hanger still facing the wrong way is holding an item you haven't worn, ready for the donation bag," she said.
5. Use An Umbrella Stand For Odds And Ends
Malabar Bay LLC Brush Striped Umbrella Stand, $61.59, Quill.com
If you have the space (big if if you live in NYC like I do), then you can consider putting in a cute umbrella stand in your closet to store odds and ends like yoga mats or mittens and gloves. Just don't abuse it and start throwing in everything you don't feel like putting somewhere else!
6. Get Shelf Dividers
Lynk Vela Shelf Dividers, $11.79, Target.com
Usually the shelves in our closets consist of one long continuous space, which can make keeping everything organized pretty difficult. Put in some portable shelf dividers and you instantly have compartments for various different types of storage.
7. Light It Up
4-Pack LED Battery Operated Mini Guide Lights, $9.99, PegasusLighting .com
There is nothing more frustrating than digging for clothes in poor lighting. I have cursed my closet dozens upon dozens of times for this very reason. However, the solution is actually crazy cheap and easy — just stick some battery-powered lights to the wall and voila — problem solved.
Your closet shouldn't be a source of added stress, and the good news is, there are a ton of simple, totally achievable ways to keep everything in its place. Just invest in a few simple tools and reserve a day to get rid of clutter, and you'll be well on your way to a closet that actually makes your life easier.
