IDEA BOOK: Become the Curator of Your Own Closet

By Sharon White

Image consultant Janna Beatty declares that your closet should be an intimate and inviting space—a place where you can luxuriate and have fun. After all, your wardrobe is your own personal collection. You have carefully chosen every garment in it—those clothes didn’t just wander in there by themselves. You select, organize and manage the items in that space. By definition, that makes you the curator of your own closet.

After 35 years in business and hundreds of closet interventions, Janna admits, “I’ve seen a lot of closets, and what I find most often is that women (and men) bring in heaps of clothing, shoes and accessories—usually slowly and over time—but never give a single thought to ever getting rid of anything.” She uses the analogy of blowing up a balloon until it cannot hold any more air, and then it bursts.

“When it comes to clothes, it’s not the quantity that matters, it’s workability. And a large quantity of clothing does not guarantee a great wardrobe,” says Janna. “Your closet is meant to serve you. But what good is it if you can’t find what you want when you need it?”

Imagine your closet—just as it is—at this very moment. Is it supporting your lifestyle? Do you consistently have what you need at your fingertips? Is it helping or hindering your ease of dressing? These are some of the questions Janna asks clients before she enters their closets.

“Many people feel completely overwhelmed at the thought of reorganizing their closets. I remind them they deserve to look good every day, and I give them permission to get rid of what is no longer functional or practical in their wardrobes. I follow up by suggesting how to revamp their closets based on their personal needs and the life they are living right now.”

So how can you create a more organized, functional, satisfying space? Keep reading and find out.

Get Organized

Take everything off the floor. Simply removing items from the ground will visually create a more spacious feeling in the closet.

Remove items from your closet that aren’t related to dressing. Find another home for toys, scrapbooks and other items that are taking up prime real estate.

When sorting through items, ask yourself:

• Does this garment fit me now?
• Is this item still in style?
• Is this garment comfortable?
• Where would I wear this?
• How often have I worn this in the last year?
• Has my lifestyle changed? Am I hanging onto clothes I no longer need?

One Closet, Three Ways

The important thing is to PERSONALIZE your space for maximum workability.

Way 1: Have a great shoe collection, but limited floor space? GO UP from the floor for shoe storage.

Way 2: Not so many shoes? Take advantage of see-through mesh drawers for tees, socks, workout clothes. Place a small desk next to the closet for accessory display.

Way 3: Make use of the closet door. Use a hook to hang see-through racks for shoes, handbags, scarves or accessories.

Customize Your Closet

Add an extra rod. If your closet only has one rod on which to hang clothing, adding another rod can double your space. (You can buy extender rods that hang off your existing rod.)

Utilize stackable and rolling-drawer units TO SAVE HANGING SPACE.

Use drawer dividers to keep clothes organized and accessible. (Buy or make your own.)

Add hooks to empty wall space or hanging from a rod. Decide what items you could hang on hooks, e.g., tote bags, robes, pajamas, scarves or belts. Customize the closet to create a one-of-a-kind space for your needs.

Hang a jewelry organizer. Find an organizer with clear compartments to hang over your door. Or install a pegboard with plastic hooks to allow you to see jewelry at a glance.

A full-length mirror is a must. This Abbyson Living® Cosmo Mirror allows you to check yourself out from your shoes to your hat. Bed Bath & Beyond, 201 E. Central Texas Expy., Harker Heights, 254-680-3060, BedBathAndBeyond.com

Use thin, space–saving hangers.

Add seating. Place a comfy chair near your closet for a place to slip on and off your shoes. Or use a bench as a storage/seating combo.

“If you don’t see it, you won’t wear it.”

Janna Beatty advises keeping items visible or in see-through bins and baskets. “If you don’t see it, you won’t wear it,” she says. “Many of my clients never wear some of their treasures simply because they’ve forgotten about them.”

Convert any wall to a closet with furniture like this Naples Three-Piece Closet Organizer. Target, 201 W. Central Texas Expy., Harker Heights, 254-953-5880, Target.com

Start Early

It’s never too early to teach kids to put things in their place. This appealing, colorful closet makes clean-up time fun.

Organize Like a Pro

Legendary closet organizer Marie Kondo advises folding clothing and storing items vertically so you can see every garment in the drawer. For more closet organization tips, visit KonMari.com.

Rethink the shape and location of your closet. This little-used attic space went from forgettable to fabulous with the clever addition of mesh clothing drawers, hanging rods and colorful storage boxes. ContainerStore.com