While most of out closets go sight unseen by anyone other than family, this fact makes it no less important that they be organized and functional.  It is extremely frustrating to open a closet to retrieve some item only to be met by a cluttered mess of clothing, shoes and other items that just seem to get thrown in the closet due to the fact that there is no certain place for them to rest.  Many closets consist of one shelf and one closet rod that runs the length of the entire closet.  While this may serve some function and be able to adequately handle a small amount of clothing and other items, it is definitely not the best utilization of the space allotted.  This is where a well laid out closet organizer system can be installed to regain the space wasted in the initial closet construction.

Closet organizers come in many different styles, configurations and are made of many different materials. A quick online search will provide you with an idea of what is available and what options are at your disposal. While the best method would be to hire a professional organizer to come to your home, analyze your situation, and to design and install a custom made closet organizer, this is also the most expensive method. Luckily for us, there are many other options available and this project is one that even the most inexperienced do it yourself homeowner can tackle.

The first step is to remove everything that is in the closet and place it out of the way.  Also, remove the existing shelf and closet rod as these items will likely not be part of your new closet makeover.  Since everything is out of the closet, now would be an excellent time to give the closet a good cleaning and also a fresh coat of paint if necessary.  Wipe the walls  down with a vinegar and water solution and give the closet floor a good vacuuming.  After the cleaning is complete, take some measurements so you will have an idea of the space you have available to work with.  Measure the depth, width, and height of the closet and set these measurements aside, we will use them shortly.

Now the real fun begins.  We must decide what will go back into the closet, thus determining the type closet organization system we will need.  Go through all the items and sort them into two piles.  One will be what will definitely be kept, and one will be what will be discarded.  Any item that is worn out or no longer usable, should immediately be discarded and thrown in the trash.  Remaining items in the discard pile will consist of items that are no longer needed, no longer fit, or simply items that are no longer worn.  These should be donated to charity or if you prefer boxed up and saved for a future yard sale.  We now should know exactly what items are left to be returned to the closet.

Our next step is to sort these into groups of like items.  Tops with tops, pants with pants, and belts, scarves, ties, shoes or other accessory items.  This will give us an idea of the type storage items that will need to be purchased or built to provide for the best organization of our newly remodeled closet.  Get some paper and a pencil and draw a rough sketch of the design you feel is needed in the new closet.  Consider how much hanging rod space you will need, the necessary amount of shelving space and any racks or containers you may need to organize and store your accessory items.  One thing to consider is two levels of rod space.  This automatically doubles your hanging rod space and allows you to separate your tops from you bottoms.  However, keep in mind that you may need a closet rod available to hang long items such as dresses or robes.  Now that you have an idea of the design of the closet and the types of storage items you will need, a trip to the local home improvement store is next on your list.

Armed with the measurements you took earlier and the sketch you made, head for the organization aisle at the store and have a look at all the different closet organization systems that are available.  There are systems made of wire mesh shelving, laminated particle board and of course more expensive systems made of real wood.  While the wire mesh is the least expensive, it has the added advantage of allowing air to circulate around and underneath any clothing you may have folded and placed on shelving.  Whichever material you may choose, you will likely find a closet organizer system kit that will closely fit your needs.  These kits provide for easy installation and usually contain all the items necessary (including hardware) for their installation and can normally be installed in just a few hours.  If you are unable to locate a kit that will accomplish what you wish, and you are handy with tools you can custom build your own closet organizer by purchasing the wood, closet rods and other items you need separately.

Now that you have either the materials to built your organizer or a closet organization kit, you can head home and install the system that will be the beginning of your new organized life.  Once the organizer is installed and all of your items are placed back in your closet and everything is in its place, you will begin to discover that locating a certain item is a much easier task than it once was.  Your new closet organizer system will save you time by allowing you to select your daily wardrobe in a much more timely manner.  It will also save money over time by allowing your items to be stored in a way that prevents them from being compressed on a hanger in an overstuffed closet or snagged on something when they are being removed.