De-clutter a storage area with space-saving closet ideas.
Real estate agents know that emptying out a closet halfway creates the illusion of ample storage, which makes a favorable impression on a would-be buyer. Fast-forward to the time that the home buyer has become a homeowner; frequently closet space becomes a challenge as a family grows, daily purchases challenge the limits of cupboards and odds and ends wind up as overflow in bedroom or hallway closets. In some cases it is the space-saving aspect of organizing products that turns wasted space into a usable commodity, which heightens the area's overall functionality. Does this Spark an idea?
Walk-in Closet
The walk-in closet offers the most spacious storage solution for a homeowner. Maximize hanging clothes storage by installing two clothing racks one above the other. Space the racks to accommodate blouses or shirts on the top and slacks or skirts on the bottom. Add additional hanging space to a larger walk-in closet by installing an island in its center. Keep dress jackets and suits from getting rumpled by hanging them in racks underneath the island's top. Some models feature drawers, which allow for the storage of jewelry, hair accessories, gloves or dress shoes that the wearer only chooses on special occasions. Store hats and caps in boxes made of clear plastic; mount shelves above the entrance to the closet and keep the boxes there.
Hallway Closet
The average hallway closet is frequently narrow but deep. It commonly offers a place to store towels and hide away the vacuum cleaner or water heater and serves as catch-all for the odds and ends of daily life that have no spaces of their own, such as gift-wrapping paper. It can also become a repository of cosmetic samples and oversized containers of dog food or cat litter from club stores. Segment off previously unusable spaces with shelving; for example, the wasted space above and beside a vacuum cleaner can become a modular space allotment for small items, such as light bulbs, candles, hand towels, washrags and other items. Closets that feature space above the door frame can become seasonal storage locations for winter or summer clothes as well as sporting gear. Attach a canvas shoe sorter to the inside of the closet door for additional storage of small household items---such as matches or product samples---that otherwise take up flat shelving space and interfere with stacking other items neatly.
Portable Closet
The portable closet is a common sight on the sets of movie studios but it has also found a place in the homes of consumers. During assembly, mount the clothing racks to the framing materials---usually metal---and install the plastic covering. Portable closets assist with the overall organization of an interior space by allocating a movable excess storage option. A garage, basement, utility room or attic is a possible storage place for a portable closet. Maximize on the available rack room by hanging seasonal clothes in vacuum-sealed plastic bags. Consider also storing spare comforters in these bags, since the removal of air greatly cuts down on the bulky nature of the items and makes it possible to store more of them in this space.
Tags: clothing racks, odds ends, other items, space above, vacuum cleaner, walk-in closet
