Today I thought I’d introduce you to my closet. Why not? I’ve already talked about knockin boots…aired my dirty laundry…let you rummage through my drawers…and played in my bed sheets with you. I figured we’ve moved from friendly to intimate…there’s nothing to hide anymore!!!
Ok seriously, all kidding aside, I really do want to show you some pictures of my closet that I just reorganized last week. I talked in the past about the process of organizing. One of the most important aspects is the maintenance of your systems. After you’ve done a big organizing session, you’ll need to maintain your space with mini-organizing sessions that I call organizing tune-ups. Basically, it’s a process of going through a particular space and doing a quick 4-Step organizing session:
1. Determine if the space is still fulfilling your NEEDS.
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2. Quickly ASSESS the space to make sure it is still functioning for you and if you need to make some tweaks.
3. Do a quick PURGE…edit anything you don’t need, never wear, never use or is expired.
4. Then ORGANIZE…fine-tune your space to make if function again for you.
Depending on the size of the space and how much you need to tweak, these organizing tune-ups should only take 1-3 hours to accomplish. For example, I frequently conduct tune-ups in my dresser drawers, kitchen cabinets, pantry, laundry room, toy bins and bathroom closets. Bigger tune ups, like my annual review of my personal files or our spring clean up of the garage, may take about 2-3 hours…but nothing close to the time (days) it took to initially organize these areas!
So, my most recent tune-up was in my master bedroom closet. It was functioning pretty well but I wanted to change out the hangers, move some of the clothes around and contain some of the loose items. I also wanted to add a little personality to it. Here’s how it went:
Switched out white plastic hangers to flocked hangers
Sorted clothes into like categories: dresses, pants, tanks, tees, long sleeve, sweaters and jackets.
Labelled rolling laundry sorter/hamper
Sorted hubby's pants...hopefully the hangers are strong enough! I love how they don't slide on these hangers.
Added canvas boxes (only $9 at Walmart) for cowboy hats, military training instructor hats and hubby's fedora (notice I still have a few hangers to replace).
Also added a bit of personality by hanging some of my favorite pix of my husband...in Egypt at the Great Sphinx of Giza...at Mount Nebo in Jordan...and on a camel he wrangled in front of one of the pyramids 
) He's such a stud!
Shag rug added for warm touch (literally because those travertine tiles get cold!) Also moved more frequently used shoes to top rack for easier access.
Flocked hanger. Love these hangers because even spaghetti strap tops won't slide off! Plus they have a swivel top. Can you believe I only paid $.33 and $.50 a piece for these? Dollar Tree...that's all I'm gonna say....
So there you have it. A simple closet tune-up that took me about 2 hours to do. I also got rid of a 30 gallon bag of clothes, shoes and white plastic hangers to donate to the Goodwill. I’m very please with how it turned out. My favorite part is the pictures and the rug. My husband was surprised and asked, “Pictures? Who hangs pictures in their closet?” We do!!! Why not decorate and personalize a space that you have to be in and see everyday, right!
Now…are you inspired to do your own tune-up? Your pantry, a junk drawer, your vanity sink? Write us and let us know!!!
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Another wonderful post!.Thanks for sharing your nice organization!!!. I would like to share with you a tip i use when i organize my wardrobe. I Adore organize by COLORS!. it gives me MUCH peace!!!…And it makes me easy to find, eg, the ‘red blouse’.. or see that ‘i have much pink tshirts!!!….
http://bp1.blogger.com/_5wJELK_RyCU/SGFCX__Db5I/AAAAAAAAAHg/WThPVVXFh7U/s1600-h/color-coded+closet.jpg
http://www.ehow.com/how_2150012_organize-clothes-closet-color.html
REGARDS!
Enjoyed your article and the cute comments throughout. Inspired me to work on mine again as my closet is much smaller and acts as drawers also. Did finally get my husbands clothes off of wire hangers! Yahoo!! good job!!!
Awesome! Those little closet tune ups don’t take much but make you feel a whole lot better about your space!
Hi, Victoria! You know, organizing by color is a great way to organize your clothes. Actually, I used to organize my clothes this way too because I tend to know what color I want to wear on a particular day or at a special event. I decided to organize by type/length to take advantage of space under the clothes. Just goes to show you there are many ways to organize….it’s a matter of finding the right systems for you! Thanks so much for sharing!!!!!
First, happy anniversary to Get Simplifized! Second, love your closet! I plan to switch out the hangers in my closet too and can’t decide between wood or flocked. Let me know after a couple of months how the flocked hangers are working for you. I’m interested in knowing if they can handle heavy clothes like jeans, men suits and coats and if they take up less space.
Thanks, Lois! I’m torn with the flocked hangers…they are awesome for keeping your clothes in place and not sliding around plus the swivel hanger is convenient if you have to face your clothes a different direction. They are not so convenient when hanging up cotton shirts…particularly t-shirts. The small collars make it difficult to put the hanger inside and then the material catches. Plastic or wood is definitely easier to slide your clothes on and off but that just it…sometimes they fall on the floor. Because I’m visual and like aesthetics I prefer the flocked hangers better than the bulky white plastic ones. So far they are holding up to the pants but I would actually recommend to readers and clients to get solid wood hangers for pants. The dark wood hangers with the metal swivel head actually look good and match the black flocked hangers with the metal swivel head. More to follow on this topic I’m sure! Thanks so much for your comment!!!!