It’s great to purge and de-clutter but you also need tools to organize your closet. Help your teen get organized in the next installment of #myBenjaminMooreHome… You love the idea getting organized but sometimes you don’t have the ability to pay for a brand new closet organizing systems. That may be true but you do have choices other than the very pricey California Closet. You many want to try a more reasonable Closetmaid system or the affordable Rubbermaid.
The thing is sometimes you just want to keep it simple and you want to make it work right now. What you need is to keep it simple and affordable. Recent as part of my #MyBenjaminMooreHome makeover, I knew I needed to re-organize my daughters closet because I was getting rid of the desk and drawers that were currently in her room. That means that I had to re-locate those three drawers somewhere into her closet.
Organizing Tools for the Closet
Other tools to organize your closet can be as simple as a large blue Rubbermaid tote, a hanging sweater sorter and a wired IKEA shelving unit. On to there was a simple shoe shelf that I used to double the space and use up the extra space at the top of the closet. I am not sure why but just about every closet has these really high ceilings but you can never build shelves too high because you cannot access the items due to the door jam.
Adaptable shelves
My solution is simple and inexpensive. It’s my Closetmaid shoe rack hack. I place a simple shoe shelf (without the second shelf) and then use baskets to store items. This time, I decided to stack all those sweatshirts that she has (organized by colour – of course). DD2 is a tall girl so accessing these items was not a problem.
I also added an adjustable wired shoe shelf so that I could maximize the space. Having the ability to adjust it let me place two wire baskets on the top shelf so that she could store all those bulky soccer and volleyball socks. The second basket holds her prized volleyball.
Individual Wire Baskets
On the shelves she has three wide wire shelves – more tools to organize your closet. I like these for two reasons: (1) you can stack them easily so you can sort items by categories and (2) they come apart so you can just take the whole basket down, go through it then put it all back. No piles of sweaters or t-shirts coming down on you because you have pulled the one on the bottom.
Hanging Sweater Holder
We have also added a hanging sweater holder to hold extra shoes, feminine products, sweaters and other sundry items that just needed a home. I love that it lets her have some flexibility in how she puts things away. I especially like the NeatFreak! line as it is strong and well made.
Wire drawers
Beside the baskets is the wire drawers I bought sturdy ones because the ones that I had bought at IKEA ended up falling apart after a few years. So if you are going to go this route, make sure and invest wisely. I really like using the wired ones because you can see all the clothes (my daughter is very visual, so if she does not see it, she does not wear it). It also lets all the clothes air. This is a great product but you need to maintain it by ensuring that the sides do not bow. This has happened before so you need to keep on top of it.
Metal Bin with Lid
I love this Knodd bin from IKEA. It is a great place for Hannah to store her hair supplies. Since it is metal, she is able to store her flat iron, brushes and hairdryer. She has very long hair and there is no shortage of hair products to organize.
My last big tip to help keep your teenager organized are over the door hooks that let her hang her jacket, hoodies or p.j.s with a shelf on the top. My DD has two doors that open out so it leaves plenty of room for her to hang all that she wants but still lets her close the door so I don’t see the mess.
Quick Tips
Make sure your teen knows that this is ALL THE SPACE SHE IS GOING TO GET. So if the closet cannot hold anymore hangers or the hoodies start piling up, its time to start donating clothes.Â
Remember this simple rule:
For every item that comes into the closet, one must exit the closet.
Margarita Ibbott is a travel and lifestyle blogger. She blogs about travel in Canada, the United States and Europe giving practical advice through restaurant, hotel and attraction reviews. She writes for DownshiftingPRO.com and other online media outlets.
That is one organized closet! I need to edit my closet before I could start organizing. I have too many clothes!
You know, I’m a big believer in purging your clothes and DONATING them to Goodwill. It is liberating. I once had a client that had 15 white blouses. All virtually the same. That is way too many, don’t you think?
Your teen’s closet looks awesome! Fantastic job! Interestingly I keep cleaning and clearing my kid’s closet. It’s always a challenge to keep it tidy! Will use some of your idea. 🙂
I always love some good organizing tips and items to make my life easier! Your teens closet looks great and so organized with everything you mentioned. I think it’s time to re-do my own! Lol
What a difference some shelving makes, am I right?! I love organizing my closet when I have tons of shelves to use! You did an excellent job! 🙂
We recently moved so we got to make over all of our closets and whatnot. I’m glad to finally be organized now!
This closet arrangement and baskets would work great in my daughter’s makeshift closet. She has more clothes and shoes then anyone else in our family. Yet, she ended up with the smallest closet space out all of us.
This arrangement and the baskets would work great in my daughter’s makeshift closet. She has more clothes and shoes than any of is in our family and somehow ended up with the smallest closet among all of us.
I am a stickler when it comes to our closets! My kids think I have OCD, I organize by style then color. A bit obsessive compulsive I know but fashion is there life:)
I am a stickler when it comes to organizing my kids closets! I coordinate styles, and colors OCD much?! I love the organizers you used. Agree with you Ikea organizers are great as a quick fix but tend to fall apart quickly.
Love the organization, you did a great job! I would have to do this soon for my kids closet. Sort out things and get rid of the ones that they won’t no longer need or wear. Doing laundry, organizing closet and other things around the house is my favorite home chore!
Your closets look amazing!! We have been cleaning out our closets and getting reorganized. I love the systems that your used to organized your daughters closet. With how little we go in closets I don’t get how they get so messy so fast!
I really love these tips. I have two boys, and I try to keep their clothes to a minimal. I wonder how their rooms will be when they are teens. I am a little scared to think about it!
I have been putting off organizing my closet for years! I have huge closets in my apartment and it’s a gift and a curse because while it’s nice to have I usually just let the my junk pile up in there. I have to try some of these tips when I’m finally ready to get things organized.
I really need to organize my closet. It’s so small and I have way too much stuff in it for the size. I’ve been thinking about buying some closet organizer products that will give me more room so I can unbox my summer clothes. In the summer I box up my winter clothes, in the winter, my summer. I like the neat freak and think it would work well for my purpose.
Our closets are disasters, we have no proper shelving just one rod with a board over it. Ikea sounds like the perfect place to get organized, and that was my new years resolution to be more organized and to start with the closets is a great idea.
Can you come do my closet! Wow!! What a great job!! I love these tips! So organized!
Looks like you are doing a great job keeping organized! I love over the door hooks too for towels robes or whatever so they don’t end up on the floor
Can you come and organize my closet please? No, really, it looks like a bomb went off in there. I may have to use some of these tips, including letting my HUSBAND know that there is a limit to his space!