QUESTION: I need help organizing my closet. I own clothes that are 40 years old. I don't know how to organize. Can you help me? Betsy (Pansy, Man.)
ANSWER: You are not alone, Betsy. Although closet organization can be a big job, it does not need to be completed in one day.
Begin with one section at a time. Consider items you haven't worn in a very long time or those that no longer fit, but don't feel like you need to give them away right now. Place those items inside a box for storage. After a period of time you might feel like you want to get rid of the box, but don't rush yourself. After you have identified which items you want to put into storage, the task becomes less overwhelming because you are left dealing with fewer pieces.
Now let's organize the closet. Our goal is not to cram one item on top of another item. This leads to a mess and becomes frustrating when you are searching for a particular piece.
Shoes and accessories
-- If you have closet space large enough to store shoe boxes, take a photograph of the shoes or a label and tape it to the outside of each box. That way you see what you have and don't waste time searching.
-- If you don't have room to store boxes, put your shoes on shelves. Position one shoe with the heel out and the other shoe beside it with the heel in. Doing this saves space.
-- Hang belts on hooks either on the back of the bedroom door or on the inside on the closet door along with scarves and necklaces.
-- Over-the-door shoe-bag organizers are handy for more than just shoes. They can also be used for accessories such as jewelry, scarves, socks and gloves.
-- If possible, designate one of your bedroom drawers specifically for accessories. Position items worn most often near the front.
-- If you don't own a drawer organizer, collect little open boxes and lids to place inside the drawer to store small items such as earrings.
-- Add a little fragrance by placing perfume samples inside a drawer.
Clothing
-- If possible, install a clothing closet organizer in your room. Add several shelves to avoid wasted space. Once you have your organizer in place, divide work and leisure or separate clothes into colour or seasons.
-- Categorize clothes into pants, shirts (long sleeve and short), undergarments, sweaters, shorts, dresses and skirts.
-- Put out-of-season textiles away or on high shelves to make room for present-season items. Items most frequently worn should be stored at eye level.
-- Socks, tank tops, bathing suits, leggings and underwear take up less room when rolled and turned on their side.
-- Some people use large cloth bags to store items such as sweaters, purses or bathing suits. Take a few moments to label each cloth bag or basket, so that you always no where to find items without searching.
Extra tips to organize your closet
-- If you locate thin and narrow hangers, they will take up less room. Matching and well-chosen hangers are less likely to ruin and misshape clothing.
-- If you cannot remember which clothes you wore, hang all of your hangers facing in towards the closet. Each time you wear an item, hang the hanger facing you. That way you can keep track of which items you wore.
-- If you have room, store a stepladder inside your closet so every item is easily accessible.
-- Try not to jam pack clothing. Give every item breathing room; this prevents wrinkles.
-- Hooks are handy for storing clothing that you don't feel like putting away at the moment or when you choose an outfit to wear the next day. This prevents clothing from winding up on the floor.
I enjoy your questions and tips, keep them coming. Missed a column? Can't remember a solution? Need a speaker for an upcoming event? Check out my website, Reena.ca.
