Getting Organized and Staying that Way

Everyone has to take the time to get organized once in a while. When your closets and living areas overflow with junk, it’s time to take control. Using these professional tips, you can get your most bothersome areas organized and keep them that way!

First you need to identify areas that are the most trouble. Most people have a “pile it on” spot, like the kitchen counter, an end table, or the bathroom counter. Sometimes we clean in a hurry, throwing everything into a laundry basket, bag or box, and then never get around to sorting it out. Places like these make our homes feel cluttered and disorganized. Tackle projects one at a time and come up with logical solutions to the problems.

A clean counter is very alluring to someone looking to set something down. Identify what type of items are constantly being put there so that you can provide a space for them. If it’s papers from work, try a wall file. If it’s keys, wallet and pocket knife, place a small basket there, or hang a shelf with hooks. It helps if you arrange your organizational products in the area where your family is used to putting things. We are, after all, creatures of habit. If you normally come home and drop everything in the kitchen, putting an organizational set of baskets, shelves and hooks in the living room will only work for so long.

Use this same principal for controlling other things, like laundry. If your child’s laundry basket is in their closet, but they always leave their clothes at the foot of the bed, then you need to move the basket to the foot of the bed. You can slowly move the basket closer to the wall, and even back into the closet after they get the hang of using it all the time. Getting them to have some successes in the beginning is the key to making it a habit for them.

When you get around to the biggest job, the closet, be ready to make a real plan. Don’t just go out and buy a bunch of baskets and bins without planning for the space that you have available. Sort out and separate everything that you have in your closet. Get rid of what you can, and then plan on which containers will work best for you.

Arrange things according to how often they are used. The things that you need the most often need to be easily accessible. If they’re not, you’ll end up keeping them in a more convenient spot, eventually. You want to make it easy to keep things where they go. Get some high quality clothes hangers, like a good wood hanger or coat hanger for your dress clothes. You may decide to go with some space saving hangers or specialty hangers to help improve the organization of the space. Home organization is an ongoing process, so don’t get discouraged if it takes a few tries to get it right.

About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com.

How to Use Specialty Hangers

Specialty hangers are great for getting your closet organized and helping keep it that way. They can help to make sure that everything has its place. They can also be used to hang garments that you normally would not, like scarves and bathing suits. Specialty wood hangers, like coat hangers, can help your coats and suits keep their intended shape. You can use cascading hangers to save a lot of space and get your closet organized.

Pincher hangers have clamps or clips on each end. These are great for hanging shorts, skirts, shirts with straps, and other small items. In general, you want to get smaller ones for small items and longer ones for bigger items. You don’t want the garment to sag in the middle. It should be taught and held securely by the clips or clamps.

Pants hangers come in a few different styles. Some have non-slip grip vinyl sleeves or plastic coatings. Some pants hangers clamp all the way across. The newer styles of pants hangers are open on one end. You simply reach over and pull the pants out. You don’t even have to take the hanger off the bar. It makes it easier to hang the pants without creasing them by threading them through a standard hanger. Nobody wants to start over with their ironing because they creased and crumpled their pants just trying to get them on the hanger.

There are a few different styles of tie and scarf hangers to choose from that can help you get some of those smaller items under control in your closet. Some hang vertically, some arrange things horizontally. You can get ones that are made out of a cedar block to keep your ties and scarves fresh year round. A scarf hanger has holes all the way across for threading scarves through. However, you can use a tie hanger for scarves if you like.

Cascading hangers are wonderful space savers. Some hangers have attachments, or loops, that hang over the neck of the hanger. This allows you to coordinate outfits and save space by hanging another garment off of the first hanger. Some cascading hangers are designed with a series of bars or bars with clips for hanging multiple pairs of pants, skirts, or shorts from one hanger. The newest cascading hanger is called the “Wonder” hanger. This is essentially a bar with notches for a few hangers. There is a hook at each end. You hang your hangers in the center and then you can lower one of the hooks. A lot of hangers can hang from one “Wonder” hanger, making a lot of space in your closet.

Specialty clothes hangers are essential for getting a closet thoroughly organized. Plus, they are made for hanging certain types of clothing and can help protect your wardrobe from wrinkling, stretching, and tearing. Shop around and imagine all the possibilities for your closet while you consider all the different types of hangers that there are to buy.

About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com.

How to Update Closet Style

Does your closet make you say, “Blech”? It’s time for a closet make-over. Organizing and making space for your stuff is one thing, but updating your closet to make it a place you’ll love is another. You can make your closet reflect your personal style, without sacrificing space, usability, or breaking the bank.

Start by surfing around and taking note of closet styles that you like. Pay particular attention to certain aspects of certain closets that interest you. Narrow your search by looking for closets that accommodate the types of items that you have. If you own a lot of purses or shoes, check out celebrity closet designs and see if you can incorporate their ideas into your own closet. You don’t have to spend 100K to create a shelf with dividers for storing purses, or a cubby system that goes up the wall to store your favorite shoes.

You can install shelving, drawers, cabinets and more in your closet. You will want to empty it out to decide how to most effectively use the space. Efficiency is key. You don’t want deep drawers to store loads of junk. Compartments make better use of small spaces and help you to keep organized.

Here are some ideas for making an inexpensive project look like a professional job. If all you can afford is wire shelving but you’re not crazy about the industrial look and feel, consider making it look more inviting by disguising the wire.

You can cover the wire shelves with interesting fabric to really make your closet your own. You can look into building a wooden casing for the shelves so that your closet has a wooden cabinetry look with the wire shelving inside. You can take attention away from the wire by using high-end accessories. There are now baskets and drawers that fit into the wire systems, giving them a warmer and more appealing look. A good wood hanger or coat hanger will draw attention away from the wire and toward the sleek organized look of your hanging clothes.

While we’re on the subject of clothes hangers, think about this. Using space saving hangers or high-end specialty hangers will give you more ways to organize than building a lot of shelves, cabinets and drawers. Tie hangers, scarf hangers, cascading hangers, suit hangers, and hangers with clips all give you options for hanging things that would normally need a special place to go. Hangers that allow you to cascade items or hang multiple garments on one hanger will free up even more space for you, opening up your options and budget for some of those high-end accessories that will make your closet special.

About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com.

How to Use the Right Hangers

Getting your closet organized has a lot to do with the style of hanger that you choose. You should consider style, cost, functionality, durability, and many other factors when choosing the right hanger for your closet. Use this guide to help you decide which type of hanger you’ll be happiest with before you buy.

1) Wooden hangers, or coat hangers, are by far the most popular hanger on the market. They come in a variety of different finishes to satisfy your desire to make your closet look good. But wooden hangers are good for more than just looks. They are very durable and come in a lot of different styles.

Some have notches or rubber grips to keep your clothes from slipping. Some have a pants bar, either stationary or removable, to help you hang suits or coordinate outfits together. Others come with useful clips or non-slip bar covers to suit your needs. Wooden hangers can be purchased in bulk or wholesale to help cut down on costs without sacrificing quality. You can even get specialty hangers made from renewable bamboo or cedar to extend the life of your wardrobe.

2) Velvet hangers are really popular right now. These hangers are really strong, yet ultra-thin to help you save space. People really like the velvet coating that helps their clothing stay put on the hanger. It feels nice, prevents slippage, and comes in a lot of different colors and designs to keep your closet looking great.

Velvet hangers fit closely together to save space, but you can also get cascading hooks or specialty velvet hangers to make even more space. Cascading hooks simply slip over the top of the hanger and give the next hanger a notch to hang from. By doubling up hangers like this, you can get outfits ready to wear and save space at the same time. The new “Z-Hangers” patented design has an extended hook that allows you to hang shirts without unbuttoning the top button or stretching the neck to get it hung.

3) Metal hangers are a lot different than the old wire hangers. Wire hangers bend, snag clothes, and get crossed up on the bar. The newer designed metal hangers are a heavy gauge metal that is molded into one continuous piece. No more snags at that annoying twist around the neck. Metal hangers come in stylish finishes, like chrome or nickel to compliment the décor of your home. They fit closely together on the bar, saving precious space, and they don’t get crossed over each other and bent like the old style wire clothes hangers.

About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com.

Custom Closet Organizers

The need for closet organization is high for most people. It can seem impossible to get things in order if your closet doesn’t work with you. Everyone has different needs and no organizer has a one-size-fits-all design. Utilizing custom closet organizers can give you the versatility that you need to truly make your closet your own.

There are a few ways to go about customizing your closet. First, you really need to take an objective look at what types of storage you need. Some people can get away with a hanging rod and a shoe rack, but most people have more specific things that they need to store and organize in their closets.

Narrow down what you want to keep by giving clothing and other household items to charity. You may want to have a yard sale to make money for investing back into your closet. Most of us have way too many clothes that we seldom or never wear. By narrowing the field, you can get a clearer view of what you actually need to do with the closet organizer.

Once you’ve determined what you will keep, imagine the ideal storage and location for each category of clothing. The things that you wear or use most might be best off in the center of the closet. Things that you don’t use often can go further back. Things that you are storing for an entire season can go up high on a shelf.

Next consider what type of container or apparatus would best house the items that you need to organize. Would you rather have your socks in a drawer or a basket? Do you want to hang your t-shirts or stack them on shelves? Do you have room for a tie rack or hat rack on the wall of the closet, or would you rather just use a specialty tie hanger or hat hanger for these items? Take a look at your shoes, too. Do you want all of your shoes front and center, or just the ones that you use the most?

Customizing the closet will help you to use it more efficiently and more consistently. Staying organized is sometimes the hardest part. With the closet set up to meet your specific needs, you are more likely to keep it up.

After you have your design, think about the other seasons of the year. Does your winter wardrobe work as well with the system as your summer wardrobe? Don’t forget that you might need to make more space or provide different storage once the seasons change. Invest a little in some high end clothes hangers that can be used for multiple types of items. Not only will nice hangers make your closet look great, but something like a wood hanger or coat hanger can keep your coats and suits from ending up on the floor.

About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com.

Tidy Your Closet

Closets can get to be a real mess. Having the right arrangement of shelving paired with the right closet accessories can help you to get your closet straight. If you are starting from scratch, then there are really a lot of things you can do. Use these tips to determine which steps should work best for your wardrobe and your closet.

1) A system that consists of different shelf levels, bars, cubbies, and hooks is generally most useful. Smaller spaces mean that you will be able to categorize items into smaller and smaller piles, making it less likely that you will end up with one giant heap on a shelf. Keeping the spaces small is key. You may need to categorize your clothes and measure how much space you would like for each category before you begin. Varying the heights of the shelves and bars will actually make your closet appear neater. Not only does it break up the lines, but it keeps varying sizes of piles from looking like they should be uniform, making the look more solid.

2) Don’t forget to account for your out-of-season wardrobe. If you arrange your closet system to be perfect for your summer clothing, you may be terribly disappointed when the time comes for winter clothes. If your space isn’t accommodating enough to leave both wardrobes out year-round, then you will need to make sure that it works for all seasons.

3) If you have a reach-in closet, here’s an idea that you may not have considered. You can buy organization systems consisting of shelves and rods that are mounted on casters. You can roll the entire system into and out of the closet. Before you start thinking that this is a silly idea, consider this; you can load one system with your summer wardrobe and one with your winter wardrobe. When it’s time to make the switch, simply roll the current one out, place a cover, like a garment rack cover, over it and store it in a spare room or corner of the room that you don’t use. Roll the next on in and you’re done!

4) The right closet accessories can make your closet look great, but it can make it more usable, too. Once you have the baskets, shoe rack, hooks and racks that you need installed in the closet, take a look at your clothes hangers. Most people have a varying assortment of wire and plastic hangers that just look terrible. You can make your closet look great with a nice wood hanger or sturdy coat hanger. When your closet is done, you’ll be so happy that you decided to make this change! An organized closet makes for a happy owner.


About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com.

Bathroom Spa Closet

Most bathrooms do not have a closet that is usable for clothing. If your bathroom does have a closet, it is probably small and only holds linens. Really, we need room in the closet for holding clothes, towels, dirty clothes, and other things that we use in the bathroom every day. Creating a “spa closet” or locker area can provide you with the storage and accessible space that you need for getting ready in the bathroom.

1) You can create an instant towel or robe warming area by building a wood box with slats on the bottom. A vented bottom will allow heat to enter the box when you place it near or over a heater vent in the bathroom floor. You don’t want to block the vent completely, so make sure that your warming box has short legs to keep it about one or two inches off the floor. This will allow heat to enter the room, but your towels and robe can be warming up at the same time.

2) The same concept can be used to give you a good place for wet clothes, bath mats, and towels to dry. This hamper can offer a ventilated, yet attractive, place to put your dirty clothes when you are changing or showering. You can use a cushion with a washable terry cloth cover on top of the box to give yourself somewhere to sit while you’re getting ready.

3) Install a hanging bar in your bathroom so that you have a good place to hang your clothes while you’re showering and getting ready. Some bars come on a bracket, like ones that you see when you enter restaurants or offices. These are really useful in the bathroom. You can hang your clothes and let the steam from the shower release wrinkles while you get ready. This can save you time on ironing and keep your clothes close at hand.

4) The top of the hanging bar usually will have a shelf where you can stack clean towels and wash cloths. You may want to install some corner shelves or a small cubby shelf in the bathroom to hold other items that you need while getting ready. You can discretely store your underwear, socks, panty hose, and other items that you will use after a shower and while getting ready for work or a night out. Having these things close at hand instead of buried in a drawer somewhere will be very convenient and save you time.

5) Make your bathroom spa area attractive so that it is a place you will be happy to use. Choose clothes hangers that compliment the décor in the bathroom. A coat hanger or wood hanger is best for hanging heavy robes to dry. Wood hangers are also very attractive and you can get ones that match the wood accents in your bathroom.

About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com.