It’s a fact of life (my life anyway), I never have enough storage space. Since graduating from college I have moved seven times (two of which were trans-Pacific moves). Each time I moved I thought I was getting a bigger and better place. However, I quickly deduced that paying more rent didn’t always translate into more space. Thus, I learned the hard way how to make the most of limited space.
Here are a my favorite tips for strategic storing:
“Don’t store things you don’t need,” or so preaches my mother (the queen of vacuum-sealed plastic storage bags). But, she has a point. Before filling your closet and complaining that it is too small for all of your outfits, assess whether you really need or wear everything you own. After doing so, make like my mom, use space-saving vacuum-sealed plastic storage bags and under-the-bed boxes to hide seasonal items. Also look outside the bedroom for other storage options. For example, find a place in the garage, attic or basement for things like ski boots, holiday clothing, and other gear that you rarely need.
Make a list. Take an inventory of your clothing items– 12 sweaters, 22 blouses, 15 pairs of pants, 30 pairs of shoes, etc. – then take it to a home improvement store so you can find a closet system that’s tailored to your wardrobe. For example, if you fold clothing items more than you hang them, invest in more shelves and drawers than rods for hangers.
Be flexible and choose a flexible system. If you are a fashionista who purchases clothes based on the latest trends you will want to buy a closet system that reconfigures easily. For example, if you add a lower bar to your closet because you have nothing more than dress shirts and short skirts, you may be kicking yourself later when next season long skirts make a comeback and you have no room to hang them.
Get Organized. I aim for order. Nothing makes me happier than opening my closet door and seeing rows of neatly stacked clothes. I hang my clothes by category (work or casual, and pants, dress shirts, casual shirts, skirts, dresses, etc.). Then I organize each section by color. I love an orderly closet–perhaps, it’s because the rest of my house looks like a hurricane hit it—thanks to my 2-year-old—which means on most days my closet is the cleanest and neatest place in the entire house.
Check back for future blogs featuring more strategic storing tips.
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