I'm in a similar boat, in terms of varying weather. And I don't even have a coat closet! We do have hooks in the front hall, but that gets really crowded and unwelcoming. Add to it the problem that only DH and I have a clothes closet--the kids only have dressers. Works OK for most clothes, but not coats. I've taken to hanging my coats in my bedroom. (of course, my bedroom isn't upstairs. It is on the far side of the apartment, but I've taken to going there to drop off my purse & tote bag anyway, and since I wear my purse over my shoulder, I have to take my purse off to take my coat off. I find that at any given time, there's one coat that's"primary"; if I need another coat bcs of a shift in the weather, it'll only be for a day or two (slickers, for example). So storing those seldom-needed coats of my kids' in my bedroom closet is fine--if the kids really need them, I'll go get them.

Another idea: get some of those Sterilite plastic drawers, and stack them on one side of the closet. That'll "partition off" one small section to be for cleaning supplies. And a drawer will help you access the deepness of the storage space, bcs it'll pull things forward. The one drawback to those is that they're sort of short; most bottles won't fit in them standing up. But there are taller versions. Or, try this "laundry tower" concept--a tall, skinny cabinet w/ compartments; it would interrupt the shelf and hanging bar, so maybe not the best. http://www.improvementscatalog.com/imp/290307?cm_mmc=GooglePLA--LaundryRoom--2014-_-437559&mr:trackingCode=0B124480-8F0B-E311-9612-001B21BCC0BC&mr:referralID=NA&mr:filter=98946355732&intlShippingCtx=US%7CUSD&code-macs=MP4XW091&mr:ad=43916408932&mr:device=c&mr:match=&SourceCode=MP4XW091&mr:adType=pla&mr:keyword=&redirect=y But this sort of cabinet, designed to go between washer and dryer, might be great (this one isn't available anymore, but this is the general idea). The drawers are tall enough for bottles, and it's skinny and short. http://www.lowes.com/pd_172508-46-WVP5000SQ_4294857913+8+4294965476_?productId=1043069 http://www.shopgetorganized.com/item/WICKER_BETWEEN_WASHER_DRYER_DRAWERS/24415?src=GOSHPZLA&utm_source=shopzilla&utm_medium=cse&utm_term=24415&close_prompt=1 My favorite idea is the kinds of unit w/ different heights of drawers--IF the largest drawer is tall enough. http://www.target.com/p/sterilite-5-drawer-storage-cart/-/A-13794467#prodSlot=medium_5_9&term=drawer Because some things are tall and some are short, and tall drawers are really bad for little things. http://www.amazon.com/SEI-Iron-Wicker-Five-Drawer/dp/B000X09XGE/ref=pd_sim_sbs_op_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0X75NQ44TWHDJY5ME354 Even a filing cabinet could work. http://www.target.com/p/hirsh-3-drawer-file-cabinet-steel/-/A-14796066#prodSlot=medium_2_23&term=drawer This one looks really good--that bottom drawer is as tall as a file drawer, so maybe it would hold cleaning bottles standing upright. http://www.sterilite.com/SelectProduct.html?id=677&view=0&picture=1&tab=Uses&ProductCategory=188&section=1 This one is nice and narrow--but I don't know how tall the drawers are; they look kind of short. http://www.sterilite.com/SelectProduct.html?id=405&view=0&picture=1&tab=Uses&ProductCategory=187&section=1 This one also, I'm not sure how tall the drawers are. http://www.sterilite.com/SelectProduct.html?id=406&view=0&picture=1&tab=Uses&ProductCategory=187&section=1 Then again, you could just store the tall bottles in a caddy on top. HOWEVER, and this might be true always anyway--you should probably store -only- one bottle of what you truly use. The extras should go somewhere else, like in the garage or under the sink, if at all possible. (Or if you're like me and live in an apt., don't buy extras--practice "just-in-time inventory.") If you got something like this, you could just take out one drawer to make the drawer below it taller (and you could access it more easily as well); I've done that w/ a shallow drawer unit. Because I *think* this one doesn't have bars across the front, just supports along the sides. http://www.amazon.com/4D-Concepts-Corner-Clear-Silver/dp/B0006TXDSG/ref=sr_1_2?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1413299007&sr=1-2&keywords=utility+drawers And you could set your "daily use" caddy on the top of such a drawer unit; it'd be handy to grab the caddy itself, or just the window cleaner/whatever. Because the caddy would work as an organizer that would keep your most-used items from falling over. And you might be able to put -all- the cleaning solutions in the caddy, which would ease the pressure on having a tall drawer. There are lots of carts for this space, but you have to pull the whole cart out instead of just a drawer. But it's an idea--you could put it on the open side of the closet, and pull it out to get to stuff. And hang shorter jackets above it.

Low hooks on the side walls. Wire shelves (the very shallow ones meant to be put on the inside of a closet door) inside one door. A shoe bag - with all the pockets - on the inside of the other door for hats, gloves and scarves. I love the idea is having a shelf come out to double as a step. Put hinges on it so you'll have concealed storage under it for out is season items. Since its deep, I would do the shelf/ step then 12" deep cubbies in the back. With hooks on the side, it would be like a walk in closet for the little ones with things they need at their height. I love your woodwork! I love unstained wood with just a clear finish. The beauty of the wood can really shine.

I think it could be both, but if you had to choose (and I've had to in the last place and this one, ) I would make sure I had a place to store a vacuum cleaner and broom and such, as well as outdoor boots, shoes and umbrellas. We accommodated pretty easily to keeping our coats upstairs, but it's a pain to have to store the vacuum, brooms and such far away from where you use them, or outdoor boots and such far from the front door, and the only alternative is to leave them out in plain view.