Five Tips for Conquering Clutter with a Closet Organizer
Clutter seems to grow out of almost nothing and with a mind of its own it has a hard time conforming to the confines of a closet organizer. This of course explains the veritable cornucopia of Home Depot closet organizers that are for sale and seem to frequently include new shelving options, gadgets, and even materials! Cheap closet organizers are frequently found at garage sales and while it is tempting to go ahead and spend the money, the odds are good that before long this bedroom closet organizer will become just another bit of clutter clamoring for a place to be stored. To avoid this downfall, here are five tips for conquering clutter with a closet organizer that works:
- It does not matter if you are trying to organize a coat closet, walk in closet, kid’s closet, or your bedroom closet, one size does not fit all! Any closet organizer worth its money needs to optimize the space provided in such a manner that it will offer the maximum storage capacity for even the smallest closet. Measure your closet well and then determine if vertical or horizontal shelving options will provide the best solution. In the same way, most times it is a mix of the two that will provide the solution and you will do well to have the measurements on hand when you shop.
- Plastic, wood or wire? A wire closet organizer is cheap and great for lightweight boxes and folded clothes, but not a good idea for heavier items. Plastic cleans up easily, but it too does bend if overloaded and this does not make it a good solution for some storage needs. Wood shelving is pleasing to the eye and most certainly durable and useful even for heavier items, but if you have a small closet then the wood shelves themselves will rob you of needed space. Similarly, installation of wood shelving is permanent and if you need to access a crawlspace or attic via the closet, this kind of closet organizer will not work for you.
- Storage bins are great for a closet organizer if you have little odds and ends that do not seem to fit into any other kind of household organizer. This is especially true for kids’ closets that also house toys like Lego blocks.
- Kids’ closet organizers made from canvas are a good solution when you are dealing with clothes and even some toys and art supplies, but will do little if you are thinking of storing bigger, bulkier, and heavier items. Choose a closet organizer that can grow with your child and her or his changing needs without requiring you to change storage systems every so often.
- Last but not least, conquering clutter with a closet organizer requires you to be on the lookout for items that do not belong. It is too simple to just shove some clutter into your closet when company arrives unannounced, but in order to de-clutter later on, you need to deal with the clutter. Having a basket for just such clutter in your closet is a great idea, but only if you empty it out regularly!
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