It is so much easier to organize your home if you give yourself manageable tasks. We are pleased to announce a new monthly column by Suburbs 101 contributor, Maura Fitzgerald: How to Tackle Your Whole House Throughout The Year Without Becoming Overwhelmed. This month, Maura shows us how to organize your closet.
How to Organize Your Closet
The closet is the most requested space for us to organize – by far. And that’s because the closet poses the biggest challenge in terms of getting and staying organized. That said, there is an easy to follow formula for accomplishing closet organization successfully. Maura shows us to how to organize your closet by following the 6 steps below.
Step 1: Pull Every Single Item Out of Your Closet
Step 1 to organizing your closet is to pull every single item out. That is always Step 1 of organizing! Make sure you reserve enough time (and energy) to complete the project of pulling every single item out of your closet.
Step 2 : Categorize Clothing in Your Closet
When organizing your closet you have to categorize twice. You have to first categorize by type of clothing i.e. Tops, Blazers/Jackets, Pants, Dresses etc. Secondly you have to organize your clothing by color within those established categories.
Step 3: Be Ruthless when Organizing Your Closet
Purging is the hardest part of the entire project of organizing your closet. Purging is the step where this half-day project of closet organizing can easily turn into 2 weeks or more.
It’s essential you be decisive when you purge your closet and move through items in question fairly quickly. The “if you haven’t worn it in a year, donate it” rule isn’t actually 1 year. It’s 6 months.
Try to be ruthless with yourself because you will feel so happy each morning when you look in your closet and it finally has the proper amount of items that all fit. There is someone out there who would love the items you haven’t worn in two years.
You’re doing a great deed by donating items that just sit in your closet unworn. In the end, if you’re not happy by having purged, go shopping. Shopping is fun.
Step 4 : Use Uniform Hangers in Your Closet
Buy uniform, velvet hangers for your closet. Uniform hangers completely change the look of any closet. I recommend velvet hangers because not only are they thin, sleek and sophisticated looking but they actually save you space.
Trust me, the inches you save definitely add up. Velvet Hangers come in a variety of colors – be sure to stick with one color. And don’t forget to evenly space hangers for the department store look once you put your clothes back in the closet. *Note: The velvet hangers also come in children sizes.
Step 5: Storage Solutions for Jeans
If short on hanging space in your closet file fold jeans into a pretty and labeled basket or bin. The Montauk Baskets in White by The Container Store are a client favorite.
Step 6: Use Rod Dividers and Labels in Your Closet
Once you have categorized, purged and everything you are keeping is organized and back in the closet, easy maintenance is achieved by separating the categories with labeled rod dividers. I definitely recommend labeling closet shelves as well.
Final Thoughts on How to Organize Your Closet
Good luck with your closet organization project! Remember, the secret to organizing your closet is to break down the project by manageable tasks. Or if you are truly overwhelmed, you can always reach out to Fitz Just Right or Labelize It! for all your organizational needs!
FJR is launching its custom label business called ‘Labelize It!’ on 5/24. Custom labels will be available on www.fitzjustright.com in 4 sizes, 18 Fonts and 16 Colors. The labels are custom cut vinyl and adhere (and easily remove) from any dry surface. Labeling your closet provides instant functionality. Anyone is able to help you neatly put away your dry cleaning and laundry. FJR’s labels also instantly elevate the look and aesthetic of closet space. Even our doubting clients have become total Converts and Label Loyalists.
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About Maura Fitzgerald
Maura Fitzgerald was born in NYC and raised in Bronxville, NY. She holds a BA from Georgetown University and worked in Print and Digital Advertising Sales for 20 years at Forbes and Time Inc. Now Maura is the founder of Fitz Just Right (FJR), a Luxury Organizational Design Company servicing Westchester County from September through June and Annapolis, MD in the summer months. Maura and her husband love working for the weekends where they have non-stop action and fun with their 3 children….and everything isn’t always organized. She lives in Bronxville, NY with her husband and three children. Website: www.fitzjustright.com
You May Also Be Interested in:
How to Organize Your Kitchen Like a Pro
How to Organize Your Laundry Room
Top Shoe Storage and Organization Tips
About Suburbs 101
Suburbs 101 is an online lifestyle guide for the New York Suburbs of Westchester County, Long Island, Fairfield County and Northern New Jersey. Get the inside scoop on what it’s really like to live in the New York suburbs through our interviews with local suburbanites and features on Food, Fashion, Home, Travel, and Local Events. Be sure to Follow Us on Instagram, Like Us on Facebook and subscribe to our Monthly Newsletter.