If you have a big closet or an extremely packed closet, then you may need to schedule quite a few hours or even a day to spend focusing on the problem. Most closets have one thing in common: inadequate storage space.

You probably do have enough storage space, but the arrangement is all wrong. Just like homes, the square footage can be low, but the layout can make all the difference. Think efficiency. You want the things that you use most to be front and center. Accessibility is important when you’re creating usable space.

Make the most of square footage. This is where you should sit down with a pen and paper and start drawing up designs. You don’t have to get fancy, but figure out where your belongings will go before you start.

This can be a lot easier if you categorize your clothing. Hanging shirts, pants, skirts, and dresses in their own sections of the closet can help you quickly get ready in the mornings. Plus, by hanging short items all together, you free up some space below. A lot of times, simply rearranging the order of clothing is all that it takes to start organizing.

There is no hard-fast rule here. If it is easier for you to keep your work clothes in one section, work-out clothes in another, and your casual wear all separated, then by all means, do it that way. Some people like the uniformity of arranging by color.

It may be a good idea to get some other minds involved in your design. Friends or family members may have some creative ideas if you’re running short. You may need to invest a little money to implement your design, but you don’t have to spend a fortune.

Find spaces in your closet that aren’t being used and install shelves, cubbies or extra rails. You’re not stuck with the standard bar and shelf that most closets have. If you started with a completely empty space, what would you do with it? Is there a way to make that happen? Do you need special spaces for certain things like photos, electronics or hobby supplies? Design the closet that fits your belongings.

Save extra space by using space saving hangers, called slimlinehangers. They grip clothing with their velvety finish. They’re super thin, yet really durable. They make your clothing hang in a tiny amount of space. Install hooks for tote bags, purses and robes. Install drawers or use bins for ties, belts and socks. When everything has a place to go, it won’t be crammed in any longer.

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

The best thing to do if you have a small closet is to set up a wardrobe rotation. There is probably no room for a winter and summer wardrobe. So, you’ve got to get a plan. Figure out where you have space around the house. If you have room under your bed, you can invest a small amount in large, shallow containers that slide right under. Some are even designed to work like a drawer so that you can quickly get what you need if you happen to need to get in there. If your bed is not high enough, use risers to lift it. Your dust ruffle or duvet will cover the space and you can make a lot of room for your off-season clothing.

Don’t make the mistake of buying a whole lot of storage bins and expect to organize the closet. If everything is stored, then it becomes hard to get to. In a small closet, you have got to have everything efficiently organized. This means you can’t just buy any closet organizer. You really need to specifically plan for the things that you own. If you have a hundred pairs of shoes, then shoes will be your focus. If you have too many clothes hanging, then shelving will be your main concern. Many shirts do not wrinkle bad and can be neatly folded into a stack and placed on a shelf. It’s easy to see what you have and the space that they take up can be minimal.

Utilize the vertical space. You can install a small shelf above the closet door on the inside. Here you can keep valuables and things that you don’t want children to get into. You can put corner shelves all the way up the front two corners of the closet. You can use a hanging shoe rack on the door, or any other over-the-door organizer for keeping track of everything from ties and belts to gloves and scarves.

Take a look at the space that is wasted near the ceiling. Most people have a good 40-50 square feet just empty up there. Your suitcases are only so tall. Consider moving that shelf up higher and store things like blankets and duffel bags inside of your suitcases. You may be able to add another shelf just below it above your bar and create even more room.

Finish out the closet with space saving hangers, like slimlinehangers, to make the hanging clothes that you have take up as little space as possible.

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

One big convenience of the reach-in closet is the wide open doorway. This gives you access to a lot of square footage that would have ended up hidden in a standard or walk in closet. You can utilize the space underneath your clothes by installing drawers, bins, shelves and shoe racks.

Your goal should be to determine how much square footage you can free up. It doesn’t really matter if it is a big walk-in or a regular closet, because square footage is square footage. See what happens if you hang all of your shortest garments on one end. Does it create more space below? What if you moved the top shelf and bar up? Does that help to use some of that ceiling space that normally goes to waste? What if you move the bar back closet to the back wall? Do you now have more room in the front corners? Be creative and think outside of the box when you are trying to make space.

Another tip is to think about more than what will look nice. If you’re thinking in numbers, then you are more likely to think of a way to make more room. For example, if you do all of the things listed above, move the top shelf up and move the bar up and back, then did you just make room for a second hanging bar below? What about on one side? If you started out with an eight foot bar, then couldn’t you divide it into two four foot bars and condense them to one side of the closet? If so, then you still have the same number of feet of hanging space, but you just emptied literally half of your closet for additional storage.

On the empty side, you can slide in a dresser, add a closet system or simply add shelves. You may be able to extend your top shelf out to the front wall on each side of the door. Then you may have room to build or assemble book shelves down each side of the closet near the front. You can use this space for storing just about anything that will fit.

The main lesson here is to throw your normal closet thinking out the window and really use your creativity to come up with a useful plan. If you still feel like clothes are crowded, use space saving hangers like slimlinehangers to create even more space. When you are done, you could have the custom closet that you’ve always wanted without having to buy a new house!

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

You need to make usable space for your things. This may involve adding shelves, racks, cubbies or additional bars. You can protect your wardrobe from damage if it is not crammed in between shoes, junk and other clothes. One way to make space where there is not much space to be had is to use space saving hangers.

You can use them to keep your coats, shirts, skirts and pants from getting crammed together. Plus, the new streamlined look will make your closet instantly look better. Select the right curvature or style for the kinds of clothing that you own. Space saving hangers with hooks are great for skirts and shirts with large neck openings. Ones with notches can hold items with straps for shoulders.

The flat design of slimlinehangers keeps clothes close together. However, they actually help them to hold their shape at the shoulder and back. They keep your closet in tip top shape, providing much needed space and organization. You can even piggy-back articles of clothing with cascading hooks to create even more space and have your clothes ready to grab at a moment’s notice.

You can further protect your wardrobe with a few more inexpensive accessories. Shoulder covers are especially useful for dark colored coats, dresses and suits. A build-up of dust can make you have to bring them to the cleaners before you can wear them again. Shoulder covers and garment bags protect the clothing that you do not wear often from dust.

If you have extra room to spare, you can add drawers, additional shelves, a laundry nook, or a specialty organization rack. Customize it to your personal needs. You may need simple hooks for handbags, robes and belts. Or you may want a special shelf up high for a lock box or jewelry. If you have a lot of board games to store, you may want a tall, slim series of shelves. A lot of people are moving towards using baskets or bins to hide away and organize small items while making their closet beautiful.

Be creative with the space that you have and you can utilize space that you didn’t know you had before. For example, how many inches are wasted behind your hanging clothes? If you move your hanging bar back towards the wall, you can free up space in the front of the closet for shelves, cubbies and hooks to go from floor to ceiling.

Once you get your closet organized with slimlinehangers, or space saving hangers, manipulate the space that you have and add accessories that fit your wardrobe and your budget, it will be much easier to keep things in order from then on out.

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

First things first, clear out the closet. You need to get rid of as much stuff as possible before you start. Shoes that are scuffed, too tight or out of date must go. If they just do not match anything or haven’t been worn in over a year, chances are you will never use them. The same goes for clothes. If there is a stain, it’s too short, too tight, or out of date, it has got to go. Again, if you have not worn it in a year, you probably never will.

If you cannot bear to give everything to charity, consider giving it to friends or having a swap party with friends. You can inspire all of your friends to clear out the clutter in their lives as well. Have a party where everyone brings over their gently used items to share. Purses, hats, belts and shoes are most popular. Whatever is left after the swap goes to a local charity. It’s a fun way to do a good deed and see what treasures your friends have been hiding.

Okay, back to the closet. If you do not have a lot of time or money, you will need to organize on the fly. Get some inexpensive bins for things like socks, swimwear, linens and storage items. Keeping things separated will not only keep things where you can find them, but also out of sight for an organized look. Baskets, canvas crates and other containers can go on a shelf, the floor or anywhere that you find room.

If you still have small stuff to organize, like hats, belts, ties or purses, consider an organizer that hangs from the door or bar. If those seem too flimsy for your taste, you might want to build or invest in some cubby shelves to hold the containers for you. Or, install some drawers or extra shelves specifically for these items.

Now you are ready to hang your clothes. If you still feel like you have more clothing than space, you will need to invest a little in specialty hangers. Use slimlinehangers to make some extra space. Cascade these hangers with additional hooks that let you hang multiple items on space saving hangers. With the use of slimlinehangers, you can quickly double or triple your hanging space and get that closet under control.

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

Lots of people like to buy extras of certain things so that they have them when they need them. While it is a good idea to be prepared, don’t fail to plan where you are going to put all of these extras. If you don’t have space for it, chances are it’ll end up in a heap or crammed in a closet. Inevitably, you won’t be able to find it when you need it and you will end up spending more money to buy another. This is a common problem in many homes.

A lack of storage space does not have to mean a lack of storage. Orderly cabinets, desks and closets take a little work, but you are capable of doing it yourself. First you have to get rid of whatever you do not use, even if it is new. Some people have office supplies ready to go for years and years without touching them. If you really think that you won’t use them, give them away to friends and family, or donate them to a local school, day care or non-profit organization.

Use big boxes to separate items into trash, give-aways, yard sale items and items to keep. Once you have cleared the space, make stacks or piles of things you are keeping to determine what categories you have to organize. For a desk, you may have office supplies, bills, letters, things to do, computer cords, battery chargers, CD’s and DVD’s, upcoming events, photos, books, software, printer paper and ink. That’s a lot of stuff to not have organized! Labeled containers that match or shelves dedicated to certain items can help you quickly find what you need and avoid the dreaded piles that are so common on people’s desks.

Take your boxes to the next area to be organized, the closet. Again, pull out everything. Quickly decide what can be thrown away, given away or sold. Fill your boxes until your closet is empty. Place your items that will stay on the bed. This will give you a big area to work with. Go through the items you are keeping and categorize. Large storage containers or moveable garment racks are a must for storing out of season clothing.

With what’s left, you can create the most space by hanging it according to length. You may choose to separate by use; work clothes, casual clothes, etc. Whichever you do, you will need to replace mix-matched hangers with space saving hangers. Cascading hooks or piggy backing attachments can turn ordinary hangers into specialty hangers, creating up to fifty percent more space. The best space saving hangers are called slim line hangers. Their thin design is accompanied by superior strength and a velvety surface that won’t let clothes slip off on to the floor. Getting your home in order will help you maximize space and get your life organized.

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

Whether you hire a professional to do the work for you of organizing your closet or you take it on yourself, start with a clear, well-conceived plan. Why plan? Once you start taking on a big project such as organization, it is easy to get distracted and sidetracked. By having a plan you can stick to what you are aiming for and in the end not end up with a mound of stuff piled on the floor with absolutely no idea how to organize it in any better manner than the way it was. This kind of impulsive behavior leads to frustration and discontent.

With a carefully crafted plan, you can also look forward to a smooth and swift process. The finished project will be comfortable to live with, and you won’t encounter any difficulties or unpleasant surprises during or after the project’s completion. Remember this simple equation: The more time spent planning, the less time or money spent later in physical labor or correcting mistakes.
With closets, you may find that yours isn’t big enough or is out of date. If this is the case, you may look into getting an estimate for a new closet or hiring a closet designer who can take what space you have and restructure it.

All right, now to get started on organizing your closet. Believe it or not there are some specifics to stick with or tips in getting things organized. Some are common sense but here they are:

Keep It Simple. Conserving space is important, but not if it makes the system harder to operate than a system using a little more space. Keep it simple; a system that isn’t being used isn’t a system at all, no matter how much space is conserved.

Tall or short people might consider shelves to accommodate their height, for more comfortable access.

Someone whose wardrobe leans heavily to folded sweaters has different requirements from someone whose closet is crammed with hanging suits.

A person with an extensive collection of shoes or hats might need more shelves and bins than hanging space.

If a bedroom is small and crowded, some bedroom furniture can be eliminated if, for example, a dresser is built into the closet.

Compromise. Few things in life, including organizing a closet, can be attained without some amount of compromise. You may have to forfeit advantages in one area to achieve advantages in another. Many parts are contingent on other parts, just like the pieces of a puzzle.

Hanging Your Clothes – Now for the other part of organizing your closet – how to hang things properly. Clothing has a particular way it should be hung, be sure to read the requirements. For hanging blazers, leather jackets etc, you should look out for heavy wooden or slim line hangers, that can give your ensemble that extra support to carry off their weight. Pants demand a proper folding style, which is placing both the legs parallel one on the top of the other. While hanging them ensure that there is enough space between different trousers in the cupboard.

Uniformity. The finished project will look more attractive if the products, hardware, materials, and appointments go together well. Personal preference influences whether the look will be utilitarian or decorative, but standardization and unity are impressive ingredients.

Organizing your closets can appear to be a daunting task. But with the right determination and well-crafted plan, you can work your way toward a well-organized closet!

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