Sunday Spotlight: The Alternative Closet Organization Guide
This Sunday, we’re getting organized. See how we’re decorating alternative closet spaces!
So I recently moved into a new house, and I’m in love with the space. It boasts the best of loft-style living, i.e. high ceilings and tons of natural light, but via a Philly row-home. It had everything I was looking for in a new living space, except for one thing…
No closets.
This worried me a bit. I have a lot of clothes. Before I moved, I tried to get rid of anything I didn’t feel was absolutely necessary. Even after the purge, I still had things that needed to be stored in an easily accessible and visible manner. And I had no desire to throw everything into the basement (thank goodness there’s a basement). So I had to get creative — how does one make clutter look beautiful? How was I going to store all my clothes in a way that looked presentable, organized, and clean? Here’s how I did it:
(First, allow me to add that I did submit a special request to my landlord to add some kind of closet-esque fixture to the small space I have upstairs. It’s too small to be a bedroom, so I deemed this area my alternative closet. The result is what you see in the photo above: 2 PVC pipes, 2 hooks, 2 ropes. Works like a charm.)
Color Coordinate
Color coordinating your clothes is an easy way to make them look more organized. I typically go from light to dark, starting with black then fading to white. I draped pants on the lower rack, then shirts and tanks on the upper rack of the fixture my landlord installed. I find that I spend less time looking for specific pieces, and it’s way more visually pleasing.
Use Crates
I used to stuff everything into the top drawer of my dresser. Socks, underwear, bras, bodysuits, sports bras, tights, you name it. It was out of control, to the point where the drawer wouldn’t even close. To free up space, I took my socks and intimates and designated specific crates for each. My top drawer is now 10x more tolerable, and the crates make it easier to see what I have rather than digging for pieces that just get shoved to the back of my dresser.
Purchase Rolling Racks
Rolling racks saved my life. I have one upstairs, and one in my basement. The pipes weren’t enough to hold everything, so I set up a rolling rack to hang all of my coats, longer dresses and bulky sweaters. Bed Bath & Beyond sells collapsable/adjustable racks that can hold up to 120 lbs. Make sure you purchase one that’s sturdy enough or else it won’t do you any good.
Incorporate Pieces Into Your Decor
I love to incorporate pretty intimates into my decor. Rather than losing them to a dresser drawer, show them off by hanging them on a pretty hanger.
Be Selective
As I said earlier, I utilize two rolling racks: one upstairs, and one in the basement. The one upstairs holds all of the things I wear most often. I also consider the season. I switched out most of my warmer weather clothes for coats and seasonal piecesr. All of the pieces I’m not currently wearing get stored out of the way until it comes time to wear them again.
Utilize Space Under The Bed
If you have space underneath your bed, use it. I like to purchase long and skinny plastic bins that are just thin enough to slide below my bed frame. They’re great for storing bathing suits, sandals and extra linens.
+Do you have an alternative closet? How do you like to organize it?
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