Closet Organization Ideas

There's no shame in being a bit of a clotheshorse, but when the majority of your clothes and shoes have taken up permanent residence on your floor, it's time to start utilizing some closet organization ideas. If your bedroom closet, broom closet, or coat closet are a little messy, don't worry! A new closet organizer can help you double or even triple your storage space. Check out these simple closet organization ideas to conquer closet clutter once and for all. Clean It Up & Clear It Out: You can't start with a clean slate if it's not really clean, so start by taking everything out of your closet. Go through your closet's contents piece by piece. If you haven't worn it in 6 months, it's damaged, or just doesn't fit, donate it. There's no sense taking up valuable closet space with something you're never going to use. If there are items you can't bear to part with, or out-of-season items, pack them up and store them elsewhere.

Sonoma Armoire

Get It Sorted Out
How you organize your clothes once you've pared it down is up to you. Grouping your clothes will make it easy to see what you have and find what you need. Think about sorting your remaining clothes by:

• Color
• Length
• Category/Type (i.e. blouses, pants, dresses, etc.)

Decide on Storage Components
Once your closet is cleared, measure your space. Knowing exactly what you're working with and what you need will help you to maximize your storage potential. For example, if you have more shoes than shirts, plan accordingly with plenty of shoe storage. If you don't like to fold anything, then too much shelf space may be a waste. Consider these handy options for add on closet organization:

• Shoe cubes or shelving
• Tiered tie or belt rack
• Drawers for organizing smaller items or hiding personal items
• Over-the-door hooks to hang robes, belts, or extra shoe storage

Maximize Your Space
Double-hang closet rods, one over the other, will help you squeeze the most storage space out of your closet by doubling up on hanging garments. Make sure to allow an extra 6 inches above and below each rod. Using a combination of the following will ensure you make the most of your closet organizer:

• Long, hanging space for dresses, coats, and hanging pants
• Double-hang rods for shorter items like shirts, blouses, skirts, folded pants, and blazers
• Shelves, drawers, and cubbies for accessories, folded sweaters, shoeboxes, and storage bins

After all of that hard work, you can forget about your formerly chaotic closet and enjoy your newfound closet organization!