Image sourced from Ikea.
I didn’t realize how ineffective most closet setups are until recently. Typically (in rental properties especially), a closet contains one hanging rod and maybe one shelf up above. Between those two, you’re left with the ability to stack a few items (often out of reach) and hanging the rest, with a sizable amount of space down below which can easily become a dark zone for piles of shoes or lost items…
As I sought to enhance my closet when we moved into our latest (rental) apartment, a custom built-in felt unnecessary and financially unjustifiable given we’re not sure how long we’ll live in our current rental apartment (we’re always hatching plans for our next moves if you haven’t noticed :))… That said, I had no choice but to become creative with my solution. While brainstorming and researching, I realized how easy a DIY solution can be AND how incredibly helpful a revised setup is for longer-term, sustainable organization.
Having an organized closet has benefits beyond just condensing down the amount of time it takes to pick out something to wear - its clean, inviting, boutique-like feel brings immeasurable mental clarity.
Here are my go-to tips for finding solutions within your own space…
1) Begin with a Bare Space
Highly recommend removing everything from the space in question - including any shelving or hanging rods - so you can see it with fresh eyes. Then, look through inspiration (check out my all-things-closets Pinterest board here) to gauge what kind of configuration makes most sense for your space and storage needs.
2) Drawers, Shelves & Hanging Racks - A Blend is Best
Drawers hide the stuff you’d prefer to keep more private, shelves beautifully display pieces that don’t need to be hung up, and hanging racks keep your more prized pieces easy to sort through and wrinkle free. There’s a misconception though, that taking away some hanging space in favor of adding some shelving will lead to less space overall… but I’m here to tell you, the organization enhancements are well worth it and actually free up a ton of space.
A mini wardrobe was bolted against the wall, paired with two levels of hanging racks. The glass-front doors make finding pieces very easy and gives off a finished look.
Hack: find a piece of furniture like a bookshelf, a credenza, dresser with drawers or mini armoire - whatever fits your space - and layer in shelving and hanging racks around it. The furniture piece will provide a strong, stable foundation cutting down on half of the “customized” installs you need to make. Once you’re ready to layer in your surrounding shelving/hanging racks, bring pictures or drawings of what you’re trying to create (and exact measurements) and ask for guidance at a hardware store!
3) Actually Seeing your Belongings is a huge GAME CHANGER!
I’ve done the whole “basket” thing and although they make for a very pretty appearance and still offer a great solution for enhanced organization, they can sometimes turn chaotic. Since I knew the contents of the basket wouldn’t be seen from the outside, I would sometimes get lazy about keeping them organized and tidy and as a result wouldn’t wear the bottom 1/3 of pieces because they felt too far out of reach or too annoying to dig for… So be forewarned. Open shelving invites you to keep your belongings folded nicely.
4) Keep Things In Reach
The higher you store your belongings, the further out of reach they are. The further out of reach they are, the less accessible they are to you… this is a fail for functionality. To the extent you must store things out of reach, keep a folding step stool nearby and/or put only things that you use very infrequently in those spots.
5) Challenge Your Folding Style
Up until recently, I thought clothes could only be folded one way… thank you Marie Kondo! I am obsessed with rolling anything that goes into drawers (very effective strategy when packing for a trip too!). You’re able to see just enough of the item to identify it, it takes up far less space, and it keeps it wrinkle-free.
6) Store Off-Season Pieces
The quickest way for a closet to become overwhelming is when it’s over crowded with too many belongings. I frequently advocate for paring down belongings, but another solution (space permitting) is to store off-season pieces out of sight.
7) Visual Appeal
When my closet gets out of control, it’s usually the LAST thing I want to deal with… but when it’s neat and organized, I’m so much more motivated to maintain it. A few recommendations for enhancing the look of your closet is to color coordinate, have all matching hangers and all hanging clothes facing the same direction. Do away with dry cleaning hangers (ew!) and plastic - it’s better for your clothes anyway!
8) Unique Closet Accessories
Each individual has their own unique storage needs, as some favor shoes over clothing, or handbags over jewelry, etc. Therefore, for a closet to be maximally functional, it must take into account the unique needs of the individual. Here are some key pieces I’ve used over the years as I’ve found myself favoring some things over others… Also, challenge the usage of each of these - for example, the hanging “shoe” racks can be great for rolled up t-shirts or scarves instead of shoes. Get creative!
Happy Organizing!
LG