Techniques to Create More Usable Closet Space
Extra storage is always a plus, whether you are selling your home or staying put, but if you are indeed planning to sell, maximizing your storage space is essential. Extra storage space helps attract home buyers--and lets you stay organized while the home is still yours.
Adding storage can be expensive, so unless you're ready to part with the dollars your first step should be to revamp your existing closets. You can do it, and for less money than you might think. Let's get started.
First Step: Declutter
Do you really need to keep all that stuff? I'm as guilty as anyone out there of hanging onto things, and paperwork is my downfall, everything from old magazines to fifteen-year-old cancelled checks. But I'm trying to get better, taking a hard look at everything I own and trashing things that aren't important.
So before you decide how much storage you need, decide what you can throw away, sell, or donate. And look on the bright side--if you pitch it now you won't have to pack and move it later.
Evaluate Bedroom Closets
Are there single rods running from end to end in each closet, with a single shelf above each rod? That arrangement is typical in the traditional smallish closets we see in extra bedrooms, and sometimes even in walk-in closets.
How about your clothes, are they packed so tightly that you can't find what you're looking for? Are the top shelves filled with things you haven't seen for years?
Start emptying the closets, one at a time, putting items in three piles:
1. Things to keep... that will stay in the closet
2. Things to dispose of... trash, donate, sell
3. Things that are stored in the wrong place... put in a plastic bin to tote to other areas
Every Budget, Every Need
Look at the items that will go back into the closet. Is the pile mostly clothes, or odds and ends? Do you have tons of shoes? Sweaters? Belts and ties? Lots more short items than full-length clothing? There are organizational helpers available for every storage need and every budget:
* Turn the top, catch-all shelf into a series of shelves that stretch to the ceiling. That will keep items separated and allow you to retrieve things easily, without pulling a stack of boxes down on your head.
* Increase space for short items by installing double-decker rods in a portion of each closet. Closetmaid makes economical closet organizer solutions to fit into any size closet.
* Go a bit farther and install special modules in a portion of the closet--with slots and shelves for shoes, cubbies or drawers for clothes that should be folded, and built-ins for other special items.
* Do-it-Yourselfers can try this wooden closet organizer project. If you're not into DIY, look for wooden closet organizer components at your local home building store.
* Walk-in closets offer all sorts of organizational possibilities. Closetmaid and Rubbermaid both offer storage ideas on their Web sites. Schulte Storage is another good place to explore closet options.
* It won't help organization, but installing cedar panels or hanging cedar blocks in the closet helps repel insects and makes the closet smell great.
Other Closets
Inspect every closet in your home as if you are seeing it for the first time. What will a buyer think when she opens the doors? How can you improve your storage potential?
* Use little totes and bins to help you keep small items under control in a bathroom or linen closet.
* Stackable baskets are a nice addition to a kitchen pantry, and can be used to store all types of items, including food staples.
* Is your garage large enough to add a series of closets along one wall? Or economical shelving? Storage helps turn a cluttered garage into a usable space that will actually hold a car!
* How about the basement? If it's dry, can you add closets or shelves down there? Use a dehumidifier to reduce moisture levels if necessary.
Cleaning out your closets is the perfect pre-sale activity, even if you don't do too much to increase storage space. Just getting rid of unused clothes and other items is sometimes all it takes to make closets appear larger than they truly are. So get started and look at everything with a critical eye. If you haven't used it for two years, do you really need to keep it?
thanks by Janet Wickellfor About.com
What is Closet Organizers
By installing a closet organizer, your clothes will be neatly hung, your pants will stay gently folded and your accessories will be stored in the appropriate containers. Seeing how orderly things look when they are neatly organized will give you the incentive to maintain the organization.
- A closet organizer neatly displays and stores your clothing items on racks, shelves, compartments or baskets. Some closet organizers require a crew of people to come in, measure your closet space, then return to assemble the closet organization system. Other closet organization methods are more simple and less expensive. By figuring out your storage needs, you can install a closet organizer yourself.
- In a small closet, organizers have the ability to maximize space. In a large closet, organizers bring the closet contents together in an organized manner. Closet organizers save space as well as time, because you avoid searching for lost clothing pieces.
- Racks and shelves--No matter if they are wooden, metal or plastic, racks and shelves are a necessity when installing a closet organizer. They allow room to spread out containers or stack up jeans and sweaters.
Rods--Hanging a lower rod in your closet allows room for hanging shirts, pants and skirts separately. Instead of having your closet inventory crammed onto one long rod, hanging a lower rod gives you adequate space between your clothing. On the other side of your closet, if you have to hang long coats or dresses, the single rod is available for those longer items.
Baskets and boxes--Small items such as scarves, belts and purses should be stored inside baskets or stackable plastic boxes. If the contents of the box or basket is out of your view, adhere a label on the container.
Shoe racks--These can sit on the floor or hang from the door. In addition to using a rack to organize your shoes, you can also store shoes in stackable containers. Again, labeling the container with the shoe's description or adhering a photo of the shoe helps in the organization process. - For the most cost-efficient method of installing a closet organizer, purchase a kit, such as Rubbermaid's closet kit. It is easy to install and can be purchased in a variety of sizes.
- Having a closet organizer gives you the freedom to open the closet doors and know that there is a place for everything and everything is in its place.
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from angela ehow.com
Closet Organizers Canada, The northern method for closet storage systems
I can’t really tell you if closet organizers Canada are indeed more organized than closets in the rest of the world, but the important thing is: you can get it no matter where you are. From Toronto to Vancouver, if you need to get your closets sorted out, there are hundreds of closet organizer Canada companies (or even thousands) offering custom made closet organizers.
There’s no such thing as a bad closet – the only bad thing about it is not having it properly organized. I see so many large closets with so much wasted space that I find it hard to imagine how people can actually live with it. If you hire a professional service to fix your closets, you’ll be surprised with how much extra storage space they’re able to squeeze into your old closets. And best of all, you can now have a much easier access to all your stuff.
Wasting time to find the perfect tie to use, a matching belt and the adequate watch or jewelry is a lot easier if you have your closet well organized. Considering the cost of high quality clothing these days, I’m sure you won’t want them tossed around inside a standard closet as if they were some cheap jeans and t-shirts. Don’t wait any longer: find out how much you can benefit with custom made "closet organizers Canada" installed in your own home
source savespaceclosetorganizers.com
