Get your Closet Ready for Summer

Well, the weather has warmed up and the shorts are coming out! It’s time for some spring cleaning and your closet is a great place to start. You can make sure that your laundry rotation isn’t interrupted by summer and winter clothes getting mixed together. When that happens, it’s just so hard to find a place for everything. Make your closet a neat and clean area by organizing it at the same time that you switch out your winter for your summer wardrobes.

First, you need to take all of those winter clothes out of the closet. You can use a rolling garment rack with a cover for storing your winter coats and suits. Or, you can store them in another closet, like a spare bedroom closet. Keep them from becoming musty while in storage by using a cedar hanger or cedar closet accessories when you pack them away.

Make sure that you have durable containers for your clothes. If you are going to keep them in the garage or basement, make sure that they have a lid that seals well. You wouldn’t want moisture or pests to invade your investment! Cedar helps to absorb moisture from the air, deodorize, and repel insects. So, use cedar in your storage and you should be good to go next winter.

Now it’s time to clean the closet. While you have it completely empty, go ahead and vacuum, dust, paint, whatever you want. Now is a good time to add shelving, hooks, shoe racks, hat racks, extra hanging bars, or even line the walls with cedar planks. Right now, it’s probably fresh in your mind what didn’t work about your closet with your winter clothes, and you have your summer clothes ready to go in, so you can assess what extras you may need for your closet.

Categorize the summer clothes and take a look at what you have. If you have more shorts than you remembered, you may want to install a deep drawer or invest in some new clothes hangers, like pants and skirt hangers, that will allow you to keep your shorts organized. Tank tops and shirts with spaghetti straps can even hang on hangers that have notches or clips.

Make sure that everything has a special place to go. You can have a special drawer or bin for pajamas, special hangers or bins for organizing smaller items, like swimsuits, and maybe even a towel bar for drying beach towels. When your closet is ready for your summer clothes, you’ll be ready for summer!

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.

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.

DIY Closet Techniques

There are millions of ways to organize a closet. Everyone is different, owns different things, and has different needs. We can look at the different closet plans that are out there for days without seeing the same thing twice. So, if you want to organize your closet, doing it yourself is the way to go. Only you know your tastes and how you would prefer things to be stored. Use these organizational ideas to help you decide which closet storage techniques will best fit your style and your closet.

1) Baskets are very useful for most people. They hold little things, keep them organized, and eliminate the need to install drawers. Baskets, buckets, and bins are great places to keep socks, underwear, mittens, books, camera equipment, mementos, and more. They give the closet more texture and break up the monotonous look of ordinary closets. They help you to stay organized while making things look nice and neat.

2) Special compartments can be put in your closet to hold things that need somewhere to go. You may want to store a laptop, some tall boots, your manicure/pedicure supplies, your child’s schoolwork, or a multitude of other things. Creating little spaces in the closet that are designated for these things will help you to keep your whole house in order.

3) Shelves are really useful. They allow you to fold some of your clothes instead of hanging everything. You can fold sweaters and t-shirts to leave room on the hanging bar for bulkier clothes, such as coats and suits. Shelves can sometimes help you to make better use of the space in the closet and give you storage areas as well.

4) Storage is important in any closet. A high shelf that goes all the way around the closet can be really useful. You can keep luggage, out of season clothing, purses, sports equipment and more on a high shelf so that it is safely stored away.

5) Specialty racks for shoes or baseball caps can keep the clutter to a minimum. Use the back of the closet door to keep the bulk of the closet area clear. You may decide to move your hanging bar up so that you have more room underneath for shoes or laundry baskets. A tie rack, belt rack, scarf hanger, and some heavy duty hooks can help you keep your closet organized.

6) Hangers make all the difference in a closet. There’s nothing worse than having your clothes ruined by a shotty hanger. Use high quality hangers, such as a wood hanger or coat hanger. Another option is to go with some sturdy clothes hangers that maximize space. These can double or triple the space that you have on the bar!

Getting your closet organized and keeping it that way is a snap when you use the techniques that work for you and your closet.

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.

DIY Closet Organization Ideas

Many people realize that their closet isn’t working when it gets overcrowded and disorganized. Closets that make insufficient use of space can be frustrating and overwhelming. Use these ideas to get your closet under control and your home back in order.

1) Lots of people are turning away from bulky, expensive furniture for clothes storage and vamping up their closets instead. Storing everything in drawers can cause them to become wrinkled. You have to cram things in once the drawer is full. Then, you have to rummage through, unfolding and wrinkling items in order to find what you’re looking for. Having everything out in front of you in a closet is a great way to make managing your wardrobe more efficient and effective.

2) Take a look at how you do things. Do you fold your t-shirts? Hang only button-down shirts and sweaters? Do you keep your socks in your closet? Your personal needs should be considered before you design a closet system. Using shelves is one way to make room for winter and summer clothes, so that you don’t have to switch out wardrobes when the seasons change. This can significantly cut down on the labor and storage space that it takes to swap out clothing every few months.

3) Here’s an example of a closet that holds winter and summer clothes. Start with two hanging bars on one side. This will be where all of your pants, long sleeved shirts, dresses, suits, and coats will go. On the other side of the closet, you can install all shelves. Fold and stack all of your t-shirts on one shelf. If you share a closet with someone, divide the shelf so that it can keep your shirts separate. Now, use the next shelf for shorts and sportswear. Use baskets and bins for socks, underwear, swimwear, gloves, hats, or whatever else you have that needs to be separated.

4) Continue organizing by making space for all of the little things that you keep in your closet. Use hooks for things like robes, baseball caps, and purses. Use specialty hangers for scarves, belts, ties, and skirts. Your clothes hangers can make a big difference in how much you are able to keep in your closet. A sturdy wood hanger or coat hanger should be used for heavier coats and suits. However, you can use hangers that save more space, like cascading hangers or slim hangers. With the right arrangement and the right closet accessories, you can have the organized space that you dream of!

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.

Closet Design Ideas

Cluttered closets can really start to weigh on you. With all the options available today, there is bound to be a closet design that will work for you. Whether you have a walk-in or a reach-in closet, you can use your imagination to create the closet of your dreams. Custom closets are all the rage. With a little creativity, you can create your own custom closet design that meets your needs.

Walk-in closets are really the easiest to tackle. You have the space that you need to utilize drawers, shelves, bars and racks. Take advantage of the space that you have by designing a usable closet that accommodates your specific needs.

Start with your most basic need. Would you like your dress clothes, work wardrobe, and casual clothes separated? Or would you rather have a his and hers set-up? You can actually combine these options and organize each side of the closet separately. You can use the back wall of a walk-in closet for shoes, shelves, cabinets, laundry or basic storage.

A reach-in closet is more challenging, but can actually offer as much space as a walk-in closet. You’ll need to utilize the vertical space and the depth that you have available. Too many reach-in closets have shelves and bars positioned in the center of the closet. If you move them back, you can reveal a lot of space towards the front of the closet. Many people choose to install shelving or side bars in these areas. You can give yourself a lot of storage space in an area that you didn’t even consider a possibility before.

Vertical space is also often ignored. Moving the top shelf up higher will allow you to add extra shelves or even extra bars underneath. You can divide bars of clothes with a shelf containing shallow drawers. They only take up inches of space, but give you tons of storage for smaller items like jewelry, socks, underwear, stockings, ties and belts.

Whichever type of closet you have, you can always add hooks, bins and baskets to help keep things organized. If you’re still low on space, consider clothes hangers that have special purposes. Skirt hangers, cascading hangers, and scarf hangers can save you tons of room. You can further upgrade your closet by selecting a nice wood hanger that comes in a lot of different styles to accommodate your wardrobe. A sturdy coat hanger can be used for suits, coats, robes, or any other heavy items that need to be hung. You’ll be surprised how much space you can make by simply rearranging shelves and updating your 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.

Creating Beautiful Closets on a Budget

A nice, spacious home can still feel cramped if you don’t have your closets in order. Many of us put off organizing our closets because we don’t have the money to fix it up how we would like. Here are some budget friendly options for getting your closet beautifully organized.

Shelving in your closet will add a lot of space. You don’t have to spend a fortune to add storage shelves. Wire shelving is very easy to install, comes in multiple sizes, and it won’t break the bank. It can hold boxes, blankets, sweaters, shoes, baskets and more. It can hold a considerable amount of weight if it is properly anchored into the studs of your closet. Another convenience of wire shelving is that you can buy standardized attachments for it, giving you hanging space for tote bags, sports equipment, robes and more.

If wire shelves aren’t your thing, you might like wood. Wood shelving doesn’t have to be expensive, although it can be. Preassembled shelves normally cost more, but you can buy just the wood from your lumber and hardware store and save a bundle. We built 1’x1’x1’ cubby shelves from the floor to the ceiling and only spent $50. They are sturdy, solid wood, and we stained them to match our furniture. Cubby shelves and corner shelves are so useful and take up such little space. If you don’t have room in the front of your closet, try moving the hanging bar back a few inches until the clothes hangers are close to the wall. You can discover so much space just by thinking outside the box!

Another inexpensive option is to add another hanging bar. Just move your current bar up as high as you can comfortably reach. Be sure to support the bar by anchoring it into a stud. If you don’t have a stud in the right place, you can anchor a 1”x4” board into the studs around the area where you want your bar, and then attach the bar to your board. Most bars come with a bracket that hooks over the wood for added support. Do the same thing down below and you just doubled your hanging space. You may want to put a short bar on either side of the closet for items that hang down lower, like dresses and suits. With each bar costing under $10, this could be the most dramatic, cheapest change you’ve ever made to your closet.

When you get the space, update your clothes hangers. Hangers can make or break a closet. You would be surprised how cheaply you can stock your closet with a sturdy wood hanger or coat hanger if you go directly to the supplier or manufacturer online. You can usually get discounts for buying in bulk. Enjoy your new, spacious, budget-friendly closet!

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.

Build a Closet Out of the Closet DIY

Closets are notoriously cluttered and too small. You can organize, create storage, use vertical space, but you still may be left feeling like whoever designed your closet must have been a minimalist. Sometimes it is helpful to build space outside of the closet to expand on your storage space.

Closets outside of the closet are becoming more and more popular. These are commonly called wardrobe closets. Some people use extra dressers or an armoire for extra space. You can also use a rolling garment rack for more room. These usually have a zip-up cover and make a great space for storing out of season clothing, coats, or suits. But, if you want something more permanent that you can use for your everyday clothes, then you might consider a wardrobe closet.

The designs for wardrobe closets are really endless. For an industrial feel, you could hang a metal bar from chains attached to the ceiling. Place a shelf below for shoes and you’re done. You might dress it up a little by using sturdy metal hangers or black velvet hangers.

If the industrial feel is not for you, you can go with something more classic. Wooden shelves always look beautiful and are very sturdy. Decorative wooden brackets can turn a board into a beautiful work of art. If you’re into do it yourself projects, this one is really simple. Take your sculpted brackets and a board for a shelf and stain them to whatever color you want. Use a good varnish to finish it off and hang it.

You can even buy prefabricated shelves with hanging bars, perfect for extra hanging storage. Get some decorative baskets or bins for the tops of the shelves. Top it off with some nice clothes hangers, like a wood hanger or coat hanger and you’re done.

If you need even more space, consider some cabinetry. Cabinets can be purchased unfinished so that you can stain them whatever color you would like. Another option is to go with cedar and some cedar hangers, giving your wardrobe closet a really unique and beautiful look. You can install cabinets with hanging bars in between the different sections.

Another way to do it is to build an encased exterior closet. Install your shelves, bars and cabinets like normal, then encase it in solid pieces of wood. This “built-in” look is really popular. Add some finishing touches to make it your own and to keep it from looking homemade. You can use small 1”x2” boards on the fronts of each shelf. Use more to line the sides of the whole closet. With a little bit of crown moulding around the top and bottom, you’ve got yourself a professional looking closet outside of the closet. Use matching, high-end clothes hangers to keep the look sophisticated and you’re all done.

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.

Home Improvement Closet Tips

If you are thinking of remodeling a closet, building a closet, or simply making better use of your space, then you will probably run into some questions. The most common question that we get is, “How do I make the most of this small space?”

This is a big one! Everyone wants to know how to use their space efficiently without having to start from scratch. There are a lot of things you can do. One is to design a closet system that accommodates the types of items that you want to keep in your closet. This can be a very personalized design. For example, if you are a crafter, then you may need bins and shallow drawers that other people wouldn’t have a use for. If you have a lot of sports equipment, you may need a specialized rack to hold hockey sticks, bats, or helmets.

You can go with an easy to install wire shelving system or build a system yourself. Figure out a budget and go from there. You may want to sell a lot of the items that you have stored to make money for a better closet system. You can hire a professional or use these tips to do it yourself.

Make use of vertical space. Remember that most people waste yards of square footage simply because they don’t think to consider vertical space. People also don’t use the full depth of their closets. That top shelf could be moved up, and it could also extend on the sides out to the front of the closet. Shelves can be built down both sides, creating loads of storage without spending much money at all.

Another thing that people don’t think about when proclaiming that their closet is too small is how they use their hangers. Hangers are often overlooked and can present a huge closet problem. Your clothes hangers can make or break your storage space. Hangers can cross up on the bar, make your clothes end up on the floor, take up too much valuable space, or actually damage your clothing.

Choose clothes hangers based on the types of clothes that you have and the space that you have to put them in. A wood hanger is a great option for clothes that need to keep their shape and stay wrinkle free. Make sure that the wood hanger you choose is curved to match the shape of your coats and suits. Notches, pants bars, and non-staining hooks are things to look for when shopping for a coat hanger that will not disappoint.

For your regular, everyday clothes, you may not need a wood hanger if you need to save on space. Velvet hangers that are flat can save space. Metal hangers, not wire hangers, are sturdy, flat, and have a sophisticated look that matches a contemporary décor. Your clothes hangers can be purchased with specific garments in mind to cascade and pair up items that would normally take up a lot of room. Get your closet in order with these simple tips and you could avoid a major closet overhaul.

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 Revamp Your Closet

Now is the perfect time of year to give your closet a facelift. The winter clothes are coming out of storage, the holidays are in full swing, and we need to make room for the new things that will be coming into the house. Follow these simple steps to get your closet in order and keep things organized this year.

The first thing to do is to get your winter clothes out and get them organized. Some things you may pull out and realize that you really don’t care for them anymore. They may be out of style, misshapen from being in storage, they don’t fit anymore, or you’re simply just not interested in the garment. Don’t waste closet space on things like this.

Only hang what you really love and see what that looks like in your closet. Do you need some more staples? Some long-sleeved t-shirts, undershirts, layering sweaters and jeans are just some of the basics that you’ll need to keep or replace. The rest of those winter clothes that you’re not sure about can go. Donate them to a charitable organization or ask friends and family if they would like to take some. Have a yard sale to make money for Christmas.

Now do the same thing with the summer clothes that you took out. Go through and get rid of what you didn’t wear or didn’t enjoy wearing last summer. Don’t waste the storage space by keeping more than you need. Clear out all that you can, including shoes, worn out flip-flops, extra tote bags, and old purses. People tend to keep things that are still good, even if they don’t need them. Get rid of as much as possible and your closet will thank you.

Get a good storage system going. A rolling garment rack makes a great place to store clothes that need to stay hung. Large, shallow containers that seal are great for storing clothes under your bed. You can use risers or bed feet that raise your bed up so that you have more storage room underneath.

Now that you’ve thinned the herd, get ready to create a scheme that will help you stay organized. Categorize your winter clothing so that it is easy to find what you need and easy to hang clean clothes when they come out of the laundry. In the winter, it is generally best to hang shirts from warmest to lightest so that you can easily grab what you’ll need.

Hang pants together on pants hangers. A wood hanger is best for hanging heavy canvas pants or jeans while a suit hanger is best for hanging suit pants. Use an actual coat hanger for your coats so that the shoulders don’t get misshapen while they’re hanging. Your hangers should meet the needs of the wardrobe. Clothes hangers come in a lot of different styles, so compare your wardrobe to the ones available on the market to get the best fit.

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.

Build Your Own Unique Custom Closet DIY

Closets have gone from an ignored portion of the house to a home selling point in the last few years. People are spending tens of thousands of dollars on their closet systems and even turning whole rooms into closets, which are really more like posh boutique dressing rooms. Professional closet designers report all sorts of lavish requests for closet designs, including espresso machines, pedicure chairs, refrigerators, mini bars and more. Couches, chairs, granite counter tops and motorized shoe racks aren’t at all uncommon. You can use some of these ideas to turn your boring closet into a thing of beauty and convenience, even if you don’t have a lot of room or money to work with.

Just adding a few conveniences will make your closet more usable. If you are starting with a standard hanging bar and high shelf, you may need to add some basics before you really deck it out. You can inexpensively add wooden shelves if you do it yourself. Building shelves is not all that hard. You will need precise measurements when you buy your wood. You may be able to get it cut at the hardware store when you purchase it, but you may have to have, rent or borrow a miter saw.

Design a closet system that fits your space and meets your needs by pulling everything out and categorizing it. This part can be really fun. Purchase a stud finder if you don’t have one already, and make sure that you secure all shelves into studs.

You may have space between studs to add recessed shelves, which look really nice and add a lot of storage without using any space. Measure out the space between the studs, mark it off with a ruler, then remove the drywall using a steak knife or drywall knife. Stain and varnish the wood that you would like to use. Simply use wood glue to frame out the hole on the top, bottom and sides. Screw in 1x2 guide rails on each side and back, then place the shelf on top. You can use wood glue to secure the shelves and give them a nice finished out appearance.

Install the larger shelves in your closet. You can easily attach rails fro drawers underneath the shelves and use almost no room. You can buy drawers that are already built or build them yourself. An interesting drawer pull will make your closet unique. Drawer organizers can make a perfect place to store rolled ties, jewelry and more. You can even install a child lock on the drawer if you need to store valuables or dangerous items. A magnetic entry child lock cannot be seen from the outside or opened by an adult without the magnet entry key.

You can install valet bars, baskets, multiple level bars, shoe organizers and more to finish out your custom closet. Top it all off with some sturdy wood hangers that match your stain. A good coat hanger can keep your clothes from ending up on the floor and give your closet that upscale appearance that you’re going for. Have fun designing the closet of your dreams!


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 .

Designer Closet Ideas

Choosing the type of closet you want can say a lot about your style. Choose a closet that fits your personality, taste, needs and space. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

1) Utilitarian: This closet looks great with metal hangers, either chrome or brushed nickel. Dark woods with contrasting frosted or beveled glass look great. Or, you may choose to go with a stainless or strict shelving system. Either way, your closet will surely look sharp, neat and clean.

2) Minimalist: The minimalist likes to store only what he or she needs and uses often. They like the appearance of empty space while having everything that they need close at hand. The minimalist closet can be accentuated with cleverly designed shelves and drawers that disguise the amount of things that are being stored. For example, some drawers can be mounted to the wall with no legs or stands touching the floor. Alternating drawers with shelves can keep bulky points spread out for a more open look. Use slim line hangers or metal hangers for a really sleek look.

3) Organization Specialist: The organization specialist needs somewhere to put everything that they own. Shoes, sporting goods, linens, suitcases, coats, hats and even jewelry can be stored in a properly laid out closet. Cubby holes, drawers with dividers, hooks and lots of specialty hangers are essential for the organization specialist closet. Wooden hangers with cascading hooks, bars and merchandising slats can help one hanger do the job of two or more. Skirt hangers that hold five skirts, pants hangers that allow pants to slip out the front, and hangers that hold pants and tops together can make your closet the most organized it has ever been.

4) Sleek: Sleek does not have to be minimal. Sleek closets can simply have convenient, yet understated additions, such as slim drawers, hooks and hidden storage. For that extra sleek look, you should choose wood hangers that match your closet system. Make sure that shoes are stored away and nothing is out of place. Your closet can be sleek and neat in no time.

5) Glamorous: For the glamorous closet you desire, a few essential touches will make it your own. Satin hangers for delicate items are a must. Decadent lighting, proper storage and a lot of room for shoes will make your closet glamorous. Add beaded Glam Hangers to the mix for a truly upscale wonder. With sparkles, art and indulgent hangers, your closet will be the most glamorous you have seen.

6) Old World Style: If you love the look of old world style furniture and fixtures, you will definitely need old fashioned cedar wood hangers in your closet. Cedar has that woody aroma that makes your closet feel like your grandmother’s. The wood is beautiful and will protect your clothing for many, many years. These sturdy wood hangers are a must have in any old world closet.

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 .

Closet Organization Tips from the Professionals

Your closet needs to hold a lot of important things. Not only do people store their clothes and shoes in closets, but also heirloom items, such as quilts and precious photos. It does not end there. People store everything from suitcases to spare change in their closets. No wonder it becomes a cluttered mess! Here are some tips to get that closet organized.

It starts with motivating yourself to tackle this often dreaded project. Clean the room around the closet so that you have plenty of space to organize. This will help keep you from getting overwhelmed. Bring some boxes or laundry baskets into the room for organizing. Make up your bed so that you have a nice flat space for getting things into nice piles.

You will need three piles to start; one for things that will stay in the closet. These items should include shoes that are not uncomfortable or worn out, clothing that fits you right now and is not out of date, and just a few precious items, such as heirloom quilts, that you would not want to store in a garage or basement.

The second pile is your give-away pile. Giving items to charity will make you and your closet feel better! If you have an attachment to some clothing that you will never wear again, take a picture of it or keep a swatch of the material for your scrapbook.

The third pile is for items that really do not have to be stored in your closet. Think of your closet as a usable space, not a storage area. After all, you do use your closet almost every single day. Things like out-of-season clothing and shoes, hats and gloves, sports equipment and the ironing board should be stored in the garage, laundry room, basement or a spare bedroom closet.

“Thinning the herd” is the first step to closet happiness. When you only have things that you use to put into your closet, the task of organizing suddenly becomes simpler. Once the other items are out of the room, you will start dividing your items into groups. Laundry baskets make great temporary storage areas for shoes and other bulky items.

Hang up your clothes on sturdy wooden hangers or another high quality clothes hanger. This will help to prevent clothing from being crammed together or slipping into the floor. Organize clothes according to length or use. For example, you may want to keep your work clothes on the left and your casual clothing on the right. Utilize inexpensive closet organization tools, such as shoe racks. You may decide to add some shelving or a small dresser for items that will not hang. If you hang all of your shorter clothing on one side, then you should have room beneath them for a small dresser or your laundry basket.

Organizing your closet does not have to be expensive. If you are going to invest a small amount into your closet, you will be best served spending it on high quality clothes hangers that will protect your wardrobe and shelving that will help keep items off of the floor.

About the Author: Ron Maier is the Manager 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 .

Creative Closet Ideas: DIY

Designing your dream closet can be a lot of fun. You can create space, storage, organization and make it beautiful at the same time. Turning your boring, cluttered closet into a space that you’re proud of can be easier and cheaper than you may have expected.

Start with a little prep work. Remove everything from the closet. A lot of homes have closets with white insides. Chances are your closet interior has dust, scuffs from shoes hitting the wall, and maybe even some cobwebs. Clean the baseboards and any shelves that you plan on saving. Paint the inside with either the same color of the surrounding room or with a contrasting, or accent, color. Some people prefer the inside of the closet to be lighter than the surrounding area to not only draw the eye, but also to create light in an enclosed space.

The biggest problem in most closets is the misuse of available space. If there is a full foot or more of space between your hanging clothes and your shoes, then that is a lot of actual square footage. Imagine what you would do with your closet if you took out the bar and raised the top shelf? You probably do not stack that top shelf to the ceiling. So, if it is only used for storing things like blankets and suitcases, then you can move it up higher and make more space for your everyday use.

Draw some designs that fit your closet and your needs. First, give clothing and shoes to charity if they are the wrong size, just never looked right or that are out of date. Separate winter and summer wardrobes and store out of season clothes in a large container with a lid to keep out dust. Now decide how much space you will need. Shelves are great for folded t-shirts, shorts and pajamas. You can more than double the space in your closet by exchanging that eight foot bar for two four foot ones and adding deep shelves to the empty side of the closet.

Adding a hutch or drawer system to the closet is really popular right now. This will cost a little more money, but can eliminate the need for bulky, dust gathering bedroom furniture. Remember that deep drawers tend to bury clothes and they generally get unfolded when they are rummaged through daily. Try to keep drawers shallow. Use them for things like socks, underwear, ties and belts. Folded t-shirts and jeans on shelves are easy to sort through without unfolding the stack. You can also buy wire baskets that hang from the shelf to store smaller items without investing in drawers.

White or stained shelves will ensure a stark contrast with your wall paint and make your closet look clean and neat. Top it all off with wood hangers, nice baskets for storage and decorative hooks. You will not only love the way that your closet looks, but enjoy the organization and ease of use that you have created to fit your specific needs and tastes.

About the Author: Ron Maier is the Manager 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 .

Closet Storage Solutions

Organizing everything in your closet can seem like an insurmountable task. With a few closet ideas and closet accessories, you can have a nice neat closet. When everything has a place, it is more likely to stay in that place.

First, categorize all of the different things that your closet needs to hold. Separate everything like shoes, belts, ties, socks, underwear, dress clothes, shorts, cuff links, t-shirts, pajamas, sweaters, coats and jewelry. If you do not have enough shelving in your closet, add it. There is often a space between the front of your hangers and the front wall. This is a great spot to add some cubby-hole shelving to hold all of those little things. See if your hanging bar or bars can be moved back any to create even more space.

Cubby-hole shelving toward the front of your closet can give you a lot of space. Baskets can be used to hold things that need to be stored like cameras, chargers and other electronics that have no place to go. Jewelry boxes can be kept out of sight to store cuff links and jewelry. Lock boxes can be stored up high to house things like guns, cash or collectibles that you want hidden and out of reach. Lattice accessory storage racks create a diamond pattern in a small cubby where ties or belts can be rolled and stored. Baskets or bins can hold socks, underwear or lingerie keeping it out of sight and eliminating the need for a lot of drawers.

Organize your hanging clothes by either length or use. You may want to keep work clothes separate from your casual clothes so that you can quickly choose what you want to wear. Wire hangers or mix-matched hangers often overlap, get bent or even damage clothing. Plastic ones can have sharp edges that snag and stretch clothing. Use wood hangers for best separation. Slim-line hangers are also great for keeping clothes slightly separated without overlapping.

Get bulky items like large winter coats out of your everyday closet and into a coat closet if possible. Extra bedrooms usually have a closet that can be used for storage if your home does not have a coat closet. Coats alone can take up more than half of the available space in your bedroom closet, so getting them out can create usable space. Dress coats can also be kept in better condition by getting them into a closet where they are not crammed together with other items.

Choose a good coat hanger for your heavy coats. Wood hangers are definitely preferable here. They are durable, do not snag and they help the shoulders of your coats keep their shape. Once all of the little things in your closet have a place to go, organization becomes easy. Enjoy your neatly organized closet without spending a bundle!

About the Author: Ron Maier is the Manager 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 .