It seems that folks like to see into closets, cupboards and drawers. Do these secret peaks make you happy too? I’m pretty proud of our closet because:
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We installed it after we ripped out the awkward, sticky, broken mess that used to live there.
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We keep it pretty neat.
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It houses almost all of our clothes – we have no dresser!
See? No dresser – just a teeny tiny armoire for scarves, etc.
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| One teeny tiny armoire for scarves, etc. But it desperately needs new knobs. |
Aside from outerwear, shoes and purses, all of our clothing is stored in a pretty average-sized closet (although, having grown up in a wee little 1950s home, this closet is frickin’ huge to me. I have this issue with bathrooms too, remember?) We make a dresser-less existence work by making the most of the space, thanks to a simple, inexpensive, modular closet organization system purchased from the home improvement store.
Here are our tips for living dresser-free:
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Take inventory of your clothing and sketch out a closet plan that works for you.
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Install a combination of shelves, drawers and rods to suit your storage needs & maximize use of space.
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Make use of the height of your closet with bins on upper shelves.
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Opt for a built-in laundry hamper (the wire bin) that saves spaces because it fits perfectly.
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Consider storage bins for below – we use our floral bin for clothes that are neither freshly laundered nor laundry bound.
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Buy a set of hangers that will hang neatly together, using less space.
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Tidy seasonally – refolding and sorting ALL of your clothes makes shopping for new items less enticing. Trust me.
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Consign, donate or give away items that don’t fit or won’t work for you. A streamlined wardrobe is key and makes getting dressed so much easier!
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Don’t worry about “rules” regarding what gets folded and what gets hung up. Go with what works for you.
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Same goes for grouping stuff – my yoga pants are front & centre (not shoved in the back) because I use them so often (for sitting around, not actually doing yoga).
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| Built in laundry hamper and bins meet our needs. |
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| Same size hangers maximize hanging space. |
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| A mix of shelves and drawers to meet our storage needs. |
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| Bins for added convenience. |
What did this space look like before, you ask? Well, I forgot to take a photo of this closet before but here’s one from the other bedroom (now the Silhouette Wall in the office). All closet fittings in the townhouse were identical:
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| A sorta “Before” |
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| Crappy closet fittings, no more. |
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| Before I got it all neat & tidy. |
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| Today! |
WOW! Love it!We have a large closet AND GIANT DRESSER! I have to admit, most of the clothing in my closet I don't wear anymore. Suits, skirts, and blouses have no place in my life as a stay-at-home mommy.
Shannon,Trimming our clothes down (and keeping those numbers down) is a challenge. I definitely do more laundry. But everything in my closet is wearable and I try to buy things that work with everything else. It was hard parting with things, though, even if I hadn't worn them for five years (scary, isn't it?).
Wow I am so impressed and although I know jealousy is not a good trait, I have to admit to being a tad envious 🙂
I wouldn't be jealous – I am sure you have a much more elegant wardrobe than me, truly worthy of whatever storage you deem appropriate.
OK, I have no idea how you do it! That is amazing! I am one person with a walk in closet, dresser and armoire! I bet it cuts down on clothes shopping. I am so honored and thrilled you stopped by!Carol
I neeeed this in my own closet! Nice job.
We are dresser free as well, but alas my closet looks nowhere near as tidy as yours. This really was a good reminder. Loved tip 7. So true!
Yay! Someone else dresser-free. I was beginning to think that we are very odd ducks. My closet is tidy because we JUST tidied it (seasonally!). Give it time . . . I will post another photo in January. Might not look the same. Lol.
I used to think I was pretty organized but you've got me beat by a mile! I'm definitely a dresser person. If for no other reason than I need extra surfaces to put junk on top of!
You know, I do fondly look at dressers sometimes and plan little dresser-scapes. It does limit our display space. But then, also my dusting! Lol. Happy to limit that 🙂
Your closet looks fantastic! It always feels good to pare down a bit. Great job!