I hope it’s not a sign to edit…..

Sal

Our wardrobe collapsed in the middle of the night……, Well the rail did. Plaster sprinkled around, clothes all over the place, and a big bang!

Currently our clothes are heaped on my sons bed (he lives away from home but I can’t quite call it the spare room).

We went to the hardware store and have decided the current system is as good as we can fit in our limited space. I may change a few of the accessories around ( eg belt storage) but the concept will remain.

Anyway it has been a chance to clean it all, re- sort the luggage shelf (above the closet) and make a tweaks.

I am going to hang my occasion wear in my son’s room to reduce the weight. Jon is going to do an edit - I don’t want to as I did mine a month ago.

I will photograph the end result.

It’s a satisfying job for a hot muggy wet day!

1 year ago

General

26 replies

Latest reply was from Astrid

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Oh no! This happened to me a few years ago in our old house. You’re right, the silver lining is that it sort of forces you to reevaluate your storage situation. I think I shortened the rail and added a shelving section when mine collapsed.

1 year ago

Irina

Veteran

Oh, sorry to hear about the forced reorg! Sure, it will come out better than before.

BTW, my son hasn’t lived in our house for 9 years and I still call his bedroom his and not a guest bedroom

1 year ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Yikes! That is quite an adventure.

Maybe Jon could keep some of his gear clothes in your son's old room?

I just filled TWO big donation bags today, so I hope I don't have the same thing happen. The system (which came with the house) is very basic but so far, the rods have held. There is one wobbly shelf...

1 year ago

Sal

Veteran

Thanks Jenn- we have an old home with a not perfect wardrobe. But I think if it was bigger there would be more temptation!

Thanks Irina- it’s strange isn’t it! I don’t like it at all.

Sure yours will be fine Suz - that’s a great edit. Jon could definitely store his suits out of our room as they are worn once or twice a year now. Work is so casual.

1 year ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I like the sounds of this -- his suits in another room and you get more closet space...

Mr. Suz stores ALL his clothes in another room!! It started in our old house, which had a really small bedroom closet but a much bigger hall closet. Plus, he's the early waker. So he would have his clothes in the hall (except for sweaters etc.) and not wake me up by opening the creaky closet door. We just continued it like that in the new hours...it has its advantages....

1 year ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Oh no! We’ve had a couple of storage collapses in our house over the years — the basement closet where the holding zone lives, and the laundry shelf/hanging rack that was over our washer and dryer. The downstairs closet rod was replaced with a very sturdy thick rod and support, and we lightened the load and re-hung the laundry shelf temporarily— it hung in there for a couple of years and is now completely gone in our renovation. I seem to remember also that one of the old wire shelves in our bedroom closet gave out before we redid that space with a whole new storage system (built in wooden shelves, with drawers and hanging rod spaces).

The silver lining was that it indeed forced us to clean out those spaces! Good luck with your new plan.

1 year ago

LJP

Veteran

Oh man I remember this well . I heard the commotion from within my closed bedroom closet one day and was afraid to open the door to see what had happened . What a mess - but yes - great opportunity to sort stuff out . Of course the blame was placed solely on me for having too many clothes - the old plaster walls and a poorly installed closet system notwithstanding , lol.

1 year ago

Tanya

Veteran

I am sorry this happened, but your plan moving forward sounds good. It is a very good reason to reorganize and perhaps edit.
Something similar happened to me a few years ago in my rented apartment, and maintenance replaced the rod. I have been putting less on it since.

1 year ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Oh, wow, Sal. Not the morning surprise you were hoping for

A good time to edit and re-organize. Good luck!

1 year ago

Roberta

Veteran

This happened to a clothes loving friend some years ago, and she decided to have a clothing swap! So we all benefited from her loss.

1 year ago

Cardiff girl

Veteran

Oh no! Poor you,l am sure that you will sort it though..Our house is plaster and lathe on the inside so l have experience of this situation on a number of occasions.People in the 1930 s didn’t attach a lot of stuff to the walls!

1 year ago

LaPed

Veteran

Oh yikes!! Not a fun way to start your day. One of the closets in my house has a poorly installed shelving unit that sort of droops down a bit, even when not loaded up. Your story might be the impetus I need to do something about it!

1 year ago

BlueJay

Veteran

Oh no! That's too bad! Sounds like a good plan! Good luck.

1 year ago

Anonymous

Yikes- probably a good idea to edit! TBH I'm surprised my rail hasn't collapsed with the weight of my coats (I don't have a seperate coat closet).

1 year ago

Sal

Veteran

We now have a new reinforced rail structurally tested by the aircraft engineer!

I am going to add things back in from most popular to least. And will pause on the last five or so. But I think it’s more how I store than the quantity.

1 year ago

Anonymous

Yaaas Now That's someone to trust with a closet!

1 year ago

Sal

Veteran

I played a little game- if I had to edit out five things what would they be. Occasion wear and summer clothes and folded things were excluded.

Black top - does get worn but it’s very boring. But useful under blazers as an essential.
Black dress- I don’t like the sleeves on me. But when I bike to work it’s really useful as it does not crease and packs up small.
White trousers- lovely piece. But white is not great for dry clean only. I hand washed them and they have shrunk (I swear it’s not me) and the fit isn’t as good.
Cream jacket - just rarely wear it
Orange dress - love this but rarely wear it!

So my plan is to closely re-evaluate the first three pieces. The cream jacket stays. And wearing the orange dress tomorrow to work from home.

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1 year ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Oh my! Nightmare but with a silver lining. I am long overdue to edit - I hope my closet holds up until then!

1 year ago

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

Oh no, I'm glad you managed to get it sorted but that doesn't sound like fun! Now you've got me worried it could happen to me, which is worse when you're renting because you can't just replace it however you'd like, lol ...

Well done on the edit so far! It sounds like the LBD may be a 'filler' piece for now (filling a need for now but it's not the final 'destination' piece, IYKWIM?)

I've heard good things about the Aussie made 'Ever by X' dress if you're looking for a lightweight packable yet dressy multiwear dress, but admittedly haven't tried it myself.

1 year ago

Minaminu

Veteran

oh wow, that's a nightmare to wake up into! It looks like you're taking this as a great opportunity for some editing - love the positive attitude!

1 year ago

Dee

Veteran

Ugh, I guess the closet wanted to send a message, glad you've reinforced it now.

My closet rail looks like it could be straining a bit, so perhaps its time to lighten its load with an edit.

1 year ago

Sal

Veteran

Job complete.

1. My hanging rail.
2. Extra hooks for bags as my collection has grown! Gave them all a leather condition.
3. Scarves and jewelry - folded rather than hanging.
4. Drawers - everything else is in here
5. Footwear. Two pairs are drying after a good wash. I do have three pairs of boots in the floor. Footwear is on a strict one in one out basis.
6. Overview (Jon has the bottom two shelves and the floor).

I do have my summer clothes in storage. I also now have occasionwear in a different closet. I could do with an edit here - I think there are two dresses that I could sell or donate.

I took out- camera gear( going in my office), toilet bags and travel lingerie bags etc - stored in the bedside cabinet and gifts - stored in son’s room.

Jon edited out about eight shirts. He needed a clear out.

it’s not Instagram worthy but I am happy with the lack of clutter.

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1 year ago

lyn67

Veteran

Hah, been there done that...it's a pain to reorg all again...:-)

12 months ago

Kari

Veteran

Ooof, my sympathies. We woke up to that in the middle of the night years ago. Thought it was an earthquake - quite an alarming way to be jolted out of bed!
In our case, the apartment closet design was faulty. The rails had no center supports so it caused one of the screws into the side of the wall to fail. The rods overlapped and the top one took the bottom one down!

12 months ago

Sal

Veteran

I am pleased (well not really) that I am not the only one.

I do feel like I am reaping the rewards of a more organised closet (it wasn't bad before but it does feel cleaner). It was mostly removing things that did not need to be there
- video camera that is no longer used
- travel pillows
- my gift drawer
- occasion wear

I am nostalgic with occasion wear but my collection could do with an edit.

12 months ago

Astrid

Veteran

Looks great, not too stuffed. I definitely have too many clothes in mine right now, but I have a hard time letting go of some things. Maybe I should do the same as you did and just put those items I only need occasionally elsewhere. And maybe a holding zone? I might have a look next weekend. At least swap some of those summer clothes in and switch my boots for sandals...

12 months ago

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