Closet Organization
Today, I put my favorite radio station on
(Latin hits FTW)
and tackled one of my favorite rooms in the new casa: the closet.
(It’s also on my 10 Ways to Make August Awesome list) 😀
It was a little bit of a challenge because I had to sort through a hefty amount of clothes, many of which I haven’t seen in a year.
I think I made it work 🙂
My half of the closet (so far):
Of course, I’m not a closet organization expert by any means, but here’s how I’ve always done it.
1) Separate clothes into “types”: storage (August is a great time to store the super summery stuff until next spring), dresses, shirts, athletic, etc.
2) Make a “donate” pile
and a “sell” pile for consignment stuff.
3) Find a good spot for the storage stuff you want to keep but may not need for a while, and figure out where everything is going to go. Here’s my set-up:
Athletic
aka the wall of Zumba and lululemon 😉
Thin strap tops –> tanks –> short sleeve —> long sleeve —> jackets —> pants
Cold weather
(I don’t go too crazy on the winter clothes since it doesn’t get too cold here, and for jeans, I have 5 pairs: a boyfriend cropped, skinny cropped, two skinny pairs and a bootleg pair)
Everything else
tanks —> tees —> button-ups —> dresses —> maxis —> blazers
I also have 6 of these stackable plastic containers where I store the folded stuff, like shorts, swimsuits, unmentionables (seksi in one drawer, athletic in another), pajamas and socks.
4) Organize by sleeve length and color. It only takes an extra second and makes everything so much easier to find!
I do the ROY G BIV thang and tanks to long sleeves.
5) Purses are up top, hamper is on the floor, but I have a couple of things I have no idea what to do with.
Shoes:
There’s a nice built-in shelf, but when I try to organize the shoes in there, they look weird.
Any ideas??
Also: jewelry. I’ve never really organized my jewelry, and it always ends up in a tangled mess (which makes the Pilot cringe). Should I roll with a jewelry box, or is there something else I can do with it?
Ideally, I’d like to build an island in the middle of the closet, so I can store my jewelry on top and have drawers for the Pilot’s ties and nix the plastic containers. In the meantime, let me know if you have any ideas! (feel free to link away to awesome storage/organization products too)
Do you go through your closet on a regular basis? 🙂 What’s your absolute, 100% favorite thing in your closet?
Mine is the Badgley Mischka dress that my aunt saved the day with for the LA Gatorate launch party:
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Wow. That is a dream closet. Right now, the closets in my house are so tiny that they aren’t really even wide enough to hold a hanger straight on the bar (we have to angle them all in there). When I had a bigger closet at my parents’ house, I used to be all about the ROY G BIV color organization. Now? I just sort of shove things in randomly.
Ahhh…some day… 🙂
Really? i want to know!
NICE closet! This makes me want to go through mine and clean it out. Clean, fresh start.
For jewelry organization, I personally love this idea at the blog Bye, Bye Bitters: http://byebyebitters.wordpress.com/2011/07/11/upcycled-jewelry-organzier/
Also, my shoes always look weird all organized on shelves, too … that’s why I just throw them in a seperate closet. Total mess, totally hidden. Haha.
I love these jewelry ideas found on pinterest:
Just use stacked Silverware trays: http://pinterest.com/pin/92343123/
Or some vintage ideas:
http://pinterest.com/pin/53010660/
http://pinterest.com/pin/17424168/
go to pinterest.com and search “organize jewelry” sooo many cool ideas come up…I just made three different things to display mine.
There’s actually a pretty nice article about organizing jewelry/bags/shoes in the newest InStyle (Makeover edition) They use clear topped tables with a little shelf underneath where you can slide jewelry trays in and out like a little display, and a carousel type thing for shoes among other ideas. 🙂 Good luck organizing! 🙂
I’m listening to shakira too! <3 Wow I wish I could have all your clothes! I have nothing that fits, I live in my scrubs cause I'm always at work. But none of my weekend and hang out clothes fit! Plus I'm really bad at finding clothes that flatter my short, curve filled body : /.
Got any tips for this girl?
wrap dresses are your friend!
My favorite part of my closet is the Lululemon side….which is basically all of it! Hmmmm…will there be any room left for the Pilot?!
yep i only took up half the closet- he has just as much room on his side 🙂
I love closet organizing! Your system is nearly identical to mine. I hear you on the shoe thing. Right now, I have shelves like you and organizing by shoe type. top to bottom: wedges–> booties–> formal heels –> work heels –> going out heels –> flats –> flip flop –> sneakers –> tall boots on the ground. In my old apartment I used the shoe organizer that hangs behind the closet door but found that it didn’t fit all kinds of shoes. I’ve also used the fabric shelf shoe organizers to hang in the closet and find that those are also great for smaller purses and clutches. My extra special shoes stay in the box. Congrats on the house and best of luck with the move!!!!
oooh i’ll try that and see how it looks! thanks 🙂
For your shoes ;): http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/182-7328286-6184913?asin=B000PI97CY&AFID=Froogle_df&LNM=|B000PI97CY&CPNG=home%20decor&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=B000PI97CY&ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001
I am much like you! My closet is organized by sleeve length and color! It just looks so much more inviting. I really like the idea of the island with drawers! 🙂 Maybe the drawers could have built in dividers for jewelry/smaller items.
Woo-hooo for all that progress!
I am a big donator. I still have things I hang onto that are a few years old but for some reason I just can’t part with them but for the most part…if I havent worn it in a year, it goes. And the truth is, I wear the same 10 things over and over and over. 99% I swear I don’t even wear! Sad but true.
I love that you color coordinated it all. I have everything color coord’ed too. From blacks to whites, pinks to blues, it follows the order of the rainbow 🙂
I just use a jewelry armoir. Target has some nice ones for relatively inexpensive. I got mine there and it works great!
This may have already been suggested, but I have an over-the-door hanger for shoes and also a two tier shoe rack on the floor. I like the hanging one better though. For jewelry I like to keep it in a jewelry roll with zipper pouches (it’s almost like a book). Mine is Vera Bradley but I’m sure they make generic ones. I’ve seen hanging jewelry organizers that are similar too.
Jewelry – I found some canvas storage trays at Target in the closet organization aisle…they come in natural or light blue. I store the trays on shelves in my closet – they have divided cubbies which are great for chunky necklaces, bracelets/bangles, and even belts. I also keep a small jewelry box and tray on the shelf for little stuff. I love being able to see everything in the tray with just a quick glance – makes accessorizing pretty simple!
I find having a jewelry box for my
Nice jewelry rings from the bf necklaces etc and a bulletin board one of the ones u can use tacks to pin things for the other misc jewelry like cheaper necklaces earrings etc 🙂
For your jewelry:
Grab a huge bulletin board and some pushpins, then hang your necklaces on it. It’s fun decoration for your room, will totally eliminate tangles and help you see all of your options at one time.
As far as earrings, if most of yours are the hook-backs, grab one of the four-tier votive candle stands and hang the pairs around the metal rims. Works like a charm!
Oh my gosh, that closet is huge! I’m so jealous! 😀 Do you have any space on the floor for a shoe rack? That’s how I store mine! As for jewellery, I have a set of hooks nailed to the wall so that I can hang up all my necklaces.
Hot dress!
I hang my long necklaces on a hanger (I just put them right over the hook) and I have a jewelry box for the shorter ones (got it at Costco actually).
I just buy those cheap shoe shelves (wire ones) at Target and use those (I put them under my shorter items in the closet.
I like that you divide your undies between workout and bedroom! That’s a good idea.
Jewelry organization = tackle box. Totally ghetto but it works perfect! Keeps things separate in their own little compartments, portable, takes go little room, easy to store.
The closet is looking great. I’m so glad someone else organizes by color too. 🙂
Here are two great options for jewelry organizers! It’s just like your clothes — the more organized, the more you use it!! 🙂
http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Jewelry-Armoire-Over-the-Door-Mirror-Cabinet/3538864/product.html
http://www.amazon.com/Overdoor-Jewelry-Organizer-White-Longstem/dp/B004D95U0E/ref=acc_glance_hg_ai_ps_t2_t_4
Container store has clear boxes that are open on one end. They Stack! You could fit dozens on those shelves! All types of shoes fit inside, except boots. But you could put boots on top or floor and roll old magazines and shove them inside. They stand pin straight.
I’ve been trying to come up with something to keep the shape of my boots forever! I never thought to roll up magazines! Genius!!
http://www.containerstore.com/shop/closet/shoeStorage/shelf?productId=10000106&N=154
It’s called the premium stacking shoe bin! It will change your world
Your organizational skills are a crime. Amazing. I love that you go ROY G BIV!!!
Ok, so I wish I had your closet. Anyhow, for your shoes, my mom who is much more organized than I, found these plastic boxes for her shoes and then took a Polaroid of each pair and put it on the outside of the box so she could locate them without having to open each box. Was much easier for her since she had a huge walk in (like you), but was also short (like you), so she could stack them up high and see what she wanted from where she stood.
I thought this cutlery set looked pretty cute on the wall! http://pinterest.com/pin/73988428/
your closet is ah-mazing! it’s so well organised and extensive! Love <3 isn't it awesome how good music can make even the most mundane task fun? you can have a little sing and groove, and get the job done! 🙂 xyx
An easy way to display your jewelry is on a bulletin board. Just buy a large one and decorate it. (I covered mine in really pretty black and white scrap book paper) Then use pushpins to hang up all your necklaces. That way you stay organized, you can easily see all your jewelry, and it makes for a nice decorative item as well. Hope that helps 🙂
Show this and thought of you … $95 for $250 for California Closets
http://www.groupon.com/syracuse/deals/california-closets?utm_campaign=california-closets&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&&&c=ednb_button&utm_content=syracuse_inter&d=deal&date=20110802&division=syracuse&s=secondary_deal&sid=10939949&user=8e02b8f8949b553d8625c90ba5b24068f710dd3853ba45efa59707ec504c8ba8
i should go into business! haha
Buy hooks at target or key holders and install them on the wall to hold your jewelry – lets you choose to have your long necklaces dangle instead of having them all bunched up somewhere!
Wow oh wow, I want your closet now!! And the wall of Lululemon…be still my heart <3
I am not so good at closet organizing but I took time with my jewelry this year and it made a world of difference. I bought one of those earring “tree” things and organized all earrings on there. It was amazing how many pairs I forgot I had because they were in my bathroom basket or in the drawer of my bedside table. Next for my necklaces I went to a thrift store and bought an old shelf. I nailed (or I guess twisted) about thirty hooks into the shelf spaces to hang my necklaces there – because the base of each shelf is still free I have plenty of room to also lay chunky heavy necklaces down where I can see them. My man then mounted it on the wall for me right by my dressing table.
Also shoe racks do the trick for me – not too aesthetically pleasing but then you don’t have to dig through a box or a mess on your closet floor!
Oh my gosh…I’m so jealous of your closet! We just moved, and I left my huge walk-in, for a small closet + a 2nd bedroom that’s been transformed into a closet (not the most eye-appealing, but it’s doing the job!). I also give you credit for splitting your closet 50/50 with the pilot! I have to say, ours is more like 70/30. For my jewelry, I divided it into costume and real jewelry. The costume jewelry is in my closet, in an organizer that looks something like this:
http://www.containerstore.com/shop/closet/jewelryStorage/hanging?utm_medium=feed&productId=10030180&utm_source=google_products&sku=10055029
I put my real jewelry in a nice jewelry box…but I’ve been needing to upgrade that as well 🙂
Good luck with organizing! I just went through it 2 weeks ago, and I have to admit, we still have a few boxes to sift through! It’s so exciting though 🙂
AMAZING closet! I had a nice walk-in closet at my apartment, but now we live in a house from the 1940’s, and all the closets are super tiny.
For my earrings and rings, I use ice cube trays. It keeps them all divided, and you can stack several trays. For necklaces (or long earrings), you can frame wire mesh or cork and use hooks or pins to secure your jewelry. You can make these for really really cheap, and I even saw one person that made one out of an old screened window!
I absolutely love your organization! I have a closet similar and I need to go through and get rid of some items and switch out summer/fall. I love the idea of the plastic stackable bins you have, but where do you store the bins??
either in the corner of the closet or on a shelf in there, so they’re easy to access
For my earrings I took an old picture frame and strung wire across it. Your earrings can hang on there and save a ton of room, plus it looks cute 🙂 For necklaces I got shower hooks and placed them on a bar in my closet and they hang perfectly without getting tangled up. Both ideas I got off Pinterest.
http://pinterest.com/pin/26657713/
http://pinterest.com/pin/46351556/
I do the same thing as you do! Tanks –> long sleeves and organized by color. It just seems to make sense that way! 😀
I wish you lived here! You could consign your unwanted stuff here and makes tons of $$$!!!!
For jewelry (especially necklaces) tie racks work awesome!
Ahh that’s really hard to choose! My LV Monogram Vernis in Rouge Faviste is probably my favorite. My love bought it for me last November and I always receive compliments on it.
I made the cheapest, but most effective jewelry organizer! Long piece of 2×4, drilled holes, screwed in hooks and nailed to the wall. All my necklaces and skinny belts hang from it. 🙂
I hang all my necklaces & braclets on purse hooks off my dresser. No tangles and everything is easy to see. You can get those pretty cheap on ebay….
I love your closet organization! I think I’m going to try this. I hope one day you post on how you manage your sweaty and not so sweaty gym clothes after a workout….gross, I know…..for the organizationally challenged, like me.