Essential steps for organizing your closet

July 2007

ORGANIZING 101
Essential Steps
For A Closet Makeover

By Leah Jayasanker

Day by day the monstrosity you refer to as your bedroom closet continues to overflow with piles of sweaters, jackets, books, and even doggy treats. Nearly every single person (even your anal retentive ex-college roomy) has experienced the dreaded disastrous storage space known as the black hole. Fundamentally you have a decision; take matters into your own hands (clearly this has not worked) or consult a professional. We opted for the latter, seeking out the expert advice of Vicki Norris, Founder and President of Restoring Order®, an organizing services and products company, to end the chaos and restore the order.

LJ: Beginning with the basics, what are the essential steps to organizing a bedroom closet?
VN: I have a top eight list of how to quickly process through your closet to come out with a fabulous result.

1. Purpose the space. This means purpose your closet for its intended use, which can be applied to any room in your home. People typically have other things in their closets, like toys or blankets. Gather together any related items and then remove the unrelated items.

2. Self-observation. For each person using the space consider their taste, lifestyle, colors and their current size. So if you were a career-woman who is now a stay-at-home mom, you should clean out items you currently no longer use. As far as size is concerned you should reference your current size, rather than a size you were two years ago.

3. Identify a client’s special needs. For example, if a client is not tall and they cannot reach the high bar, you can install a retractable hydraulic rod. Look at height, and perhaps a disability or general needs and preferences. A preference is a stool to sit on inside a walk-in closet. And lastly look at seasonal needs.

4. Empty your closet by category. First macro-sort by making stacks of jeans, skirts sweaters etc. Then gravitate to micro-sorting. Let’s say you’ve emptied out all your blouses and once you’ve finished the entire bed is covered. At this point you can micro-sort blouses based on long-sleeve, short-sleeve and color.

5. Prune. This is different than purging; this is clearing out the deadwood. Begin with the favorites that you’ll keep and then look at what does not fit right and what is no longer a favorite. Your closet is where you catalog your image, so it is important to determine what makes you look good.

6. Apply any necessary product. Design a built in system, buy draw organizers, more hangers, sweater boxes, etc. This step is very important only at this stage in the process. Another key element to include now is how you’ll manage laundry, either using a basket in the closet or inside your bedroom so clothes stay off the floor.

7. Reload. Take all the items you know you like and love and insert them back into the closet.

8. Keep refining. This refers to decision making on what items are necessary to keep and what are ready to toss. An example might be a, tattered top or shrunken pants which no longer look right or fit properly. I keep a donate bin near my laundry room, so if a shirt is faded or too small I have a place to toss it. If you can stay on top of the laundry and can donate then the closet organization will last.

LJ: Is it necessary to toss items you have yet to wear, like clothing that still has the tags on, purchased several years ago?
VN: I do not make clients throw things away, yet I ask questions like, ‘When did you buy this item’, and ‘why haven’t you worn it yet?’ If you love it then commit to it. Remove the tags, hang it in the closet and have access to the item. A key to organizing is having access to the things you want to use. Many times there are reasons for not using something bought. I tell my clients to give themselves a reason, like, throw a party, attend a nice event or go to dinner and use the item. Wear it and enjoy it.

LJ: How do clutter magnets stay in shape?
VN: Follow the eight-step process and continue to refine and utilize the donate bin. Organizing is a process, it is about recognizing change and adapting to it. For example, a career woman who goes from working out in the business world to staying at home after five years needs to recognize the change. She must work the change and toss outdated career items she no longer uses and keep the things she actually wears. Ultimately any space that needs organizing can be done by practicing the aforementioned eight-step process. Do it right, do it custom and you’ll only do it once.

For more information on Vicki Norris and her services visit restoringorder.com