Repair & Improve

Customize Your Closet

DIY products, design tools and sorting smarts make organization easy

by Tom Kraeutler, AOL Home Improvement Editor

If you’ve ever admired a sleek, super-organized closet system in a model home and despaired over ever getting control of the mess waiting back at your place, organized living is now within reach. Our busy lifestyles and all the stuff that comes with them have created a booming market for accessories and systems that can transform any closet into a living dream of organization.

While complex closet upgrades may require the design and installation services of a pro, there are several products made for affordable organizational success by the DIY set. Sort through the following guidelines to create a closet solution that’ll keep you and your gear organized year-round.

Start with a plan
An in-person or online visit to an organization products retailer can be inspiring in its product variety, but premature purchases can lead to a bigger closet catastrophe if you haven’t figured out exactly what you need to store and how you need to store it. Instead, start with a thorough cleaning of the closet in question, removing all contents and weeding out what you no longer want or need as you sort the keepers into different storage categories. Reviewing your newly ordered items, you’ll get a better idea of how much space will be required for the storage of everything from workday shoes to floor-length formalwear, and be able to plan in the recommended 15 percent vacancy to accommodate new purchases.

As all the gear comes out and you’re assessing the closet space to be remodeled, consider how it’ll be used─does it need to be available for everyday access, seasonal storage or both? Also think about who will be using the closet not only now but later. A small child’s closet may call for a convertible system that’ll accommodate their belongings as they grow, and application of Universal Design principles for easy access by family members of all ages will lend longevity to your closet organization investments. Finally, be honest about which of your prior so-called storage techniques have been leading to closet-cluttering breakdowns, and make note of previously unused zones which could add efficiency in the new storage plan.

Create a neat system design
Now that you’ve done an inventory of the closet’s contents and your organizational hopes and dreams, it’s time to select the components that’ll successfully contain them all. Materials, finishes, styles and clever details abound, making it possible to create anything from basic storage to a closet furnished to match the look and feel of the room in which it resides. The system you choose and the investment you make will depend on your design priorities, the space you have to work with, and the level of permanence appropriate for the years you plan to spend in your home. Whatever the duration of your stay, remember that a great closet system can be a positive selling point when it comes time to move on to new frontiers in home storage space.

Armed with careful measurements and a list of storage needs, you’re ready to configure your ideal closet. Quality components can be found at many home improvement and design stores, and dedicated retailers add ease and remove guesswork with online tools that help you design your own closet system, generate the corresponding shopping list and make your purchase in minutes. Check out the products and online helpers offered by such specialists as Schulte, EasyClosets, and ClosetMaid to launch your new storage endeavors. You’ll find smart double-rod clothes hanging systems, shelves and drawers with moveable dividers, accessory storage and such add-ons as fold-away mirrors and ironing boards.

Keep up appearances
As you design and shop, check out all the options while keeping a realistic view of what features you’ll actually use on a daily basis. Through the system you purchase and install, you want to create a cleanup routine that’s easy to maintain and storage space with enough breathing room to keep your belongings in nice condition and instantly within view. If the job’s done well, you’ll have a closet that inspires confidence and quick finds rather than dread and endless searching once the door has been opened. Implementing a “one item in, one item out” policy will also help to keep clutter from creeping into your closet and make sorting simple as time goes by.

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