Closets may be the smallest rooms in a house, but they can also be the most intimidating to organize and design. Whether your closet is large or small, however, there’s no reason it can’t be as attractive as the rest of your Dallas home. If you’ve been feeling the urge to give your closet a makeover, here are some designer tips for organizing and beautifying closets of all sizes.
Decluttering:
Any closet makeover should begin with a ‘purge.’ Start by removing everything from the closet. Once everything’s out, you can sort your clothing, shoes, and accessories into piles: items to keep, items that need to be cleaned or repaired, items to throw away, and items to donate.
The rule of thumb is that if you haven’t worn it in two years, you probably won’t miss it when it’s gone. When in doubt, try the item on. Does it still fit? Is it out-of-style? Is it uncomfortable?
While your closet is empty, this is the perfect time to do any cleaning, repair, or decorative projects (such as replacing lightbulbs, wiping shelves, painting or putting up wallpaper) that you’ve been putting off.
Decorating Tips for All Closets:
After you’ve narrowed down your wardrobe, try putting everything back in coordinated groups. Some people group clothing by height—short-hanging items on one end, long dresses on the other end. Another option is to coordinate by season or function. For example, consider hanging all of your workday clothes in one group, your evening attire in another group, and your gym clothes in another.
To go the extra mile, hang like-colored items together within each category. All of this organizational work makes your closet look just a little more sophisticated, as if it were an upscale boutique. The better-lit your closet is, the more you’ll enjoy it, too.
Matching hangers are a must for any closet. Pick your favorite kind of hanger and stick to it. Wooden, padded, or colored plastic hangers are much more aesthetically pleasing than wire hangers. Velvet hangers are a personal favorite of mine because they keep clothes from slipping off onto the floor.
If you like to store your shoes in boxes, take a photo of each pair, then tape the photos on the boxes. This will help you easily find the pair you want. Whether the shoes are in or out-of-sight, arranging them by color is also wise. For any other items you don’t want to display, store them in attractive hat boxes or baskets.
Small-Closet Tips:
Use stacking bins to take full advantage of vertical space. For your folded clothes, you may want to store them in bins with clear windows. If you have folded clothes on open shelving, try not to stack them more than five items high.
An unusual paint color or wallpaper adds an element of surprise to a small closet. Wallpaper is especially popular for children’s closets, because it can have so much personality and whimsy.
Small closets tend to look busy if they’re packed from floor to ceiling. If you plan on maximizing every inch of space, choose storage solutions and shelving in neutral colors to help bring a sense of order and calm.
Big Closet Tips:
Some accessories make gorgeous decorations by themselves. If you have open shelf space, create a gallery for your favorite purses or shoes. Jewelry or artwork can also be hung together on a wall to create a beautiful display. For a long, narrow closet, consider using a patterned runner can help liven up the space.
While small closets can benefit from bold paint colors, those same colors are overwhelming in large closets. Is your wardrobe already on the colorful side? If so, white walls, flooring, and cabinetry will make your clothing and accessories really pop.
Even just organizing goes a long way to making your closet more enjoyable. However, when you go beyond the decluttering stage and plan for beauty too, you’ll create a closet that guests will truly envy.
Are you interested in doing an extensive remodel and redesign of your closet? You’re not alone: stylish, spacious closets are more sought after than ever. If you’re considering bringing in a professional interior designer to help design the closet of your dreams, give us a call. The phone number for our Dallas office is 214-651-7665. You can also send an email to info@chambersinteriors.com for more information.