Closet organization is a multi-billion dollar industry. But there are a few things you can do yourself that require little or no money. Getting your closets organized is a good way to get your life in order. With clutter and disarray around you, you just feel overwhelmed. That feeling of being pulled in all directions with too many responsibilities to handle can be lessened by getting things in order around the home.

Start by setting a date to do your organizing. Leave the whole day or weekend empty to get things done. You can enlist the help of friends or family. But, if you anticipate having to baby people through the process or constantly needing to stop to take care of things for the family, then arrange for them to be out of the house on your organization day.

Take it one step at a time and don’t think about how much work you’ll have to do. Pull things out of one closet and start by getting rid of what you don’t need. Giving clothes to charity or friends is like having a heavy weight lifted. Get the clutter out and feel the difference in your mood and energy. If you’re not sure about whether you can let go of something, consider storing it somewhere other than your closet. You can keep sentimental items with your out of season clothing. Another option is to simply turn the hanger around backwards. If that hanger stays backwards for more than a year, then you know that you should get rid of it.

Now is the time to get things moving. Without building a lot of shelves or installing drawers, you can still make space. Hooks and over the door organizers are popular. A small shelf on the floor can double your shoe storage space and eliminate that giant shoe pile that haunts you. Consider a wooden chest outside of the closet for storing boots and other bulky shoes that you don’t wear often.

Another trick is to get a 12” wide board and cut it into triangles. Install triangle shelves in the front corners of your closet to give yourself endless areas for little things like dress shoes, jewelry, camera bags and more. Use small bins and baskets to keep things in their place. Crates can be used for things like crafts, linens, socks and underwear to keep them out of sight, yet organized.

The last step is to purchase some matching specialty hangers. Shirt hangers, skirt hangers, pants hangers and dress hangers can keep things from becoming crammed or ending up on the floor.

These are all inexpensive options. Utilizing small shelving, bins, skirt hangers and shirt hangers, you can quickly get things organized in your home and let your life move along.

About the Author: Charlie Hafter is on the staff of Closet Hanger Factory, a leading online resource for shirt hangers, skirt hangers, pants hangers and dress hangers. Get all of the accessories you could need at http://www.closethangerfactory.com, which is recognized worldwide for their excellent quality hangers.

Do you dread opening your closet door? Is everything crammed in from top to bottom, but you don’t want to spend a lot of money on a closet organization system? Never fear, help is just a few dollars away. Specialty hangers can double the space in your closet, instantly!

First things first, get rid of old shoes and clothes that you haven’t worn in a while. The golden rule of closet organization is, “If you haven’t worn it in a year, get rid of it.” Just grab a few garbage bags and start filling them up. Try not to think about it too hard or you’ll end up keeping too much. Some people keep things in their closets for decades because it’s “still good” or “barely worn”. Do you really need to fill up the space that you use every day with things that are just stored? Probably not.

If you have a lot of things that are still good or barely worn, go ahead and have a garage sale or take them to a consignment shop. Sometimes it’s easier to get rid of things if there is money involved! Or, have a swap party with some friends. Everyone can bring over usable items and have a big trade. Purses, hats, belts and shoes may be old junk to one person and a treasured find for another. Another option is to give everything you can to charity. Use the donation as a tax deduction and a feather in your good karma hat.

Clear out other junk as necessary, but your main goal for a quick fix is to get everything off of that crammed up bar. If you hang a lot of shirts and pants, you may be able to move the top shelf up higher. Then, move the hanging bar up higher. Not so high that you can’t reach, but high enough to install a second hanging bar at about hip-height. This plan may not work if you have a lot of dresses, suits and long coats, but if you have a walk-in closet, you may be able to install two bars on one or two walls and keep one bar by itself for longer hanging items.

Use specialty hangers to save even more space. Skirt hangerscan hold many skirts flat on one hanger. Pants hangers keep pants from wrinkling while keeping them easily accessible. Dress hangers keep your dresses from slipping off on to the floor. Cascading hooks can be used to pair up tops and bottoms, saving room by using the space of one hanger on the bar. Choosing the right hangers and accessories can keep your closet organized and spacious.

About the author: Charlie Hafter is on the staff of Closet Hanger Factory, a leading online resource for shirt hangers, skirt hangers, pants hangers and dress hangers. Get all of the accessories you could need at http://www.closethangerfactory.com, which is recognized worldwide for their excellent quality hangers.

Having the proper storage can help you keep things organized. Whether you like dressers or closet drawers, armoires or rolling hanging bars, you are sure to stay more organized when your storage fits your habits, personality and décor.

First, determine what style fits your room. Choose storage that is consistent with your theme, even if you do not want a rigidly themed room. You can create a feeling of romance, loyalty, glamour, sophistication, cleanliness or even an urban feel by properly selecting your storage.

If your bedroom is neat and efficient, almost minimalist, you probably do not want a lot of bulky furniture. Most people that love clean lines and empty space choose an elaborate closet organization system to make sure nothing ever gets cluttered. At most they probably have a low, simply designed bedside table or low profile dresser.

You can increase the feeling and appearance of space in a room like this by using mirrors and keeping furniture low profile. Platform beds are popular in a minimalist room. Furniture, however, is not. The closet is key here. Whether you have a big closet or a small one, you should make sure that your closet system is consistent with your room’s feel. If possible, match up shelves with the platform bed, lamps, lighting fixtures or whatever else is themed in your room. Black shelves on a white wall look sharp and crisp. Shallow drawers help keep all of those little accessories in their place.

Minimalist closets generally do not have things hanging on hooks or piled on the floor. Everything should be tucked away in its own little space, out of sight. That is why cabinets and drawers are so popular. Use metal hangers, not wire, for a utilitarian feel. Shirt hangers and pants hangers can be combined with cascading hooks to keep space between each thing on the bar. Using specialty hangers will definitely help you keep your closet looking as great as your bedroom.

If you have an elaborate four-poster bed, you are probably more into armoires and dressers. You may enjoy the antique feel or the boldly romantic feel of large, wood furniture. Armoires add a nice touch to bare spaces and make a beautiful focal point in a big room. If this is your style, then you may want to extend the theme into your closet.

Instead of installing wire rack shelves or using a lot of plastic containers, use wood. Wood shelves give your closet a beautiful look that does not interfere with the feeling you created with your bed, dresser and armoire. Canvas containers or baskets do not detract from the style as much as plastic does, so consider them when looking at closet storage options.

Your hangers should also be wood. Don’t think that you are stuck with one kind of hanger if you choose wooden hangers. You can get shirt hangers, skirt hangers, pants hangers and dress hangers that all match. Use cedar accessories or cedar hangers to make your closet smell as good as it looks.

About the Author: Charlie Hafter is on the staff of Closet Hanger Factory, a leading online resource for shirt hangers, skirt hangers, pants hangers and dress hangers. Get all of the accessories you could need at http://www.closethangerfactory.com, which is recognized worldwide for their excellent quality hangers.