Which area in the apartment raises the most questions for housewives? Of course, the one where things are stored. And it doesn’t matter at all whether you have a huge dressing room for two or one closet for adults and children.
How to organize your closet? What to do if you don't have enough storage space? How to get rid of junk if you hate to throw it all away? What if it’s hard to find what you need and it seems like you need more boxes or a completely different cabinet?
If such questions arise frequently, it means your home has a lot of things and definitely needs decluttering.
According to statistics, during the first decluttering, from 30 to 50% of the contents of the closet are thrown away, and after a while another 20-40% of the rest.
Wardrobe mistakes
The following are signs that your wardrobe/clothing closet is not organized correctly:
1. “The closet is full, but there is nothing to wear.”
There are reasons for this problem:
- discrepancy between the wardrobe and real life (for example, you are on maternity leave, and the closet is full of office clothes),
- “scattered” wardrobe, lack of basic things, but a lot of randomly purchased ones,
- clothes that don’t fit (you’ve gained weight or lost weight) - such clothes take up space and create the effect of a “closet full.” Her “finest hour” may never come, and things will become irrelevant.
- worn clothes: a few pills, slightly grayish white color, threads sticking out here and there. If this sounds like you, it’s time to start decluttering!
2. You spend a lot of time (more than 30 minutes) trying to figure out what to wear.
3. On the shelves there are things in several rows, and on hangers - in several layers.
4. You have things that you simply forget about because they are put away far away and simply do not catch your eye (sometimes you even buy duplicates of them - a similar blouse, T-shirt, trousers).
5. You don’t have time to service the cycle of things: you want to “wear something else,” but this thing is in the wash.
6. I don’t want to buy anything, because Why? because there are so many clothes...
It turns out to be a vicious circle. And I really want a working wardrobe, so that everything fits together, there are many sets of clothes, but things don’t take up half the house.
90% of women have some signs of an incorrect and disorganized wardrobe. By and large, to cope with the situation, you need the services of three specialists: a psychologist, a stylist and a space organizer.
But first, here's a short but succinct guide to an organized wardrobe.
For underwear
Organizers for underwear, as a rule, have several identical compartments for storing panties, socks and T-shirts and one rectangular one for bras. Since it is customary to store linen in chests of drawers or drawers of wardrobes, most containers are low. The material can be any. Use plastic, wood or a rigid cardboard base covered with fabric.
Transformers are very popular, where partitions can be rearranged at your discretion. To organize the space inside a chest of drawers, modules without lids are suitable; for open wardrobe systems, organizers with a lock are suitable.
Principles of organizing order in the closet
Decluttering your wardrobe
First of all, you need to conduct an audit and definitely remove unnecessary and superfluous items from your closet.
Formation of a basic wardrobe
According to modern stylists, in fact, the following list is enough for a stylish woman’s wardrobe:
- Pants 2 pieces (for example, palazzo and pipes)
- Jeans
- Skirt
- Dress 2 pieces
- Top
- T-shirt 2-3 pcs
- Cardigan/vest
- Blazer/jacket
- Shirt/blouse
- Sneakers/sneakers
- Shoes/sandals
- Evening suit or dress (however, if one of the dresses is “right”, then with heels and a blazer it will turn into a festive evening option)
- Outerwear.
As a result, for ordinary life you only need 15-20 items of clothing.
Everything else, as a rule, is something that is big, small, worn out, not relevant, but it’s a pity to throw away (clothes are a waste, clothes are a waste).
Adviсe
- Don't buy new items to salvage items you don't wear. Buy additions to your best clothing items. As a result, you will have the wardrobe of your dreams!
- Every season, conduct an audit, put away out-of-season clothes and hang in plain sight what you will wear.
- When buying something new, be sure to think in advance where and with what you will wear it. Plan for at least 3-4 sets.
For little things
Every housewife, when cleaning, is left with a group of things that are difficult to organize and sort. This may include scarves, elastic bands, hairbands, glasses and other things. All of them can be collected in one organizer and combined into the “little things” category.
Often, trunks with several partitions are used for small items. The contents of the box are easily visible and are not mixed into one chaotic mass.
For very small items, use plastic organizers with several sections and a tight-fitting lid.
The psychology of decluttering
Why is it difficult for us to get rid of unnecessary and unnecessary things? Why is it so sad to say goodbye to them?
From the rubble in the closet we feel heaviness and confusion, “what to do with all this?”
But at the same time, for each thing we come up with excuses why it should stay.
The clutter in the closet indicates that we have not had order in our consciousness, thoughts and emotions for a long time.
1. «Maybe it will come in handy"
This applies to festive dresses, sports uniforms, things one size larger or smaller, and styles that are out of fashion. If there are things in your closet that you haven't used for a year or more, take a closer look at them. Will there be situations in the near future when you will need this particular item? And would you want to wear it? Over time, things lose their quality, turn yellow, cake, and become obsolete.
2. "A good buy"
This mistake is often made at sales. We liked everything in the store, but problems started at home:
-The item may be good in itself, but it doesn’t fit into the wardrobe.
-Or we don’t know how to wear it. -We “walked” her and realized that she did not bring pleasure.
The money is spent, the closet is full. And now we start not from the tasks facing the wardrobe, but from what we have.
3. This is an expensive item/branded or trendy
The case when the cost of a thing is more important than its necessity and the feelings evoked by it. It seems to us that it makes us better in the eyes of others, in our own, and gives us confidence. If so, leave it. If not, we get rid of it.
4. This item will be useful for my children
Relevant when you have children the same age or are about to expect grandchildren.
Have you discussed with the children what exactly they will take? Long gone are the days when a dowry was prepared from the birth of a child. They will happily buy dishes, bedding, etc. themselves to suit their tastes and needs. Of course, we’re not talking about family heirlooms, that’s a separate topic.
For hats
Numerous hats, caps and scarves are the leaders in cluttering the closet space in the hallway.
In open wardrobe systems, hats are often hung on hooks; in closed wardrobes, they are put away on the top shelves. This storage option is acceptable and even decorative to some extent, but not practical. Dust accumulates on the surface of caps, hats and hats, and washing is not recommended for most. The way out is multi-sectional organizers made of film or thick fabric with many pockets. They can be placed on a hanger or mounted on the inside of the door. The size of the pockets is selected according to the owner’s wardrobe. For caps, the sections are made a little wider, for rolled caps - narrower.
How to organize your closet: life hacks
— accessories (jewelry, bags) and even shoes are ideally stored next to the wardrobe. This simplifies getting ready: you can get ready faster!
— It is better to store jewelry on trays or in special organizers for jewelry.
- high shelves can always be made smaller and more convenient by making the necessary cut at a hardware store.
— deep shelves become more convenient with the use of retractable organizers.
- use decanting even if you really like jewelry boxes and it seems useless to purchase boxes for storing shoes and other packaging. But using the same type of boxes and organizers is always about convenience and aesthetics.
- maintain a unified style: it can be expressed in the same color scheme of the organizers used, in boxes from the same company, in the same hangers and hooks.
— take into account the family’s life scenarios, this is the main thing in organizing your wardrobe. If there is a lot of sports, these things go ahead. If you are an office worker, this is the most convenient way to store these clothes.
- determine the zone of permitted clutter - a place where you can officially fold things in a lump, throw them on a chair or a floor hanger (valet).
— an ideal dressing room should have mirrors. The best thing is to have several of them: one full-length - on the wall, on the closet door, or a mobile one, free-standing, so that you can look at yourself from the side and behind.
- use the principle of categorizing things - highlight the main categories: by type of clothing (T-shirts, trousers, dresses, etc.) or by purpose (for home, leisure, office, sports, etc.) - and divide it into storage areas.
- buy trays for storing the smallest items. Beautifully folded belts, sashes, scarves or other accessories can become a real decoration for your closet.
- do not use layers of clothing. This should be avoided. This is a guarantee of chaos in the closet. The number of things in a stack should be 2-4, no more.
- Worn clothes should have their place. You can define baskets, boxes or shelves for it.
— buy identical hangers: they will quickly cope with visual noise in the wardrobe.
- use a pantograph - this is a type of rod that has a mechanism for lowering to the required level. It is very convenient for a small dressing room, where it is not possible to arrange the upper shelves under the mezzanine and you have to use the entire height of the room for rods.
— participate in furniture design, incl. wardrobe is a guarantee that your family's lifestyle will be taken into account.
— the size of your wardrobe doesn’t matter; you can put everything in order and keep it in order.
- fold things vertically, thereby simplifying search, making it easier to pull things out and maintaining order.
— determine the storage area:
- by family members: will help to share both the responsibility and the boundaries of order/mess for each family member;
- by category: makes it easier to find things.
— unnecessary things are most often stored next to the wall in the second row, and when you take them out you wonder “why are they here?” We disassemble and place what we need in retractable organizers.
- use felt linings: they will make mesh baskets more comfortable so that nothing falls through.
- the utility unit should not be in the dressing room. Try to find another place to store tools, leftover building materials, old toys and a vacuum cleaner. The dressing room is the place where you choose your look and mood!
— distribute clothes by color: this is one of the options for placing clothes in the closet, from light to dark, similar shades nearby.
- before putting a pair of shoes or a bag into a box, be sure to label what is inside. Better yet, take a photo of the contents and stick a sticker on the end of the box. In moments of urgent preparation for an important event, you will be very grateful to yourself for such organization.
- use different rods for hangers: high (165-175 cm) for long dresses, coats, raincoats and lower (from 100 cm) - for jackets, blouses, skirts, jackets/blazers.
— aesthetics is not the primary task in organizing space, ease of use and storage comes first. If you can't afford to buy organizational tools, use available materials (shoe boxes, coffee and tea cans, cardboard for dividing).
- use drawers: this is the best thing for storing in a closet. It is advisable to combine both shallow and deep drawers. Dividers will be an excellent addition to them. Small drawers can accommodate both jewelry and large sweaters or scarves.
How to properly store clothes on hangers with hangers
To ensure that things placed on hangers do not lose their appearance, you need to adhere to certain rules.
All types of clothing should be covered with covers that will protect them from dust. Do not hang items tightly. There should be a certain space between the hangers so that the fabric does not wrinkle.
It is also not advisable to hang several items of clothing together. To prevent jackets and dresses from losing their original shape, they should be stored on wide-shouldered hangers.
By following these simple rules, you can distribute things throughout your closet quickly and beautifully. The main thing is to periodically review the contents and empty the furniture of unnecessary jackets and sweaters.
Organizers and boxes for storing clothes and shoes
Modern stores sell many items for organizing closet storage: for different categories of things, of good quality, and affordable in price.
Organizers, trunks and storage boxes will limit the area where things live and make storage more convenient.
How to choose the right organizer
Organizers should be chosen when you have already decluttered, categorized things, determined where they will be placed and designated the purpose of the organizers.
Most storage boxes and containers tend to be multipurpose. Depending on the size and material, they can be used for many things!
We offer some tips for choosing:
1. Exact dimensions - determine the width, height and depth before purchasing. A large organizer looks very inconvenient and unsightly, because of which the cabinet door does not close or it is impossible to pull out other organizers. Be sure to take measurements and calculate everything down to the centimeter. If anything is confusing, we return the purchase to the store.
2. Material:
- for clothing - breathable materials,
- for toys or products - environmentally friendly,
- for equipment - durable,
- in the bathroom - resistant to humidity.
When using a textile organizer, it is important that it is strong enough, holds its shape and is easily hand washed.
3. Durability : the plastic must be durable, the fabric must be of high quality, the rack is stable, the lids are tight.
Quality materials + versatility + easy care = a good investment.
4. Easy to use:
- transparent or not
- with lid or not
- with delimiters or spacious
- stackable
5. Attractiveness : it is most correct to select organizers of basic colors in the same style. Or you can purposefully make the organizer the highlight of the interior. This way the pleasure and results from organizing storage will be even greater.
Baskets, boxes or organizers, chosen correctly, will give not only order, but a good mood.
Drawer/Organizer Dividers
If your home has a problem with things in drawers moving around and getting mixed up with each other, take a closer look at the dividers.
Separator functions:
- will help categorize and organize things, make searching easier
- will make storage neater
- universal - suitable for storing kitchen utensils, linen, cosmetics, tools, medicines and more.
The separators vary:
- according to shape: they can divide the box into rectangular sections, longitudinal compartments, “honeycombs”. When choosing, you need to start from the size and shape of the storage items.
- by size: adjustment to the dimensions of the box is done in different ways - unnecessary links are removed, the number of slats is varied, a sliding mechanism is used.
- in terms of rigidity - from very flexible to almost inflexible. Soft plastic is quite suitable for storing lightweight items, but if you are buying dividers for kitchen utensils or tools, it is better to give preference to the most rigid model (wood, metal).
- Instead of dividers, you can use trays or organizers with cells (fixed or transformable).
For bags
Everyday bags and backpacks are usually placed at the entrance on a hanger or shelf. It is more convenient to remove clutches that are needed only for special occasions, travel and beach bags from the hallway area.
Hanging organizers for bags are sewn from spunbond or made from thick PVC film with textile inserts. The sections are located vertically under each other or on both sides of the hanger. This design of organizers helps not only to restore order, but also to protect leather products from creases and cracks.
Proper use of space when storing things
It is customary to select items for storing clothes, taking into account the preferences of all family members. Best ideas to choose:
- Wardrobe with barbell. This should be mandatory if someone from the family holds positions that require wearing classic suits or outfits.
- Wardrobe with shelves. Suitable for people who prefer sporty and casual style. T-shirts, jeans, hoodies, raglans, and joggers are perfectly stored here.
- Dresser. An excellent option for sorting underwear, storing socks, hosiery, and towels.
- Wardrobe with special hangers. Hooks are designed for storing ties, belts and belts.
- Wardrobe with shelves and rod. Suitable for the whole family.
On the shelves, clothes are stacked by category and color, separating light and dark clothes.
For ties
Representatives of the white-collar class, who wear a business suit to work every day, pay special attention to storing ties. Organizers for them are often similar to containers for storing small items and are a plastic or cardboard module with a large number of identical sections. However, many people regard a tie box as a status accessory that demonstrates the wealth of the owner.
The organizer body is made of expensive wood or covered with leather. The lid is made of glass or thick plastic. Ties are placed in one or two tiers, rolled into a tube. The box looks very presentable, it can be placed in a closet, chest of drawers, or taken with you on a business trip. Often such organizers are chosen as a gift.
