DIY: Organizing Your Closet

We’ve all heard the phrase ‘skeletons in the closet.’ It’s meant to be a euphemism for dark secrets but for some of us, the saying might be a bit more…literal. Of course, I don't think any of us have literal skeletons in our closets but the cupboard might very well be too cluttered for us to be able to tell. Many housekeepers have the ‘dark’ secret of a disorganized closet where we shove all the unwanted jumble of our home, shoving the broom and dustpan in last of all. But is the house really clean if the mess is figuratively and literally swept into the closet? We live in a culture of anxiety, and none of us need the extra weight of an untidy cupboard unprepared for the gaze of a snoopy guest. Additionally. We can all agree that our closets often house items that we are avoiding — unneeded items, unwanted items, superfluous items. It’s time to roll up your sleeves and take these catch-all spaces to task!

Start Over

Now, when we say ‘organize’ we don’t mean neatening or a cosmetic rearrangement. We mean a complete takeover. You need to empty your closets completely and start over. This can be overwhelming depending on just how cluttered your closet was in the first place. A good rule of thumb to remember at this point is “It gets worse before it gets better.” 

Be prepared to find things you thought were lost forever… and consider throwing them away. This is the time to purge your closet of all unnecessary items. We don't care if it’s never been used or if you might use it in some hypothetical situation 5 years from now. Is it worth the space it’s taking up in your closet and your mind? If not, donate it or trash it. On the other hand, there might be something for which you have no practical use but you like it, plain and simple. Emotional value should absolutely be taken into consideration. If something brings you joy just with its existence and you have space for it, then by all means, save it a spot on the shelf.

When your closet has been thoroughly ransacked, it’s time to clean. What this entails depends on what kind of closet you’re dealing with. If at all possible remove the shelves and clean them individually, getting into hard-to-reach cracks and crevices. You will most likely be dealing with a lot of dust in a poorly ventilated area so you might want to utilize a bandana or cloth face covering of some kind to avoid lots of sneezing. By the end of this deep clean, you should have a blank canvas with which to work.

Customize

At this juncture, you get to decide if you want to bring your closet up a notch. You can always go with the traditional clean white look, after all, who’s gonna see it anyway? But the answer to that question is you… you are going to see it, quite often, in fact. Why not make your interactions with it beautiful? This can be as simple as a coat of paint and complimentary colored bins and containers. Closets are habitually dark spaces so we recommend a light, calming color such as lavender or robin’s egg blue. If you want to invest a bit more into the project, you could go with adhesive wallpaper, again sticking to light colors. Customizing your closet can be as easy and practical as adding patterned lining to your shelves. We recommend adding lining anyway to make for an easier cleaning experience in the future. 

Now what you may want to consider is rearranging, and perhaps adding to, your existing shelves. When houses are built, the closets are generally allotted a maximum of two measly shelves, and they are often of the wire variety. They are also put at the very top of the closet just where they are hardest to reach. Unless it is primarily a clothes closet, this results in a lot of wasted space and the dreaded pilling of items on the floor or the inevitable shoving of items into places where they don’t fit. Avoid these issues and create space with additional shelving. Now we know it is tempting to go with the cheapest option and purchase wire shelves which give all the semblance of practicality, but don’t be fooled by their inexpensive guise. Wire shelving is not only inconvenient for the placement of smaller or narrower items but can cause damage and denting to more fragile containers and products. We recommend the older tradition of simple wooden shelving with plenty of support to avoid bending and buckling. You will want to space your shelves carefully, taking the size of items into account as you install each shelf. 

Organize Items

Abandon the closet itself for a moment and address yourself to its contents. It is now time for what we like to call sub-organization; that is, placing small things into bigger things. This method promotes sustainable organization.  You have a lot of options when it comes to your choice of container. You can go with cloth or plastic bins or, if you want a more aesthetic choice, baskets. Part of this decision depends on what kind of things you plan to store. Any spillable substances will be better off in bins they can’t leak or soak through, so if your cupboard is primarily for cleaning supplies, plastic may be the best choice for you. If you’re storing linens or other substantial materials, then cloth or basket containers are cozy and practical choices, otherwise it really depends on your personal preference. 

And you don’t have to settle for the colorless options presented to you at Walmart. Do a little more rooting around and you can get storage accouterments that are both functional and beautiful. If aesthetics are especially important to you then another way to add a little personal touch to your cupboard is to use alternative containers for individual items. Taking items out of their store-bought containers and placing them in charming boxes or glass bottles and jars can add a touch of cheerful whimsey to your closet. 

Here’s a tip that will make your life infinitely easier and keep your closet neater for longer. For the love of all that is tidy, do not stack! Unless the items are going directly onto your shelves (which we don't recommend) stacking makes it difficult to see what you have and reeks havoc should you need something from the middle of the pile. Instead, choose shallow containers or arrange items horizontally so you can see all contents at a glance. This is not only convenient but will ensure the longevity of your organization. You may also consider labeling containers to avoid overlong searching. 

Arrangement

Now, when it comes to shelving placement, don’t just shove bins onto the shelf willy-nilly. Be mindful of what needs to be close at hand when you open the door and what gets used only once in a blue moon. Things which you use often should be placed at eye or chest level while less-used items go in overhead or knee-high positions. Consider utilizing hooks and broom racks to minimize loose paraphernalia. If you are placing things directly onto the shelves, then put taller items in the back and shorter items in the front so you can not only see everything but also avoid knocking things over when you reach into the closet. All these suggestions will make retrieval a breeze.

Consider safety as well. Closets can be perilous places. Watch any cartoon and you’ll learn that heavier items should be on lower shelves or the floor so you don't have to lift them from an awkwardly high angles and risk injury. If you have pets or small children, put potentially harmful substances and objects above where tiny hands can reach. Avoid placing liquids above cloth items. This will ensure a mishap-free experience.

Conclusion

Now rinse and repeat this process for all the closets and cubbyholes in your home for a truly tidy home and complete peace of mind. We hope you enjoyed these tips and find them useful in your organization endeavors! Let us know in the comments what works for you and ask us any questions you may have! Check out our other blog posts for more DIY tips.