1) Correcting wasted shelf space will help you to make space where you didn’t know you had it. Most shelves are too far apart, too deep, or simply aren’t there. Many things that go into the closet need to be separated. One giant shelf just doesn’t help you to do that. Adding shelves and shortening your hanging rod or rods can give you that extra space that you need for organizing. Shelf dividers are great for sectioning off the shelves to keep the space more orderly. Shelf risers help to raise up items that are far back so that you can see what you have and avoid digging and messing everything up.

2) Drawers are really useful in closets. You can add deep and wide drawers to the bottom of the closet for your sweaters, socks, linens, scarves and other items. A small dresser can be used if you move your hanging bar up higher. You can use small drawer systems on shelves for things like underwear, ties, jewelry, and other small things that you need to organize in your closet. Drawers that slide underneath your bed can help you to get some bulkier items or storage items out of the closet.

3) Hanging racks are also helpful. There are ones for shoes, hats, and accessories that hang over the door. There are also hat stackers, purse hangers, and other kinds of organizers that can hang from your bar. You can install a tie rack, belt rack, or scarf rack on an interior wall to save even more shelf and drawer space.

4) One of the easiest ways to save space is to use space saving hangers, like velvet hangers. These hangers have a flat design and a velvet coating to keep clothing in place and hanging very closely together. They also have attachments, like hooks and clips, to help you hang more than one item on each hanger. Clips are useful for coordinating pants and skirts with matching tops. Hooks go over the top of the hanger and make a place to hang another hanger. You can clip outfits together and then two or even three outfits can cascade down from one hanger, doubling or tripling the space 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, let’s talk about shoes. Winter boots are big and bulky. They can also lose their shape if they get crushed at the bottom of “shoe mountain” in your closet. You can use a low rack for your tennis shoes near the floor, but boots may cut into your hanging or shelving space. Use metallic clips to hang your boots from hooks up one side of the closet. Dress shoes can be kept in an over-the-door shoe storage organizer. Another option is to use a shallow container that slides or rolls under your bed. The shoes are easy to get to, but at the end of the cold season, they are already in storage for next year. Saves you space and makes your life a little easier.

2) Sweaters are also bulky items that will be coming in this time of year. You won’t necessarily want to hang your sweaters, because they could get stretched out at the shoulders. Sweaters should normally be folded or laid flat. You only need an 18”x18” shelf to store all of your winter sweaters. A milk crate or other cube shaped storage container is perfect for storing sweaters whether you have a shelf or not. We like ones with lids so that you can remove the lid for winter and then simply replace it and move the container back to the top shelf for summer storage.

3) Coats are by far the biggest problem in a small closet at this time of year. They can seem to take up every inch of space that you may have had to work with. You should start with your coats when hanging winter clothes so that you can see how much space you’ll have for your clothes. You may want to consider moving things up so that you can add a second hanging bar for your pants at the bottom. Then, coats can be hung properly on coat hangers so that they retain their shape. The rest of your clothing can be hung on space saving hangers, like velvet hangers, combination, or multi-garment hangers to save 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.

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 out the summer clothes and store them away for next year. Go ahead and toss things that you didn’t wear or that didn’t fit right into a bag or box to give away to charity. This could also be the perfect time to clear out the clutter and have a yard sale to make a little money that can be put towards perfecting your closet for winter.

2) It’s important to clean your closet now that it is empty. Most people don’t take the time to dust shelves, baseboards and light fixtures when there are clothes in the closet. Vacuum the floor, dust and wipe down everything so that you don’t end up with dust balls or microscopic insect eggs on your winter clothing. This could be a good time for a fresh coat of paint or you may even want to go ahead and install that cedar closet liner that you’ve been dreaming of.

3) Now you can determine what kind of space you’ll need for you winter clothes. You’ll definitely need some hanging space for coats and some shelf or drawer space for heavy sweaters. You can make space by moving your top shelf up closer to the ceiling and adding an extra hanging bar down below. You can use the higher shelf for storing your summer clothes, luggage, ski equipment, or other things that you won’t need every day.

4) Hang your pants on one bar and your tops on the other. You may want to put an extra bar on one side of your closet for hanging longer coats and dresses that you don’t want to wrinkle. Use pants hangers for your pants. Some have non-slip bars or non-creasing clamps. If you use clips, use ones that won’t rust, snag, or imprint your pants while they hang. Use coat hangers for your heavy coats. Make sure that these are curved to help your coats keep their shape. Wider shoulders that slope down won’t pucker shoulders or wrinkle sleeves. You can buy petite hangers or extra large hangers for clothes that don’t fit perfectly on regular clothes hangers. Use specialty hangers that hold scarves, hats, and gloves to perfectly store those small winter items without forcing you to install extra shelves or drawers.

5) For the rest of your clothes, you can use space saving hangers, like velvet hangers, to make the most of the space. Space saving hangers are designed to fit flat against one another, using as little space as wire hangers. However, these hangers won’t cross up on the bar, rust, snag clothing, or bend, causing your clothes to end up on the floor. These have a non-slip velvet coating to hold clothes securely in place. The bottom bar is perfect for hanging pants or attaching movable clips for securing straps. You can coordinate outfits by hanging pants and shirts on the same hanger, or even add a hook to hang multiple items in the space of one hanger. Tricks like this can help you to double or even triple the space in your closet, making room for those winter clothes after all.

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.

We need our closets to keep our clothing free from damage. We need to stay at least a little organized, or we’ll never make it through our day. The closet is often the first thing that you deal with in the morning when you get up. You’re just trying to get to work on time and you need to be able to quickly and easily find what you need. If the closet is cramped and cluttered, it can put you in a bad mood for the entire day.

You may think that your closet is too small, but even in a small closet, improvements can be made. Most people don’t realize that it’s not the small closet that is the problem, but the lack of efficiency that is to blame. Use these tips to make sure you’re using the space that you have wisely.

Take everything out and start to inventory what you have. You may have a lot of things crammed in there that you don’t really need anymore. Maybe some things can be given away to charity. Get rid of shoes that don’t fit right, are damaged, or have gone out of style. If you haven’t worn something in a year, get it out of there. Thin out what you own and then you can start to thin out what you allow to go into your closet.

The first rule of organizing is to categorize. If something doesn’t have a category, then you need to find one for it. Don’t allow yourself to keep a “miscellaneous” pile, box, or drawer in your home. That is pretty much the definition of clutter. Try hard to categorize so that you can easily keep things where they go.

After getting everything separated, you can assess the space situation. There is often wasted space in the front corners of the closet and at the top of the closet. Don’t be afraid to store long-term things up near the ceiling. Is there room for shelves on either side of the closet? You can put more in there than you think. If a good organizer still doesn’t give you enough room, consider space saving hangers, like velvet hangers, to get the job done. These can cascade from each other and hold specialty clothing so that you can save up to three times the space 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) 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.

People complain of having no storage space in small homes and apartments. So, the question you should ask yourself is, “How much stuff do I actually need in storage?” The storage space industry is huge. This tells us that even people with adequate space are either saving more than they actually should be, or they don’t know how to efficiently use the space that they have.

Learning to live outside of the box takes a little imagination. Have you ever found yourself stuffing things into your closet, storing things outside of it, and just complaining about how small it is or how full it is without thinking about the fact that you could simply move some things around to make room? Many people have trouble solving problems and simply give up after thinking about how they could make things better.

Practice thinking outside of the box for a bit. First, of course, you will need to get rid of any excess items that are in your possession. Be choosy about what you allow to take up your precious space. Then, consider moving your hanging bar up high in the closet so that you can add another one below. You can even add bars to the sides and shelves to the front corners of the closet. This can help you go from something as small as a five foot long hanging bar to twenty-two feet of hanging space, plus the added convenience of corner shelves for buckets that organize smaller items.

After you get all of this space in, you can also use specialty hangers to make even more room. You can double or triple the space in a closet by using space saving hangers, like velvet hangers. These hangers fit flat together to save space. They also have detachable hooks so that you can cascade one hanger from the other, pairing up outfits and doubling hanging rod space. You can make even more space by using pants hangers for skirts, pants and shorts that allow you to hang five items from one hanger. Use these few tips to give yourself the space that you need in a small home.

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.

1) Correcting wasted shelf space will help you to make space where you didn’t know you had it. Most shelves are too far apart, too deep, or simply aren’t there. Many things that go into the closet need to be separated. One giant shelf just doesn’t help you to do that. Adding shelves and shortening your hanging rod or rods can give you that extra space that you need for organizing. Shelf dividers are great for sectioning off the shelves to keep the space more orderly. Shelf risers help to raise up items that are far back so that you can see what you have and avoid digging and messing everything up.

2) Drawers are really useful in closets. You can add deep and wide drawers to the bottom of the closet for your sweaters, socks, linens, scarves and other items. A small dresser can be used if you move your hanging bar up higher. You can use small drawer systems on shelves for things like underwear, ties, jewelry, and other small things that you need to organize in your closet. Drawers that slide underneath your bed can help you to get some bulkier items or storage items out of the closet.

3) Hanging racks are also helpful. There are ones for shoes, hats, and accessories that hang over the door. There are also hat stackers, purse hangers, and other kinds of organizers that can hang from your bar. You can install a tie rack, belt rack, or scarf rack on an interior wall to save even more shelf and drawer space.

4) One of the easiest ways to save space is to use space saving hangers, like velvet hangers. These hangers have a flat design and a velvet coating to keep clothing in place and hanging very closely together. They also have attachments, like hooks and clips, to help you hang more than one item on each hanger. Clips are useful for coordinating pants and skirts with matching tops. Hooks go over the top of the hanger and make a place to hang another hanger. You can clip outfits together and then two or even three outfits can cascade down from one hanger, doubling or tripling the space 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, let’s talk about shoes. Winter boots are big and bulky. They can also lose their shape if they get crushed at the bottom of “shoe mountain” in your closet. You can use a low rack for your tennis shoes near the floor, but boots may cut into your hanging or shelving space. Use metallic clips to hang your boots from hooks up one side of the closet. Dress shoes can be kept in an over-the-door shoe storage organizer. Another option is to use a shallow container that slides or rolls under your bed. The shoes are easy to get to, but at the end of the cold season, they are already in storage for next year. Saves you space and makes your life a little easier.

2) Sweaters are also bulky items that will be coming in this time of year. You won’t necessarily want to hang your sweaters, because they could get stretched out at the shoulders. Sweaters should normally be folded or laid flat. You only need an 18”x18” shelf to store all of your winter sweaters. A milk crate or other cube shaped storage container is perfect for storing sweaters whether you have a shelf or not. We like ones with lids so that you can remove the lid for winter and then simply replace it and move the container back to the top shelf for summer storage.

3) Coats are by far the biggest problem in a small closet at this time of year. They can seem to take up every inch of space that you may have had to work with. You should start with your coats when hanging winter clothes so that you can see how much space you’ll have for your clothes. You may want to consider moving things up so that you can add a second hanging bar for your pants at the bottom. Then, coats can be hung properly on coat hangers so that they retain their shape. The rest of your clothing can be hung on space saving hangers, like velvet hangers, combination, or multi-garment hangers to save 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.