Get Organized: 12 Inspiring, Attainably Neat Closets and Drawers

This article orignially appeared on Houzz.com

January is the month when we’re focused on new beginnings. Why not tackle a clean-out of your cluttered closet? We’ve seen your comments saying that it would be easy to stay ultra-organized when closet space was practically unlimited, as it is in many of our most popular closet photos on Houzz. Staying organized in an average-size closet seems, understandably, a lot harder.

Which is why we’ve decided to focus here on closets of the size found in many American homes. You know, spaces that aren’t oversized. Take a look and see if there are any techniques you can copy to create more organization in your closets.

1. Child-size. This closet appears to hold the clothing and personal items of more than one child, thanks to strategically arranged shelving and rods that maximize the space. You could hire a professional organizer to create a system in your home, purchase a system from an organizing store, or create a DIY solution using products from a big-box store or hardware shop. The doors to this closet open outward rather than slide, providing a full view of the organizing system. But the same concept could work just as well for a closet with sliding doors.

2. Bath closet. The bathroom closet pictured here is only as wide as five rolls of toilet paper, but it’s efficiently laid out. Labeled wicker baskets corral headbands and ribbons, soap and shampoo, and backup toiletries. The shelves have been adjusted to precisely fit the size of the baskets.

3. Under the stairs. Many of us in two-story homes have dead—or at least poorly organized—space beneath the stairs or in the attic. This (admittedly larger) closet shows how shelving and bins can maximize storage in the space under an A-line or attic ceiling, providing toys and games with a dedicated resting place.

Related: Don’t Forget a Toy Organizer in Kids’ Closet 

 

 

4. Open and shut. This standard-size linen closet looks organized in part because of the color coordination. But it’s also got some other great tricks. Baskets keep loose items neat. The wire unit attached to the underside of the top shelf creates a clever place for rolled-up washcloths. The towels on the second shelf from the top are kept in piles thanks to vertical dividers. And two towel racks attached to the back of the closet door create space for hanging more linens.

5. Wrapping diva. The doors on this standard-size closet have been removed and replaced with a rod and curtains, allowing the homeowner to view all its contents at once. Shelves and magazine holders contain a collection of fabrics and craft supplies, while a trunk displays a ribbon collection. A wall-mounted rack holds rolls of wrapping paper.

6. Jewelry wire. This project really is that simple: Necklaces and earrings are displayed on wires mounted to the wall. You could even place the wires outside the closet—it’s a pretty enough solution that it almost functions as art.