Many houses are fortunate to have large walk-in closets with full-length mirrors and islands. Many more houses have very small or lackluster closets, making it difficult to manage your closet the way you want or would like.
When I lived in Paris, I learned the value of having a closet because I didn’t have one. What I had was a shelf, but then again I didn’t have a lot of space. So, when I moved out of Paris and to Chartres I discovered a small closet that was nothing but shelves and was simple to use. If I knew how to use it properly.
Organizing doesn’t have to be hard, nor does it have to be something you dread or implement for five minutes.
It can be easy with these simple steps and trust me they have been tried, adjusted, and have long-lasting results.
My plan to Organize a Small Closet
When I first look at my closet the first thing that vibrates through my mind is something that should never be uttered by a woman. “I have too many clothes.” Just typing that makes me shiver with fear.
But when I objectively look through what I have I begin to see that I have wasted a lot of money. I realized this as well when I saw what other French women were wearing.
While in the States I would have shook my head at myself if I wore something that had already been worn that month, here in France it’s disregarded. I’ve seen co-workers wear the same sweater more than once in a week. And I’m constantly amazed at how flawless the sweater is, not a wear or tear in sight.
So with that in mind, my first step is to:
1. Purge.
I hate that word, I have since I began downsizing my things right before moving overseas. It was a drag then and it’s a drag now. I’m not sure if it’s the actual sweater or whatever garment that I’ll miss or the memories.
So I hold on to it.
The one thing (clothing-holic) that I am and that I learned to do, is condition myself to let go by taking a photo of me in the garment. And then I physically let go of it. It works until I go looking for it a few days later to wear, and then I realize oh that’s right.
If you want to learn how to organize your small closet with lots of clothing purging is critical. Do you need space for seasonal clothing, bedding, shoes, or accessories?
2. Group things together
Now that you know what’s in your closet and what you want to keep, separate the items by category, this will help you to keep items together.
Create designated spaces for everything you have, for instance, jeans in one place, jackets in another, etc. Everything in your home should have its place based on what you use regularly.
Shoes need their own space
If you’re keeping your shoes in the same closet as your clothes it might be time to move them somewhere else. I find keeping them near the door or in a closet that is closest to the door is best.
Again keeping your things in an area that is designated will free up some space. In addition, you’ll have more space for more important things like cozy sweaters.
Use a shoe organizer or rack to give the shoes a proper home.
3. Matching containers
We all have containers and baskets, many of us have them lying about the house just collecting things we don’t use or look at on a day-to-day basis. While I love looking at mitch-match things, sometimes having the matching containers gives you that well-put-together cohesive look that calms you.
It’s not OCD, it’s just good sense. But if Mitch Match keeps you calm and it’s who you are then who am I to tell you to do it differently?
Put clothing that you can not hang up in these containers, such as heavy sweaters, or sweat pants that you only wear in the cooler months.
You could also keep your workout clothes in these or other items that you really shouldn’t put on a hanger.
4. Take advantage of doors & walls
When you run out of shelf space the next logical place is hooks and over the door holders. YOu can easily add hooks, shelving, or whatever works well with your decor.
This way you can hang things up that you use on most days without having to search through the closet.
5. A dresser or something similar in the closet
Add some drawers in your closet, and utilize the space effectively so it doesn’t become a dumping ground for everything. This will give you the essential space and custom storage that will keep you from having a mess.
6. Maximizing shelf space
Most closets have those annoying shelves that just don’t seem to have any reason. But these can be prime spots for storing shoe boxes, sweaters, or heavy blankets. You can make the most of this space by adding stackable risers, and shelf dividers to keep things orderly.
Even baskets can be useful
I’d avoid round bins, and stick to something more square in shape just so things are more functional.
7. Basket and other storage containers
Such things are great for holding hats, scarves, and even bathing suits. I use mine to hold my bags. You want these things to be easily assessable, especially if it’s a last-minute trip to the beach. So with an open top, you can reach in and grab.
Thank you for stopping by and allowing me to share with you my organizing tips. I hope they inspire you to organize your closet the way you’ve always imagined. If you’ve tried any of these feel free to show me a picture or let me know what you tried, I’d love to know!
Christina
