Tiny closets call for great efficiency. It can get out of hand in a hurry if you don’t have extra room. Start organizing from the bottom up. Consider a short dresser or an individual drawer. The type that is designed to go underneath a bed is extra wide and deep. These can be used on the floor for shoes, sheets, shirts, socks and underwear, whatever you need to keep down there.

You can place a shelf on top of this shallow drawer and use it like your new closet floor. Here you can put your shoes, laundry basket, sports equipment, whatever you can’t hang. You can also put a couple of shelves here and use cubby style containers to hold and organize all sorts of things. Baskets are great for organizing jewelry, socks, belts, underwear, and even things like your video camera, DVDs, video games and more. Keep things separated in different containers so that it’s easy to stay organized.

Now we move on to your hanging clothes. Don’t think that you have to keep your hanging bar exactly where it is. Many times, you can move it up a little and create more usable space down below. Look up towards the ceiling and see just how much space is actually wasted. Don’t worry about that top shelf being moved up high, you are only going to use it for storing things long-term. Here you can keep your out of season clothes, luggage, blankets, and other items that you don’t need very often.

When the shelf is up high, see if you have empty space extending from the shelf to the front wall of the closet. You can install a small shelf here, extending the top shelf all the way around, even in a tiny closet. You may even be able to continue placing shelves down those front corners of the closet, making space for folded shirts, shorts and jeans.

Now, it’s time to hang your clothes. You may have more clothes than you think could ever possibly fit into your small closet. However, you may not have thought about how space saving hangers work. They are standard sized hangers, but they slope more at the shoulder so that you don’t pucker your clothes. These hangers fit closely together, but the body is wide enough that they don’t get tangled. The best space saving hangers on the market are velvet hangers. They have removable clips that allow you to hang tops and bottoms on one hanger. Better yet, they have cascading hooks, so you can coordinate outfits or hang more than one outfit in one space. These hangers are really versatile and can double or triple the amount of clothing that you can hang in your closet.

About the Author: Rick Miller is on the staff of Only Slimline Hangers, a leading online resource for velvet hangers which are space saving hangers, non slip hangers and slim line hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyslimlinehangers.com.

1) First determine what you need to clean. There are usually “hot spots” around small homes that collect junk. Tackle one area at a time. Use the counters, beds, dressers, or coffee table to start organizing. Take everything from the pile and divide it into categories.

2) Create a pile for each category so that you can get an idea of what types of organizational products you might need. You don’t necessarily have to spend a lot of money to get organized. For storage, you can use old shoe boxes, plastic zipper bags, things of that nature. Avoid making a miscellaneous pile. This is what generally gets us into clutter mode to begin with. Make sure that similar items are kept together so that you can find what you need when you need it.

3) You may want to install some shelves in a closet or in the corner of the room. Shelves give you a space to put boxes, bins and other containers that are storing your belongings. Label boxes so that you can easily locate things when you need them. As a general rule, store things that you don’t need very often up higher or down lower than everything else. Place things that you use more often at about eye level so that you can have quick and easy access to them.

4) Get creative with storage space. There are lots of furniture pieces on the market that are designed to save space in small apartments or homes. Couches have armrests that open up to reveal cup holders, storage for remote controls, magazines, and more. Coffee tables have tops that open up to reveal storage. Even ottomans can open up and provide storage for blankets or anything else that you need them to. If you don’t want to spend a lot of money, check thrift stores and used furniture places for trunks and other things that can serve as storage or tables.

5) You can make more space in your closets than you realize by utilizing space saving hangers, like velvet hangers. These hangers are all the rage because they allow you to double or even triple the space in your closet. The slim design helps clothes to fit closely together. The finger clips and cascading hooks allow you to coordinate outfits. The possibilities are endless. You just have to use your imagination.

About the Author: Rick Miller is on the staff of Only Slimline Hangers, a leading online resource for velvet hangers which are space saving hangers, non slip hangers and slim line hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyslimlinehangers.com.

1) The first thing is always to clean out the closet. Clothing can collect in there for years before you realize what a crowded mess you’ve created. Make sure that you have space on the floor or bed outside of the closet before you start. Then, go through and get rid of things that don’t deserve the space that they’re taking up. Old, out of style clothes, clothes that just don’t fit right, clothing that doesn’t match anything, and things that you just never wear need to go. If you have a lot of nice items to get rid of, consider having a yard sale, taking them to a consignment shop, or selling them online.

2) If you want your closet to stay uncluttered, you’ll need to come up with a system for getting rid of things as needed. You may want to install a hook in the closet to hang a bag on. This bag can be used for tossing in clothes as you realize that you really don’t like them as much as you thought you did. You can force yourself to get rid of something every time you put something new in the closet. As new shoes and clothes come in, old ones must go out. Many people find it helpful to turn the hangers backwards. As you use the clothes in the closet, turn the hangers forward. At the end of the season, get rid of the clothes that are still hanging backwards.

3) You will also need to come up with a good system for switching out summer and winter clothes. Out of season clothing can be stored in bins under your bed or in large containers in the top of the closet. When you store clothes for a longer period of time, you’ll want to be sure that they have cedar closet products inside. This will absorb moisture, preventing mildew from forming, making your clothes musty. It will also keep pests that damage clothing away from your stored items.

4) Find storage space inside and outside of the closet as well. Use the space on the back of the closet door, under the bed, in a cedar chest, and near the ceiling in the closet. Make good use of specialty hangers, like belt hangers, tie hangers, skirt hangers and cascading hangers to create more room and use less storage space around the room. Space saving hangers, like velvet hangers, are perfect for coordinating outfits, cascading multiple items from one hanger, and keeping your clothes hanging close together and wrinkle free while they’re in your closet.

About the Author: Rick Miller is on the staff of Only Slimline Hangers, a leading online resource for velvet hangers which are space saving hangers, non slip hangers and slim line hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyslimlinehangers.com.

1) Chances are, you own more than you need. When we buy new clothes, for example, we don’t usually think to throw out or give away the old ones. The same goes for shoes, cameras, socks, make-up, you name it. We don’t like to throw out or give away usable items. There are a couple of ways to tackle this problem. Set limits for yourself on what you can own. Have a basket or bin for things that you think you won’t use anymore. If you can’t bear to give it away immediately, keep it in this holding area to see if you really miss it or not. Only allow yourself to buy new things if you get rid of something old.

2) Make an assessment of your space. You can, for example, make a sock bin and hang it on the wall of your closet. Make an educated guess about how many socks you need to own and how much space you are able to spare for them. When the basket gets a little full, start going through the bottom and decide which socks you didn’t wear much over the last year. Get rid of them if they’re not your favorites.

3) One benefit of setting limits for yourself like this, is that you end up buying higher quality products that you’ll really love and be able to use for a long time. Being picky is a good thing. You may be thinking that this sounds like an expensive option, but it really isn’t if you think about how often you have to get rid of cheap clothes and shoes that tear up or shrink in the wash. You’ll end up spending less over the long term if you are careful about what you let occupy the little space that you have.

4) Use organizers, racks and bins to keep the space limited. Use space saving hangers, like velvet hangers, to make the most space in your closet while protecting those delicate or expensive garments. You’ll love your newly organized little space and enjoy not having the clutter that you used to.

About the Author: Rick Miller is on the staff of Only Slimline Hangers, a leading online resource for velvet hangers which are space saving hangers, non slip hangers and slim line hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyslimlinehangers.com.

1) Get rid of as much clutter as possible. This means clearing out things that you either no longer use or do not have space for. You can’t warrant owning or storing a set of luggage in your closet if you don’t have space for your clothing. Consider storing bulky items in a garage, basement or attic. Clothing that doesn’t fit right, is no longer in style, or that you simply don’t wear should be donated or sold. You can sell or offer your clothes to someone locally online. If you want to have a yard sale, it’s a great way to get some extra money to spend on your closet.

2) If you want to stay organized year round, you need a system. It’s really hard to stay organized if your clothing for winter starts to take over your summer clothes. Make sure that you have spacious storage for items that are not in use. Keep out a few things to wear between seasons. These items should stay in your closet all year. Having a few things accessible will keep you from making the snap decision to get your summer clothes out on that first hot day, before you’re ready to swap out wardrobes. Those in between times when the weather can be both hot and cold can creep up on you and cause you to cram clothes into your closet, destroying your efforts to get organized.

3) Find creative places to store items that you are not using. Check behind the closet door, above it, high above the top shelf, and in the front corners of the closet. There may be hidden space that you can use to get organized. Use risers to create extra space underneath beds for excess shoes and clothing that is not in season.

4) Using the right clothes hangers can make a big difference in the closet that you use. Staying organized is easier if you have hangers that help you to do that. Space saving hangers, like velvet hangers, are made to fit flat against each other. They are very sturdy and have a velvet coating that keeps clothes from ending up on the floor. They are perfect for coordinating outfits and helping you to make the most of a small space.

About the Author: Rick Miller is on the staff of Only Slimline Hangers, a leading online resource for velvet hangers which are space saving hangers, non slip hangers and slim line hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyslimlinehangers.com.

Tiny closets call for great efficiency. It can get out of hand in a hurry if you don’t have extra room. Start organizing from the bottom up. Consider a short dresser or an individual drawer. The type that is designed to go underneath a bed is extra wide and deep. These can be used on the floor for shoes, sheets, shirts, socks and underwear, whatever you need to keep down there.

You can place a shelf on top of this shallow drawer and use it like your new closet floor. Here you can put your shoes, laundry basket, sports equipment, whatever you can’t hang. You can also put a couple of shelves here and use cubby style containers to hold and organize all sorts of things. Baskets are great for organizing jewelry, socks, belts, underwear, and even things like your video camera, DVDs, video games and more. Keep things separated in different containers so that it’s easy to stay organized.

Now we move on to your hanging clothes. Don’t think that you have to keep your hanging bar exactly where it is. Many times, you can move it up a little and create more usable space down below. Look up towards the ceiling and see just how much space is actually wasted. Don’t worry about that top shelf being moved up high, you are only going to use it for storing things long-term. Here you can keep your out of season clothes, luggage, blankets, and other items that you don’t need very often.

When the shelf is up high, see if you have empty space extending from the shelf to the front wall of the closet. You can install a small shelf here, extending the top shelf all the way around, even in a tiny closet. You may even be able to continue placing shelves down those front corners of the closet, making space for folded shirts, shorts and jeans.

Now, it’s time to hang your clothes. You may have more clothes than you think could ever possibly fit into your small closet. However, you may not have thought about how space saving hangers work. They are standard sized hangers, but they slope more at the shoulder so that you don’t pucker your clothes. These hangers fit closely together, but the body is wide enough that they don’t get tangled. The best space saving hangers on the market are velvet hangers. They have removable clips that allow you to hang tops and bottoms on one hanger. Better yet, they have cascading hooks, so you can coordinate outfits or hang more than one outfit in one space. These hangers are really versatile and can double or triple the amount of clothing that you can hang in your closet.

1) First determine what you need to clean. There are usually “hot spots” around small homes that collect junk. Tackle one area at a time. Use the counters, beds, dressers, or coffee table to start organizing. Take everything from the pile and divide it into categories.

2) Create a pile for each category so that you can get an idea of what types of organizational products you might need. You don’t necessarily have to spend a lot of money to get organized. For storage, you can use old shoe boxes, plastic zipper bags, things of that nature. Avoid making a miscellaneous pile. This is what generally gets us into clutter mode to begin with. Make sure that similar items are kept together so that you can find what you need when you need it.

3) You may want to install some shelves in a closet or in the corner of the room. Shelves give you a space to put boxes, bins and other containers that are storing your belongings. Label boxes so that you can easily locate things when you need them. As a general rule, store things that you don’t need very often up higher or down lower than everything else. Place things that you use more often at about eye level so that you can have quick and easy access to them.

4) Get creative with storage space. There are lots of furniture pieces on the market that are designed to save space in small apartments or homes. Couches have armrests that open up to reveal cup holders, storage for remote controls, magazines, and more. Coffee tables have tops that open up to reveal storage. Even ottomans can open up and provide storage for blankets or anything else that you need them to. If you don’t want to spend a lot of money, check thrift stores and used furniture places for trunks and other things that can serve as storage or tables.

5) You can make more space in your closets than you realize by utilizing space saving hangers, like velvet hangers. These hangers are all the rage because they allow you to double or even triple the space in your closet. The slim design helps clothes to fit closely together. The finger clips and cascading hooks allow you to coordinate outfits. The possibilities are endless. You just have to use your imagination.

About the Author: Rick Miller is on the staff of Only Slimline Hangers, a leading online resource for velvet hangers which are space saving hangers, non slip hangers and slim line hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyslimlinehangers.com.

1) Clear out as much of your old stuff as possible. If something doesn’t fit quite right, get rid of it. If you have shoes that hurt, are scuffed, or simply don’t match anything that you have, give them away. Making charitable donations is a great way to help your community and get some extra deductions on your taxes. If possible, have a yard sale or list your better items on an auction site. Use the extra money to upgrade your closet so that it can stay more organized in the future.

2) Come up with a wardrobe rotation system. If you have a closet that is on the smaller side, you may not be able to store your summer and winter clothing in there. Try to find space under the bed, in an armoire, or in the garage for clothing that you don’t use year-round. Be sure to use cedar accessories in your storage bins to avoid musty odors and to repel pests. If you prefer to keep your clothing hanging, invest a little in a rolling garment rack with a zip-up cover to keep your hanging clothes nice and neat while they’re in storage.

3) Space is at a premium, so use it wisely. If t-shirts take up more space hanging than they do stacked on a shelf, use the shelf. If pants stay better organized on pants hangers than stuffed in a drawer, designate one area just for pants. Designate areas, bins, containers, drawers or shelves for pajamas, socks, swimwear, and other small items that you may not want to hang. A simple cubby system down one side of your closet may be enough. Or, consider putting one on each side of the closet, leaving the hanging space in the center free for hanging clothes.

4) Find storage space wherever you can. Is the area on the back of the closet door being used? What about above the closet door? Near the ceiling? There is often space in the closet that we haven’t considered using before that is perfect for storing things that we don’t use every day. Consider placing some small shelves and racks around those spaces for things like hats and luggage that don’t get used very often.

5) Choosing the right clothes hangers can make a huge difference in the space that you use and how organized you are able to keep the closet. Space saving hangers, like velvet hangers, prevent clothes from slipping, puckering at the shoulders, or becoming tangled up on the bar. They are slim enough to fit closely together. You can also get cascading hangers that allow you to hang multiple pairs of pants on one hanger or coordinate outfits to save time and space.

About the Author: Rick Miller is on the staff of Only Slimline Hangers, a leading online resource for velvet hangers which are space saving hangers, non slip hangers and slim line hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyslimlinehangers.com.

1) Your attitude matters more than you think. If you’re totally stressed and sad that you have to live in a place so small, then you won’t get much done for a while. A negative attitude can cloud your judgment and keep you from using your creativity to make the space work. You need to adopt a minimalist attitude. You don’t need a million possessions to be happy. Possessions don’t make you who you are. Society dictates that we consume more and more each day. However, you have the power to rise above and live your life more efficiently.

2) Now that you’ve adopted your “can do” attitude, it’s time to get to work. You are probably surrounded by boxes and furniture. Go through and categorize everything. Rate your belongings on a scale of 1-10. If you really need it to live and eat, rate it as number one. These things will be the highest priority. Scale everything down to ten. Now, decide how much room you have by putting away everything rated as number one, then two, three, and so forth. When you run out of room, everything else should go.

3) Be picky about what you keep. You don’t want piles of junk all around you or you’ll always feel cramped and stressed. Try to get a few functional pieces of furniture that have storage inside. Install shelving above your doors, in the corners, and under the windows. Invest a little in closet organizers and a pantry organizer. Put large drawers under your bed and couch. Create storage wherever you can if you need to store more than your small living space will allow.

4) Bulky furniture is often unnecessary. You can make room for a large capacity armoire by getting rid of a dresser. Dressers are very inefficient. Clothes are stacked inside where you can’t see them or get them out without unfolding half of the stack. We end up hiding miscellaneous items in the drawers and soon they become crowded with junk. Using an armoire for blankets and other bulky household items saves you closet space. With some space saving hangers, like velvet hangers, some baskets, shelves, and storage bins, you can put every piece of clothing you own inside of the closet. When you store something, ask yourself if this is the most efficient way to store before you decide that the item is in its permanent spot.

About the Author: Rick Miller is on the staff of Only Slimline Hangers, a leading online resource for velvet hangers which are space saving hangers, non slip hangers and slim line hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyslimlinehangers.com.

1) Chances are, you own more than you need. When we buy new clothes, for example, we don’t usually think to throw out or give away the old ones. The same goes for shoes, cameras, socks, make-up, you name it. We don’t like to throw out or give away usable items. There are a couple of ways to tackle this problem. Set limits for yourself on what you can own. Have a basket or bin for things that you think you won’t use anymore. If you can’t bear to give it away immediately, keep it in this holding area to see if you really miss it or not. Only allow yourself to buy new things if you get rid of something old.

2) Make an assessment of your space. You can, for example, make a sock bin and hang it on the wall of your closet. Make an educated guess about how many socks you need to own and how much space you are able to spare for them. When the basket gets a little full, start going through the bottom and decide which socks you didn’t wear much over the last year. Get rid of them if they’re not your favorites.

3) One benefit of setting limits for yourself like this, is that you end up buying higher quality products that you’ll really love and be able to use for a long time. Being picky is a good thing. You may be thinking that this sounds like an expensive option, but it really isn’t if you think about how often you have to get rid of cheap clothes and shoes that tear up or shrink in the wash. You’ll end up spending less over the long term if you are careful about what you let occupy the little space that you have.

4) Use organizers, racks and bins to keep the space limited. Use space saving hangers, like velvet hangers, to make the most space in your closet while protecting those delicate or expensive garments. You’ll love your newly organized little space and enjoy not having the clutter that you used to.

About the Author: Rick Miller is on the staff of Only Slimline Hangers, a leading online resource for velvet hangers which are space saving hangers, non slip hangers and slim line hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyslimlinehangers.com.