Organizing Your Closets - the RIGHT tools!
We've lived in this home for about 1 1/2 years. The closets were overdue for some organizing!
We've remodeled closets in two prior houses, so we had an idea of what we wanted. However, we
had to work on things as time permitted. We didn't have 2 or 3 straight days to divide and
conquer.
Here are some key steps:
- Take a long look at the closet(s) in question and decide WHAT functions they need to provide.
In order to do this, take stock of what's in the closet before you begin and decide what will
stay, go, and be added to it in the end.
- Figure out a budget for your closet organizing adventure.
Do you have a lot of money to spend for a company to professionally design and install, or are
you a do it yourselfer?
If you're a do-it yourselfer, move on...
- Measure left to right, top to bottom, and don't forget the depth, back to front. Keep those
measurements with you at all times. Make two or three copies. Trust me on this one. {{{wink}}}
- Do a web search to find just the right closet organizer. You won't believe how many different
types are out there. As I write this I'm using melamine covered pressed wood organizers from Home
Depot. They are fairly easy to install and white. Two things I like. I tried to find the
freedomRail system, but I couldn't find any local resellers for them. I need to see it and
feel it before I purchase it.
- Get all the tools needed beforehand and put them in a bucket or box with handles. If there's
one thing that can drive a person nuts it would be getting up and down and going in and out of
the closet to the tool shed to get what's needed. Save time and aggravation by having everything
ready before you begin.
For the bedroom closets, you can get drawers to replace your dresser as we did in my son's
room. His room is quite small and there just isn't enough space for a desk, bed, dresser and
bookcase. We put double hanging poles on the right, drawers and shelves in the middle and
taller shelves on the left.
The available variations can overwhelm you, so think simple and easy.
For my office we already have shelves in the upper half of the closet. But we're still
searching for just the right size file cabinet that we can put sideways in the deep pocket
space on the right side beyond where the doors open. I want to be able to open the drawers
and have the files facing me.
In our master bedroom walk in closet there are two long walls on each side and a shorter
one in the middle. We've planned for a corner unit only in one corner. Double poles on the
right side and in the middle, one pole for dresses and long items, then some shelves on the
left. Once again I would like to use the white melamine, but mix it with wire baskets to
lessen where dust can accumulate. Also, the wire baskets are see-through and pull out easily.
The possibilities are endless! Here’s an article on closet cleaning that might help as well:
http://www.thebusywoman.com/time-management/closet-organizing.php
If you think of your closet organizing as an adventure, then visualize the end result,
you can pull it off. For most of us there is bound to be one or two glitches. Just think
of them as conquerable challenges and get past them.
If you don't need to do this right away, take some time to enjoy dreaming up the perfect
closet by surfing the web for closet organizer(s) and organizing closets. Then look for some
good books on the topic. There are so many out there. We’ll get a list for you to look at in
our next issue.
My favorite site for organizing and remodeling is www.HGTV.com.
I could watch their programs and hang out at their sites for days!
Copyright © 2003 Susie Glennan - The Busy Woman, Inc.
Susie Glennan has been happily married since 1982, is mom to 3 teenagers,
and is a Home Maker, Nurturer, Teacher, Author, Professional Speaker,
Toastmaster, President of The Busy Woman, Inc., DBA - The Busy Woman's Daily
Planner®. She teaches time management seminars, offers FREE consultations
with your order, and will help you set up a schedule that's right for you.
800-848-7715 www.thebusywoman.com
|
