Most people considering a closet reorganization think of buying things: shelves, bins, boxes. That can add up quickly in cost and time as you search for just the right ready-made storage solutions. If you opt for customizing, a closet remodel can cost thousands. If you think outside of buying the box, you can find plenty of inventive solutions already lying around the house or that can be gotten inexpensively. Does this Spark an idea?
Repurposing Cardboard
Cardboard boxes come in many shapes and sizes, from giant refrigerator cartons to cylindrical oatmeal boxes and stemware containers that come with a cardboard grid to separate the glasses. These boxes can become shelves if you cut off the flaps. They don't need to stay ugly. Paint them with thin layers of latex or acrylic paint. Using paint the same color as the walls will give a unified look. Boxes can be riveted together with plastic rivets for added stability.
Utilizing Vertical Space
Hanging things from the closet walls can help define the space. Mount a cork board and stick long nails into it to serve as hooks for scarves, ties, belts or hats. If you don't like the look of bare corkboard, cover it with fabric. Plastic mesh produce bags--such as the 10-pound onion bag--can be suspended to store purses, soft goods or dirty laundry.
The Ceiling
Many people forget about the ceiling when they consider storage. Hanging baskets hold small things that might otherwise be lost on a shelf or in a box. The baskets are easy to take down when you need an item inside. If you tie a long cord to the basket and thread the cord over the hook, you have a pulley. Tie the cord to a hook on the wall to keep the basket at the right storage height and to keep the cord out of the way. When you want the basket, untie the cord and bring it down. This way, you will not need a stepladder to reach the items.
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