by Maria Miaoulis

Created on: December 19, 2008   Last Updated: August 13, 2011

We never seem to have enough closet space in our homes either because we have too many possessions, too little closet space or a combination of both. With a thorough spring cleaning however, anyone can transform a closet to make the space serve its fullest potential. And the best part is that you don't have to wait until April or May to do spring cleaning. Here are some tips to get you started:

1) Take everything out of the closet- The first step of spring cleaning is the easiest. An empty closet space shows what you have to work with and also makes it easier to plan for inserts such as shelving, hooks and drawers.

2) Group belongings into similar piles- It can be overwhelming when surrounded by a roomful of "stuff." However, organizing it all into clusters shows what you have and exactly how much of it.

3) Toss what hasn't been used in the last year- Spring cleaning is intended to give you a fresh start, and you can't do this if you're holding onto clutter. Plus, if you haven't used it in 365 days, chances are you don't need it.

4) Decide what purpose the closet will serve- Do you want your closet space to hold only clothes and shoes, linen, or coats? For those with more than one closet, designate each for a specific purpose. Those who are not so fortunate should create different zones in the one closet to contain everything.

5) Take out what doesn't belong- Once you've decided what you want to use the closet space for, remove whatever doesn't fit into that theme.

6) Take advantage of vertical space- Shelving is an efficient and inexpensive way to increase closet space by providing locations higher up for smaller, more delicate items. People also tend to overlook the bottom of their closet space which is perfect for roll-out storage boxes and drawers. Use see-through containers so that you know what's in there at a glance.

7) Install hooks on the doors- This is an excellent way to store long items of clothing that drag on the floor or accessories such as belts or ties that fall behind other items in the closet.

8) Group like things together- Now that the most difficult part of spring cleaning is finished, it's time to move everything back inside. Keep items color coded so you won't do unnecessary buying in the future.

9) Keep it organized- It's important to maintain the order in your closet space, and spring cleaning is important to accomplishing this. Set aside time at least once a year, if not more, to purge what is no longer needed and to make room for new things that are brought in.

You will be amazed at how much more closet space you will gain from a complete spring cleaning. For those easily overwhelmed by the process, break it down into manageable parts. Spring cleaning can be exhaustive, but an overcrowded and disorganized closet space can be even more stressful.

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