by Yve Goodwin

Created on: December 13, 2010

Once you’ve finished weeding out your closet and your new capsule wardrobe is in place; it’s time to get organized!   Here are a few tips to make your life a bit easier when searching for items to wear from your closet. 

1.       Place the Most used Items at Eye Level – Place seldom used items in a box or folded up between clip-on dividers higher up in your closet.

2.       Lift Shoes up High and Preserve Boots – If you don’t have space for built-in cubbies or units, a simple shoe box with a picture of your shoes stuck on the outside will suffice.  Shoe racks and hanging bags can also keep your footwear off the floor and scuff free.  Stuff boots with shoe inserts or old t-shirts (so they’ll retain their shape), and store them upright with opposite ends together to help save space.

3.       Fold all Knits – Never hang sweaters and delicate clothing on hangers to prevent them from stretching out and losing their shape.

4.       Pair Like With Like – Organize all of your skirts together then place all of your pants together (hang them vertically and do not fold them in order to avoid unwanted creases), and then sort each pile by color and fabric so you can easily see what you have.

5.        Maximize Your Space - Placing the top horizontal bar high up in the closet will help to make good use of the entire space.  The best closets have the remaining horizontal bars hung in a combination of heights, in order to further maximize space.

6.       Organize Your Floor Space - Now that your shoes are no longer on the floor, you’ll now be able to store clearly labelled boxes with rarely used items placed at the bottom.

7.       Leave Some Shelf Space – Avoid over-stuffing shelves.  Instead keep them neat and tidy by storing only three or four sweaters or tops on top of each one.

8.       Rotate Clothes – In your main closet you should only store one season’s worth of clothes at a time.  Place off season garments in a garment bag and store them in another area.

9.       Buy Good Quality Hangers - Choose smooth and uniform hangers; whether they are plastic, wooden, or a sleek metal style.

If you follow these few simple tips for organizing your closet, you’ll save a lot of time and avoid a lot of frustration when it comes to getting dressed for any occasion.

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