Sunday, October 12, 2008

Closets | Closetworld

Getting Only the Best



In order to be the best, you've got to have the best, which includes employees and products. You've also got to really care about the customers. The world of home organization is just like the other fields out there, and if you're looking for the one company in the field that is making a name for itself by having only the best and by treating their customers well, you're looking for Closet World.




Friendly Employees



At Closet World, our employees take their lead from our CEO and President, Frank Melkonian. Frank believes that it's not enough for our customers to be content with our company and their organization units, he wants them to be delighted. Because of the positive message from our CEO, all of the employees at Closet World are trained to be more concerned with the welfare of our customers than anything else. This positive attitude and reinforcement from the CEO has created a company that truly cares for its customers. When a ClosetWorld designer comes to your home, they do so ready to listen. They discuss your needs and your options. In the end, they'll only sell you units that match your vision for the space available.




Excellent Work



Not only are our employees friendly, they also know what they're doing. Our closet designers are the best at making a space become organized, efficient, and beautiful, and our installers know how to get the job done neatly, quickly, and perfectly. Our products are some of the best that can be found and come in a variety of colors and styles, so there is something to make everyone happy. With a combination of caring employees, talented designers and installers, and excellent products, it's no wonder that Closet World has become the number one home organization company on the West Coast!




If you're looking for the only home organization company that truly cares about you, you're looking for Closet World. Contact us today.




Article Source: Closet World Quality Assurance




Learn More:


At Closets by Design, we design, build, and install Custom Closets.



About Author


Closets By Design products offer the best value in the industry. To know more about Closets just logon to Closetsbydesign.com



This article is copyright
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_653451_27.html

Sunday, August 31, 2008

Easy Closet Organizing Tips For Walk-In Closets

If you have a nice large walk in closet, you should have room for everything. Right? You should have room to fit all of your clothes, shoes, belts, and maybe even a few miscellaneous items but, surprisingly, you don't have the room you think you should!

Your closet may have nice drawers and shelves and maybe even cabinets that give it a nice appearance. The problem is that they are over flowing and you cannot find anything. Tons of clothes stare at you every day and you still cannot find anything to wear because you keep pulling out items that you either don't like any more or that no longer fit you. These closet organizing tips will help to make your walk in closet functional as well as efficient.

The first step is cleaning out the closet of all those things that you no longer wear and no longer need. This includes all the shoes that you don't wear; yes ladies, shoes have to go! Donate them or give them to friends but take them out of the closet. The clothes that are too small, too large or just not you anymore have to go, too. Even the largest closet can become over stuffed if you are not careful.

When you are fortunate enough to have a closet with shelving, you can utilize it in numerous ways. Your shoes can be at eye level to make them easier to match to the clothing. A few basic choices are all that are needed and they can be put on the shelves according to color. Hats and purses can be placed on the shelves that previously were used to store excess shoes.

Use a belt hanger to tame the unruly mess of belts. Provided the closet is equipped with drawers, women can use small organizers for jewelry and scarves that will make it easy to match outfits and yet be out of the way. Men can also use drawer organizers for small items and extra watches and jewelry.

Clothing can be grouped according to color and use. You might want work clothes on one side and casual clothing on the other. Simply take each outfit and put it together on the rack so that everything you need is within easy reach when you get dressed in the morning.

Clothing items are often not the only things that we find in a closet. Closets are often used to hide presents and personal items that we don't want anyone else to see. Some simple clear or colored storage containers can be purchased rather inexpensively and utilized to hide presents. When you purchase a gift for someone, all you have to do is place it in the box for safekeeping until it is time to give the present. These storage containers come in various sizes and are often stackable to suit your needs.

To help keep your home organized, download a free copy of the ebook "The Essential Guide to Organizing Your Home". Download it free here: Organizing Tips.

Lynn Cressy has a love for decorating and shopping for home decor. She owns a home decor web site and writes articles on home decorating and organizing your home and your life. http://www.lynnshomedecor.com/f/Opt-in_Pages.html

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Which is the Best Closet Organizer For Your Needs?

Everyone has closets that need a little help. This can mean they need cleaned and arranged somewhat or it can mean that if you open them you are taking your life in your hands. If the latter is true you are in desperate need of finding the best closet organizer in a hurry.

The do it yourself closet organizers that are available are fairly inexpensive and they are worth their weight in gold when it comes to being able to get into your closets without everything falling on your head. You can actually fit more into your closet if it is organized than if the door is just opened and everything is tossed inside. The best closet organizers can be either shelving units, baskets, canvas hanging bags or a combination of all.

Best Closet Organizers

The canvas type are a good idea because you do not have to put anything together for those of us who are challenged when it comes to installing something as complicated as closet shelves. These are available with shelves, drawers, and pockets. These will hold just about anything that you do not hang. The great thing about these are they normally just slide on to the bar that is already in the closet so you do not have to install anything.

When deciding what type of do it yourself closet organizer to use, the canvas type far outweighs the wire, any kind of shelves, whether they be the floating variety or the press wood. The canvas type is just about the best closet organizer that anyone could have come up with for putting your clothes and shoes in order.

Shoe Storage for Closets

This is another problem that many people have. They have shoes everywhere in the bottom of their closet until they cannot put anything else in the floor. This is where the hanging variety of shoe bags come in as the best closet organizer for your shoes. The bags have plastic see-through pockets so you can find the shoes you want to wear without searching however, they are in the pockets and out of your way.

Best Walk-In Closet

Many people have their own ideas of a do it yourself closet. They expect everything to fall into place and it just does not happen that way. If you are the home owner, a little more expense is all right to put into your closets. However, if you are renting, less is better. The best walk-in closet does not have to be any particular style as long as it looks good and keeps your clothes and shoes in order.

If you are the owner of your home, you may want to install the shelves and the hanging racks for coats and jackets, and shoes. This has to be done with extreme caution however, as the shelves will not hold up if they are not in the studs in the wall or held by anchors that are strong enough to hold whatever you put on them.

Expense is another major consideration that you have to think of when you get ready to re-organize your closets. The renovations could get into several thousand dollars if you do not keep track of what you are doing.

For the best walk-in closet even if you have to put in a stronger bar that runs the length of your closet, this is a good starting point. You can use this bar in so many more ways than just hanging single hangers. Multi-use hangers that can actually hang several garments from one are popular.

By using these different types of organizers to put shoes, hanging clothes, and folded clothes in one specific place you will free up your overhead shelves for keeping extra pillows or blankets and the whole look will be one of organization. Finally, a closet that you can actually call a walk-in closet.

Jenny Watson is the founder of ClosetOrganizer101.com Visit her site for free advice on do it yourself closet organizers

Closet Organizing Tips - How to Design a Closet

The most effective way to make full use of the living space in your house is to have great closet space designs. Having a convenient place to put everything eliminates the temptation to just put things down and worry about them later, and it makes it easy to find them in future. The best closet design isn't something another person sold to you; it is the closet design that suits you best.

Start with the door. The amount of space you have in a room and where it lies will help you decide what kind of door to put on your closet. Ordinary doorknob doors will work if your closet is in a corner and the door opens out to be flush against a wall, but you need plenty of space in a room for this to be efficient. This is most often used for a very small closet or for a walk-in closet. If your closet has a wide opening, it may be wiser to use a folding door, sliding door, or bi-fold door. Sliding doors only leave half your closet open at any given time. Folding and bi-fold doors need a little open space in front of the closet, but allow you to open your closet completely for full access.

Next, consider what your needs are. Do you have a lot of clothes that need to be folded and put on shelves? Or tons of shoes that need a home? Clothing that hangs "short", like skirts and blouses, can be hung on racks with only 2.5 to 3 feet of clearance between them, which doubles the effective space in that section of your closet. Suits and dresses need at least 4 feet of space, so must be hung singly. You may also have non-clothing items you want in your closet: games, supplies, costumes, etc. Make sure you plan a space for these things as well.

Sketch out what you think your closet design should look like at the end, and don't forget to use all the space available: the floors, the shelf over the hanger rod, the back and side walls. Look at every opportunity to save space you can. If you have more stuff than you have space, then focus on getting things you use frequently in the most accessible spots. Anything you don't use at least once a month, consider storing somewhere besides your closet, like in your coat closet for things like wedding dresses and suits, or underbed storage boxes for things like seasonal clothing.

If you run short of ideas for how to design your closet, you can find many of the best closet designs in online catalogs. While your closet is individual and unique to you, you can often find ideas you would never have considered by checking online: rods that pull out for deep closets, lazy susan designs, or plastic storage containers, for instance.

When you are certain you have a handle on how to design your closet, start by removing everything that you can store elsewhere: in that front closet, underbed storage, or other storage spaces. Throw out as much as you can, too; this is an opportunity to get rid of those clothes you are never going to wear again. Now you have something you can work with!

Pick up the supplies you need to reorganize. You can get do it yourself closet systems that have everything you need at a good price, and add to this system any special organizers you have found that will keep you organized. Do it yourself closet organizers are available in a wide variety of styles and sizes, so choose a core system that works well in your closet but leaves a little extra space for personalization. Install your organizer, and then put your things back neatly. Anything that needs repair, cleaning, or modification should be set aside; don't put these things away until you've addressed their problems.

Once your closet is together, you need to keep it uncluttered and neat. When you catch yourself tossing things in or not putting things away, stop a moment and ask why. Do you need something else in your system? Go get it. Do you have too much stuff in your closet again? Toss things you don't need anymore or store things that aren't being used. Your organized closet is more than just a point of housekeeping; it will save you time (looking for things), save you money (by keeping you from repurchasing things), and keep you looking stylish. Maintaining the closet organizer is not a difficult task. Take care of it so it can take care of you.

Visit Jenny Watson's site ClosetOrganizer101.com for free advice on choosing the right closet and tips on how to design my own closet.

Do it Yourself Closet System For Anyone

Unless you are one of those well-organized people that seem to be a rare breed these days, you probably could use a little help when it comes to the design of closet space. More people are turning to do it yourself closets design because they know what they need to put in their closets and how much space this requires.

How to Design My Closet For My Needs

If you are handy with tools the best solution would be to build it yourself. This depends on the housing situation as well. You would not want to put a great deal of expense and work into a home that you are merely renting. Save your talents for your own home.

The design of closet space should be made to utilize every inch available. This will allow you to fit more into the closet without it looking cluttered. You may want to measure the closet, write down the dimensions, and keep this list handy when you go looking at all the items that are available for building a do it yourself closet system.

There are many types of closet organizers that are designed to fit in whatever size space you have. Hanging organizers can be hung from the ceiling as long as you use either an anchor or make sure the hooks are in wood. There are also the free-standing type that can be used for a variety of items.

Small organizers are available for fitting into small closets. They can hold linens or towels or anything for which you need the space. Adjustable shelves are available on many types of design my closet organizers. By having shelves and hanging accessibility at different levels, the wider variety of items you can have in your closet, which means more organization and less clutter.

A Do It Yourself Walk-In Closet

Have you always dreamed of having a walk-in closet that you could actually walk in? Well, it is possible. The design of closet depends entirely on your wants and needs. If your closet is going to hold nothing but clothes and shoes, the right shelf, bars, and organizers will help to get it changed from fantasy to reality. An organizer that has adjustable shelves would be great for your changing needs. Many have a bar for hanging clothes; shorter bars for slacks, and longer bars for dresses and pants.

If you are a hat person and are always wondering where these will fit in your closet, you will be relieved to know there are organizers that can be attached to the closet walls that can hold this collection quite nicely. With do it yourself closet design, there are solutions for any type of closet for your home.

What Type of Closet Door Should I Choose?

Closet doors are more for the aesthetics of the room than actually serving a purpose unless of course you use the bi-fold or sliding doors. These are designed so they will not take up space when you open them. Either opening in or out, they can be in the way of something else, especially when you have a tight space.

Sliding doors and bi-fold doors are chosen for children's rooms more often because they are easier for storing larger items in the bottom of the closet. You might have a cot or roll-a-way bed from the days when you had to sleep in their room when they were sick. This makes the task of getting it out for company a little easier.

When you consider the design of closet for the design of the doors you might want to try to come up with a matching design. If your bedroom, hall, or bathroom is a certain design, the closet doors should reflect that design. If not, you risk the look being totally ruined by having a door that does not match. If you are on a budget, you might want to consider changing new closet doors for your current closet instead of buying a new closet system. A new closet door will make your old closet look brand new immediately, without paying the full price of a new closet system.

Jenny Watson is the owner of ClosetOrganizer101.com. Visit her site for free advice on choosing the the best new closets that fits your needs.

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Sort Out Your Closet With Closet Organizers

If you are one of the many people who need to take better control of the clutter in their lives, closet organizers might be just what you need. Piles of clothes lying around and old books and rubbish cluttering up the home can really have a negative effect on your mood. It is impossible to relax unless things look nice and tidy so if things are lying around everywhere it is likely that you will be stressed quite often.

So, organizing your closet is essential if you want to be able to call your house a home. Closet organizers are by far the most effective way of organizing your clutter and getting your home looking clean and tidy again.

The Most Effective Closet Organizers

The most effective way of sorting out all of your clutter is to have a range of closet organizers. Rods, a shoes rack and shelves will all come in extremely useful.

Many people own a few pairs of shoes and there is usually nowhere to put them. Well, if you have any shoes which you hardly wear, placing them on a shoe rack in the closet is generally a good idea. It will get rid of all of them away from the door and hide them away neatly. You can buy shoe racks in all different sizes and so it is easy to find one which suits your needs.

Rods help to keep old clothing out of the way and hung up to save space whilst shelves can keep any old bits and pieces on if needed. So, as you can see you really do need a variety of different space saving closet organizers. It is always better to see what kind of clutter you have first before buying any organizers. That way you can evaluate the situation and purchase the best organizer system for you.

If you have too much clutter it is always better to be ruthless and just throw some things away. The thing to say to yourself is ‘do you love it’ if not it can go. Sometimes you have to take the emotion out of the clutter and that way you will leave room for new things which you will love.

Overall closet organizers are a really good idea and most people can benefit from them. However, you do need to make sure that you get the right storage options for you and always take full and proper measurements before you buy anything.

About the Author
Andrew Caxton is the author of many resources on interior design related topics published at http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com . Find more publications about closet organizers at his website.

Closet Organizing-learn Great Tips To Organize Your Closet Now

There are few areas in your home as difficult when organizing as your closet. You keep so many items in there such as shirts, pants, shoes, and miscellaneous things, it’s no wonder the closet is so hard to keep clean. Here are some tips to organizing your closet for maximum effectiveness starting today.

First of all, have a plan in place beforehand of how you want the closet to look when it’s done. Don’t merely begin the overhaul without having any idea in mind of the final product. Write down the plan and even a picture of the finished closet, and stay focused on your efforts to get there.

Now, start off the closet organizing process by discarding all your unused clothing immediately. There is nothing more wasteful than keeping around clothes you have no use for. Place these items in boxes and put them in the garage. Later, you can either simply throw them out or give them away to charity.

The most important thing needed for closet organizing is to keep your related items together. When your shirts, pants, shoes, and magazines are all clustered together, it’s next to impossible to know where anything is. In order to keep these separate, purchase organizers such as racks or even simple bins to keep your related clothing together and in one place.

Make use of the closet floor. Many closets come with a lot of floor space that most people underutilize, yet can be very effective when you need some extra space.

Remember, however, always leave some extra room for more items later on. If you fill up the whole closet too quickly, you won’t have any room for new items you may find or purchase later on.

When utilizing the floor, stack your clothes in neat piles where they will be out of your way when searching for other items. For instance, keep your shirts piled together, pants, etc. Don’t simply strew items all over the floor, which can do more harm than good.

Most people fall into the trap of believing that their closet is all about vertical space. They forget the horizontal space that, when utilized effectively, can take a tremendous amount of pressure off the rest of the closet.

Try to keep only your clothing in your closets, particularly the bedroom closet. For many people, it’s easy to stack miscellaneous items inside such as magazines, books, etc.

Keep your reading material in cabinets and other areas to make room for clothing in your closets. When you try to keep too many different items in your closet, you will quickly lose track of the things you’ve stored there.

Start with these simple yet effective tips at closet organizing, and go from there. You will quickly find that, when utilized effectively, your closet can take a tremendous amount of pressure off the rest of your home and its storage space. Don’t wait any longer-take action today!

About the Author
For more great organization tips, try visiting http://www.organizelifetips.com, a popular site that teaches closet organizing as well as home organization tips.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Help For Do It Yourself Closet Organizers

The advantages of do-it-yourself closet organizers over professionally installed systems are cost savings and the exciting challenge of designing your own space. There are a lot of options out there so how do you make sure that you get one that is right for you? As with any important purchase: shop around. There are many different options online as well as at local stores. Going into the showrooms of professional closet organizer companies is also a good idea just so that you can get some ideas of different ways to organize your closet space.

While you are shopping around, you will want to be thinking about whether or not you want a kit or a custom solution. But aren't all do it yourself closet organizers kits? Not all. Even within the area of do it yourself closet organizers, you have some customization options. There are standard kits that you can buy or you can build your own customized solution. If you want a more customized organizer, you will, of course, have to pay more for it because every piece is individually priced. You can also buy a standard do it yourself closet organizer kit and then add on pieces as needed to customize it for your needs.

As you shop around, also keep in mind how you want to use your closet space. Do you need more hanging space or more drawers? Be sure that whatever do it yourself closet organizer system you buy fits not only your physical space but your vision for your space as well.

Investigate the company that you are planning to buy your do it yourself closet organizer from before you make your purchase. Whether it is online or at your local store, you will want to make sure that you are dealing with a reputable company. Make sure that you know how long the company has been in business and know whether or not anyone has registered a complaint with them with the Better Business Bureau. If it is an online store, be sure to call the phone number listed so that you are comfortable with the professionalism of whoever answers the phone.

When you buy your do it yourself closet organizer online or from a local store, make sure that you are clear on the return policy. If it isn't the right color or specifications for your closet, you want to make sure that it is easy to return.

It goes without saying that in order to install your own closet organizer, you will need to be one of those people who are handy around the house. If you are not, enlist the help of someone who is. These do it yourself closet organizers can be a challenge to install and the last thing you want is a half-finished closet that you cannot figure out how to complete. Make sure that you have set aside enough time to get your system installed in your closet. You are better off overestimating the amount of time it will take you to install it than underestimating. Because the closet is one of those things you use daily, it can be very frustrating to try to live with a half-finished closet for several days.
Getting and installing the do it yourself closet organizer that is right for you can be difficult. Be sure to do the proper research before taking on this exciting task. For more help on do it yourself closet organizers, visit http://www.yourhomeisorganized.com/ClosetOrganizers.htm
This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_566456_27.html

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Making Use of a Small Kids Closet

You may be surprised as your baby reaches toddlerhood just how much stuff they can accumulate. It is nice to get their room organized where toys are categorized and play space is kept empty. But how do you accomplish this when the closet in your nursery is the size of a phone booth? Here we will discuss tips and tricks to making every bit of space count inside of your child's closet, enabling you to leave an open, safe place to play in your toddler's room.

The number one thing to consider is safety. Toddlers can decide to climb just about anything and you need to have their room prepared. Make sure that dressers, changing tables and shelves are anchored to the studs in the walls. Stud-finders are usually around ten dollars and can help ensure that those furniture anchors you purchased are correctly positioned and installed. Better yet, coordinate your closet space so that you no longer need a dresser in the room at all. Changing tables can go once you decide to convert to a big boy or big girl room.

Measure your closet and determine how deep and wide it is. Inventory what you need to go into the closet and determine how far apart shelves need to be. Go ahead and measure, marking with a pencil on each wall, where you want each shelf to go. You can leave room in the bottom of the closet for a laundry basket and your child's shoes. Put a shelf right above it for books and things that you want in your child's reach. Above that, you can stack t-shirts and shorts. Shelves are nicer than dressers because you never have to dig for what you need. You will not unfold everything trying to find that cute shirt that goes perfectly with the shorts . Finally you can get organized and stay organized.

The next shelf should go about six inches higher than you need. This leaves room for those great little baskets that hang down from shelves, forming a drawer. These are usually around five dollars and make great spaces for socks and underwear. The next shelf up is for pajamas, special blankets or stuffed animals that are only for bed time. Diapers, wipes, and other essentials can be kept here in an easily removable basket. If you decide to keep diaper cream or medicines in the closet, consider installing a medicine cabinet that locks inside of the closet. Remember, your baby will soon become a climber if they have not already.

Place the hanging bar for dress clothes up high to protect those delicate items and heirlooms. Use childrens hangers to protect delicate fabrics and maximize the space that you have. Place one shelf above the bar for out of season clothes storage and you are done!

About the Author: Ron Maier is the owner of Only Kids Hangers, a leading provider of childrens hangers. The right children's clothes hangers really make the difference in kid's retail or home organization.

Should I Use Bamboo Hangers? by Ron Maier

Wooden hangers sophisticate any closet. They give a nice, clean, organized feel to your clothing. They keep clothes separated and wrinkle free, with even spacing in between to boot. Almost everyone that upgrades to wooden hangers is very pleased with the results. Most often we see hangers in pine, oak, cherry and birch. All of these are very nice and durable. Lately we are seeing bamboo hangers popping up everywhere. Many people are questioning why. Are these hangers stronger? Lighter? More environmentally friendly? Cheaper? The answer is yes. Bamboo is a renewable resource. It grows quickly and its harvest has the lowest global impact of any other wood. Bamboo is continually renewing itself. Bamboo is quickly becoming the eco-friendly alternative to traditional wood. The fine pinstriping on bamboo wooden hangers gives a beautiful and unique woodgrain appearance that in turn gives a fashionable look to your closet. Need more information on why bamboo is becoming so popular? Bamboo can grow just about anywhere. It does not need very much water to grow. Its impact on water supplies is far less than other trees. Actually bamboo is not a tree at all, but a grass. It can be harvested after only three years. It absorbs a lot of carbon dioxide from the air, improving our air quality. It even improves the soil quality of the land that it grows on! It is easy to see how bamboo helps the environment. We can switch to bamboo wooden hangers, bamboo flooring, cabinets, and even fabrics. Bamboo cutting boards and dinnerware, furniture and housing. The possibilities are endless. Every little bit of change we can make will help to save the rainforrests and our environment. Switching to bamboo is easy. It is cheaper than regular woods and just as durable. It is lighter and easier to work with. So, if you have been looking for a cheaper way to help the environment, consider bamboo the next time you are shopping for anything wooden. Updating your closet with bamboo wooden hangers is just a small step that can make a difference in our environment. Plus, it looks great! It gives a modern natural feel to your home. It is light, smooth and cheaper than other woods. It’s time to clear out the clutter in your life, replace those old plastic hangers, and updat the look of your closet with eco-friendly bamboo wooden hangers.


About the Author: Ron Maier is the owner of OnlyHangers.com, a leading provider of high quality clothes hangers,including wooden hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com

Creating a Summer Closet by Ron Maier

When getting your closet ready for summer, you will first want to clear out the clutter. Pull everything out and use your bed or floor as a staging area. Take winter clothes and store them away for the season. Big coats and bulky sweaters take up a lot of space and make your closet look dreary and cluttered. Boots and other winter shoes also take up a lot of space. Store shoes, coats and winter wear away and you will suddenly have more room to break out those summer clothes. Summer clothes do not take up as much room as winter clothes, but we generally go through more of them each day. This is because when something becomes sweaty, we change. We also usually change after swimming. We may even wear slightly warmer clothing at night than we do during the day. Therefore, even though the clothes are smaller, we usually own more of them. Keep out a couple of cotton long sleeved shirts and about two pairs of jeans, just in case there are some unseasonably cool nights. Adding a shelf to your closet will make space for stacks of folded t-shirts. You may also consider a shelf for shorts. If you do not choose this option, get some clothes hangers that have clips for hanging skirts and shorts. This will keep them hanging straight and wrinkle free. They will also take up half the room. The clothes hangers with clips can be reused in the winter for hanging your pants. If you add shelves or if you have existing shelves, you can add hanging baskets underneath for smaller items like swim suits. Many people have a swim section of their closet. Here you can hang bulky beach towels, swim suit cover-ups and sun dresses. Add some hooks to the side of your closet for summer hats and beach bags. You can even pre-pack tote bags for special occasions. This is especially useful if you have children. Pack a large tote bag with towels, sunscreen, bottles of water, sun hats and sunglasses for the whole family. Pack another with floats and water or sand toys. Pack a third bag for picnics. Include plastic plates, forks, knives, spoons, insect repellant, napkins and a picnic blanket. These make your life easier for those impromtu trips to the pool, beach or park. Easily accessible organized items will make for an easy summer of fun.

About the Author: Ron Maier is the owner of OnlyHangers.com, a leading provider of high quality clothes hangers,including wooden hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com


http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=964244

Friday, June 13, 2008

Closet Organizing In 5 Minutes A Day

The thought of closet organizing makes most people groan. But it doesn't need to be this way! Starting with a messy closet, you can get that closet organized and keep it organized in just 5 minutes a day.

Set a timer and let's get started!

-- Day 1.

Your first 5 minutes will be devoted to staring at the contents of your closet. With pen and paper in hand, jot down what items you haven't used in years (be honest). You will be throwing or giving these items away. If you can't bear to toss an item, give some thought as to where the item could go for a new home and a new life.

When your timer goes off, stop. Put the pen and paper on the closet floor and close the door. You'll be back tomorrow.

-- Tomorrow is here!

Continue your closet organizing adventure. Go to your closet and pick up your pen and paper. Keep on creating your list of what in your closet you can get rid of and what items need to find a new home. Use as many 5 minute sessions as necessary on this step. Feel like you're not getting anywhere? Nonsense! This step makes all the difference down the road when you are maintaining your organized closet.

Simply stated, it will be A LOT easier to keep your closet organized when it only contains what you truly use and is not being used as your personal archive. (In fact, it will probably help you if you can designate one closet or space in your home as a storage container for all those items you need seasonally or for keepsakes. Things you only access occasionally.)

In addition, doing this one step over several days will give you a chance to really think about those items you have collected over the years. You'll find you're ready to give or throw away things on Day 5 that you couldn't bear to part with on Day 1.

-- The next step to your closet organizing.

Once you have completed the list of unnecessary items in your closet, grab a couple of boxes and your timer. Set your 5 minutes and, using your list, toss the trash in the trash box and the give-away items in the give-away box. If this takes you more than 5 minutes, stop and continue tomorrow. This step will go fairly quickly, however, if you've done a thorough job with your list from Day 1.

-- Moving right along.

Now that all the excess stuff is gone from your closet, you can get down to organizing what is left. Use your 5 minutes to genuinely study what's remaining in your closet.

* Which items do you use everyday?

* Which items can be stored together?

* Which items can be stored on shelves?

* Which items can be stored in drawers?

* Which items should be put in bins?

* Which items simply don't belong in this closet?

Take notes during this step and use as many 5 minutes as you need. Again, doing this over several days gives you time to consider how you use each item in your closet each day and what type of organizational system will make the most sense for you. You're aiming for usability here and it may take a bit of trial and error. That's fine because the end result will be a closet you can easily keep organized without even thinking about it.

-- Time to organize your closet.

Using your notes from the previous step, get the supplies you need to organize your closet. Again, take your time with this step, noting what is working and what is not along the way. Tweak as necessary.

* Need more hangars, bins, baskets? Put them on your shopping list for next time you go to the discount store.

* For starters, use whatever organizing supplies you already have including old boxes. It can help to live with your ideas for a week or two to enable you to understand exactly the type of organizing supplies that will serve you the best, so feel free to use temporary containers while you're at this stage of your closet organizing project.

* OR...if you're unsure about sizes and shapes of organizing products, buy just a few samples, leave the tags on and try them out. Then return what you don't need and purchase what you do.

This step can either be completed as part of your normal shopping (requiring no extra trip to the store and keeping within the 5 minute concept) or simply dive in and do one big shopping trip. Your choice.

-- Live with it.

There's no substitute for living with your organizing to see what you've accomplished and what you need to change. Use your 5-minutes-a-day to ask yourself what you like and don't like about your newly organized closet. Take notes and make changes.

-- Last step.

This is the maintenance step and it's easier than you think. For your closet organizing enterprise to give you the results you want, you'll need to take 5 minutes each day and put things away in your closet where they belong.

But beware. Skip this step for just 7 days and you'll need to put in 35 minutes to get back on track. Maybe you don't have 35 minutes to organize your closet, so you don't do it. It won't be long before your closet will be in chaos again and you're using EXTRA time every day just to locate items that should be at your fingertips.

That's right, you're going to use the time anyway. Being disorganized is a huge time waster. So stick to your 5 minutes a day, no matter what. It won't be long until your new habit becomes second nature and you can't imagine NOT doing a quick tidy-up each day.

All it takes is 5 minutes.


About The Author

Colleen Langenfeld has been parenting for over 26 years and helps other moms enjoy mothering more at http://www.paintedgold.com. Visit her website and get more closet tips at http://www.paintedgold.com/Organize/closet-organizing.html .


http://www.articlecity.com/articles/home_improvement/article_3230.shtml

Monday, June 2, 2008

What To Do When My Linen Closet Is Too Small

There are solutions to every problem so let's take a look at each one of them. It seems the larger the home the smaller the closet and storage places are becoming, at least for linen closets in many of the homes being built today. We all have beds so we need sheets, we all need towels yet linen closets are shrinking and the shelves are also getting narrow.

Solution: First of all make sure the linen closet is being used only for linens. Are there other essentials needed in the home that could be kept else where like tub toys, medicines, bibs, or maybe hot pads for the kitchen? Take these out and put somewhere else. Assess the linens you are keeping. Do you have too many towels, both hand towels and bath towels? If the answer is yes then get rid of the ones you don't need, like, or are in poor condition.

In the bathroom there is a lot of unused space over the toilet. There are ready made shelves that can be attached to the wall. Beautiful cabinets with doors can be attached to the wall or there are some that are part shelves and part cabinets. Free standing shelves or cabinets can also be placed over the toilet and are made with extension poles which makes these very easy to install and are portable in case of a move. Both shelves and cabinets come in a variety of pre-finished wood stains, white and cream finishes. These can hold extra towels, wash cloths and even a variety of other small items used in the bathroom.

A beautiful towel holder that holds several towels and wash cloths can be used in this area. A hat rack in the bathroom can hold extra towels or if there is not enough space on a towel rack it can come in handy to hang bath towels which are being used by each member of the family. A basket could be placed on top of the toilet to hold rolled up wash cloths or hand towels.

I do not recommend keeping towels under the sink as there is a possibility of a leak at some time, even small drips can cause material to mildew.

Sheets that normally go in a linen closet can be folded very neatly and tightly and put in the matching pillowcase and placed on the shelves. This also saves space having the sheet set all together. If you have a variety of sheet sizes label the shelf using a label maker or masking tape showing the size of the sheet to be placed on that the shelves. (twin, queen, king) This helps the person returning clean sheets to the closet to know where to put them and not just jumbling or shoving them in the closet.
Sheets can be placed in rolling containers that fit under beds where the sheets will be used. The specific sheet needed for that bed is available, not taking up space in the closet and it saves time as it is in the room where it will be used.

If there is room in the bedroom closets; sheets as well as extra towels that don't fit in the linen closet can be kept in baskets where the linens are easily reached and accessible. When looking for storage solutions first get rid of what you don't need, keep only necessities in the main linen closet or shelves, and then find other places in your home for the extra linens. Always try to have the items in places that are convenient.

About Author Marilyn Bohn :

Marilyn is a creative organizer who has been organizing for over 20 years. She is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers and is working towards becoming a Certified Professional Organizer. Professionally she has been organizing homes and offices for over two years. She holds a bachelors degree in Social Work. She has reared five daughters and currently lives in Utah. Go to her website http://www.marilynbohn.com where you can find free organizing tips and interesting blogs and helpful articles on organizing.


Article Source: http://www.BharatBhasha.com
Article Url: http://www.bharatbhasha.com/house_hold.php/72597

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Operation Closet

When the wife comes to you one fine day and says, “dear, I think we need a new closet for the bedroom”, the heart surges in joy. Immediate thoughts of grabbing the coat and rushing off on a mission to the nearest DIY center enters the mind before realization dawns that first must come a shower and then work. Thursday today, Saturday would be best! A whole day of fun and joy to look forwards to! “Yes dear”, you say casually, “I will get the car out on Saturday and look for something nice”.

What a shame it was not Saturday when she had told you this. That would have meant immediate action. But this way you have two whole days to plan and work on OPERATION CLOSET. Two days to think about where to search for the perfect piece in all of the hundreds of shops surrounding your town. Two whole days to dream about buying this closet, taking it back home and assembling it and afterwards proudly displaying the finished product to a proud and satisfied Wife.

Saturday seems ever so far away. Sleep becomes impossible as the day draws near and the happy thoughts of OPERATION CLOSET, the fun and the happiness that goes with building ones own furniture is soon to become reality. Ah, come on and hurry up Saturday!

Eventually the day arrives and out of bed you jump, eager to be on the road and out on the Search. Eager to return with your purchase and to be deeply involved in its construction, eager to be surrounded by the endless panels and screws and eager to see a creation come to life. Yep, it is Saturday and “happy” day. The Wife’s attempt to ruin all by suggesting that you buy an already assembled closet and using a past occasion as reason for this (when you had assembled the Kitchen Dining Table and stuck a screwdriver through your foot) are ignored and you stick by your guns. A DIY closet must be purchased as a DIY closet can fit in the car and is cheaper; a pre-assembled closet would cost more and have to be brought back home by a delivery company. “NO, DIY it will be”, you say with authority and stamp out the house on the start of your mission before the wife can lay other obstacles in your path.

As you get into the car the Wife shouts after you, “I’ll be out all day, try and get it all finished before my parents come this evening will you”?

Freedom and on the road at last. After much searching around the various shops and comparing prices you soon have the perfect unit balanced across the back of the car and are winging your way back home. Part one complete. Part two coming up.

Back at the house you gleefully bring the whole box of panels and associated bits into the bedroom, having previously made a space for it and removed the old closet out of harms way. So you have space and the various sections to be made into something usable. All that is required now are some tools and a cup of coffee. Downstairs for the toolbox, into the kitchen for the hot cup of coffee and back upstairs it is. NB: Must clean up the coffee spill on the stair carpet before the family return.

Okay, everything is in order, coffee at hand and you are all alone to enjoy life at its best. First of all you sit there just soaking up the atmosphere and considering changing jobs to that of a Test Engineer at a furniture factory, then you make your first move of laying out the essential tools in a neat row along the floor by the door. A screwdriver, a sharp knife, a hammer, a tape measure and another screwdriver all placed neatly and ready for use. Next you use the sharp knife to open up the box and smile at the sight of all that wood! Laying out the panels in order you slowly empty the box until nothing is left, sitting back and grinning from ear to ear at the sight around you, now that phase two has been completed.

But wait! Something is missing! You search around desperately for the assembly diagram, the one that should have been stuck inside the box, under the wood or in the bag of hinges and screws. It must be somewhere and you search again, looking in the car, under the wood, in the box and in the kitchen – anywhere that it might be. Calm down, you tell yourself, phone the company ask them if they have a new one or spare one or maybe it fell out at the shop. After a few phone calls’ you sit back in total despair. The lady at the shop had kindly said “have you looked in the box”? And the lady at the factory condescendingly said, “oh no, we don’t include diagrams with our latest range”.

NO DIAGRAM? What do you mean NO DIAGRAM?

All is not that bad. Gaining second wind and laughing at yourself for the panic you go back upstairs convincing yourself that it can not be that difficult. A couple of shelves, a back and a front and some sides’ that is all there is to building this up. What could be easier than that? You are now convinced that all will be easy and back to work you go with gusto and renewed energy! All you have to do is to arrange the separate pieces into order of place and work from there. Find the back, the bottom and two sides and then screw them together. After that, well, just fit the doors and “bobs your uncle”.

Seven hours it takes you. Seven hours of head scratching, sweating nervousness that the wife should return early and of seriously considering running out and buying a pre-assembled unit. Seven hours of puzzlement about why no panels are of the same size, why the floor is three inches shorter than the top and why there are not enough screws for the job. Seven hours of panic and heartburn as you precariously balance on one foot, holding one side up with your elbow and attempting to get a screw into place with your mouth. Seven hours of trying to figure out how you managed to get the door handles inside instead of out and why you had to open the left door before the right door would open.

The first hour of all of this was spent trying to work out which piece was the floor. Deciding that it was the oblong section that had screw holes in it you had suitably attached it to what you thought was the right side. Whilst trying to balance on the washing basket and fix what you thought was the top onto what you thought was the side, you fell off seriously damaging your ankle and cutting your finger on the knife that had been lying beside the door. It was whilst looking upwards and deciding whether to nurse your ankle or suck on your bleeding finger that you noticed that the top was not the top after all. And that the bottom was actually an internal shelf and that the side that you had made so many holes in was after all, the door.

It was after seven hours that you managed to assemble a closet into some sort of order. One door did have a few extra holes in it and the other door did have a rather large coffee stain in the middle but it was together. Oh, and the back did look a mess as in a temper you had accidentally punched a hole through the thin plywood and nailed it crooked to the closet frame. The door handles that you had broken whilst removing them from the inside of the doors to the outside looked okay once taped together and the mirror that you had cracked was not needed anyway – that you had removed outside to the garage never to be talked about again.

Tools away, cup back in the sink, plaster on the finger and a soaking hot bath later and you are sitting comfortably with a newspaper in front of the television. Secretly swearing to yourself that you would never ever do such a thing again. Pre-assembled furniture all the way from now on you say to yourself. The wife on her return complains about the coffee stain on the stairs, makes some comment about the closet looking like a twenty year-old disaster and then goes to make dinner. Operation Closet complete and behind you!

SIX MONTHS LATER

One fine day, there you are eating your cereal in the morning and the wife comes along and says, “we need a new dresser in the spare room”. Your heart jumps and without falter you say “yes dear, I will get the car out on Saturday and look for something nice”.

PART TWO: OPERATION DRESSER – Coming Soon!



About Author Ieuan Dolby :

Ieuan Dolby, from Scotland is an Engineering Officer in the Merchant Navy. He has been travelling the world for 15yrs on an endless tour of cultural diversification. Currently based in Singapore he writes various articles for magazines and newspapers and is working on a marine glossary.
ieuandolby@lycos.com


Article Source: http://www.BharatBhasha.com
Article Url: http://www.bharatbhasha.com/home_improvement.php/1825


Saturday, May 31, 2008

Create Valuable Space In Your Closets With Closet Organizer

Wire closet organizers are a very inexpensive and functional way to make the most of the space in a bathroom closet. This particular type of closet organizer is constructed of some of the finest and strongest materials in the industry of wire closet organizers. It is a great to be installed in the kitchen or pantry, especially the wire baskets and pullout shelves. For the bedroom - not really a great option.

Rubbermaid closet organizer kits sell like nothing else. With efficient solutions for closet bard ventilated shelves and shoeboxes theres nothing you cant do with Rubbermaid organizers. It is one such company that has custom closet organizers for any storage need or preference. Choose from rods, racks, shelves, baskets, and much more.

Create valuable space in your closets by storing your sweaters and clothing accessories in a Tweed Hanging Closet Organizer . This hanging sweater bag is a great storage solution for any cluttered closet. Creative Storage features a whole line of closet organizers that make your closet work more efficiently. Optimize your storage space with valet pins, pant racks, pull-down valet rods, pull-out mirrors, wire baskets, wicker baskets, pull-out shelves, pull-down shoe racks, belt racks.

Hanging shelves are a big bonus as part of a bedroom closet organizer and if there is enough room under a shelf, a small drawer can be installed to hold small items. Complete systems for transforming a nightmare closet into a well-organized storage are with a ready-made bedroom closet organizer. Hanging closet rods take the squeeze out of crammed closets and give your garments more breathing room to keep apparel wrinkle-free. This clothes rod is easy to use - no installation, it simply hangs up and works with any existing closet rod.

Kitchens have always been the focus of any home, and that trend is only increasing. In older homes kitchens are often the largest room in the house. Kitchen closets are often the most neglected closet areas in the home. There are many different things that are placed in a kitchen closet.

Designed with tweed fabric and faux leather accents, the clothes organizer will look great in any closet. Designed with a reinforced hanging system, it can hold a number of sweaters, jeans and other garments. Each shelf of the hanging sweater organizer is reinforced with a wire frame to provide stability when the unit is full. Design one to include all of the closet drawers you'll need and easily include space for computers, desk chairs, even additional lighting underneath closet cabinets or shelving. It's the fast way to organizing your home office and giving it a stylish facelift at the same time.

Shelves in there can be broken to get dividers, which will be known as sections. From here on, your mind comes to help you on the process of sorting the closet. Shelves save space, come in various adjustable sizes and give a tidy look to your closet. You can also introduce bins as a part of your closet for storing certain essential things.

Do You Use Closet Organizer Systems? Bedroom Closet Organizers? Find Out All About Closet Organizer Click Here. http://www.thebestclosetorganizer.info

Closet Organizers Make The Most Of Your Space

Most of us can use more closet space, and since it is usually not practical to take out the wall in your home, you should consider using closet organizers. Implementing a closet organizer will help give you the ability to utilize the space that you do have more effectively. These organizers can range from the simple setup to the type that is built into the closet. Either way will help you to properly organize the limited space in your closet.

One of the simplest ways to organize your closet is by getting accessories that will help you do just that. For example if you have lots of shoes you may consider either a shoe tree or perhaps a shoe cabinet. This gets your shoes off the floor and keeps pairs together so they can be easily located. If you have many ties you can also find tie hangers specially made to hold lots of ties and use the least amount of space necessary. However if you are still in need of space you may want to consider a full built-in unit.

When you are determining whether to purchase a built-in unit you may want to consider whether you want to do it yourself or if you are going to need to hire a professional. Doing it yourself can be rewarding and save you some money and with the economy in a current slowdown saving money is always a good idea if at all possible. You can buy all the necessary components at a local home improvement store and many of these stores also offer free assistance with laying out and designing the organizer.

This is an important part of preparing for a closet organizer. If a mistake is going to be made when you are doing this type of project it is going to be during the laying out of the organizer. This is because you can lay it out on paper and it may not actually work in practicality. This is especially when you are working with angles and corners. You need to allow for the corner and many homeowners over look this important aspect.

Once you have a good working plan, installing it is not that difficult. You will need a screw gun, a level, and a stud finder. When you are installing the most important thing is making sure that it is safely secured and the only way to do this is to make sure that you hit the studs in your home. This will help keep the unit secure, even when you begin adding the weight of your belongings. The other aspect that is very important is to make sure everything you install is level. This is especially true if you have drawers in the unit as they will not open or close properly if they are not level.

One of the most practical ways to increase the capacity of your closet is by adding an organizing system. There are many options from the simple set in place organizers to the more extensive closet organizers that are actually installed.

Craig Thornburrow is an acknowledged expert in his field. You can get more free advice on a closet organizer and custom closet organizer at http://www.closetorganizerideas.com

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Closet Organizing For Kids

Do you have a child? Does he have a bedroom? With a closet?

Are you afraid to go in there?

Relax! Closet organizing is not just a topic for adults. After all, if you could get your child to keep her closet organized, you could get her to...rule the world. See? This is good stuff.

Successful closet organizing for your child is based on the same ideas you would use in your own closet.

-- Everything has its place.

-- Everything is accessible.

-- Get rid of what you don't use.

-- Use tools and accessories to prevent clutter.

For maximum effectiveness, I suggest you organize your closet with your child working alongside you. While you have the final say in all decisions, a child that has some input will bring cooperation to the process and undoubtedly will have some vital pieces of information to contribute.

Your child needs to tell you how she likes to use her closet. Lots of hanging clothes? Toys stored in the closet? Need more shelving? Tiny items that need to be sorted?

If your young sweetie can't see the point in this domestic exercise, you can try pointing out that an organized closet will save him time and energy. But, at the end of the day, you may simply have to play the Big Card.

"Because I said so", is the parent's reason of choice and always plays well with "the buck stops here".

Once that's settled, here are the quick steps to use during this closet organizing session with your child.

1. Take a good long look.

The first step is to open those closet doors wide and see what's really in there. Can't see the back or the floor? Then everything should come out.

Yes, this is the part of the process for the strong and the mighty. Steel yourself. Unclaimed food nestled in the back corner of the closet will NOT make you and your child feel closer.

2. Get rid of what's broken, moldy, out-of-date, or no longer used or wanted.

As always, recycle usable items to a local charity. Be sure and include your child in this important step of community involvement.

3. Assess what's left.

This is where you both decide what needs to get hung up, folded and shelved, put in bins and baskets, or archived to a better place.

4. Make a list and shop for the organizing accessories you need. Together.

Or use cardboard boxes and customize (including decorating) to your kiddo's satisfaction. This is the fun part!

5. Put everything in its place.

You are not done with your closet organizing until EVERYTHING has a place. Everything. Period.

6. Allot ten minutes a day to KEEP everything in its place in this newly organized closet.

This is the crucial step. If you don't enforce this, you might as well not even start in the first place. The truth is, this part is called 'discipline' and most kids aren't born with any. But they need it and you can teach it to them. You'll find this is a fantastic opportunity to do so.

If necessary (and it probably will be), your child may need help seeing the value of keeping their closet in perfect working order.

-- Do they like to socialize with their friends?

Then they put in their ten minutes (or thirty seconds if they get practiced) of clean-up time every day.

-- Do they enjoy some free time?

Have they done their ten minutes?

-- Do they look forward to other privileges?

Is everything in its place each and every day?

This is simply a new habit and like all habits, takes a bit of time and practice to master. Give your child the opportunity to feel terrific about themselves by tackling a closet organizing session with them. It may just inspire you to go take a peek in your own closets!


About The Author: Colleen Langenfeld has been parenting for over 26 years and helps other moms enjoy mothering more at http://www.paintedgold.com. Visit her website and get more closet tips at http://www.paintedgold.com/Organize/closet-organizing.html .

Please use the HTML version of this article at:
http://www.isnare.com/html.php?aid=192053

Mac Tips

WFMW - Kids Closet Organizing

Source http://fortheloveofshiny.blogspot.com/2008/01/wfmw-kids-closet-organizing.html

I just love Wednesdays because I now have a reason to finish clearing out the clutter in my house. Lately, I've been sharing the few organizational tips that have worked for me. By the time I'm done with this series of tips, you will think that I have a spotless house because that's all I'm showing you. Really, though, all around the nice area is clutter, clutter, and more clutter. You don't think I'd take a picture of the clutter around the organized part, do you? Of course not! That is why I love Wednesdays. The clutter surrounding the organized part is slowly receding. Hopefully, in time, I'll find tips that work for me all over the house and not just the current sections and then I can post those too. For now, I'll stick with what already works for me. Afterall, this isn't called "Doesn't Work for Me Wednesday."

Up today is my children's closet. We have a somewhat unique situation in that we have a large, walk-in closet in each bedroom. Each closet has tons of shelves so we've never needed dressers for the kids. While I realize not everyone will store their kids' clothes on shelves like we do, some may have a shelf or two on top that needs some ideas or you can adapt the idea to another area of the house. Perhaps you'll see this idea and love it so much that you are inspired to install shelving in your kids' closets and do away with dressers so that they have more room to play. Maybe. Probably not. Either way, I've learned (the hard way) not to assume that I'm the only person in the world that has a certain problem.

My previous problem was that my nice, neat, folded piles of clothes would topple over whenever one of my children tried to remove the item that they wanted. Of course, being children, they wouldn't properly remove the item to prevent the toppling over nor would they fix the pile after it did topple. So, I came up with an inexpensive solution thanks to Organizing Junkie: dollar store baskets!


I now use baskets from the dollar store to organize my children's clothes. Each basket holds something specific. This photo shows my daughter's side of the closet. It looks like a lot but it really isn't. Each basket only holds a few things. Her baskets (from left to right and top to bottom) hold the following: swim class stuff, gymastics class stuff, tank tops, t-shirts, non-denim shorts, denim shorts, capris, soft pants, pants, jeans, pjs, and old daddy t-shirts (used as pjs). As you can see from the list, we do not put away seasonal clothing. My son has eight baskets: swimming stuff, taekwondo stuff, sweatshirts, sweatpants, shorts (2) and pants (2).

We've had this set up for several months now and it has proven itself to work very well. My kids always know where to find certain items of clothes and they can put away their own laundry easily (they are 8 and 6). Best of all, no more messy, toppled-over piles of clothes.

Head over to Rocks in My Dryer for a ton tips from other participants or visit Organizing Junkie for some organizing ideas.

Closet Organizing In 5 Minutes A Day

The thought of closet organizing makes most people groan. But it doesn't need to be this way! Starting with a messy closet, you can get that closet organized and keep it organized in just 5 minutes a day.

Set a timer and let's get started!

-- Day 1.

Your first 5 minutes will be devoted to staring at the contents of your closet. With pen and paper in hand, jot down what items you haven't used in years (be honest). You will be throwing or giving these items away. If you can't bear to toss an item, give some thought as to where the item could go for a new home and a new life.

When your timer goes off, stop. Put the pen and paper on the closet floor and close the door. You'll be back tomorrow.

-- Tomorrow is here!

Continue your closet organizing adventure. Go to your closet and pick up your pen and paper. Keep on creating your list of what in your closet you can get rid of and what items need to find a new home. Use as many 5 minute sessions as necessary on this step. Feel like you're not getting anywhere? Nonsense! This step makes all the difference down the road when you are maintaining your organized closet.

Simply stated, it will be A LOT easier to keep your closet organized when it only contains what you truly use and is not being used as your personal archive. (In fact, it will probably help you if you can designate one closet or space in your home as a storage container for all those items you need seasonally or for keepsakes. Things you only access occasionally.)

In addition, doing this one step over several days will give you a chance to really think about those items you have collected over the years. You'll find you're ready to give or throw away things on Day 5 that you couldn't bear to part with on Day 1.

-- The next step to your closet organizing.

Once you have completed the list of unnecessary items in your closet, grab a couple of boxes and your timer. Set your 5 minutes and, using your list, toss the trash in the trash box and the give-away items in the give-away box. If this takes you more than 5 minutes, stop and continue tomorrow. This step will go fairly quickly, however, if you've done a thorough job with your list from Day 1.

-- Moving right along.

Now that all the excess stuff is gone from your closet, you can get down to organizing what is left. Use your 5 minutes to genuinely study what's remaining in your closet.

* Which items do you use everyday?

* Which items can be stored together?

* Which items can be stored on shelves?

* Which items can be stored in drawers?

* Which items should be put in bins?

* Which items simply don't belong in this closet?

Take notes during this step and use as many 5 minutes as you need. Again, doing this over several days gives you time to consider how you use each item in your closet each day and what type of organizational system will make the most sense for you. You're aiming for usability here and it may take a bit of trial and error. That's fine because the end result will be a closet you can easily keep organized without even thinking about it.

-- Time to organize your closet.

Using your notes from the previous step, get the supplies you need to organize your closet. Again, take your time with this step, noting what is working and what is not along the way. Tweak as necessary.

* Need more hangars, bins, baskets? Put them on your shopping list for next time you go to the discount store.

* For starters, use whatever organizing supplies you already have including old boxes. It can help to live with your ideas for a week or two to enable you to understand exactly the type of organizing supplies that will serve you the best, so feel free to use temporary containers while you're at this stage of your closet organizing project.

* OR...if you're unsure about sizes and shapes of organizing products, buy just a few samples, leave the tags on and try them out. Then return what you don't need and purchase what you do.

This step can either be completed as part of your normal shopping (requiring no extra trip to the store and keeping within the 5 minute concept) or simply dive in and do one big shopping trip. Your choice.

-- Live with it.

There's no substitute for living with your organizing to see what you've accomplished and what you need to change. Use your 5-minutes-a-day to ask yourself what you like and don't like about your newly organized closet. Take notes and make changes.

-- Last step.

This is the maintenance step and it's easier than you think. For your closet organizing enterprise to give you the results you want, you'll need to take 5 minutes each day and put things away in your closet where they belong.

But beware. Skip this step for just 7 days and you'll need to put in 35 minutes to get back on track. Maybe you don't have 35 minutes to organize your closet, so you don't do it. It won't be long before your closet will be in chaos again and you're using EXTRA time every day just to locate items that should be at your fingertips.

That's right, you're going to use the time anyway. Being disorganized is a huge time waster. So stick to your 5 minutes a day, no matter what. It won't be long until your new habit becomes second nature and you can't imagine NOT doing a quick tidy-up each day.

All it takes is 5 minutes.

by: Colleen Langenfeld

About The Author

Colleen Langenfeld has been parenting for over 26 years and helps other moms enjoy mothering more at http://www.paintedgold.com. Visit her website and get more closet tips at http://www.paintedgold.com/Organize/closet-organizing.html

http://www.articlecity.com

Friday, April 25, 2008

How to Organize a Closet

One great way to organize your closet is to color coordinate your clothes. Learn how with expert tips in this free house cleaning video
How to Color Coordinate Closets



One great way to organize closets is by the length of clothing. Learn how to do this with expert tips in this free house cleaning video
How to Organize Closets by Clothing Length


Winter boots are so big that it can be difficult to organize them in your closet. Learn how with expert tips in this free house cleaning video
How to Organize Winter Boots

How to Organize a Closet

Can't figure out where to hang your belts? Learn how to organize belts and scarfs with expert tips in this free house cleaning video

How to Organize Belts



Closets are a magnet for clutter so get some basic closet cleaning and organizing tips in this free house cleaning video
Basic Closet Cleaning Tips


If the summer is over and your closet is full of winter clothes, learn how to clean out those old summer clothes with expert tips in this free house cleaning video
How to Clean Out Summer Clothes



If you're lacking space in your closet, learn how to add closet door hooks with expert tips in this free house cleaning video
How to Add Closet Door Hooks

Clothes Closet Overhaul - Organizing Tips from Vicki Norris

Get your closet organized with the help of these quick tips from professional organizer Vicki Norris of Restoring Order. More organizing info at http://www.restoringorder.com

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Everything in its place with closet organizers

You will save on headaches as well as a lot of energy just by having a guide on how to keep all your belongings well organized. A closet organizer will make the cleaning process easier than ever. You will be able to see your clothes all the time. Forget about spend a lot of time on finding that shirt you bought last year and don't know where exactly is. It is probably a women's dream to have a double-sized wardrobe. Now it's possible to double or even triple your closet space with closet organizers. Once you have installed it you will stay and get organized forever.


How to arrange a closet organizer?


Closet designers have people like you in mind. They want to help you on doubling your closet space. Every single detail inside a closet organizer has been included to provide you the most without wasting space. Usually they come with one hanging rod. However, it is possible to have two hanging rods and even designs including a walk-in. A typical option would be as follows:

� Jackets, shirts and belts on the top rack.
� Pants overlapped on hangers on the bottom rack.
� Straight-hanging trousers and dresses on a large area provided usually on the right side.


There also exist kind of advanced closet organizer systems with special options for shelves. They are called "comprehensive organizer systems". Shelves in there can be broken to get dividers, which will be known as sections. From here on, your mind comes to help you on the process of sorting the closet. It's also very important to have in mind unusual used items such as suitcases or other heavy objects, off-season storage boxes as well as sweater bins. All this stuff should be out of the way to don't disturb when is not in use.


Shoe storage, the critical process.


Shoe storage in closet organizers is a very critical component for those who have many pairs of shoes. You might think on including a couple of racks, called multi-rack shoes attachments into the already installed organizer. Another possible solution, which works pretty well in various houses styles, is to add a multilevel floor racks or multiple-compartment on the wall; some manufacturers call them pull-out shelves where you can store also sweaters, scarves, socks amongst many other complements.

About The Author:

Andrew Caxton contributes adding content regularly to various online magazines related to home & garden. At his decor site you will find further readings on closet organizers
This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_3771_27.html

Monday, April 21, 2008

Creating More Space With Closet Organizers

Closet organizers are a great way to create more space in your closet. Many homeowners look into their overstuffed closets and wonder what they can do to contain and organize all the stuff that needs to be there. If you are like many homeowners you will decide that purchasing a closet organizer is the most practical way to get a handle on it, this way you don't need to knock out any walls in your home to expand the closet.

One of the first steps that you need to do when you are getting ready to get into this project is to decide if you are going to be able to accomplish this project on your own or do you need to hire a professional to do the job? Doing it yourself will definitely save you money if you feel like you can take the project from beginning to end. Otherwise you may be better off by hiring someone that specializes in closet organization and letting them do the job for you. Either way that you decide to go there are some things that you will need to keep in mind.

Tackling the Job Yourself

If you have decide to go ahead and do it yourself the most important thing to do is make sure that you lay it out properly. This means making sure that you incorporate all the necessary storage items you need and making sure that the system you are purchasing will actually fit in your closet.

When you begin to lay out your organizer make sure that you get everything in the closet that you need. For example if you have lots of shoes make sure that you leave plenty of storage area to accommodate them. This way your closet will not looked overstuffed even after you install the organizer.

When you do your measuring make sure that you leave extra room so that the organizer will actually fit. Many times a homeowner measures right down to the 16th of an inch and forgets to leave some "play" in the measurement. The reason for this is because walls are never perfectly square. They always run out a bit and if you did not leave room for it you will not get your closet organizer to fit properly.

Hiring a Professional

When hiring a professional it is important to make sure that they actually listen to what you need. Many times a professional will try to "up-sell" you and then you end up with the project costing more then what you anticipated. For example an electric tie racks sounds great but they cost a lot more than just a standard tire rack and they each do the same thing.

Make sure that any professional you let in your home is licensed and insured. This is important as often times "fly-by-night" business spring up and they may look professional but you will later find out that the job will be done by not correctly or you will find that your deposit is long gone.

Whether you do it yourself or you hire a professional make sure that you have carefully laid out your plan. With closet organizers preparation is the key to success.

Craig Thornburrow is an acknowledged expert in his field. You can get more free advice on a closet organizer and bedroom closet organizers at http://www.closetorganizerideas.com

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Help! My Closet is Packed!

Most people’s closets consist of a shelf cram packed with blankets, sheets, boxes of stored things that they have not seen in years, a pile of shoes and an old hanging bar stuffed with mix-matched hangers and wrinkled clothing. This type of closet is all too common and can be a real ordeal to straighten out.

Home organization is a big business because most people need help in this area. There are all types of closet organization systems ranging from around one hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. We will discuss how to manage this area when you do not have a lot of money to throw at it.

You will need a little money, but it will be a worth-while investment in your sanity. Getting your closet organized can really change your outlook on life. Think that is silly? Think again. You get up every morning and look in your closet for what to wear. What mood does it put you in to see a cluttered over-stuffed mess, first thing, every day of your life? Seeing a nice, neat, organized, easy to manage area can really perk you up for a better day.

Start by emptying out what you have. You will need a bag or box for things that can be donated to charity. Get rid of whatever you have not used in a year. Women are notorious for keeping multiple wardrobes. One may be for when you are skinny, one for when you are heavier, one for when you are pregnant and so forth. This can fill up a small space almost instantly. You need to separate these things from your normal everyday clothing and work clothes.

If you want to keep some things, that is okay, but you need to store them if you are not wearing them anytime soon. Keep only the things that you really need out in the open. Get rid of shoes that are scuffed up or simply hurt your feet. Only allow things back in your closet that you use regularly.

Throw away all of those old department store hangers and bent up wire hangers. In fact, you will be surprised at the difference some nice hangers can make. Matching wooden hangers keep your clothes from getting bunched together and wrinkled up. A well designed hanger can keep your clothes from slipping off on to the floor. Consider upgrading your old beat up hangers to nice wooden hangers. Your clothing and your morning disposition will thank you.

About the Author: Ron Maier is the owner of OnlyHangers.com, a leading provider of high quality clothes hangers,including wooden hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com
This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_517298_27.html

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Walk-in Closet Organizers

It stands to reason that you more space you have, you more organized you will be. Why then, are so many walk-in closets disorganized messes? It seems that the more space we have, the more junk we have to fill it.

Walk-in closets offer a variety of design options. They can be filled with shelves for folded clothing or books. They can host tie racks, belt racks, and shoe cubbies. They can hold multiple garment racks for hanging clothes. Hooks and hang bars can also be installed to hold hats, robes, and other such items. Drawers or dressers can be placed inside walk-in closets to free up space inside the room.

Walk-in closets grant you the freedom to be creative. For example, islands and benches can be placed inside large closets to create the feeling of a dressing room.

Walk-in closet organizers can be purchased as kits from local home improvement stores and some department stores. These kits contain everything needed to design your basic closet—components, shelving, and hardware. Accessories are available separately. You may have to purchase more than one kit to accommodate the entire closet. Though assembly is necessary, it is usually relatively simple.

Closet organizer systems can also be purchased for walk-in closets. These systems usually consist of pre-assembled pieces that simply need to be installed. Most can be placed on the floor for a built-in look or wall-mounted to keep floors clear.

Another option for walk-in closet organizers is a custom closet. Though these can be rather expensive, it does allow for a bit more creativity and flexibility. Custom closets can be ordered online. You give the dimensions of the closet and the desired components and accessories. You also select color, material, and style. The company will then provide you with a drawing or diagram of the proposed closet. Upon approval, they will ship the pre-made pieces to you for installation. Local closet organizer companies are also available. Many of these will send a consultant to your home. This person will evaluate your space, your décor, your needs, and your budget before presenting his or her recommendations for a custom closet.

With walk-in closets, the sky really is the limit. Organization is truly within reach.
This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_499648_27.html

Organize Your Home Storage and Simplify Your Life!

Be delighted with yourself — committing to organize your home is the first step in actually doing it! The Linen Closet will need attending too eventually so let’s go there now.

If you have excess laundry to deal with, you probably have a linen closet that is less than user-friendly. Once you have clean towels, rags, and other linens to put away, you won’t do it if their destination is less-than-appealing.

So let’s organize it! This is the first place where you’ll have to be brutally honest with yourself about what you keep and what you get rid of. When I say, “get rid of,” I don’t necessarily mean it ends up in the trash—if it’s towels, bedding, etc., that are in bad condition, your local animal shelter would be grateful for your donation. They always need things for the dogs and cats to lay on in their runs and crates, and your cast-offs in this area will be eagerly accepted.

Take stock of what you have for shelves. Do you have wooden or wire shelves? Do you have problems with things “falling through” if you have wire shelves? If so, you don’t have to worry and go buy scrap wood to line the shelves with—a simple piece of shelf-lining (you know, that bumpy green stuff that comes in rolls) will lie nicely and prevent small things from falling through. If necessary, put some of that down.

Now take a look and see what you’ve got in terms of extra bedding.

How many beds in your home? You should have a minimum of 1 extra bedding-set for each bed, a maximum of 2. Think about it before you start to write me and tell me why you need 6 sets of bedding for each bed—if you have small children who have nighttime accidents (or get the stomach flu in the middle of the night), you might have to change sheets in the morning (or the middle of the night if it’s barf!), and you’ll have some clean ones to put on. You’ll put the dirty ones in the washer and get the machine started on that task. Then you’ll swap things to the dryer. You’ll still have clean sheets on the bed and if you’ve got 2 extra sets, another clean one in the linen closet.

So now with that argument won, go through your bedding. Do you have mis-matched pieces? If so, put them in the donation pile. Do you have twin pieces mixed in with king pieces? If so, separate them in two piles. Make sure everything is folded (I’ll give you a pass on the fitted sheets—those are impossible to fold neatly!). Now set aside one or two shelves for your bedding. Make sure that the bedding for the queen bed is not piled up with the stuff for the crib or twin bed. You can fold the stuff in squares or fold it in to long rectangles and then roll it. Either way is acceptable—it just depends on how much space you’ve got.

Now we move on to towels and other things in your linen closet…

3. Take stock of your towels, washcloths, and other terrycloth things. Do you have towels that are holey or bleach-stained? Do you have towels that aren’t very absorbent from using too much fabric softener? Do you have towels that don’t match your current bathroom décor? Donate them. Keep only that which matches your décor (unless you turn it in to a rag), and only that which wouldn’t embarrass you to put out for guests when they visit. That should pare down your towel collection to a more manageable number.

I can’t tell you an exact number that is appropriate here—that depends on how many members are in your family. What I can suggest is 2 towels per person—one that’s currently hanging in the bathroom and one clean one that can be conscripted into service when the current one is in the wash. Do you have washcloths? One for every-other day of the week would be appropriate—many people don’t use them anymore, in this age of scrubbiest, poufs, and other facial cleansing methods.

Do you have a rag-pile (or kitchen-towel pile) in your linen closet? If so, fold those and put them on a shelf that’s easy to access. You’ll use those most frequently, so make them easy to reach and use. Again, sort through and see what’s in reasonable condition and put the rest in the pile for the animal shelter.

What other things are in your linen closet? Do you have table linens there? If so, do you know what’s there? Are they neat enough that when you need them you don’t have to go digging and put the iron on “fry it silly” to get the wrinkles out? If any of the above is true, pull them out, wash, sort, keep only the best, and fold (or press) them quickly and put them away.

Finally, if you have other miscellaneous things (doilies, candlesticks, etc.) in your linen closet, set a shelf aside for those things. If you don’t have a full shelf to ascribe to them, use a shelf that’s only half-full of other items. Again, sort through and keep only what you’re in love with—anything else can be donated to a charity-resale shop, given to siblings, or sold on eBay.

Don’t keep things “just in case” great-aunt Mildred comes by—she won’t, and if she does, she probably won’t remember what it was. Remember, you’re organizing your home so that it’s not just a house of stuff for your family. That’s much more important than not offending a distant relative!

Congratulations—you’ve won the battle with your linen closet. Isn’t it such a nice feeling to open up a closet and not be in danger of the falling towel zone?

This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_499750_27.html

Construction Technology Videos