Closet Organization 101

• By Annette Parrish- Vice President

• Who wouldn’t want a beautiful closet like the ”After”  pictured here—large, bright, and ultra organized?  Even the most beautiful closet should be extremely efficient and functional or it will soon become a large, bright, disorganized mess. 

•  As we’re heading into summer, now is the perfect time to take a critical look at what works, what doesn’t work, and to figure out where to store all those fall and winter clothes you won’t be needing for awhile!  You can transform your crowded, disorganized closet into a dream closet by following these simple guidelines for organization, and implementing a few key changes. First, let’s identify the problem before we discuss a solution.

•  The common problems with most closets are:

• Wasted space—usually found up near the ceiling, along the floor under hanging clothes, and in corners or at ends that are partially covered by a standard five foot door frame.

• High shelves—not easy to reach and difficult for stacking clothes without standing on a stool.

• Lack of organization—shelves are linear so items are not grouped together effectively.

• Rod Height- Single height rod is usually too short for formal-length dresses and has wasted space under shorter clothing.

• Solutions Include:

• Removing standard five foot doors and the framing around it to enlarge the opening and replacing with custom, built-in units. Custom isn’t as pricey as most people think.
• If you have room, install pull-down rods to utilize the space close to the ceiling.
• Placing the items you use most frequently at eye level and those seldom-used items either up high or nearer the floor
• Built-in shelving to accommodate more folded clothes and enclosed compartments to keep items from getting dusty
• Labeled shelves or drawers for pajamas, t-shirts, undergarments, etc.
• Placing rods at different levels for shorter items like jackets, shirts, & skirts; and for longer items such as dresses, formal-wear, and other long-hanging items.
• Providing a tip-out bin for laundry and dry cleaning items.
• Enclosed cubbies or shelves to keep luggage, purses, shoes & boots dust free.
• Installing a slide-out rack for scarves and belts
• Adjustable shelves for flexibility
• Built-in ironing board for larger closets

• As you can see, if you make a few simple changes you can easily see everything you own, allowing you to put outfits together quickly and avoid the frustration of ‘losing’ things in your closet.  You could almost get ready in the dark!  Having an organized, custom closet lets you take good care of your clothing while preventing additional stress in your life.  Getting dressed in the morning shouldn’t be stressful!

• We always welcome your comments, questions and suggestions. Please feel free to post in the “Comments Box” below.

Before, this closet was too cramped and not efficient. After the Parrish remodel, it is bright and efficient with pull out drawers and custom shelving, ensuring it stays that way!