Closet Organizing Tips from the Pros

To kick off spring-cleaning season last year, we dished out all sorts of closet organization ideas. And now that it’s that time again this year (I admit it, I’m playing catch-up on my spring cleaning), we have even more ideas to help you whip your closets into shape. I called up Tim Woollen, owner of Closet Tailors in Madison, Wisconsin, for expert advice. Here’s what he had to say:

Q: What’s an inexpensive idea for corralling all those clothes and accessories that tend to pile up in the closet (and sometimes on the floor)?

A: Use lots of storage bins and baskets to contain out-of-season clothing. Clear plastic bins—which you can buy for a very low cost—are really effective, and you can use them year-round to rotate your clothes and accessories. They protect your clothes until you’re ready to use them again. Plus, you can easily see what’s in them and can label them for quick identification.

Q: What’s an easy clothes organization technique that people might not know about?

A: I like this neat little trick: Rather than hanging clothes with the hanger going forward, hang them with the hook facing behind the rod (so that the open end of the hanger faces you). As you wear clothes and eventually put them back in the closet, hang them forward as you normally would. This allows you to determine which items you don’t wear, so it’s much easier to de-clutter your closet.

Q: What must-have closet organization products do you recommend investing in?

A: A valet rod is a tried-and-true item that’s really helpful. It pulls out, allowing you to conveniently hang dry-cleaned clothes or tomorrow’s outfit. Also purchase belt racks and tie racks. I see so many closets where these items are strewn all over the place, and custom racks are a good way to keep these items at arm’s reach. These items are often overlooked, but they really help a lot of my customers on a daily basis.

Q: What’s the best way to improve accessibility and function within your closet?

A: Consider the space you’re working with. When organizing their closets, people often tend to overlook how they’ll feel when they’re actually using the space on a daily basis. For example, if you’ve got a walk-in closet, consider where you’re hanging items. It’s a good idea to situate clothes and accessories toward the back of the closet so your shoulders don’t brush against them when you’re in there. This creates a more open space so you don’t feel cluttered and stressed.

Also, rather than stacking clothes in tall piles, stack them 2-3 items high at most so you can easily reach them and so they don’t topple over.

Q: What’s the best way to make the most of a non-walk-in closet with little space to spare?

A: If you have a single pole and shelf that extends left to right and don’t intend to change it, you can use a cascading hanger (right) that allows you to hang your items, and then unhook one side to minimize the space needed on a regular basis.

If you want to get the most out of your closet, I recommend taking out the existing shelf and pole and replacing them with as much double hang space and shelving as you need to best meet your needs. For about $200-$400, you can typically get a new and improved closet for yourself. See the illustrations (below) for reference—you gain 11 more feet of shelf space plus two additional feet of hanging space with the closet system.
 

Q: Any other pointers to share?

A: More people are incorporating small chests of drawers into their closets. It keeps items easily accessible, and it’s a great way to gain additional floor space in the bedroom.

Thanks for sharing your closet organization tips and tricks with readers, Tim. I can’t wait to try these ideas in my own closet (I’m finally making the switch from winter to warm-weather clothes).

Until tomorrow,
The Home Know-It-All

Comments

[DebraC]

Some great closet tips from Tim.
Another tip to add is to declutter non clothes items from your closet. You will be surprised to find all sorts of items that don't really belong in your closet.

[Lucy]

I can't wait to try a few of these tips. The statistic that people wear 20% of their clothes 80% of the time is so true. This is similar to one of the closet organizing tips I found at http://www.organizeyourclosetnow.com is to have trash bags ready. You will be surprised when you organize your closet how many things you saved that must go to donations or trash. I sure do enjoy all of your articles.