Making the most of the space in your closets

Whether it is the coat, linen or bedroom closet, closets can become overloaded and disorganized. Companies such as California Closets will organize your closets but it will pay a pretty penny to own one of their organization systems. If you are low on cash does that mean that you are doomed to chaos and disorganization? Not if you are creative.

Linen Closet

In the linen closet, sheets, pillow cases and towels need no organization other than being folded in a similar size so that they can be piled. It is the bulkier items such as blankets, extra pillows, comforters and the like that cause the linen closet to look messy.

Purchasing a few Space Bags can turn all the mess into a neat pile in a flash. The air is removed from the bags and they take much less space and can be piled. They are air and waterproof and keep things fresh and ready to use.

Coat closet

The majority of the organization of the coat closet is done with hangers. Depending on what you want to hang — whether it is a coat, jacket, sweater or other outerwear — it is necessary to have the correct hangers.

A wooden hanger is a good choice for heavier coats. For lighter items that may lose their shape, padded hangers are the best option. They keep the shoulders from being pulled into awkward shapes. Because shoes are often stored in a coat closet it is also wise to have some sort of shore rack as well to help organize. 

Inexpensive shoe racks are available at many big box stores. For scarves and hats, hooks that attach to the wall cost as little as $1 and offer a lot of alternative hanging space.

Bedroom closets

Most bedroom closets have a shelf above the bar that holds the hangers. This is a great place for organization. Open baskets or boxes can hold a variety of smaller clothing items or a change of bedding if the linen closet is located a distance away from the bedroom. They can also be used to store scarves, purses,and other small items. 

These boxes or baskets can be purchased inexpensively at discount stores and thrift shops. The same hooks used in the coat closet are also useful for handling purses in the bedroom closet. To increase your space, hanging shelves can greatly increase the amount of storage space. These are available at a reasonable price at IKEA.

Shoe organizer bags which can attach to the door or the bar in the closet are also available. Clear plastic storage boxes are just a couple of dollars and are perfect for storing shoes and other items. Buying good hangers is not necessarily cheap but when your clothing needs to be protected, being stingy with the hangers may be penny-wise and pound-foolish. It is better to pay a little more to protect your investment.

An organized closet does not have to cost a lot of money but it does, however, require some thought and planning. The expense can be very small compared to the cost of the items stored within.