Over the weekend I was pulling pieces from my closet to prepare my fall wardrobe; I like to take a quick inventory at the beginning of each season to see what staple pieces I'll need to purchase, and what I can possibly donate/toss. I avoid donating clothes at the end of each season because you never know what the next year will bring, many things we own can create an entirely new look season after season depending on how you style it. A simple dress that you feel comfortable in can be paired with different shoes each season, it's all about how you transform it.
I was literally digging for clothes when (to my embarrassment,) I realized what a mess I had been living in. I spend so much time organizing clients' closets, helping them find the best way to utilize their living space, while my closet was in complete disarray. My own closet wasn't arranged to fit my lifestyle at all.
What's so important about a closet anyway? I will start by telling you that every client I've helped has reached out to say the organization has changed their life. You don't realize how color coordinating alone makes your morning routine so much easier. If you're getting dressed and you know you want to wear a blue shirt, having everything blue you own in one spot cuts down the time of searching the entire closet, and possibly overlooking the perfect piece because you're in a rush. A clean and well organized closet, strictly storing clothes that currently fit your body and lifestyle, is also a great way to relieve stress from your life. Disorganization paired with clutter invites chaos and confusion to our lives.
I'm so excited (and definitely humbled,) to share my personal closet redesign with you. I posted a few simple, space-saving storage solutions to my Instagram and had some friends reach out with positive feedback. If hiring me is out of your budget right now, following me for tips is free and very much encouraged.
Brace yourselves for the before...#yikes
The first problem I'll address are the bras and scarves hanging on the left side of the closet. This was always a bulky, messy issue for me. I actually have bras I forgot I owned because I was either too lazy or in too much of a rush to search passed the few hanging at the front of the pile. I rarely even wear scarves during the cold seasons, so I'm not sure why I had them on display to begin with.
Instead of hanging my bras, which lead to many ruined straps, I organized them in a medium basket from HomeGoods. It's much easier to see what I have, and it looks much neater.
This pretty storage box from #TheContainerStore cost $11.99 and was the perfect solution for my scarves and small fabric belts that came with some of my dresses. I can find everything easily without having items I don't wear often hanging around.
I used the second storage box for cards, small gifts, miscellaneous items that we all have floating around our closet.
My Instagram friends really loved this solution for seasonal shoes. Most people pack away clothes at the end of summer, but never think to store their shoes away. I won't be needing my open-toe heels and espadrilles for a while, so I packed them under my bed, so efficient!
My jewelry was in a small (dusty) box at the bottom of my closet. It was out of reach due to the overwhelming clutter on the floor, and often led to small pieces getting lost. These trays were all $10 and under at The Container Store.
Side note: My closet doesn't have a light or outlet. Adding a light to the ceiling would've been expensive since the room would've needed rewiring. I purchased these battery-operated LED bars from #LowesHomeImprovement for $24.99. They have two lighting options (warm/cool,) timed shut off, and they're easy to hang. I secured mine using Velcro strips rather than the Command strips provided since I will need to take them down from time to time to change the batteries.
The final product!
With my summer shoes stored away, I was able to eliminate an entire shoe rack which made this a true walk-in closet. I had my contractor rehang the poles using metal anchors that hold up to 100 lbs. so I don't have to worry my clothes will weigh it down. I had the great idea to hang the top pole a few inches higher than it previously was so my clothes would have more room, barely touching the hangers below. The bottom pole was also placed a few inches further out on the wall so it wasn't directly under the top pole. I wanted my hangers on the bottom to show without interference from the clothes above.
Look at the difference!
Really liked the clear jewelry trays & the shelves for your handbags. Plus the pop of pink in the closet made the space brighter. Great job!
Amazing. I liked how you included prices for everything too. Helps with clarity.
Thank you for organizing and saving my life, especially my mornings! Getting ready is so easy now. I can actually see what I have. I LOVE the lighting bar and will be purchasing that next!
Thank you for all your help
♥