Your closet, if it was like mine, is a disaster zone. Really, just a big collection of piles of stuff stacked to the ceiling or thrown on the floor. Here's how I cleaned up the best using inexpensive closet shelving, and a little do it yourself hands on effort. I would have liked to have a custom built and designed closet. The budget wouldn't allow it, so up on the walls go the shelves.

There are more ideas than there is space to execute in a closet. Entire companies and an industry has been built out of organizing this space. Even the big box home improvement retailer has an aisle dedicated to closet shelving and other home organization products. Most people when the choices or so many get paralyzed and fail to act.

Here are some rules of thumb you can use:

What do you want to happen? Evaluate your enitre plan, and don't get hung up (closet humor) on a single choice.
Built UP. Use all the vertical space over the hanging rod, especially with closet shelving. Its the vertical space that is lost most often
Look LOW. Use angled shelves at the floor to store shoes
Throw OUT. Get rid of extra clothing you no longer wear by donating, or otherwise disposing. You'll be surprised how much got lost in your closet.

While closet shelving and design has become a business in the last decade, there are only a handful of products.

Wire mesh shelving. Generally stronger than wood, easier and cheaper to install. The holes in the mesh can be an issue. You'll pay for wire shelving on a cost per foot, at about $1 per.

Wood Shelves. The old standby. If your closet is square (meaning true 90 degree angle measurements on the walls) these shelves hold it all, even the little pieces. They also cause items to "disappear" into the unit.

Every other part of closet design is a mix or match of these two basic elements. You can find the "mega" closet design firms with recessed lighting, to full chest of drawers, to mirrored setups in the closet. To make a quick improvement in your closet, a good old shelf arrangement can go a long way.

If you are not a home improvement master, I'd stick with the wire mesh closet shelving. You'll eliminate the need for sawing, and the dust and mess that comes with it. Be certain you have solid measurements and a sketch of your closet. These will be the foundation of your closet shelving project.