Choose shelving that gives you enough space but doesn't leave too much open.
If your clothes and belongings sit in massive piles on your closet floor because they don't have a place to live, you could probably benefit from some closet shelving. Though shelving doesn't seem the most glamorous thing to shop for, glancing at some well-organized design shelving systems on your favorite design blog or magazine can inspire you to start planning and installing those space savers. Does this Spark an idea?
Shelves to Match
Making your closet shelving look attractive inspires you to keep it nice and neat. Shop for a system in a material that's not only sturdy, but that you actually like to look at. Natural wood grain may complement your country decor, or you may prefer a dark cherry wood with metal hardware. You can even find shelving and storage systems made from old school lockers for your teen's closet. Revamp your own shelving by painting the back wall behind the shelves or covering the shelves in a bold wallpaper.
Shelving on the Cheap
You might be surprised how much shelving supplies and hardware you can grab for your closet for free in your community. Check out sites like Craig's List and your local freecycle group for people getting rid of their shelving because they're upgrading or gutting their closets. If you don't find anything for free, you can always scour local classifieds and Craig's List for shelving and storage systems that will still be drastically discounted from retail prices. If you're up for a slight challenge, you can always make your own shelves, which gives you total customizing power.
Keeping Shelves Organized
Improperly folding and stacking clothes on your closet shelf means they'll most likely end up a messy pile by the end of the week. Keep piles of tees, shorts and jeans short so you don't have to lift a tower of clothing to get to your favorite jeans. You should also stack clothes in order of how frequently you use them, with the "once in awhile" lounging pants at the bottom of your pajama pants and warmups' pile. To save time choosing clothes, organize clothing by color on the shelves.
Making the Most of Your Closet Shelves
If you just don't have enough clothes or knickknacks to justify your closet shelving, you can always find another use for it. Turn it into a toy and art storage center for your preschooler, or transform it into a home office by removing the doors and using one of the shelves as a desktop if it's the right size and height. You can purchase a small chair that tucks in neatly under the shelf-desk, and use the surrounding shelves to store office supplies and printers or scanners. You may have to drill a hole or two to accommodate power cords, but you're left with a completely customized home office space.
Tags: your closet, because they, closet shelving, Craig List, home office