There’s nothing worse than scrambling to swipe the blinding screen of your iPhone, brewing the coffee in a fog, and opening your closet door to the set of the latest Hoarders episode. Shirts dangling helplessly from their hangers, last night’s ensemble in a sad ball on the floor and your favorite shoe hoping its mate dropped breadcrumbs.
Despite the size of your closet, there are a few universal storage solutions that will help you maximize your space and minimize the pain it takes to get ready. Here are 5 of our favorite closet organization solutions.
1. Vacuum-seal for the seasons.
A major culprit of closet clutter is out-of-season coats, scarves, and sweaters—the bulky stuff. When the season changes, neatly fold and seal items you won’t be wearing for the next 3-6 months. Not only does it compress your items for easy storage on a shelf or hanger, it protects them from moths and other critters. And they’re way less bulky than those ugly, plastic storage bins your mom used.
2. Add a bar.
Not a minibar—though you may need a martini to get through this closet overhaul. If your closet (or landlord) will allow, move your current hanging rod up and add one below. Before securing the top bar, test the position of the lower rod to ensure there is room enough for most of your average-length garments above and below.
Move long garments to another designated place like the back of the door or a valet hook. If you can’t change the bar placement in your closet, consider adding a functional, freestanding clothes rack inside your closet or in your bedroom space. Use it to display your favorite statement or staple pieces.
3. Use one type of thin, sturdy hanger.
Hodgepodge hangers are going to kill any chance at zen closet vibes. And if you plan on keeping those wire hangers around, your closet organization mission is canceled.
Not only do matching hangers lay flesh with one another (creating more space), they calm the senses. Skip on the bulky (and often slippery) wooden ones and go for some thin, sturdy, non-slip guys like these.
4. Don’t forget the back of the door.
The back of the door might be the most underused real estate in all of closet history. It’s great for hanging scarves, coats, robes jewelry and shoes. There are a million over-the-door organizers to choose from in the form of hooks, racks, shelves, and pockets.
5. Get the shoes off the floor with a rack.
Throwing shoes on the floor is a surefire way to add stress to your day. Shoes get mismatched or scuffed and pose a safety hazard. However you choose to get your shoes off the floor, just make it a priority.
Shoe racks are a great use of floor space and make you feel like you’re shopping in your own closet. You spent your hard earned money on those babies, you may as well flaunt them (even if it’s just to yourself).
Look at these awesome shoe solutions!
We hope some of these solutions help you on your way to total closet domination. Which one will you try first?
