1. Consider moving your closet out of the closet. Get an inexpensive wardrobe. IKEA has the best looking inexpensive wardrobes, such as this Aneboda Wardrobe shown below (a steal at under $100).

2. A dresser works well too, but not quite as well, because it won’t allow you to hang stuff.

3. Use an over the door shoe holder vs. keeping your shoes in your closet. I don’t love the look of having shoes hanging out, but if your closet is stuffed to the max, this may be your only option.

4. Move heavy outerwear to a hall closet. Most hall closets are underused, and usually have hanging space to spare.

5. Your closet may not actually be as bad as you think. You might just have the wrong system. Make sure your items are easy to find; hang like colors together, or like styles, depending on what’s easier for you. Sometimes, you may have organized your closet, but you just need to tweak it in a way that allows you to find your clothes faster.

For icky smells:

• Hang a dryer sheet.
• Hang a cedar block.
• Hang a lavender sachet.
• Drop a few drops of essential oil onto a washcloth (an old one) and hang that in your closet.

Are you organizing your closets for the new year? How’s that going for you?

Post from: Blisstree

Extra solutions for problem closets

If you’ve got lots o’ cash to spare…Think tax refund soon!

Reach in closet solution complete with baskets, shelves, hutch drawers, and more from Closets to Go. Custom options available as well.

If you’ve got some cash…

Right now, the best online deals for major closet systems are at The Container Store – they’re having some amazing sales on elfa closet systems (I’m talking half off). Like the Birch & White elfa décor Reach-In Closet or the Platinum elfa Reach-In both shown above.

Real wood reach in closet organizers, some under $500 – awesome deal from Real Wood Closets; various options available.

Standard Closet System from Closet Organizer Source.

ClosetMaid 2897 ShelfTrack 5-to-8 Foot Closet Organizer with SuperSlide Shelving, White from Amazon.

If you’ve got a very small budget…

Space Savers makes it easy, with nice inexpensive categories:

• Closet Items Under $10
• Closet Items Under $25
• Closet Items Under $50

The Container Store, as mentioned above, is having some killer closet system sales, but if you can’t afford an entire system, browse their closet space saving smaller solutions.

Post from: Blisstree

Clutter-free closet organizers: bling worthy to inexpensive options

Closets are easier than other home areas to organize and declutter, mainly because they tend to be small, and because there are plenty of inexpensive organizational products available that can help you.

Closet tips:

Plan a day. Because closets are small, it’s unnecessary to drag this out. Choose a free day, and plan to declutter and organize your closet from start to finish.

Most closets only need a good purging. Overstuffed is the big issue here.

To purge your closet…

Find another place for off season clothing.

Be realistic. If that size six pair of jeans didn’t fit you two years ago, and they don’t fit you now, quit messing around. Put them in a box, put the box elsewhere. Consider your diet and exercise options. If they still don’t fit in another six months, give them away.

Related to the above rule, purge stuff you simply hate or don’t wear. If you need help making a decision about whether to keep that red sparkling dress, try the timer method. Shoes too. If you’re REALLY having issue getting rid of a piece of clothing, use the backward hanger rule.

• Hang all your clothing backwards.
• If you wear an item, wash it, and rehang it facing forward.
• At the end of six months, take a look at all those clothes still hanging backwards. Rethink if you need to keep the items.

Use your space wisely…

Closets are for clothes and shoes only – repeat – closets are for clothes and shoes ONLY. Make this a rule, and your closets will automatically stay 80% more organized with less effort.

Use all your space. Use the back of the door and place baskets or boxes on the floor.

Make more space. Hang one closet rack (or pole) higher, and one lower. This can earn you lots of extra space.

Add hanging storage, shelving, or a whole dang closet system. Seriously, there are products on the market that anyone can afford. From fancy to basic, there is an organization system with your name on it.

More closet tips:

• Six Bedroom Closet Storage Do’s & Don’ts
• Actually see what’s in that closet
• Organize Double Time in Your Child’s Closet
• The Right Hanger Does Make a Difference
• The Closet Monkey – Organizing a Baby’s Closet

In the next post, I’ll bring in some options and maybe we’ll see some nice visual closet bling to inspire us.

Post from: Blisstree

Tackle closets for an organized & clutter-free home

[Grande Hotel Storage Bed and Headboard via High Tech Living]

I guess this gives new meaning to under the bed storage; no?

Post from: Blisstree

Almost wordless storage shot of the day

Don’t store fabrics in plastic for the long-term. I did this once, in Humboldt. We lived on the beach, so think wet climate; and everything got all moldy. Even in a semi-wet climate, storage in plastic can bring out the worst in clothing and other fabrics, and trust me, once fabric gets moldy, good luck getting the smell out. (You won’t).

Do store clothing and fabrics in special garment bags or those huge plastic bins with tight lids. Plastic bins, unlike bags, won’t retain mold inducing moisture.

Don’t store crazy stuff like books, sports gear, and paper files in your bedroom closet. To keep things tidy, try and store items that only relate to your closet – i.e. clothing, shoes, clothing care kits, etc.

Do wash all clothing, and wipe down shoes before storing them. Bugs like to hang out among stained items, because they smell great. Even sweat can lure the buggies, so wash everything.

Don’t pack too many items in one box; say 20 pairs of jeans, then store them on your top closet shelf. This is more a safety precaution. Top closet shelves are rarely made strong enough to hold heavy items, plus you might drop a box on your head, trying to get it down.

Do keep a list of the items you store. This sounds time consuming, but if you keep a small notepad and pen near your closet it’s not so bad. You can seriously cut down on the items you might overbuy (like extra tights, sweaters, or belts) i you already know what you have stored.

OFF TOPIC NOTE: I seem to be having some spam catching issues; as in comments from perfectly decent readers, including myself are going straight to spam. I tend to approve comments at least every other day, normally more often. If you leave a comment, and you know you’re not a spammer, and your comment still hasn’t appeared in a couple of days, you might want to email me (jennifer.chait (at) b5media.com) and let me know.

Post from: Blisstree

Six Bedroom Closet Storage Do’s & Don’ts

Use this to store soft toys, clothing, baby blankets, cloth diapers, or whatever else you can think of.

Learn more here.

[photos via Modern Twist]

Post from: Blisstree

Totally Cool Kid Pillow Storage

Today and tomorrow we’re going to look at furniture that does one important thing – makes the most of space. That’s really the big issue about shared, or even small spaces,; to make the items you have work overtime.

Today beds that manage this quite nicely.

First a couple of beds by a company I’m currently obsessed with; CASAKids. Both of these are Baltic Birch twins with some seriously cool and useful storage built in.

First is the basic loft bed and second is the loft bed with built-in desk.

How great are these beds? And bonus, not very bulky for lofts. You could likely fit both into a mid-sized room.

If you have really limited space the duet bunk bed by truck product architecture for nurseryworks is a good game plan. The cabinets come in great colors like citrus, cotton candy, lime, navy, slumber, and snow.

Perks include:

• “three under bed drawers or trundle with custom mattress
• available as a single bed with three under bed drawers or trundle with custom mattress
• two cabinets
• upper cabinet is accessible from top bunk
• cubbies become separate shelving unit when beds are unstacked”

If you go with single beds, you can still have extra space worked in. Like with this Kids Denim Blue & Oak Finish Twin Size Captain Bed w/Storage from Visiondecor.

All of the above are great options for shared spaces.

Post from: Blisstree

Shared Sibling Rooms: Sleeping Arrangements