How to Upgrade Your Closet

1. Get rid of excess belongings. Some people have many wardrobes in a variety of sizes for every season. This can very quickly add up to a lot of stuff! Keep clothes that you may wear again someday somewhere besides your closet. Designate your closet as usable items only and you'll be surprised how much space you can make. Give away whatever you can. Keep the clothes that are a good fit and that you wear often. You can turn all of your clothes hangers around backwards and then only turn them forwards when you hang something that you've worn. If a hanger is still backwards after a year, get rid of it.

2. Clean it! How much dust is on those baseboards? The closet floor just about never gets clean. Vacuuming it will not only get rid of dust and allergens, but will also force you to get everything out of there and go through it!

3. Give it a fresh coat of paint. Many people neglect to paint the closet when they paint a room. Spruce it up by painting it while you have it clean and empty. Choose a light or bright color that accents your décor. Lightness gives the illusion of space an helps reflect enough light to help you see things that are stored inside.

4. Add shelves, drawers, or an extra closet rod. There is almost never too much storage in a closet. Make sure that everything has a place to go. Leave room for items that will inevitably enter the closet later. Keep a space clear for things that you are considering giving to charity or selling. This will keep you in the mode of making your closet more efficient whenever possible.

5. Use matching bins or baskets for smaller items. If you use bins instead of drawers, make sure that they match. This gives your closet balance and a uniformity that pulls everything together.

6. Upgrade your clothes hangers to high quality ones. Your hangers will make your closet look amazing if you choose the right ones. For instance, cedar hangers are so beautiful. The smooth, natural surface has a distinct wood grain and the smell is amazing. Cedar hangers make your closet smell fresh and clean. Plus, they repel insects, absorb moisture, and keep molds from forming. Upgrading to high-end clothes hangers will keep your clothes evenly spaced and looking great. If you need to save space, consider metal hangers. Not the old wire ones, but heavy gauge metal hangers. They can give your closet a clean, stream-lined look and last for a lot of years.