Closet is purged...ideas to make the remaining stuff look organized? l

P O

5 years ago

Need help making the items in the sleeves look a little more beautiful and organized. Suggestions please?

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Nikki T

5 years ago

First and foremost I have closet envy! I would get rid of the white bins and get something in either a fabric or something natural like rattan or wicker. I love wooden hangers also, I feel they instantly makes a closet look so much nicer.

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Comments (24)

P O
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks! What hangers would you recommend?
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K R
5 years ago
Yes, I agree change all the hangers to matching huggable hangers. It’s a pain to do but really adds an organized look (plus you can use a lot more than the plastic ones). I also color coordinate my clothes. Look it up on Pinterest, it’s a thing! Lol Nothing should be sitting on the shelf unless it’s a handbag, or shoes, or something you’re displaying. As for clothes on the shelves try to use the clear shelf dividers. Like these. https://www.containerstore.com/s/clear-shelf-divider/d?productId=10037179&q=Clear shelf I actually just ordered some myself. No brushes or do-dads of any kind should be sitting on the shelf by themselves. I agree, matching baskets or fabric covered file boxes should be used. Here are a couple pics of my closet, which was recently renovated. I have a few display type shelves with fancy shoes and bags but most importantly I have everything in some sort of organized fashion. See the fabric covered file boxes, got them on amazon, those are where I keep random items.
K R
5 years ago
They’re called huggable hangers. You can order online or even get from Home Goods which is where I got mine. For sure the container store has them.
NYCish
5 years ago
Matching hangers. I do wood for the suits and pants and black no-slip velvet for everything else
P O
Original Author
5 years ago
What color hangers would you do?
Mrs Pete
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Good for you purging your closet! We should all follow your example. So you have function, but now you want some beauty? Fun!

- I think you need some color in this closet. You could paint the walls; it would make a difference. Or you could paint the ceiling ... or stencil it with a great pattern. Most of your clothes seem to tend towards dark and serious, so I'd vote for something light and bright.

- What kind of light fixture do you have? Something fancy would be a nice splurge. You seem to have great light in the closet now ...so this would be for style alone.

- A rug ... or maybe the right term is, a runner, but -- yeah -- something on the floor.

- Yes to matching hangers. I'm not sure I'm in love with wooden hangers because of their bulk ... but you seem to have plenty of space, so they probably would work for you.

- I would like to see a valet rod -- or a couple pretty hooks -- where I could hang tomorrow's outfit, or I could "lay out things" as I was packing for a trip.

- Definitely wicker baskets, as someone else suggested. They'll corral the necessary-but-not-so-attractive stuff on those shelves. Save the plastic baskets for under-sink storage.

- Pay special attention to that mirrored cabinet that's straight-ahead of the door. It's your sight line item as you enter the closet, so it "sets the tone" for the space. Right now I see empty ... and is that Jabba the Hut on the top shelf? This cabinet would be a good place for some of those wicker baskets ... and a small vase (gold?) with flowers (not real, obviously) by the mirror. Also a tray or similar to drop your favorite earrings, etc. by the mirror.
J J
5 years ago
following
artemis_ma
5 years ago
Wow, I'm impressed with the closet as it is.

Overall, I'd work on getting hangers to match - I gotta admit though, I bought some of those huggable hangars and while I do love them, I feel wasteful about trashing the perfectly functional old hangars simply because they don't match each other. So I'm slowly getting rid of the worst of the old, and replacing. Then again, I simply don't have a fancy master closet (you can walk in mine about two steps). I did switch my entry coat closet to all black wood hangers (heavy coats of mine or guests), and the guest bedroom has a dozen matching huggables.

If you do get those hangers, pick something with a color that complements or matches something in your bedroom.

Since you do have such a nice and open space with those built-ins - I like the idea of wicker baskets.

On the shelf with the mirror, perhaps a vase, or as someone suggested, a small decorative tray to capture favorite earrings or bracelets. Underneath, something (an object or three) purely decorative that you can admire from the entryway.
tartanmeup
5 years ago
Wow, looks great already! Pat yourself on the back for tackling this. I'm sure there were difficult decisions involved. But now the space (and you) can breathe!

Yes to matching hangers!! It's the kind of thing that tickles the OCD part of one's brain (it's there even if we're not OCD). :) I've not yet tried foam covered ones because I'm quite pleased with my matching plastic ones but I simply can't abide wire ones. New hangers is a change I suggest you do in one fell swoop because when I went back to get more of my favourite hangers, I couldn't find them.

People are recommending wicker baskets but I've had bad luck with this type as it snagged on a few items. Plastic does have its advantages: easy to wipe clear and won't snag clothes. My preference is clear plastic bins and drawers because it's "out of sight, out of mind" with me. Figure out what works best for you, organization-wise. (Maybe if I labelled opaque containers, it could work for me.)

If you do get containers and boxes, measure everything carefully (shelves and items) before heading out to the store. Obvious but I've forgotten more than once. :)

Have fun and keep us posted!
bpath
5 years ago
Wicker baskets are so pretty! But I like them better when they are not being handled much; I prefer plastic for that.

The clothes on the shelves won't stay neatly stacked for long; you will need dividers for that. Or, flattish bins that are wider on the sides, but cut away in front so you can easily see and find the top you want.

On the top shelves, even though it isn't pretty I'd have to go with clear plastic boxes. I'm definitely out-of-sight-out-of-mind, so if I can't see it, it ain't there lol.

I guess some of it comes down to what works for YOU.

Oh, and I love arranging my clothes by color, regardless of season.
P O
Original Author
5 years ago
I love ALL the advice!!! Going to get the hangers. Karen do you like the white? Karen also where did you get that cute little thing to sit on? I totally need that! Will huggable hangers work for my husbands suits and sports coats? They take up so much room!
P O
Original Author
5 years ago
Karen also can you show a pic of the fabric baskets you got on amazon and the link? Your closet is beautiful. Also totally off topic where did you get that tilt scarf that is on your Louis Vuitton bag? I’m looking for a cute one for an LV bag right now :)
P O
Original Author
5 years ago
So I organized by color but seems so unnatural to me because I have typically aborted my clothes by casual/dress wear etc. thoughts everyone? I am going to get the thinner hangers too. Do you think I should hang the rod a bit lower since I’m short?
Mrs Pete
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
bout trashing the perfectly functional old hangars simply because they don't match each other.

Goodwill always need hangers. Maybe donating them would alleviate your guilt. Personally, I ended up going with BLUE plastic hangers. Anyway, at 18 hangers for $1.49 (on sale), if I decide to ditch the blue, I can forgive myself.

I think I'm the only person in the world who doesn't love those Huggable Hangers, and I decided that the goal was matching hangers, not fancy hangers.

On the shelf with the mirror, perhaps a vase, or as someone suggested, a small decorative tray to capture favorite earrings or bracelets.

I bet the OP has something sitting around the house that'd work. A small mismatched dish of some sort.

People are recommending wicker baskets but I've had bad luck with this type as it snagged on a few items.

I love wicker baskets and haven't really had a problem with snagging ... but, if your mileage varies, you can always line the baskets.

On the top shelves, even though it isn't pretty I'd have to go with clear plastic boxes. I'm definitely out-of-sight-out-of-mind, so if I can't see it, it ain't there lol.

Being very short, the top shelf isn't for everyday stuff for me!

I have a box up top for "travel stuff", which contains toiletry bags and unique stuff you only use on vacation ... for example, an around-the-neck security bag for keeping your passport close in airports and another around-the-neck thing for carrying your money /phone while you're in the water at the beach, a pretty cloth bag for packing jewelry, clips that attach your beach towels to your lounge chair. I can't remember what else, but those are things I don't need daily. Oh, water shoes -- mine and my husband's. We only use them on vacation, so they don't deserve one of the limited spaces in my daily shoe area.

I also have a box up top for fancy dresses. I don't wear them often, so they're folded gently into white tissue paper ... and they don't take up space in my small closet.

Some of my boxes are ... I'm ashamed to admit it ... Big Bo boxes from Bojangles. They're really solid construction and can hold a great deal. I covered them with duct tape to make them pretty. I'm thinking that when we move to the new house I'm going to get pretty wicker baskets for the top close shelf /downgrade the Bojangles boxes to craft storage.

Will huggable hangers work for my husbands suits and sports coats? They take up so much room!

No, they're shirt-sized.

So I organized by color but seems so unnatural to me because I have typically aborted my clothes by casual/dress wear etc. thoughts everyone? I am going to get the thinner hangers too. Do you think I should hang the rod a bit lower since I’m short?

I agree ... organizing by color doesn't seem right to me. I organize by season /style. That is, all my short-sleeved shirts are together ... then all my long-sleeved shirts ... then all my dresses /casuals to one side and dressier to the other side. On the shelves, thin summer sweaters to one side and thicker winter sweaters to the other side.

Can you reach the rod comfortably? If so, I'd leave it where it is and use the shelve underneath for storage ... dressy shoes? Folded jeans?
tartanmeup
5 years ago
For rod height, the goal is to make organizing effortless for you. Taking out stuff or putting it back in its home shouldn't be a chore. If lowering the rod a couple of inches lower ensures you put away stuff without delay, do it. I'm also short and hate needing to be on my tippy-toes for everything or worse, needing a step stool to put something away. Speaking of step stools, having a foldable one in the closet might be helpful for you. You could hang it on a low hook on a closet wall.
chelle324
5 years ago
I have my clothes grouped by type like Mrs. Pete, but within these groups I organize by color. I use the ROYGBIV acronym ("Roy G. Biv", I think I learned that in art class or maybe in my former days as a scrapbooker!) from the rainbow to remember the order: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. It makes me happy, and it is a pretty functional system. I'm often first choosing clothes by the climate (long sleeve vs sleeveless), and then I'm looking for a particular color.

I agree about having a valet rod or hook to hang up your outfit for the next day. I have the adjustable white wire Rubbermaid system and it has a sliding pull out valet hook that has been very useful.
K R
5 years ago
I loveeeeee the white. It makes everything look so feminine. I got the scarf on Etsy. It’s not an LV scarf just kinda looks like one (not a fake just similar). I can’t commit to a scarf design enough to pay LV prices LOL. Here is a link to the file boxes. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07N5XJHCH?pf_rd_p=f3acc539-5d5f-49a3-89ea-768a917d5900&pf_rd_r=B1DGXYHE40DJ2NCH2VAQ
K R
5 years ago
Little ottomans from All Modern. I like them, they’re comfy to sit on but also solid so I can stand on them too. https://www.allmodern.com/furniture/pdp/mercer41-hedrick-velvet-ottoman-ispi1369.html
roccouple
5 years ago
May I ask the dimensions of your closet(s)? Following to read closet ideas !
P O
Original Author
5 years ago
Roughly 72” x 100”
J J
5 years ago
Hi P, any update for us?
talley_sue_nyc
5 years ago
I like the white bins; I was going to suggest more of them.

All the thrift-store donation places near me have signs that they don't accept hangers. Of any type, not just dry-cleaner hangers.

And Mrs Pete, I hate those Huggable Hangers (and their brethren) too. They are too thin; I don't like the creases they make in the clothes. I hate the flocking; I like to be able to slip my shirts off quickly. (I don't need the flocking, because I don't have trouble with clothes sliding off when I don't want them to.)

Re: matching hangers. I went with matching hangers, and it was neat, but there are things I need to hang on other styles. I need skirt hangers, heavy hangers for coats, etc. I guess the Huggable Hangers style comes w/ matching skirt hangers, but I find that I end up with a couple of different styles.

Re: organizing clothing by color
Organizing is not about beauty. It's about function.

Don't get so wrapped up in making it look beautiful that you actually make it more annoying or difficult to FUNCTION in that closet.
P O
Original Author
5 years ago
Some were asking for an update so here are pics. Still need to clear some shelves. I’ve been working my kids’ closets so I’ve been a bit delayed getting mine finished up too!