Closet Organizing Ideas

Whether you have a huge closet or a small one, you need solid closet organizing ideas not only to keep track of your clothing, but simply to alleviate the stress that a messy closet provokes.

There are lots of ways you can organize a closet, no matter what its size or what your budget.

Some closets, particularly those in an apartment or a dorm room, come with one shelf and one rack. This leaves a tremendous amount of space under-utilized.

Purchasing readymade closet organization systems that include shelves, drawers and additional racks can help you keep track of your belongings more easily.

If you have the option to install a closet organizing system, consider making use of pull outs. These baskets and drawers help you keep track of smaller items like belts and ties while also giving you a way to pack up and put away seasonal clothing out of sight when it's not in use.

Put like items together in ways that make sense to you. This may mean organizing by:

• Work clothes versus weekend clothes
• Summer clothes versus winter clothes
• Pants versus shirts

When things are grouped together, you'll have an easier time finding them quickly.

If you don't have a lot of space to separate out your items, consider organizing more simply. Grouping your clothes by color will help you find them more quickly, without the need for extra shelves or materials.

Baskets, bins and other removable containers can help you keep track of smaller items in your closet without the need for built-in drawers. Keep similar items in each basket or container and label the outside so you can find things quickly without having to look through each one.

If your closet space is small, consider packing up your non-seasonal items and storing them in garment bags and boxes. Even if you don't remove them from the closet itself, the fact that they are packed away makes it easier to find clothing for the present season.

Keep foldable items like jeans, t-shirts and sweaters in small stacks organized by type. Break this down further by organizing your clothing by color or weight to keep the stacks manageable. This will keep them from falling over or looking messy, which defeats the purpose of folding them.

If baskets and drawers become catch-alls for your clutter and miscellaneous items, consider investing in clear-front drawers instead. These drawers allow you to see what's inside so you can find things more easily, but they also prevent you from just tossing things in.

If you have a lot of ties, belts, shoes or other items, make sure you invest in racks or hooks for these items as well. By making a dedicated place for everything in your closet, you'll be more likely to keep it organized in the future as well.

If you need a little more help getting your closets organized, consider looking into customized options.