Happy Valentines Day!
Day 14
Ok, we are half way though the month and it happens to be a special day! I know you would rather snuggle on the couch with your honey than doing any organizing, so lets make today an easy task. The coat closet is a small project to take on. This small closet is a dumping ground for most homes. It’s original purpose was to hold coats, umbrellas and boots. Now days it seems to hold a variety of random objects. What is lurking in your closet?
I will be honest, living in Southern California, our family does not need a lot of jackets and coats. Ours fit in our bedroom closets. I personally like getting dressed and picking my coat all at the same time. So my coat closet holds other items. The point of me telling you this is to help you figure out what your coat closet needs to hold. Is is truly a coat closet, a supply closet or a long term storage closet.
Once you have decided what you want your coat closet to hold, empty out your closet and sort through the stuff. Truly decide if you need these items and where they belong. This will be the hardest part of the process. There is a reason why you shoved it in the closet! So today you will have to make some decisions.
Photo from MarthaStewart.com
Can you see how beautiful this space is? This is a perfect example of a great use of space. (Yeah, Yeah it is Martha Stewart, so of course it is perfect!) I know many people have to also store a vacuum in this space, too. So if you were to get a shelving unit that can accommodate space for the vacuum, you will still utilize the space well. You can find inexpensive shelving units at Target, Walmart, Lowe’s and Home Depot. Find sturdy containers to hold the loose items you need to house. If you have lots of little items, an over the door shoe organizer is a great addition to this mix. Suncreen, sunglasses, gloves, scarves, dog leashes and other small items are easy to find in this storage solution. Don’t feel you need to fill all these pockets. You can trim this inexpensive holder to suit your needs, freeing up additional space for hooks for bags!
Bags you take to places on a frequent basis can be held in this closet. Use hooks for bags you take to the gym, your bible study, a day at the beach/pool, meetings, and more can be stored and ready to go in this closet. Maximize space and hang umbrellas on hooks in dead space next to the over the door organizers. Look to see where you can maximize the dead space in your closet! If you have room you may want to put a mirror for a quick once over before you run out the door, but if you have one in another convenient area, save the space for something else!
What do you use your coat closet for? What great storage solutions have you found work for you? What “skeletons” are in your closet? It is time to make this space one you are proud to hang your company’s coats when they come over!
About Gail Gray
