No-Cost Closet Reorganization (in Under an Hour)

The entryway/foyer closet is often one of THE messiest places in most homes.  For hubby and I, it often becomes the dumping ground for odds and ends, especially when we’re tidying up and need a quick storage solution before guests arrive! So after pulling my hair out trying to find my shoes in our mess of a closet recently, I finally decided it was time to roll up my sleeves and get to work! It didn’t cost me a thing and was so easy that I don’t know why I hadn’t done it sooner. So today, I thought I’d share my no-cost closet reorganization experience – which took me less than an hour to complete – in the hope of inspiring you to tackle your messy closet, too 🙂 

( For more simple and uncomplicated organization and decluttering tips, see 3 Simple Steps To a Less Cluttered Home + FREE checklist )

 

 

No-Cost Closet Reorganization in Under an Hour

The ‘BEFORE’

This is what our closet looked like just a few short weekends ago.

It was a disorganized mess that was overstuffed with items that we weren’t even wearing on a regular basis.

I had even stuffed my collection of gift wrapping paper in there. Sad, but true. 

After completing our craft room renovation project (full tour coming soon!), hubby and I decided to de-clutter the house from top to bottom. This, in part, meant neglecting to tidy up spaces – like the inside of our front foyer closet – that were hidden from view.

But now that the house has been (mostly) de-cluttered, and my craft room is (mostly) set up, I just had to tackle that front foyer closet.

The Process (+ Tips to Simplify Things)

The first step is to remove absolutely EVERYTHING from the closet (and behold the dust bunnies along the bottom – yikes!)

If you can, keep only hangers that match or are in the same colour spectrum. And don’t forget to remove any wire hangers (no wire hangers!).

Once you have everything removed, then it’s time to sweep or vacuum up the floor and dust the shelving.

Next, add some baskets along the top, filling them with only the essentials.

For me, it’s my soft, foldable purses, scarves and other go-to items like umbrellas.

Finally, go through your shoes and coats, making sure to keep all your seasonal items. The rest can be stored away. 

The ‘AFTER’

Hang up your most-worn coats and jackets of the season, followed by shoes and boots. And voila! You have a neat and tidy closet ready for use.

Besides storage baskets, I would highly recommend having a shoe storage rack of some kind, in order to maximize your closet space.

Even if you don’t have one, however, you can still keep your footwear neat and tidy. 

Tips To Keep Things Simple & Streamlined

TIP #1:  Avoid Stuffing Your Closet

Avoid overstuffing the closet! Nothing is worse than trying to pull out a jacket and, inadvertently, pulling out other jackets, too. We shouldn’t be struggling to put away or pull out our jackets or coats.

TIP #2:  Add Spare Hangers

Along with keeping your foyer closet more streamlined, be sure to always keep extra hangers available in the closet when guests come over. Nothing is worse (as a guest) than struggling to find a hanger (and then trying to stuff your coat into a closet that’s already jam-packed).

While it is a very small thing, I know that all of us want our guests to feel relaxed and comfortable entering our home, and without the extra hassle.

Tip #3: Shoe Rack

A stackable shoe rack is a great item to invest in. You can find inexpensive ones at a thrift store, at Walmart and even at the grocery store.

Tip #4: Storage Baskets

Finally, use storage baskets to keep smaller items accessible and neatly stored. It’ll help you find those small things, like purses, scarves, or umbrellas.

Final Thoughts

I am pretty happy with how my no-cost closet reorganization turned out. I was so pleased and so surprised that it took me hardly any time that it made me wonder why I had procrastinated to do it. It sometimes goes to show that de-cluttering and reorganizing projects need not always be overwhelming or costly tasks. This was fast and easy and I feel motivated to take on my next organizing project 🙂

 

 

 

If you need more simple and uncomplicated organization and decluttering tips, see 3 Simple Steps To a Less Cluttered Home (with a FREE checklist).