Maximize your closet space this Sunday

If you’re dispirited by your small closet, take heart: there are a bunch of ways to make your space more efficient and organised — and even make it seem larger.

With a few decorating hacks, and a little patience, you might find that tiny closet is actually just perfect for you. (Major advantage: these ideas won’t cost a fortune.) As compiled from the book Organising from the Inside Out, Good Housekeeping magazine and apartmenttherapy.com, never dream of a walk-in closet again.

Throw out clothes that don’t fit



Make it a rule: toss out anything you haven’t worn in a year — chances are, you wont ever wear it again. Then, there are always items that have gone out of style — and clothes that are too tight — toss them all out. “People think hanging on to smaller sizes will inspire them to lose weight but you can only wear the size that fits you right now — you never change a size overnight,” says Julie Morgenstern, a professional organiser and author of Organizing from the Inside Out. If you have diet plans, store your tighter clothes elsewhere and put them back after you reach your goals — the act of swapping out larger sizes for smaller ones might even make you feel more accomplished.

Remove clutter and go for thinner hangers



Clutter in the closet often means more than clothes, shoes, and accessories. “Remove those plastic coverings that come with your dry cleaning,” says Lisa Zaslow, an organisation and productivity expert and owner of Gotham Organisers. “They actually don’t protect your clothes because they trap the dry cleaning chemicals. It’s also shocking how much space they take up.” Since you want to exploit every last bit of space, opt for thinner hangers and remove excessive amounts of empty ones, while leaving just a handful in one spot so they’re easy to find and use. You might be tempted to try stacking or “cascading” hangers but they can be hard to maintain, plus, they collect dust easily.

Add lighting



If looking into your closet is like staring into endless darkness, illuminate it. A lot of women like to organise and set up their closets at night when they are relaxed and done with house chores. But often, our closets are too dark and it gets really hard to fix and find things. “Not only will you feel more in control of where your items are at but having more light in the closet will also make it seem bigger,” says Zaslow. Call an electrician this Sunday and ask him to fit a light bulb or two inside your closet. Trust me, you’ll thank your stars later.

Make use of the upper shelf



Sure, you can stack storage bins on the upper shelf, but consider a shelf divider, which turns the space into little cubicles so clothes and accessories are easy to see and grab. “You can use them to separate stacks of folded clothing, so that they don’t topple into each other and create a big mess,” Morgenstern says. “Or, they can keep your handbags upright and accessible.” If you don’t have an upper shelf, get it made. Ask your local carpenter or handyman to make you wooden cubicles (or metal). It won’t be too expensive and it should all be done in an hour — perfect to do on a Sunday.

Paint it a lighter colour



A fresh coat of paint is an inexpensive way to add the illusion of space. You can actually do it yourself this weekend. “I’d get a durable paint, such as one with a satin or gloss finish because the walls will get some wear and tear from clothes and shoes,” says Zaslow. “A light colour — like white, light yellow, or pale pink can in fact, make everything seem cleaner and brighter.” Lighter and brighter hues on the inside of your closet can also make a tiny spot seem more open and airy, plus it’ll be easier to dust.

Install hooks everywhere



Hooks are your very best friend. Step into your closet (or as far into your closet as you can get). Do you see any wall space that is not covered by clothes? Put a hook there. Or better yet, if you’ve got the space, put a whole rack of hooks. Place hooks on the inside of your closet door — these are best for hanging belts and scarfs. Hooks are a great way to reclaim wasted space, and you can use those hooks for jewellery and purses too. Also, if you can squeeze them in, you can assign hooks for clothes that have been worn for half a day and aren’t quite dirty but also aren’t quite clean. Ask your carpenter to make you wooden hooks so they don’t rust easily. 

By Umnia Shahid

Published in The Express Tribune, September 13^th, 2015.

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