The Closet Thread - YouLookFab Forum

Ana

This is a great topic and I would love to see how other people organize their closets. I'm sort of editing mine, so I will post updated pics with all my clothes put away and stuff soon.

Thanks for starting this thread, Nicole!

17 years ago

Nicole

Veteran

My son is sick today, so I'm pretty much stuck inside on a beautiful spring day. But I took advantage of him sleeping on the couch, and measured my closet and took some photos.

My closet is 5X8 and it's shared with my husband--who is tall and therefore has large clothing that takes up a lot of space. I keep some of our shoes in a basket in the bedroom, and a rack of shoes in the mudroom--so the shoes you see in the closet are not all of them. I like to be streamlined and organized--so if you see anything that could be done differently or better, let me know!

Photo #1--The short wall. Upper rack are my tops, I categorize them casual long sleeve, work/dressy long sleeve, work/dressy short sleeve, casual short sleeve. The bottom rack are my pants, skirts and dressy walking shorts. I try to keep jeans and casual pants to the left, dressier work pants in the middle, skirts then shorts. At the very top, are my out of season items.

http://s289.photobucket.com/al.....set002.jpg

Photo #2--Middle Section on the Long Wall. This section was originally wire shelving, but the wires left lines on my clothing so I took them out. I just bought this storage hanger that allows me to fold my knitted items. Next to that are my tanks, cami's and layering pieces. There is a large empty space above this. I usually put clothes on that as I'm hanging them back up, but I should really put something there to utilize that space.

http://s289.photobucket.com/al.....set004.jpg

Photo #3--Far Right Side of Long Wall. Mostly my husband's button down shirts. Stuffed way in the back are seldom worn items like special occasion dresses, suit coats, and suits.

http://s289.photobucket.com/al.....set005.jpg

Photo #4--Far Left Side of Long Wall. This is my husband's area. Polos, Tees etc on top. Pants on bottom. He just did a major cleanout a few weeks ago. He keeps out of season sweaters and such on top too.

http://s289.photobucket.com/al.....set006.jpg

Photo #5--Inside Closet Door. Mostly used for belts. Also hang bathrobes and the fire extinguisher for the second floor.

http://s289.photobucket.com/al.....set007.jpg

Photo #6--The Opposite Wall. There is no clearance on this wall at all--the door is flush with it--so I put up some hooks and I hang my hoodies that I wear to the gym, and some long knit sweaters that I wear a jackets. I also tend to hang anything new here--until I decide if I'm going to keep it.

http://s289.photobucket.com/al.....set008.jpg

17 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Amazing! Such effort! Thanks for the pictures and you are indeed organized. Before I comment, three quezzies:

o Are all your seasons in one place?
o Are you attached to those wire hangers?
o Where are your necklaces?

17 years ago

Nicole

Veteran

Yes I keep all seasons together. I also have a few dressers in the bedroom. The really woolly items that I know I wont wear until November, are folded and placed on a towel on the top rack, that I can only reach with a step stool.

I'm not attached to wire hangers, but they do seem to take up less space than plastic. The wire hangers my pants are on, have a paper tube that prevents creases.

My necklaces are hanging on hooks in my master bathroom. I'll take a picture of that too, if you'd like. I need to get more hooks though. I also have a tray (it was actually part of a sushi set) with small compartments--that is where I keep earings, watches safety pins etc. This is also in my bedroom on one of my dressers.

17 years ago

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I don't keep all my seasons in one place, I store my heavier winter clothing in drawers on shelves above my hanging items. I do, however, keep my heavier "winter" blazers out and hanging because I don't want them to get creased or rumpled.

Do you think this is a problem keeping winter items stored? My reasoning is that I honestly only use them for 3 months out of the whole year, and they take up space where I can hang lighter clothing that gets a lot more use. I do keep my lighter summery clothing out over the winter though, for layering sometimes, or just because it hardly seems worth it to put it away, I'll just be getting it back out in a few months.

Nicole, I keep my necklaces on hooks in the bathroom as well! I really like this mode of storage, since I've always put my jewelry on in the bathroom anyway. The down side is that the less worn necklaces tend to get dusty. I like how organized your closet is. I was wondering--I've always had a problem with thin wire hangers leaving indents in my clothing at the sleeves. Do you have this problem as well? That's why I switched to plastic hangers. Plus I'd always end up with a giant mess of wire hangers and have to throw them away all the time.

17 years ago

Nicole

Veteran

I don't store my off season items separately because I don't really have that much stuff. I've purged so much of my winter things, that I don't have space issues. Maybe when I start buying for fall/winter, I'll have to come up with separate storage ideas.

I don't have a problem with the hangers making marks on my shoulders, but I do know what you mean. Certain fabrics are prone to that, so I don't put those on hangers. I used to fold them in half the long way and place them over a hanger like a pair of pants. But then I bought that hanging shelving unit and just fold them. I use very small, almost kid sized, hangers for my shirts that have more narrow shoulders. And I use really large (men's suit hangers) for the few tops that have really wide necklines (so they don't slip off.)

I like the idea of the hangers Shiny just bought. But they are relatively expensive, and I think my husband would have a cow if I went out and spent a few hundred dollars on hangers.

17 years ago

Dana

Active Member

Wow, you guys are organized! This is a great topic, Nicole. I have been pondering how to rework my closet since I'm going through a big purge. My closet is no where nice enough to even post pictures of at this point, but I love some of the ideas you guys have implemented.

As far as wire hangers leaving marks, I use the hangers with foam padding that you get back from the dry cleaners when you take in silk blouses and sweaters to be dry cleaned. I just kept collecting them until I had enough (and I steal some from my parent's closet occasionally too). I would love to have other hangers, but I would rather spend my budget on clothes at this point.

17 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Necklaces that are visible on hooks in the same place that you dress is the best solution. Out of sight, out of mind.

I understand how hubby would have a cow and I too have spent hundreds of dollars on hangers, but they look so pretty and it’s an investment. Good quality foundations, much like wearing the perfect bra (this I know you relate to, Nicole).

Your seasonal wardrobe strategy sounds like an optimal solution, Ana. While I encourage that one keeps all their seasons together, regional differences cause valid acceptations.

17 years ago

Nicole

Veteran

Ok, I was thinking about this hanger situation last night. While I can't (nor do I want to) go out and spend a lot of money all at once on hangers--what I can do, is buy a pack of them here and there. I'm going to see who has the best prices on those hangers Shiny likes so much--I'm really opposed to plastic hangers because of the space they take up.

I'll try to get some photos of my necklaces too. And I'm waiting for some more flowers to come into bloom to show y'all my gardens!

17 years ago

Tanya

Veteran

I don't know how I missed this thread! Nicole, your closet looks wonderful, very well organized. I can't wait to see your gardens in bloom.

I am still trying to deal with my new closet. The metal organizer I was going to purchase got discontinued the day I was going to order it! Target has the same thing, but they want to charge $60 for shipping, which I just don't want to give to them. Does anybody know how to avoid this? Usually their free shipping promos do not apply to heavy furniture. Since it's online item only, do you think they would deliver it to a store where I could pick it up?

17 years ago

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Do you have a Container Store near you Tanya? They have lots of options for closet organization, and most of those metal closet organizers come flat in a box and you have to put them together on your own, anyway. While it wouldn't be fun to transport by bus, it would probably be possible.

As far as Target delivering it to a store, I used to work at Target, and unless something has changed, this service is not available.

17 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Re hangers: I have white plastic and hubby has cedar wood but my dresses and tunics hang on delicate thin glass hangers. My hanging space has a special compartment for each hanger (like yours, Nicole) and I put one white hanger in each “little wire box” so the hangers are equidistant . It gives the white hangers more space and keeps the total number of hangers to one number which means that I always have the same amount of clothes in my cupboard. The same philosophy is applied to hubby. It looks modern and neat that way. And I enjoy the discipline.

Changing out the hangers is something that you can do slowly and start with YOUR side!

ps Ana, have you seen Tanya in her 21 pairs of jeans?

17 years ago

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Angie, I have seen the photos of Tanya in her jeans, but I haven't had time to comment yet--I've been trying to think of how she could figure out whether she really needs all those jeans. I may have come up with something. I'll post it on that thread.

Where do you get glass hangers? Are they better somehow than plastic, or do they just look nicer?

17 years ago

Nicole

Veteran

Glass Hangers? Really? I've never heard of such a thing! Our whole bedroom/master bath/ walk in closet is ripe for a major overhaul. I plan on gutting the bathroom, ripping up the pink carpeting in lieu of hardwoods and redesigning the closet. It's just going to be a big undertaking. I was hoping to move away from the wire shelving for wood.

17 years ago

Tanya

Veteran

Thanks for the Target info Ana! I looked at the Container store but they didn't have anything similar. This is what I want:
http://www.target.com/Seville-.....038;page=1
The key features are that iit s not very deep so I can still squeeze trough my foor and that the rods are adjustable. I am giving myself a month to look, if not, I'll probably have to bite the bullet and pay for that ridiculous shipping price.

And please don't feel obliged to comment on the jeans. The last two pairs are going, and the three pairs of trouser jeans with low AAR are going to be substitued in tha fall with just one fab trouser jean pair.

I am also extremely curious on the glass hangers. And good luck Nicole with your major project!

17 years ago

Nicole

Veteran

Tanya, That whole shelving unit looks like something you could get at a Home Depot or Lowes. I know transporation is an issue--but HD usually has rental trucks (I think it's like $20 for an hour) to get things home. Check out Home Depot online. Search for closet storage.

17 years ago

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Oh no, it's too late! I already commented on the jeans! Oh well--can't take it back now.

17 years ago

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I used to work at Lowe's too, and they do have closet organization products like this in stock. They usually come in separate pieces though. Lowe's will do deliveries of stuff for $50.00. Also, you could drag it home a couple pieces at a time, or get a big group of friends together and everyone could carry a piece on the bus (I'm not kidding).

17 years ago

Tanya

Veteran

Thank you for the suggestions. I have checked both websites, but they didn't have anything even remotely close. I'll have to go to the real store at some point.

17 years ago

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Yeah, the Lowe's site and what they actually have in store don't always match up. They offer less online.

17 years ago

shiny

Veteran

I just bought 30 more huggable hangers for the second half of my closet, this weekend. Converted my blazers and dressses yesterday. Everything is on those hangers now, except for skirts, pants, and my formal dresses (which are on special rubberized hangers - I had converted those awhile ago). Skirts and pants... not sure I will do them - the huggable hanger solution for those includes these clips that have not had good reviews online. So they will probably remain as is, unless I can find a different solution.

As for the rest - yes, it's an expense - it's about $1 per hanger. But in my case, my closet is so small, without these hangers, my clothes get all rumpled because they are packed in too tightly and helter-skelterish. If you have a larger closet and more room, you probably don't need them.

My other motivation because my clothes, being petite, are smaller in the shoulder so wire and plastic hangers leave nasty indents. I've actually ruined blouses before- have had them rip right at the shoulder!!

Awhile back I did invest in a bunch of pretty padded hangers, which are great, but they take up a lot of room. Too much room if your closet is small! So those are getting recycled - probably to my kids or to the hall closet for coats.

17 years ago

Category