Declutter and Assess

Before you begin your reach-in closet transformation, you should take a look at what you have in your closet. According to Shop Your Closet, most of us wear under 30 percent of our wardrobes. Now, I’m not suggesting that you purge nearly three-quarters of your clothing! However, it makes sense to take everything out of the closet and really take a good look at how much you’re storing and ask yourself if it’s all really needed.

Benefits of decluttering:

• Creating more space: By removing items you no longer use, you’ll find that your closet is more functional and less cramped.
• Reducing clutter: If you’re not using something in your home, then by its very nature, it’s clutter. Those shoes you haven’t taken out of their box in 10 years? They’re just collecting dust, and your closet will be neater without them.
• Easier organization: The fewer items you have, the easier it will be to keep your belongings organized.

Tips for implementation:

• Set aside time: Taking everything out of your closet and going through it isn’t a project you can accomplish while also doing your daily chores and attending to your responsibilities. Designate a full afternoon or even a full day to work on this.
• Sort items into categories: Group similar items together (shirts with shirts, shoes with shoes) and have a box ready to fill for things you’d like to donate.
• Assess each item honestly: Look at each piece of clothing or accessory, and ask yourself if you use it and if you really like it. If not, into the donation box it goes! The exception here might be highly nostalgic items or outfits you only wear on special occasions, such as weddings.

How a professional can help:

At My L.A. Closet, we provide a free consultation. While we can’t go through your items for you, we can give you some tips on decluttering. If you need additional expertise, you might consider hiring a professional organizer, who will actually go through the process with you of going through your clothing, shoes, jewelry, and other wardrobe essentials.

Utilize Affordable Storage Solutions

There are plenty of affordable ways you can store your items. Some examples are bins, baskets, and hanging organizers. They’re practical, easy to use, and also easy to find if you’re DIY-ing your reach-in closet system.

Benefits of using affordable storage solutions:

• Cost savings: Affordable storage solutions can allow you to organize your closet without a significant financial investment.
• Improved organization: Using bins, baskets, hanging organizers, and other budget-friendly closet accessories can help you reduce clutter – allowing you to find what you need when you need it.
• Versatility: Inexpensive storage solutions are versatile and can be used for a variety of items. If your tastes or wardrobe necessities change over time, you’ll still be able to use the same organizers.

Tips for implementation:

• Measure your space: You’ll want to know how much room you have to hold your new closet organizers, so you don’t over- or underbuy.
• Label anything that isn’t transparent: If you’re using clear bins or hanging organizers with clear pockets, you can see what’s inside. Otherwise, though, consider labeling each section, so you know where your items are.
• Choose high-quality materials: If you can avoid it, don’t settle for the most inexpensive organizers, as these are more likely to break over time. You want durable materials that will stand up to everyday use.

How a professional can help:

While affordable closet components that you buy and install yourself can enhance your closet’s overall organization, professional closet specialists, like the ones at My LA Closet, can provide more customized options that are tailored to your specific needs. You won’t have to figure it all out on your own, as the measuring and planning will be done for you.

Maximize Vertical Space

While you might be focused on the horizontal surfaces in your closet, such as the shelves and drawers, it’s equally important to consider the vertical space. By using the full height of your closet, you can create more storage opportunities and keep your items easy to access. This is particularly important in a reach-in closet, where space is limited to begin with.

Benefits of maximizing vertical space:

• Increased storage ability: Using vertical space frees up floor space, gives you more options for storing your items, and makes your closet more functional overall.
• Better organization: By arranging items vertically, you’ll be able to keep your belongings from crowding each other – making it easier to see and organize each section of the closet.
• Increased accessibility: Keeping frequently used items in the middle of your closet and placing items you don’t use as much overhead or down by the floor makes it easier to reach what you’re more likely to be using on any given day.

Tips for implementation:

• Use stackable bins: Stackable bins let you store items going up the wall, and you can take advantage of your closet’s full height -- or at least as high as you can reach. Consider storing shoes, accessories, and other small items in these bins.
• Install hanging shelves: Hanging shelves can be used to open up more space – allowing you to store folded clothes without crowding your hanging rods.
• Use high shelves: The high shelves might seem inconvenient, but if you’re using them for out-of-season clothing or seldom-used outfits and shoes, you won’t need to access the area very often. Keep a step-stool in the closet to make accessibility easier.

How a professional can help:

Our design professionals can offer you expert advice on how to best use the vertical space in your closet. We have the experience and knowledge to design customized solutions that make the most of all of your space. We’re happy to talk about how we can maximize your reach-in closet during a free in-home consultation.

Incorporate Multi-Functional Accessories

Using accessories that are multi-functional is a great way to save space and improve your closet’s organization. Various accessories that can perform more than one function, such as over-the-door racks or storage benches, offer you a lot of versatility in your closet, so you’ll be able to keep up with it as your wardrobe evolves over time.

Benefits of incorporating multi-functional accessories:

• Versatility: One of the best aspects of using multi-functional accessories is that they can be used in a variety of different ways – letting you adapt your custom closet system to your changing needs.
• Space-saving option: You’ll be able to make the most of your closet space by choosing accessories that can do double-duty.
• Cost-effectiveness: When you can combine functions into one product, you won’t need to purchase multiple single-function accessories – saving you money in the long run.

Tips for implementation:

• Use over-the-door racks with hooks and baskets: These racks can provide storage for items, like hair accessories, socks, and shoes, and they take advantage of the back of the door, which is often overlooked.
• Combine a shoe rack and storage bench: A shoe rack that doubles as a bench gives you a place to sit down while putting on your shoes.
• Try hanging organizers with multiple pockets: If you have pockets on your hanging organizers, you can store a wide range of items – keeping everything accessible and easy to see.

How a professional can help:

Our professional closet designers have the expertise needed to recommend some of the best multi-functional accessories based on your specific needs. We provide creative solutions that you might not have considered. The result will be a well-organized, efficient closet that exceeds your expectations.

Keep It Simple and Consistent

One of the best ways to maintain your closet’s organization is to keep it simple and consistent. The goal is to keep your space clutter-free and fully-functional, so taking a straightforward approach will make it easier to keep up with it. I recommend keeping your routines practical to make them easier to stick to over time.

Benefits of keeping it simple and consistent:

• Ease of maintenance: Simple organizational systems are easier to keep tidy – reducing the amount of time and effort you’ll need to expend on maintenance.
• Long-term organization: Staying consistent with your system will help ensure your closet stays organized over the long term.
• Less clutter: If you keep on top of your closet maintenance, you’ll have less clutter accumulating over time.

Tips for implementation:

• Stick to a color scheme: Use a consistent color scheme for bins, hangers, and even your clothing to create a cohesive look and make the closet look and feel more organized.
• Declutter regularly: Set aside time each week to tidy up your closet and each month to take out items that are no longer needed. This will help minimize the seasonal stress of doing a full wardrobe overhaul.
• Limit your storage options: When you have too much going on, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Avoid overcomplicating your closet by sticking to the most versatile and essential items to keep it simple.

How a professional can help:

My team can create simple and effective closet systems tailored to your specific needs. We can design streamlined solutions for any challenge, and we’re able to match our approach to your lifestyle, preferences, and even decorating style.

Conclusion

Transforming your reach-in closet on a budget is achievable with the right strategies. When you start with decluttering and then slowly add in organizers that take advantage of vertical space, multi-functional accessories, and a streamlined plan for keeping your space in good condition, you’ll be able to create a closet that meets your needs and looks great. If you would like to meet with a member of my design team, give us a call to schedule a free in-home consultation. 

Source

https://shopyourwardrobe.com/shopping-clothes-emotions/how-much-do-you-wear-and-waste/