Closet organizing

• Declutter Your Life
• Using Chore Charts
• Free Chore Chart
• Grocery Shopping List Template
• House Cleaning Checklist
• Camping Checklist
• Grocery Savings
• Printable Grocery List
• Closet Organizing System
• Conquer Clutter
• Over 2,000 Declutter Tips

• Less nagging?
• Less frustration?
• More peace?
• More hugs?!

Closet organizing must make sense to you for you to use it.

It must conform as much as possible to the way you live and function in order to become a new habit and a part your lifestyle.

Closet organizing needs to do two things if it is to be useful to you in your home.

• Allow you to find what you want when you want it.

• Reclaim more closet storage space by getting rid of what you don't use at all or don't use often.

Pick what is bugging you the most about your current closet organizing system. Is it...

==>   You get frustrated when you can't find an item quickly in your closet that you know is there.

==>   You can't make good use of what you do have in your closet because you don't know what's truly available. For example, how many outfits are you not wearing because you don't even realize you have the pieces that will work well together?

==>  Items actually fall on your head when you open the closet door. Ouch!

==>  You are a confirmed pack rat. It breaks your heart to give or throw away anything. Truthfully though, you're not enjoying those items like you wish you could.
 

Closet organizing can resolve all of these challenges IF you use a closet storage system that you understand and will actually use.

How can you develop a closet organizing system that works for you? After all, you've probably got more to do than just organize your closets. 

• To effectively conquer clutter in your closets, take everything out and spread it on the floor.

==>   Immediately toss what you don't want, is out-of-date or broken.

==>   Place donate-able items in a box that you can give away before the sun goes down.

==>   Separate remaining items by topic. Clothes, shoes, memorabilia, linens, etc. Whatever that particular closet contains. This part of your closet organizing system is vital. Take your time and don't skip over anything.

==>   With a pen and paper in hand, write down each category you've just uncovered. Make a note of the amount and size of items in each topic. You can use this information to help you pick out the right system, closet organizers, etc. Actually measure items that will need to be put in bins or baskets or shelves so when you go shopping for bins, baskets and shelves you will get exactly what you need.

==>   Double-check you have the space in your closet to put the bins, baskets and shelves you want. If not, you need to get rid of more stuff. Either it leaves your home or it goes into another space in your home...do you have another space in your home for this item?? Be honest with yourself. You'll be glad you did.

• Remember: everything in your closet needs a home. Clutter often happens when you have not designated a specific home for a specific item.
• Think of the way you use the items in your home. Put little-used items farther away from your reach and, most importantly, every day items should be very easy to get out and put away.
• Buy the bins, baskets and shelves you need to get those piles we made above back into your closet and under control. Short on cash? Use old boxes. You can cut them apart and re-configure them to exactly the size you need (which is impossible to do with a ready-made system). You can cover or decorate your boxes to look beautiful, if you like. That's a very fun weekend project with the kids, by the way.
• Here's a simple rule I had to learn the hard way about closet organizing or any organizing for that matter.. If your internal thinking is too full or chaotic (cluttered), then it will be extra-difficult to conquer clutter in your external environment.  That's why streamlining and simplifying work so well. Less stuff to put away means you can actually declutter effectively, enjoy what you have and lower your stress levels considerably.
  

Your new closet organizing system will work beautifully for you if, and only if, you actually use it.

• Put away every item you get out of your closet everyday. No exceptions. This is simply a habit you can train yourself to do. The time it takes to put items away each day is far, far less than the time it takes you to search for an item not properly put away.
• Don't be overly hard on yourself. Reward yourself once you get your closet organizing finished. Let's face it. Many of us will never get our closets organized so I applaud you for getting this information and taking concrete action.

• If you want to seriously conquer clutter in your home, you'll need to get your family on track with you. One way to do that is to promote a friendly competition between family members (chores are a lot more fun if they are a game!).
• If you need help with getting family members to do their part in keeping your home decluttered, get a free printable chore chart and put some structured muscle behind your efforts to conquer clutter in your home. Then get maximum results from your free chore chart by reading our chore charts article.

Colleen Langenfeld is a mother with 25 years of parenting experience and helps other busy moms at http://www.paintedgold.com.