Sharing a small closet can be a challenge.
Sharing a closet with another person is hard enough, but sharing a small closet can seem like an impossible task. With smart planning and the right organizational tools, however, you can transform a small space into an efficient, highly functional storage center that accommodates two people's apparel in style. Contrary to what you may think, more is not always better. In fact, the sheer pressure for space that comes with sharing a small closet is just the thing to turn a lifelong hoarder into a lean, mean streamlining machine. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Clean
1. Empty your closet of all its contents.
Start by emptying your closet of all clothes. Move them away from the closet so you will have room to clean, measure and perform installations. Remove any remaining items, including easily removable storage devices such as portable shoe racks, hanging sweater organizers and hangers.
2. Clean your closet while it's empty.
Clean the cobwebs out of corners, dust horizontal surfaces and vacuum the floor while the space is empty and easily accessible.
3. Store off-season clothes in storage bins.
Take any clothes that are out of season and place them in storage bins. Find a spot in another part of the house to store them until they are needed. This should halve your necessary storage space.
4. Separate your clothes by type.
Divide your clothes from those belonging to the person with which you share the closet. Further separate clothes by type, such as tops, bottoms, suits or dresses.
Sort
5. Label your boxes.
Label your three cardboard boxes with the following terms: Trash, Donate and Sell. Either tape a labeled index card to the front or write directly on the box with marker.
6. Set aside clothes you have not worn recently.
Go through the clothes and get rid of anything that does not fit, has a stain on it or that you have not worn in over a year. Have the person with whom you share the closet do the same.
7. Trash stained clothes -- don't donate them.
Sort the clothes into the appropriate boxes. If the clothing item is in poor condition, trash it; if it's in okay condition, donate it; if it's still got the tags on it, sell it at a local consignment shop.
8. Seal and move your boxes.
Close up the boxes and immediately take them out to the car. If you don't, they may end up in your way for a long time.
Plan
9. Measure your closet and record the measurements.
Use the measuring tape to determine the height, width and depth of your closet. Because most closets aren't perfectly square, take each measurement at three points on the wall and record the smallest of the three numbers.
10. Sketch your closet on graph paper.
Draw a sketch of your closet on the graph paper. Pencil in the measurements along the outside of your sketch for reference.
11. Do you need more shelves or hanging space?
Examine the clothes that need to go back in the closet and compare that against the available space. Decide which ones require folding and which require hanging and if you need hanging room for long items, such as dresses and long skirts. Make notations along the outside of your sketch.
12. Storage bins can hold smaller items.
On your sketch, divide your closet into two parts to make separating space easier. If your closet is large enough, divide it with a tower of shelves to hold shoes, folded sweaters and shirts or bins of socks, underwear and accessories. If there is not enough room for this, sketch in two pieces of lumber vertically at the center point with enough room between them for any long items, freeing up the rest of the closet for stacked rods, shelving or drawers.
13. Stacked rods will double your closet space.
Once you have divided the closet, it is time to conquer the remaining items. Assess your closet storage needs and design each half of the closet accordingly. Lots of hanging items warrant two hanging rods, and perhaps with a shelf above for folded sweaters, hats or bags, and a few shelves for shoes or drawers to hold socks and rolled ties below. Lots of folded items will require less hanging space -- one rod at most -- with shelves or drawers above and below it.
14. Hooks can store bags, ties, or jewelry.
Make plan for your accessories. Hooks placed on the back of a closet door or on the side walls of a closet accommodate belts, scarves and bags.
15. If pre-made options don't work, use lumber.
Visit your local home improvement or home décor store and determine if your plans accommodate pre-made storage solutions or if you need to build your own using lumber. If you are installing lumber shelves, plan to use pre-made brackets. Determine your materials according to the measurements on your sketch and purchase them.
Put It Together
16. Install new shelving or hanging rods.
Remove old rods and shelving, using spackle to patch any holes that they leave behind. This is a good time to repaint or wallpaper your closet. Install any new organizational solutions, such as additional hanging rods, shelving or drawer units, according to manufacturer's directions.
17.Keep frequently worn garments easily accessible.
Replace clothing according to your plan. Place items you use regularly where they can easily be reached. Locate hooks for scarves, jewelry and other accessories where you can see them so they won't be forgotten.
18. Get rid of one item for every new garment you bring in.
Keep the space organized by committing to the "one for one" rule. For every new item you bring in to the closet, an old one must go out.
Tags: your closet, your sketch, hanging rods, rods shelving, small closet, along outside, along outside your