Hangups? Got 'em

Organizing a clothes closet helps clear mental cobwebs

Clothing storage has gotten more sophisticated of late, thanks to custom closets. “People are incorporating into their closets a wardrobe ... and that's a piece of furniture they don't have to have in their bedroom," says David Fraiser of Closet Factory Arkansas.
Clothing storage has gotten more sophisticated of late, thanks to custom closets. “People are incorporating into their closets a wardrobe ... and that's a piece of furniture they don't have to have in their bedroom," says David Fraiser of Closet Factory Arkansas.

So you're one of those people whose bedroom closet and chest of drawers are dominated by a tangled mass of clothing ... and getting ready for work each morning is a time-consuming nightmare.

Every so often, you vow that you will get control and store your clothing properly. Every once in a while -- usually during spring cleaning or some such activity -- you do. Then control is quickly lost again.

You're not alone. But you don't have to live like this, either, say those for whom neat clothing organization is an area of expertise.

PUT AWAY NICELY

"Perfect organization is a must in the fashion retail world," says Emily Brown, owner of Tulips, a women's boutique in Little Rock's Heights neighborhood. "Organization creates a better working environment, and in turn sells clothes." It also creates a better environment when it comes to storing one's clothing at home, which in turn makes it easier to get dressed in the morning as well as keep clothing in good condition.

In what ways do so many fall short in this arena?

Leigh Lusk of Little Rock, owner of Leigh Lusk Living, says the most common mistake people make in storing clothing is "storing ... all of the seasons in their closet," putting winter and summer clothing

together, for instance. "Some people have the space for that, but most don't."

Other common mistakes people make in storing their clothing: "buying organizing/storage products that look nice, but have no functional value for storage," says Mindi Blythe, owner of Alma-based Get Organized (getorganized.info).

Another blunder: failure to utilize all available space for storing. Take the top shelf in a closet, Lusk says. It's usually empty ... or piled willy-nilly with stuff. "If you use boxes that stack, you can [neatly] store purses" as well as seasonal shoes, she says. The closet floor is also misused. This area ends up being dominated by shoes -- as well as clothes -- that pile up and get out of control.

These are but symptoms of what may be, according to Blythe, the biggest mistake: having no storage system at all.

What to do?

Lusk's first piece of advice is to do a bit of editing. "You can't do anything until you've gone through and gotten out the things you need to purge." She advises taking out anything that hasn't been worn in a year.

HANG 'EM HIGH

Knowledge of how to properly store garments is a good start in keeping everyday clothing in a manner befitting its importance. "As a general rule, it's best to hang trousers, skirts, dresses, shirts, suits, coats and jackets," Blythe says.

Lusk suggests hanging clothing in categories. Within each category, do some color coordinating, "which people think is a bit much sometime," but it's eye pleasing and it gives your closet some structure, she says. Brown suggests starting with the lightest clothing first, and ending with the darkest.

For neatness, the organizers suggest uniformity in the hangers themselves. "I like everything to be on the same kind of hanger. It just looks better," says Lusk, who prefers to use a combination of clear plastic hangers in her own closet.

Fortunately, hanger types have gotten as plentiful as the styles of clothing hung on them. Padded or wooden ones are best for keeping the shape of a garment intact, Blythe says, adding that skirts should be hung on hangers with clips. Lusk notes that people are switching to velvet or felt hangers, which are good at holding clothes in place. "It definitely helps when you've got wide-neck shirts."

But it doesn't have to be only hangers doing the job for hangable clothes. Lusk suggests identifying a spot in a room or closet for a few wall hooks. These will come in handy for clothes whose wearer lacks the time and inclination to hang them or put them in a drawer. "That helps a lot with your sanity," Lusk says.

Foldable clothing includes T-shirts, sweaters, lounge wear and, if there's no space to hang them, denim pieces. Socks, underwear and athletic wear can all be put into drawers, while bins are best for items such as umbrellas, hats, gloves and handbags, Blythe says.

"We love shelf space for T-shirts, sweaters, shoes and purses," Brown says. "It's nice to see them directly in front of you. If you have to go digging, you will never find or try" them.

SHOE SHOW

Shoe storage can present a special dilemma.

"Most shoes are just like clothes," Blythe says. "You can use the same rules for seasonal clothes and apply it to your shoes." Start by getting rid of the worn-out and dated shoes, she suggests. Storage options for the remaining shoes include a three-tier plastic organizing unit with deep drawers, set under the hanging clothes. A pair of shoes can be placed in each drawer.

Lusk suggests making use of the clear shoe boxes available at discount stores. These hold basic shoes, flats, flip-flops and high heels. If special shelf space is available to store them, great; if not, again, the top shelf of the closet can be lined with these shoe boxes.

Lastly, a closet doesn't have to be just the sum of its storage capacity. It can be just as glamorous as it can be efficient.

"Most important to me personally is a wonderful mirror and great lighting," Brown says. Other elements one can add: wallpaper or even a chandelier. "You should feel your best when you are getting dressed.

"You wear 20 percent of your clothes, 80 percent of the time," Brown adds. "Treat your closet like a storefront. Make it shine and in turn, it will give you back stress-free choices that will keep you from having an outfit crisis."

HomeStyle on 03/21/2015

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