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For most people the ideal closet is the size of a room with ample space to hang clothing, lots of
shelves to tuck and stash away things, a place where you can walk around and assess all your personal
belongings.
Take a good objective look inside the closets you already have - and the empty spaces that could
be turned into closets or cupboards. Closets are not the sort of thing most of us like to face. By
their very nature, they invite us to avoid them. As long as the living space looks good, what's inside
the closets doesn't really matter. However, the more effective and organized your closets are, the more
effective and organized you feel.
It is important to remember that the contents of a closet don't necessarily have to fit the contents
of a room. A hall broom closet can be turned into a pantry; a kitchen nook can be turned into a place
to hang a wardrobe. Add shelf units, baskets, bins, or whatever fits, to store things in.
A few things to consider:
- Add a shelf to the ceiling space in closets. This is perfect for storing bulkier items such as luggage or blankets.
- Before re-organizing a closet, take everything out. Set aside anything you haven't worn or used in a year. Consider donating these items to charity. Those you no longer use but want to keep should be stored separately in the attic or some place out of the way. Clearing out a closet is the first step in creating more space.
- Invest in a shoe rack that can be incorporated into your closet. Whether it sits on the floor or hangs from the door, or is part of a shelf unit, a rack will not only keep your shoes together it will give the whole closet a more organized appearance.
- In a child's room, don't limit yourself to the space inside the closet. Use lots of bins, stacking baskets and shelving units throughout the room to store and toss things in.
Seasonal items
- Plan to store your out-of-season clothes out of the way in boxes or elsewhere. Use the closet only to keep those items you wear regularly during a season.
- If you want to ensure your closets smell nice, try hanging a sachet of dried rosemary or a mixture of cinnamon and cloves. There are many fresh-smelling deodorizers and perfumed papers to choose from.
- If closet space is still tight and there are few open spaces in your home that can be turned into closets, try adding an armoire or wardrobe. This was the furniture piece used for storing clothes back when they did not have built-in closet.
- Try turning an entire wall in a room into a storage area. There are many systems available that can be easily installed. You can close them up by adding doors, or keep them open and airy.
In the Kitchen
- Kitchens are where you can be most creative in finding extra storage space. To get the best use of kitchen closet space, store as much as possible outside the closets. That means hanging anything that can hang from the ceilings and the walls. Custom-design closets and cupboards for the specific goods each will hold. This may include drawers for knives, shelves for different size cans, jars, etc.
- Adding a shelving rack to the inside of a closet door can make even the shallowest closet seem deeper.
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