by Kathleen Soviak

Created on: November 18, 2009

Having a clean, organized closet can make or break the way you feel about getting ready in the morning. Walking into your closet when it looks like a small tornado has just swept through it can be very stressful, especially on those mornings when you are in a hurry. Having a tidy, well-put together space can make getting ready an enjoyable experience, instead of a dreaded task.

The first thing to do is to get two trash bags. One is going to be for trash, and the other for items that you no longer want that can be donated to charity. You are also going to want some floor space to be able to sort things out, so clean up your room first!

Now you are ready to tackle the mess. Anything that you have not worn for an entire season needs to go! For instance, if fall has come upon you and you didn't wear that ten dollar sundress all summer long, in the charity bag it goes. All these clothes are doing are taking up valuable space. Anything with rips, stains, or that are misshapen should get thrown away. "Skinny" clothes should also go. If you haven't been a size two in years, chances are you aren't going to get there anytime soon. If you can't bear to give them away, they should at least get packed away.

Once everything is sorted through, you should only have things you are keeping left. A great way to save space is to put away non-seasonal clothes. There is no need for winter coats in the summer or for sundresses in the winter. You can buy cheap storage bins at a department store like Wal-Mart or Target. Put them up in your attic or down in your basement for some extra room.

Another great trick for those with particularly limited space is to double-up on your hangers. More than one pair of trousers can be hung on a hanger. The same goes for sundresses. Shoes can also be stacked up on top of each other. Flip-flops and flats are especially good for this space-saving trick.

If you are willing to spend some money, there are many great closet organizers out there that are relatively easy to install. These will give you shelves to store clothes and shoes, and everything else that gets tucked away in a closet. Belt racks are also a great way to tidy up the look of a closet, but a hanger will work as well.

All of these things can make a closet make your closet feel much bigger than it is, and maximize its space giving potential. This I know from experience, as I have shared a closet with my pack rat sister for many years!

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