Guest Post: Tale of the Itty Bitty Closet

One of the happiest, proudest moments in my life was the day I walked into my new house as a first-time homeowner. My husband and I transported most of our essentials across town, carload by carload, leaving the big furniture for the movers (because who needs a bed when you can lie on blankets and throw pillows in your very own house!).

The first unpacking project I tackled was putting away my clothes, which seemed simple… but quickly became a nightmare when I opened up the master-bedroom closet and realized how grossly undersized it was. Coming from an apartment with a walk-in that was almost as large as the bedroom, I had somehow overlooked closet space during the home tour. I was not about to appeal to my hubby to take on a remodeling project, so I decided my best option was to invest in some closet organizers. Here are some things that have been immensely helpful for saving valuable closet space:

Hanging shelves: I use hanging shelves for my (and the hubby’s) socks, undies, and SHOES — I have upwards of twenty pairs of shoes (I know…), but with hanging shelves, I can see them all. Now I can easily pick out pairs for outfits.
Shelving systems: I installed a shelving system that takes up about a third of my closet, but now I probably have ten times as much space. There are shelves for t-shirts, sweaters, and jeans — I know where everything is, and nothing gets lost on the rack or in the bottom of a drawer. I keep my work tops, pants, and skirts hung on a rack to prevent creasing.

Use the door: If your closet has a door, use its space to hang things like necklaces, scarves, purses, and ties. Our hamper is on a hook, so we can hang it on the outside of our closet door. Not exactly chic, but it does save space!

Seasonal items: We store our bulky winter coats and sweaters in bins under the bed. You could also put them in out-of-the-way shelves in the closet, or in a garage — the key is to not let them take up prime space when you don’t need them.

I actually feel more organized now than I did having an oversized walk-in, with my vast shoe collection spilling across the floor. It feels so good to have the bedroom closet put together that I decided to maintain this coordinated flow throughout the house, which would never have been possible in an apartment. All of my household items are cataloged and easy to find, which makes my life so much more simple, saving time and frustration. Maybe one day I’ll consider taking on some home improvement adventures, but for now I can just enjoy my cozy new home and all the newfound space it has to offer.

Note: This was a guest post.