This is the time of year that makes me want to clean out closets. Call me crazy (I know you are), but the cool weather sends me scurrying into my coat closet to make sure everything is in order.
Last year's post on organizing the coat closet created a bit of a stir. I got a lot of emails about your coat closets, the coat closet you grew up with, and your neighbor's coat closets. I also got a few comments and emails about the review I did of the closet in the photo I used. Since we had so much fun then, I decided to visit another closet this year and show the good and not-so-good of how it is organized.
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First off, I love-love-love the pocket doors. It helps to have sliders here so the closet doors don't swing into the front door.
Secondly, I like the umbrella stand, but I think it's bound to get knocked over right there next to the front door. Maybe it could be scooched into the closet.
Next, great use of multiple hanging poles. If your family is like mine, we have many more short jackets and coats than long ones. This closet would be perfect for a family with small children.
Additionally, nice baskets for hats and gloves.
Lastly, I might add a tray for wet boots on the floor and a set of hooks to hold keys and bags (maybe on the side of the vertical, middle section).
If your coat closet is in need of some TLC, just follow these simple steps and you'll be ready for the cold weather.
1. Start with the top shelf. Take everything out and sort like items with like (hats with hats, gloves with gloves, etc.)
2. Go through each pile and remove items that are worn out, don't fit, or you don't like any more. Put any items that are still useful into a bag for the thrift store or homeless shelter.
3. Gather containers that you can use as a drawer/bin for each of the groups of items you have. I have one for gloves, one for hats and scarves, and one for tote bags.
4. Now, do steps 1 and 2 with the clothes that are hanging on the rod.
5. Place clothing back onto the rod according the person they belong to. For example, start with your smallest person. Hang up all of their coats on the left side of the bar. Then, go to the next tallest person. Hang up all of their coats to the right of the previous person's coats. Continue on to the tallest persons's coats. This will give you extra floor space to the left of your closet.
6. Next, gather everything from the floor of the closet and go through steps 1, 2, and 3. This would be a good time to vacuum the floor and baseboards. Also, check for any mold that may have grown in the dark depths of the closet when you weren't looking (Ewwwww). Wipe it down with a bleach cleaner and let it dry thoroughly.
7. If you need to store shoes in the closet, place an extra door mat or a shoe tray on the floor to catch any dirt or rain/snow drips from the shoes.
8. If you're in the mood to make some improvements to the closet, you can add some hooks to the door or use an over-the-door hanger to hold an organizer. There are many to choose from. Here is one I like and here's another good idea.
When my children were little I used a series of tote bags for keeping everything organized and ready to go out the door. I had a different color bag for every activity we had (library, church, PTA, work, beach). When I came across something, like a library book needing to be returned, I simply placed it in the correct bag and it was ready to go.
Proverbs 31:21 She has no fear of winter for her household because all of them have warm clothes. (NLT)
Last year's post on organizing the coat closet created a bit of a stir. I got a lot of emails about your coat closets, the coat closet you grew up with, and your neighbor's coat closets. I also got a few comments and emails about the review I did of the closet in the photo I used. Since we had so much fun then, I decided to visit another closet this year and show the good and not-so-good of how it is organized.
First off, I love-love-love the pocket doors. It helps to have sliders here so the closet doors don't swing into the front door.
Secondly, I like the umbrella stand, but I think it's bound to get knocked over right there next to the front door. Maybe it could be scooched into the closet.
Next, great use of multiple hanging poles. If your family is like mine, we have many more short jackets and coats than long ones. This closet would be perfect for a family with small children.
Additionally, nice baskets for hats and gloves.
Lastly, I might add a tray for wet boots on the floor and a set of hooks to hold keys and bags (maybe on the side of the vertical, middle section).
If your coat closet is in need of some TLC, just follow these simple steps and you'll be ready for the cold weather.
1. Start with the top shelf. Take everything out and sort like items with like (hats with hats, gloves with gloves, etc.)
2. Go through each pile and remove items that are worn out, don't fit, or you don't like any more. Put any items that are still useful into a bag for the thrift store or homeless shelter.
3. Gather containers that you can use as a drawer/bin for each of the groups of items you have. I have one for gloves, one for hats and scarves, and one for tote bags.
4. Now, do steps 1 and 2 with the clothes that are hanging on the rod.
5. Place clothing back onto the rod according the person they belong to. For example, start with your smallest person. Hang up all of their coats on the left side of the bar. Then, go to the next tallest person. Hang up all of their coats to the right of the previous person's coats. Continue on to the tallest persons's coats. This will give you extra floor space to the left of your closet.
6. Next, gather everything from the floor of the closet and go through steps 1, 2, and 3. This would be a good time to vacuum the floor and baseboards. Also, check for any mold that may have grown in the dark depths of the closet when you weren't looking (Ewwwww). Wipe it down with a bleach cleaner and let it dry thoroughly.
7. If you need to store shoes in the closet, place an extra door mat or a shoe tray on the floor to catch any dirt or rain/snow drips from the shoes.
8. If you're in the mood to make some improvements to the closet, you can add some hooks to the door or use an over-the-door hanger to hold an organizer. There are many to choose from. Here is one I like and here's another good idea.
When my children were little I used a series of tote bags for keeping everything organized and ready to go out the door. I had a different color bag for every activity we had (library, church, PTA, work, beach). When I came across something, like a library book needing to be returned, I simply placed it in the correct bag and it was ready to go.
Proverbs 31:21 She has no fear of winter for her household because all of them have warm clothes. (NLT)
I love your Monday Motivations - you make it sound so fun to clean and organize! Now, if I only HAD closets in my garage apartment LOL!
ReplyDeleteYou know what I think would be even easier than that?
ReplyDeleteMaybe you could just come and do mine! Heehee!
What is it about closets that I run from???
My biggest problem is having dormers and no real great place for the long stuff. It's a bummer.
And the Bible Verse is wonderful. Very fitting. Thank you!