Home Remodeling: Transform Your Closet

Spring is here, and we all know what that means.....it's time for the always dreaded spring cleaning. We knew it was coming, but it doesn't make it any easier. The bathrooms are all soap scummy, the drapes are all dusty, the beds are all stuffed full underneath, and the closets are so crammed with stuff they're practically unusable. In a perfect world, we could twitch our noses or call for the maid, and everything would be in order and sparkling like diamonds. Unfortunately, most of us don't have magic powers or enough money to hire a crew of merry maids. So, we're stuck doing it the old fashioned way, with lots of sweat and elbow grease. The biggest problem seems to be just getting the motivation to start. It's such a beautiful time of year, it would be so much more fun to sit outside on the porch, sip on some iced tea, and watch the grass grow. At the same time though, we know how much happier we would feel if the house was neat and tidy. One of the big jobs in the house can be hidden from the occasional visitor's eye but we see it every day; the closet. There never seems to be enough room in any closet. Buying a pre-packaged closet system can give you lots of extra space. You can find them at almost all major department stores, and of course at Home Depot and Lowes.

Once you have mustered up the energy and courage, I suggest you empty the closet completely, sorting everything into piles as you go. It is a good idea to keep plenty of trash bags on hand. You could make a pile for the clothes you want to keep and another pile for the ones you really don't wear. A good rule of thumb is if you haven't worn in the past year, then get rid of it. Exceptions, of course, would be wedding attire. You should be able to find a local church or Salvation Army to donate any clothes that are in good shape to. Any clothes that are trash could be cut up into rags to clean with later. Anything that doesn't belong in your closet should be put in its proper home. I am always amazed by how much junk finds its way into my closet.

Before you begin installation on your new closet system, read the directions thoroughly. The job can be time consuming if you don't have the proper tools. The paperwork that came with your closet system should list all required tools. It may also state the necessary tools for the job on the outside of the box. You will probably need these tools: hammer, drill-for drilling and screwing, pliers, measuring tape, level, pencil, and a screwdriver. Make sure all the required pieces are in the package. Now you're ready to begin assembly on your new closet system. While it is definately possible to do this job alone, you might want to get someone to help you.

When you are done building your beautiful new closet you can begin putting things back in. Start with your clothes, and sort them by color when you hang them back up. Put all your jeans together too. This makes a nice, pulled together look. If you have a shoe rack, place it underneath your clothes and line your shoes up neatly. If you don't have a shoe rack, you could use a laundry basket to put your shoes in, or just line them up on the floor. Hopefully, you've gotten rid of some clothes and shoes, and with your new closet system you should have quite a bit more room now. If you have any loose belts or ties and you don't know what to do with them, try just looping them around the closet pole. You can also buy canvas boxes at very affordable prices at the same store you bought your closet system. These boxes are great for things like socks and underwear. You may make enough space to be able to get rid of your dresser. Finish up by putting any boxes, luggage, or other extra items on the top shelves.

Your finished product should be a much cleaner, more organized space. Do your best throughout the year to keep items out of the closet that don't belong. The job will be a lot easier the next time if you prevent things from piling up now.