Over the years I have lived in homes with large closets and small closets. My wardrobe remained the same no matter what. Since the walls in the closets could not stretch, I needed to come up with creative solutions. And as someone who does not like to lose, I usually found them. When I became a professional organizer and member of NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers), I discovered more resources that could be used to organize closets. If you aren’t up to tackling your closets on your own, they can also suggest some professional organizers that are available to help you.
Closet Organization Tips
In the meantime, here are the things I discovered:
- Using the same hanger makes a closet look neater.
- Skinny velvet covered hangers take up less and offer you more hanging room.
- Organizing your like-items together, and light to dark, makes your closet look larger. (i.e., slacks together, light to dark).
- Add double hanging where you can to create more space and eliminate wasted space; but check to make sure your clothes will hang properly before you attempt this.
- Add shoe storage if you have space. Stores like Lowes or Home Depot usually offer these.
- Folding t-shirts and turtlenecks with paper keeps them neat and a consistent size.
- Using PVC pipe can help to organize scarves, socks and ties in a drawer. Just have PVC pipe cut to a little less than your drawer height and place them in your drawer. Roll scarves, socks and ties into the pipe to quickly organize.
- Have a space for empty hangers and place them there as you use items. This way you don’t need to search for them after you do laundry.
Benefits of an organized closet:
Economical: even though you may need to invest in some new hangers and organizing items, you probably won’t need to buy new clothes since you will be surprised at what you find once everything is organized.
Peace of mind: as potential buyers visit your home, they will be able to see how much space your home offers, and won’t be turned off by a mess or even worse, what you might be hiding under that mess.
Space: you will probably be amazed at how much more room you have once your closet is organized.
More time: since you no longer have to spend so much time looking for things, you’ll have more time for things you actually enjoy.
More relaxed: you will no longer be changing your wardrobe at the last minute because you can’t find something, an organized closet is less chaotic.
Doesn’t that sound like something you could live with?
Design your new closet
There are websites that offer online closet organizing programs to help you see what is possible.
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- CLOSET MAID
ClosetMaid offers closet organizing systems at Home Depot. You can use the DIY designer to design your closet before you start.
[av_button label=’learn more’ link=’manually,http://www.closetmaid.com/en-US/Design/Pages/design.aspx?ps=shop’ link_target=’_blank’ size=’small’ position=’left’ icon_select=’yes’ icon=’ue81e’ font=’entypo-fontello’ color=’aqua’ custom_bg=’#444444′ custom_font=’#ffffff’ av_uid=’av-2khc4y’] - MARTHA STEWART
Just like ClosetMaid, Martha Stewart closet organizing systems are available at Home Depot, and you can the DIY designer on your computer to design your closet before you shop.
[av_button label=’learn more’ link=’manually,http://www.marthastewartclosets.com/‘ link_target=’_blank’ size=’small’ position=’left’ icon_select=’yes’ icon=’ue81e’ font=’entypo-fontello’ color=’aqua’ custom_bg=’#444444′ custom_font=’#ffffff’ av_uid=’av-2g7f8q’] - RUBBERMAID
After you create your closet with their online DIY system, you can purchase items at Walmart and Sams Club, including their closet kits.
[av_button label=’learn more’ link=’manually,http://www.rubbermaid.com/pages/closet-designer.aspx’ link_target=’_blank’ size=’small’ position=’left’ icon_select=’yes’ icon=’ue81e’ font=’entypo-fontello’ color=’aqua’ custom_bg=’#444444′ custom_font=’#ffffff’ av_uid=’av-2ae95e’]
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Closet organizing companies:
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- ARTISAN CUSTOM CLOSETS
210 Commerce Dr, Dallas, GA 30132
[av_button label=’Map’ link=’manually,https://maps.google.com/maps?q=210+Commerce+Dr,+Dallas,+GA+30132&hl=en&sll=33.979089,-84.540029&sspn=0.008897,0.021136&t=h&hnear=210+Commerce+Dr,+Dallas,+Georgia+30132&z=16′ link_target=’_blank’ size=’small’ position=’left’ icon_select=’yes’ icon=’ue842′ font=’entypo-fontello’ color=’theme-color’ custom_bg=’#444444′ custom_font=’#ffffff’ av_uid=’av-248lze’] - CREATIVE CLOSETS
1146 King Industrial Drive Marietta, Georgia 30062
[av_button label=’Map’ link=’manually,https://maps.google.com/maps?q=1146+King+Industrial+Drive+Marietta,+Georgia+30062+&hl=en&sll=34.060161,-84.309039&sspn=0.008888,0.021136&t=h&hnear=1146+King+Industrial+Dr,+Marietta,+Georgia+30062&z=16′ link_target=’_blank’ size=’small’ position=’left’ icon_select=’yes’ icon=’ue842′ font=’entypo-fontello’ color=’theme-color’ custom_bg=’#444444′ custom_font=’#ffffff’ av_uid=’av-1z4o2i’] - SPACEMAKERS
11415 Old Roswell Rd, Alpharetta, GA 30009
[av_button label=’Map’ link=’manually,https://maps.google.com/maps?q=11415+Old+Roswell+Rd,+Alpharetta,+GA++30009&hl=en&sll=34.03479,-84.686308&sspn=0.008891,0.021136&t=h&hnear=11415+Old+Roswell+Rd,+Alpharetta,+Fulton,+Georgia+30009&z=16′ link_target=’_blank’ size=’small’ position=’left’ icon_select=’yes’ icon=’ue842′ font=’entypo-fontello’ color=’theme-color’ custom_bg=’#444444′ custom_font=’#ffffff’ av_uid=’av-1qyoqi’]
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Closet organizing resources:
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- CONTAINER STORE
120 Perimeter Center West, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30346
[av_button label=’Map’ link=’manually,https://maps.google.com/maps?q=120+Perimeter+Center+West+Suite+100+Atlanta,+GA+30346&hl=en&sll=32.678125,-83.178297&sspn=4.623041,10.821533&t=h&hnear=120+Perimeter+Center+W+%23100,+Atlanta,+Georgia+30346&z=16′ link_target=’_blank’ size=’small’ position=’left’ icon_select=’yes’ icon=’ue842′ font=’entypo-fontello’ color=’theme-color’ custom_bg=’#444444′ custom_font=’#ffffff’ av_uid=’av-5quey’] - IKEA
441 16th Street, Atlanta, GA 30363
[av_button label=’Map’ link=’manually,https://maps.google.com/maps?q=441+16th+Street,+Atlanta,+GA+30363&hl=en&sll=33.926173,-84.343302&sspn=0.008902,0.021136&t=h&hnear=441+16th+St+NW,+Atlanta,+Georgia+30363&z=16′ link_target=’_blank’ size=’small’ position=’left’ icon_select=’yes’ icon=’ue842′ font=’entypo-fontello’ color=’theme-color’ custom_bg=’#444444′ custom_font=’#ffffff’ av_uid=’av-4x1vu’] - HOME DEPOT
3355 Cobb PkwyAcworth, GA 30101
[av_button label=’Map’ link=’manually,https://maps.google.com/maps?q=3355+Cobb+Pkwy+Acworth,+GA+30101&hl=en&ll=34.03479,-84.686308&spn=0.008891,0.021136&sll=34.034028,-84.673572&sspn=0.008891,0.021136&t=h&hnear=3355+Cobb+Pkwy,+Atlanta,+Cobb,+Georgia+30339&z=16′ link_target=’_blank’ size=’small’ position=’left’ icon_select=’yes’ icon=’ue842′ font=’entypo-fontello’ color=’theme-color’ custom_bg=’#444444′ custom_font=’#ffffff’ av_uid=’av-17jwve’] - LOWES
3250 Cobb Parkway, Kennesaw, GA 30152, Store #1651
[av_button label=’Map’ link=’manually,https://maps.google.com/maps?q=3250+Cobb+Parkway+Kennesaw,+GA+30152&hl=en&sll=33.788776,-84.405259&sspn=0.008917,0.021136&t=h&hnear=3250+Cobb+Pkwy,+Kennesaw,+Georgia+30144&z=16′ link_target=’_blank’ size=’small’ position=’left’ icon_select=’yes’ icon=’ue842′ font=’entypo-fontello’ color=’theme-color’ custom_bg=’#444444′ custom_font=’#ffffff’ av_uid=’av-114jea’]
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Closet organizing supplies:
HANGERS
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- BED BATH & BEYOND
840 Ernest W Barrett Pkwy NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144
[av_button label=’Map’ link=’manually,https://maps.google.com/maps?q=840+Ernest+W+Barrett+Pkwy+NW,+Kennesaw,+GA+30144&hl=en&sll=33.887356,-84.74928&sspn=0.008906,0.021136&t=h&hnear=840+Ernest+W+Barrett+Pkwy+NW,+Kennesaw,+Cobb,+Georgia+30144&z=16′ link_target=’_blank’ size=’small’ position=’left’ icon_select=’yes’ icon=’ue842′ font=’entypo-fontello’ color=’theme-color’ custom_bg=’#444444′ custom_font=’#ffffff’ av_uid=’av-yqnkq’] - SAMS CLUB
4798 Jimmy Lee Smith Pkwy, Hiram, GA 30141
[av_button label=’Map’ link=’manually,https://maps.google.com/maps?q=4798+Jimmy+Lee+Smith+Pkwy,+Hiram,+GA+30141&hl=en&sll=33.906084,-84.804226&sspn=0.008904,0.021136&t=h&hnear=4798+Jimmy+Lee+Smith+Pkwy,+Hiram,+Georgia+30141&z=16′ link_target=’_blank’ size=’small’ position=’left’ icon_select=’yes’ icon=’ue842′ font=’entypo-fontello’ color=’theme-color’ custom_bg=’#444444′ custom_font=’#ffffff’ av_uid=’av-2x22a’] - INTERNET COMPANIES
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CONTAINERS
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- CONTAINER STORE
120 Perimeter Center West, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30346
[av_button label=’Map’ link=’manually,https://maps.google.com/maps?q=120+Perimeter+Center+West+Suite+100+Atlanta,+GA+30346&hl=en&sll=32.678125,-83.178297&sspn=4.623041,10.821533&t=h&hnear=120+Perimeter+Center+W+%23100,+Atlanta,+Georgia+30346&z=16′ link_target=’_blank’ size=’small’ position=’left’ icon_select=’yes’ icon=’ue842′ font=’entypo-fontello’ color=’theme-color’ custom_bg=’#444444′ custom_font=’#ffffff’ av_uid=’av-28g9e’] - TARGET
3378 Cobb Pkwy NW, Acworth, GA 30101
[av_button label=’Map’ link=’manually,https://maps.google.com/maps?q=3378+Cobb+Pkwy+NW,+Acworth,+GA+30101&hl=en&sll=34.047711,-84.69731&sspn=0.00889,0.021136&t=h&hnear=3378+Cobb+Pkwy+NW,+Acworth,+Georgia+30101&z=16′ link_target=’_blank’ size=’small’ position=’left’ icon_select=’yes’ icon=’ue842′ font=’entypo-fontello’ color=’theme-color’ custom_bg=’#444444′ custom_font=’#ffffff’ av_uid=’av-dmjdm’] - WALMART
3826 Cobb Pkwy NW, Acworth, GA 30101
[av_button label=’Map’ link=’manually,https://maps.google.com/maps?q=3826+Cobb+Pkwy+Nw+Acworth,+GA+30101&hl=en&sll=32.678125,-83.178297&sspn=4.623041,10.821533&t=h&hnear=3826+Cobb+Pkwy+NW,+Acworth,+Georgia+30101&z=16′ link_target=’_blank’ size=’small’ position=’left’ icon_select=’yes’ icon=’ue842′ font=’entypo-fontello’ color=’theme-color’ custom_bg=’#444444′ custom_font=’#ffffff’ av_uid=’av-7g9u2′] - INTERNET COMPANIES
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