Creative Custom Closet

Everyone has a unique variety of belongings that they need to keep in their closet. There is not one design that fits everyone's needs and tastes. Some people use their closet strictly for clothes and shoes while others use it as one of the only storage areas that they have available. You may use yours to keep important items out of your children's reach. Whatever your closet's function, you need to find a way to keep it organized so that you can make the most of the space that you have.

Shelves, drawers, bins and storage containers can help you get your space organized. Small shelves can usually be added at either side of the closet. They are great for small storage bins, jewelry boxes, socks, underwear or shoes. They are also good for keeping little extra things that do not have anywhere else to go in your house. Some people keep photos, camera equipment, suitcases, keepsakes and collectibles stored in their closet. Making a special place for each thing will help you keep the closet tidy and also help you find certain things when you need them.

Using shelves to fit your needs can be easier than you think. Remember to think outside the box. Can the top shelf be moved up higher? Can you add deep shelves down one side of the closet and move the hanging rod? One popular closet design involves moving the top shelf up higher, building or installing deep shelves down one side of the closet and replacing one eight foot hanging rod with two four foot rods. By moving the top shelf up a little, you can hang shirts and coats on one rod and pants on the other rod. You still have the eight feet of hanging space that you started with, but you now have three or four nice, deep, versatile shelves.

If you have too many hanging clothes to fit into your closet, get rid of what you can. If you still need to make more space, use specialty hangers. You can increase the available bar space by more than half by using hangers that allow you to cascade certain items. Skirt hangers will allow you to either hang about four skirts on the same hanger, or cascade the skirt from the hanger that is holding the matching blouse or jacket.

Pants hangers will let you stack pants, keeping them flat against each other. These are especially useful if you have different sizes of clothing in your closet. Almost everyone has those special jeans that they aim to get back into someday. You want to keep them in good condition by keeping them hung, but you do not need these clothes that you are not currently wearing to take up too much space. So, using hangers that hold four or five pairs of pants will let you use the space of one hanger.

Use cascading hangers, shirt hangers, coat hangers and pants hangers to really get your closet streamlined. Once you learn how to make the most of available space, you will stay more organized than ever.