Sort and store your wardrobe for more closet room.
When closets are overflowing or you're ready to transition one season's wardrobe to the next, finding a place to store those extra pants, sweaters, jackets, shirts and accessories can be a hassle. You want to get clothes tucked out of the way, but keep them protected and in shape for when they'll be needed again. Keep your favorite pieces safe and secure in storage, ready for the next season switch. Does this Spark an idea?
Vacuum It Up
It may seem unlikely that you'd use a vacuum cleaner to help store a wardrobe, but your household cleaning appliance can actually assist in creating more space to stack stuff. Hooking up a vacuum with specialty vacuum suction plastic bags (some bags come with their own vacuum device, others simply have an opening that hooks onto the vacuum's attachment hose) sucks out the air and space created by folded clothes. A pair of jeans folded in half or quarters may not appear to be taking up excess room, but a vacuum bag can squeeze inches out of those clothes -- without damaging them -- to make them flatter. What was previously a pile of four sweaters taking up an entire shelf becomes eight. Once you're ready for the clothes to make their next appearance, simply open the vacuum bags and shake/fluff the clothes.
Out of Sight, Out of Mind
One of the largest pieces of real estate available for wardrobe storage is not even visible. Peek under the bed and notice how much room exists between where the bed's legs and the bed frame rise off the ground (this applies to beds on legs/casters and not box-frame beds with wooden frames to the floor). Measure the space between the floor and the bed frame, and stack clothes into boxes slightly shorter than that height; slide the boxes underneath. For extra room, purchase leg extenders or risers, small "feet" that slide onto the bed legs, making the bed higher and providing more space underneath.
Space for Rent
If you find you're completely out of space or want to store pieces of a wardrobe that won't be worn again soon (such as family heirlooms or special-occasion wear), consider renting a storage locker. Large facilities rent space from just a couple of feet to hundreds of feet or more. Depending on the agreement, you'll pay per foot and possibly per month, with discounts available for long-term rentals, paying ahead and larger space. Compare prices and discuss rental options with friends or family; joining together to rent a space may save money. Store only items you won't frequently need, so you're not inconvenienced going back and forth to the storage center.
Tags: more space, rent space
