by Karon Brandt

Created on: December 21, 2008   Last Updated: November 24, 2009

Actually, a good spring-cleaning can be done any time you get motivated to use your home space more effectively. You don't need a bigger home; you need to make your home feel bigger! It involves determination, purging, creativity, and, ultimately, satisfaction.

Visualize the possibilities around your home to create more closet space. As you empty existing, cluttered closets and clean out under-utilized, disorganized spaces like attics, basements, and garages, imagine functional, efficient closet spaces. Don't overlook unused spaces under a stairways as possible new closet space.

Use every cubic foot of space efficiently: divide it into vertical and horizontal, functional compartments. Consider the intended purpose of the space. What will it hold? Visualize compartmentalizing the space with modular shelving, rods, cantilevered racks, drawers, and baskets. Check out www.EasyClosets.com and design your own closet system on-line before beginning.

Shelving comes in metal, fiberboard and PVC. For clothes closets, don't overlook usable door space for hooks, hanging shoe holders, or narrow racks for smaller items. Open baskets, drawers, and racks should allow you to organize your stuff neatly with quick access to the specific items you want.

You can create closet space in any unused, recessed opening with a combination of shelving, a clothing rack, bookcases, and/or wall or floor cabinets. If you want to add a door, you can use a bi-fold, sliding, French, or traditional door to enclose the space. Think about utilizing spaces near a laundry area, a mudroom or by an entry door.

Attics, dry basements, and garages can become huge "closets on demand" with a bit of ingenuity. Freestanding cabinets can hide/hold/organize a lot of stuff! Even a row of inexpensive bookcases or metal shelf units placed side by side against a wall can create storage closet space. Cover with an attractive sheet to keep it dust-free.

Buy different-sized, see-through plastic containers for stackable storage. Plastic drawer organizers on casters can hold many things within sight while compartmentalizing them. If organized neatly enough, you won't need a door, but if you want a visual screen, you can hang attractive fabric, a decorative blanket, or large wall hanging in front of the area.

Make your motto "A place for everything and everything in its place," so your family can find their stuff when they want it. If the garage is extra deep, create a faux wall in front of another wall and create instant closet space for bikes, sports equipment, large toys, etc. Most people want to store tools, car and cleaning supplies in the garage. Use wallboard, shelving, and wall hooks to use the vertical space.

Spring-cleaning should provide a feeling of hope and renewal! If you haven't used something in five years or so, you probably don't need it any more, or it doesn't fit you any more, or someone else could get a lot more use out of it. Pass it on or dispose of it.

Finally, feel good about a job well done and enjoy your new, "larger-feeling," organized space!

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