Use shelves to store tees, sweaters, jeans or shoes.
The first and most significant step in organizing your closet is outfitting it with the proper fixtures. A cluttered closet is unattractive and stressful, and may even lead to clothing damage, if it you cannot store garments properly. Tailor your closet to suit your wardrobe so that you make maximum use of the space. A well-organized closet looks like a miniature clothing store, where every item is accessible and arranged neatly. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Take an inventory of your wardrobe to get a thorough idea of what kind of fixtures you need. The less you have in your wardrobe, the easier it is to store. Eliminate unnecessary items. For example, if you have a lot of suits, you need ample room for hanger bars. If you live in a cold climate and wear a lot of sweaters throughout the year, you need abundant shelf space for folded sweaters.
2. Take horizontal measurements with a tape measure in the area of the closet you designate for a hanger bar. The longest wall in the closet is often the best location for a bar. Hang two bars, one above the other, to create separate sections for tops and bottoms, if space allows. For example, in a 6-by-4-foot closet, hang two 6-foot hanger bars on one of the long walls of the closet. Position one bar about waist-high, and position the other bar 3 to 4 feet above the lower one.
3. Install a bar that accommodates long dresses and coats, if necessary. For most closets, a short wall space works best for this hanger bar. For example, in a closet with a 2-foot-wide receded section, position a 2-foot hanger bar at about chin height.
4. Mount hanger bars by screwing mounting brackets into the wall to support each end of the bar. Mount brackets that fit over the ends of the bar like caps, if the bar runs from one wall to another. Use brackets that support the bar from the wall behind the bar, if the bar is shorter than the wall to which you are mounting it. Use an electric screwdriver to drill the screws for each bracket into the wall.
5. Take vertical, horizontal and depth measurements for the area you plan to fill with shelves. Extend the shelves to the ceiling to maximize your storage space, if you can. Mount shelves to the wall with screws and brackets, or place a self-supporting shelving system in the space. A self-supporting system is closet furniture that sits on the floor. Wood, wire, plastic and cloth supported by a metal frame are common shelving system components. Using a system with many small shelves makes it easier to access items than with tall stacks of clothing.
6. Add wall hooks to organize small accessories like hats, scarves, belts or some jewelry. Mount hooks to the closet door or a wall area that is too small for a hanger bar or shelves. Drill screws through the corresponding holes on traditional wall hooks, or affix adhesive-backed hooks to the wall to avoid making holes.
7. Add non-permanent organizing items like hanging, fabric shelves or shoe racks to maximize your space, as needed. Place the hook of a hanging shelf system over your hanger bar. Shoe racks come in various styles. Some hang from the hanger bar or on the closet door, while others set on the floor like furniture. Do not overcrowd the closet, though. Keep every in-season item visible, and leave enough room to store each item appropriately.
8. Use appropriate hangers for all hanging garments. For coats and blazers, broad hangers are your best option. Use hangers with hooks that secure narrow straps to hang tanks, camisoles and sleeveless dresses. Place skirts on clipped hangers. Maximize your space by storing shirts and blouses on thin but sturdy hangers such as narrow, velvet-covered ones.
9. Leave space for clothing storage boxes so that you can fold and store out-of-season clothing, as needed. The ideal place is on a high shelf above all your in-season items. Consider storing packed clothing boxes under your bed, if you do not have adequate shelf space.
Tags: hanger bars, your wardrobe, brackets that, closet door, from wall, into wall, shelf space
