Getting organized “for good” may seem like a foreign concept! Most people feel like their organization efforts go to waste because the benefits don’t last long before everything is cluttered again. There is a good reason for this, and that is that most people don’t think very far into the future when they organize. Think of all the things that got you into a predicament of clutter and junk to begin with. Did you not feel like opening the basket to put your things away? Maybe you need an open container. Did you organize most stuff and then the little junk that was left got tossed into one “miscellaneous” box? These are common mistakes that people make all of the time.

Thinking ahead to determine what you might need in the future can change your way of thinking and help you to improve your use of a small space. If your closet if full of clothes that you don’t even wear anymore, then you need a bin or container in the closet, or right outside of it, for stashing clothes that you no longer wish to wear. Giving things away on a continual basis will help you to avoid overstuffing the closet. If you only own what you really like to wear, then there shouldn’t be that much excess crowding your shelves and hanging bar.

Use deeper bins than necessary for things like socks and pajamas. That way, as new items come in over time or as clothing gets bulkier when winter rolls around, your organization strategy is still in place. Use space saving hangers, like velvet hangers, to cascade outfits or multiple items from one hanger. You can instantly double or triple the hanging space this way. Using hangers that make space where there wasn’t space before can give you the extra room that you need to keep shoes and other accessories organized year round.

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) Just go ahead and empty everything out of the closet. There may be more junk in there than you realize. Separate everything into piles as it comes out. You will definitely need to begin by making some tough decisions about what you want to keep. If it’s questionable, go ahead and put it into a box. Store it in the garage, basement or attic for a while. If you don’t miss what’s in it after a year, donate it to charity. Sometimes a trial run of living without something will help you realize that you don’t need it. In the meantime, you can enjoy the increase in closet space.

2) Make special places for everything. If you have old year books, photos, computer equipment, luggage, and other items in your closet, then you need to either make a place for it, or get it out of there. Sometimes a trunk at the foot of the bed, an armoire, or a wardrobe can house these items and help you clear out space for your clothes in the closet.

3) Donate what you can to charity and then prepare for future donations. This will help you to keep your closet organized over time. You may decide to hang a bag on one side of your closet labeled “charity” so that you can toss things in it throughout the year. If you wear something and then decide that it just didn’t fit right, throw it in. If you swap out your winter wardrobe for your summer wardrobe, donate what you never wore that season. Keeping it in sight will keep organization on your mind all year long.

4) Once you’ve really thinned out the heard, you may still find that your closet is crowded with the things that you want to keep. Utilize specialty hangers to make up to three times more space on your hanging bar. Cascading hangers, skirt hangers, pants hangers, and other specialty hangers can allow you to hang up to six garments on one hanger. Cascading hangers can help you to get your outfits ready to wear by pairing up tops and bottoms. Use space saving hangers, like velvet hangers, for everything else. These non-slip hangers are great space savers, but are sturdy enough and attractive enough to provide you with years of closet bliss.

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.

You can organize things yourself or hire a professional. Either way, it will be up to you to make the final decisions. Jot down notes, draw designs, and ask for other people’s opinions. Having a clear and concise plan will help you stay motivated to finish the task. Look online for ideas on how to handle your problem items.

Starting with bulky items is a good idea. First consider getting them out of your closet all together. Suitcases, camping equipment, blankets and other bulky things can usually be kept in a basement, garage, under the bed, or in a spare bedroom. Making room for the things that you use daily is a good plan.

Next, get rid of things that you don’t use. Remember to include shoes, dresses that are out of date, suits that are too tight, or clothes that fit, but you simply don’t prefer them. Most people hold on to items for years after they wear them for the last time. If there’s something that you don’t want to get rid of that you haven’t worn in a while, go ahead and wear it. See if you can remember why you don’t wear it and then decide whether or not to keep it.

Make spaces for hats, shoes, sweaters, suits, dresses and t-shirts. Your closet needs are personal and will differ from other people. A “one-size-fits-all” closet doesn’t always work out. Utilize adjustable shelving, bins, baskets, hooks and buckets to get the space organized.

Part of making the closet look nice is matching up the hardware. Hooks, drawer pulls, cabinet knobs, hangers and rods can all be updated to match. If you match your hangers, you’ll be surprised how much more uniform your closet looks. Choose hangers that are sturdy, save space, and do not damage your clothing. You may want coat hangers for suits and coats. They will help your heavier items keep their shape.

Choose hangers that don’t cross over each other on the bar. Old wire hangers are notorious for this and can make your closet look messy. Try the new space saving hangers
that are on the market. These velvet hangers grip clothing. They are slim enough to save as much space as wire hangers in your closet. However, they are much stronger. You can also buy specialty space saving hangers like pants hangers, skirt hangers, and dress hangers. You can get accessories like cascading hooks and finger clips to make even more efficient use of the space in your closet.

Organizing your closets can be some work, but the effort will be well rewarded with the time that you save and the organization that you are able to maintain.

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.

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.

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.