Saturday, January 12, 2008

New Year, New Closet

The New Year marks the perfect time to give your closet a fresh start. Many people make New Year's resolutions promising to bring new organization and structure into their homes, and a bedroom closet overhaul is a good starting point to accomplish that goal. Streamlining the closet allows you to free up extra storage space you may not have realized you had, and in the process get rid of some outdated items that serve no purpose besides consuming space.

Giving your closet a new beginning for the New Year requires starting out with a blank slate. By removing everything from your closet, you can eliminate some of the organizational mental block that is common when you are simply accustomed to a certain layout. Once the closet is empty, clean all of the surfaces within to remove dust and dirt that has likely accumulated.

Next comes the moment of truth. Go through all of the items you removed from the closet and assess which are worthy of keeping, which can be donated and which to toss. This can be difficult if you are the type who has a tendency to hold onto things beyond their useful life. For clothing, shoes and accessories, ask yourself some basic questions about each item in question to help in your decision. Have I worn the item in the past year? Does the item fit, and am I comfortable wearing it? Is it still in style? Making an honest assessment of how much value you get from an item may give you the extra push to eliminate items you are holding onto for the wrong reasons.

You can also narrow down the contents of your closet by simply rethinking the items you store in it. Take a look at the types of items that are being stored there besides clothing, shoes, and accessories. Consider whether some of the items can be stored in other parts of your home, such as another closet, the garage or basement. Boxes, sports equipment, linens, out of season clothing, and other rarely used items are good candidates for relocation.

Next, return everything to the closet in an orderly manner. Group like items together when hanging clothing, creating a section for sweaters, one for blouses, one for trousers and so on. Ensure that you designate adequate space for smaller accessories, such as belts and scarves. Bins and baskets situated on closet shelves make excellent storage options that keep smaller items organized and out of view. Use matching containers to contribute to a streamlined appearance.

Whether you have two pairs of shoes or a collection worthy of its own closet, shoe storage cannot be overlooked. Organizing shoes neatly on the closet floor is one option, but this method can impede walking room and be difficult to maintain. Shoe organization solutions vary from plastic boxes to hanging canvas containers to shelving, and the best style for you depends on your closet size, preference and budget. Having one organization system that accommodates all of your shoes will result in the most streamlined look in your closet.

Organizing a closet often frees up extra storage space that in turn makes it simpler to reorganize other areas of your home. Whether you aim to organize your bedroom or your entire home for the New Year, the closet is a great place to start.

About the Author: Stephen Nickse is the founder of Closet Solutions, a leading provider of quality Boston closets, strategically headquartered in the nation's design capitol, Boston, Ma. For more information, please visit http://www.closet-solutions.com

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