Get Organized! The Dreaded Closet

Living and working out of a one bedroom apartment has forced me to become super creative when it comes to organizing. I've become quite good at getting rid of / donating things on a regular basis (my husband on the other hand, still has trouble parting with just about everything...like old tee shirts from college and little trinkets he's collected over the years...but that's a whole other can of worms!). We've made it work thus far with just the two of us, but with a baby on the way (due in just 6 weeks), I've really had to channel my inner organizer to make way for the newest member of our household.

So where to start? The dreaded closet! Luckily we have a pretty large walk-in, however, it's become part storage for clothes and part storage for boxes and bins of STUFF since we don't have a garage. We've made pretty good progress over the last few weeks and I've picked up some helpful tips along the way, many of which I'm going to share with you today. How's your closet looking these days? Is it time to deep clean and re-organize? (I promise to share before and afters once I'm finished with mine).

First, some inspiration...these closets are to die for! I don't know if mine will EVER look like this, but a girl can dream!

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Steps to getting your own closet organized...

{1} Clear it out! If you haven't worn it in a year, donate it or sell it on Ebay. Store this season's favorite accessories in visible spots to make it easy to find what you need. Relegate out-of-season shoes, handbags, and hats to containers stored on the top shelf or even in another room.

 {2} Once you have whittled down your wardrobe, assess the layout of your closet and create a plan. Measure the space you have, making sure to utilize backs of doors, floor space, and all interior walls. When you shop for boxes, bins, and other necessary space-savers, make sure you have your closet measurements in hand. Use every square inch of your closet. Hang shoe racks on the back of your closet door. (Image credit)

 {3} Canvas bins and hat boxes are excellent for storing handbags, linens, seasonal clothing and more! (Image credit)

 {4} Simple wall hooks are great for belts, jewelry, hats, etc. Store up to 10 scarves on a wooden scarf hanger. Classic belt hangers with multiple hooks are also a good solution for hanging camisoles, bras, or scarves. Sturdy bins with handles like these ones from the Container Store are versatile and they keep things looking clean and streamlined.

{5} Keep your boots well preserved with Boot Shapers, and store under your bed or hang in your closet. If you have the space, hang purses from durable hooks to keep them from slumping and losing their shape. Organize by color and season to make it easy to find the handbag you want. Store shoes in clear containers for easy visibility, like these stackable ones from the Container Store.

 {6} Matching hangers. I've been working on this slowly but surely, purchasing packs of wooden hangers when I can. Everything looks so much better when hung from the same hanger, right?! (Image credit)

 {7} Organize your clothing by color...something I'm also working on! I love the idea being able to select what to wear by color. (Image credit)

{8} If you can, install a closet system with shelving, racks, drawers, etc. IKEA carries the PAX system, which allows you to build your own dream closet with the components and features that fit your needs.

What other tips do you have to add when it comes to organizing the closet?

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