Guest Post: Clothes Overload? Three Ways to Maximize Your Closet Space
Guest post by Alex Farley. Alex has a huge passion for fashion and traveling. She is a manager of a small business located in London.
Clothes Overload? Three Ways to Maximize Your Closet Space
Okay! Who else agrees that going on a shopping spree could be like engaging in an active combat? It’s like the ultimate real-life twisted version of Hunger games/Zombie apocalypse! You surely have battle wounds from repelling the aggressive attacks from rabid shoppers with jujutsu fighting skills and all you know is pilates! It’s a dangerous endeavor, really! Shopping is like MMA training ground! High five for surviving!
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Yet you do love to burn some calories shopping around, don’t you?! Then why not engage in active rest when you come home? Keep up the fighting spirit by organizing your wardrobe! No, no, no, come back here! How far do you think you’ll go carrying all of those shopping bags with you anyways? Here’s an incentive for you – if you maximize your closet space, you’ll be able to buy more clothes! How about that! Now let’s do it:
Box Them
First things first, empty your closet! Sanitize it from corner to corner or eventually all your efforts will be for nothing. You want the area to be as clean as whistle and in an apple-pie order so you can be sure that your possessions will be kept in good condition. Always clean the place you plan to use as storage space beforehand.
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It’s time to declutter and reorganize your possessions. We want you to run an inventory of everything and leave only the things you know you’ll use. Anything else could be thrown away, sold, or donated to charity. Don’t hoard clothes that might eventually fit you in size or come back into fashion. Those are typical lies we tell ourselves when it’s hard to let go of things. Out with the old and in with the new! Do it, you’ll feel better, we promise!
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Then look around for things you can use for storage containers. You don’t really need to have that many drawers. Think about boxes, laundry baskets, suitcases, storage ottomans, etc. It’s important that you clean those things from all sides before you use them! Also, come up with a storing system that would work best for you. Put the clothes you won’t need this season at the back of the closet and the ones you’ll use for the time being at a more frontal position. Is that a free corner there? Consider maximizing the space by putting corner shelves and store the things you use at all times. This is just one of many ways to go about it. Make use of every last thing you have on hand!
Hide Them
Do we see free space under that chest of drawers? And don’t tell us that you like cleaning those dust bunnies under your bed! Besides, haven’t you watched horror movies? Don’t you know how many scary things can crawl out of there and grab your leg while you’re sleeping tight? Let’s prevent that from happening to you! Vacuum and mop the spare space you’re planning on using for storage and you’ll have one area less to clean in the future! Bye, bye, dust bunnies! On second thought, they might as well be one of the things that go bump in the night!
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Look up! The ceiling will appreciate the company of upper shelves but first remove the cobwebs from the edges and corners. Granted, you might need a step ladder to reach the things there but it’s still a good solution when you run out of space. Go smart about it and store only the less frequently used things there. And do you know what?! You can store boxes under the ladder too! In fact, you might as well store easily removable storage containers on the ladder rings too!
Hang Them
That way you’ll have everything on display to make your daily choice of wear easier. Make sure, however, that you only store clothes that aren’t easily stretched so you don’t damage the fabric in any way. The best thing for sweaters, for example, is to be nicely folded up and laid on shelves or stored in drawers. Do make sure to wipe all the storage surfaces first. Even closed containers need to be comprehensively cleaned both from the inside and outside.
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Do you happen to have a storage rack space in your closet? Don’t forget that you can hang racks from the door! Also, you better make provisions for one or two or as many hanging rods as you need actually. The more the merrier! Or why not use a cheaper alternative and use a rope instead?! You can invest in stacking hangers but in case your credit card is recuperating from muscle strain, use chains or curtain rings to prevent fabric wrinkle. Iron your clothes right after you wash and dry them so you don’t have to do it later when you’re in a hurry to go to work, for example.
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Think about pegs! Yes! Those tiny friends are mighty and they love hanging out with your clothes, shoes, and accessories! They would hold on to anything from hats to ties and handbags. They’re really very all inclusive!
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Let us just remind you that those need cleaning too! Dust the hanging places once in a while to keep your belongings in nice sanitary condition!
See? Organizing your closet could be a good way to finish you overall exercise in a fun and easy way! You can go ahead for a second round of shopping spree now! Good luck!
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Bio: Alex Farley has a huge passion for fashion and travelling. She is a manager of a small business located in London.
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Keeping it clean and organized on the edge,
Shelbee
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12 Comments
Liz
These are great tips! I’m thinking that I need to do a closet clean out soon!
Liz
http://www.lizzieinlace.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
I definitely need to do a closet clean, Liz! I will probably follow some of these tips, for sure. Thanks for stopping by!
xoxo
Shelbee
Brooke
These are all great ideas! An organized closet helps me stay sane!
Brooke
pumps and push-ups
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
I agree, Brooke! Which is probably why I have been feeling a little off lately…my closet is a disaster! Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous day!
xoxo
Shelbee
Amy Christensen
Great tips! I love to clean out, every season…so once in the spring before summer and once in the fall before winter. I’ll go through and take out things I haven’t worn, don’t fit, etc. If I pick it up and I think, “What was I thinking?” it goes! Ha, ha. Thanks for sharing! – Amy
http://stylingrannymama.com/
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Amy, thanks for sharing your clean out tips! I am the worst with cleaning out because I am a total hoarder when it comes to clothes and shoes. But eventually I am going to run out of room and be forced to clean out.
xoxo
Shelbee
Helen C.
Great tips, I have already tried them in the past. Now that I live in a super small house (but at least I own it) that has the size of a closet in my past rented houses, nothing seems to work though!
My tip: well, what people in Greece always do is hide the winter clothes during summer and then hide summer clothes during winter. You have to rearrange twice a year your closet but at least you have space during the rest of the year.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Helen, thanks so much for sharing your closet tips. I have a closet room and still it is overflowing with stuff! I need to doa major closet overhaul…or move to a bigger house where I have an entire closet floor! Ha.
xoxo
Shelbee
Helen C.
I´d say move to a bigger house would be the best solution, hehehe
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
If only that were a solution! Or I could just kick everyone out of my current home and take over the whole place for myself! hahaha
Laura || Walking in Memphis in High Heels
Oh Spring cleaning time is quickly approaching so I’ll be doing this to my closet. I’ve never emptied it out completely, I need to try this!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks for reading, Laura! I need to majorly clean out my closet room. It is a disaster. But I might be too overwhelmed to attempt it!
xoxo
Shelbee