I feel like I’ve got a few clever ideas about how to organize my closet, and plenty of fun contraptions to store my shoes and accessories … but there are a few items that have eluded me thus far. I daydream about finally ponying up for these gizmos and making my wardrobe sigh with neatened relief!
My layering drawers are packed tight with tanks, tees, and leggings. These items stay fairly neat on their own, but I long to keep them tidily in place with something structured. Some cut up pieces of cardboard could do the trick, but those slapdash versions of organizational tools never look or work quite right, in my experience.
I don’t really care about my actual socks, but my tights? They’re a nightmare. A large, multicolored, morass of a nightmare. I haven’t actually found my ideal organizer, which would be just like the above but include that mesh basket. How awesome to have two stackable levels of tights in one drawer? Ahhh, bliss.
Not for my sweater shelves … but for my handbags. Which are currently in a giant dogpile atop my armoire, mocking me with their disorganization. I don’t have many, but I’d love to set them neatly between these dividers.
Closet Dividers, $9OK, now I’m letting my OCD shine through a little. And yes, I could totally make these myself from cardboard, too … but I’d rather have these sturdy ones with swappable labels. My shirts are organized by sleeve length, body length (as it relates to my bottoms, meaning pants-length shirts together, skirt-length shirts together), and color. However, stuff gets mixed up all the time when I’m in a rush. I’d just love to have these dividers to keep me in line.
What organizational tools do YOU daydream about? Share links if you’ve got ‘em!
All images courtesy Amazon.
{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
Hello! My tights solution is to knot them on a one of those coat hangers with a cross bar running between the two arms (make a loop with the crotch over one side and pass the feet between the crotch and the coat hanger' cross bar to secure).
You can cram about 10 pairs on one hanger. I use two; one for neutrals (inc grey & navy) and one for colours and crazies. They're a bit 'wide' and bulky when hung in your wardrobe, but it keeps the blighters neat and you can see in an instant what you've got (and frees up space in my drawers for my knicker collection).
I've even come up with a few new outfit variations since I started using this method and saw the tights in amongst my other clothes.
But I can't claim credit for the idea; I think I saw it on What I Wore, Jessica Schroeder's blog.
I'd love to get those shelf dividers and the socks dividers but my closet is so tiny they wouldn't fit =( however I just bought a couple of shoe boxes and I'm thrilled my closet looks a bit more organized…if it could only be bigger…but I have and old and small house.
I just wish I had a bigger closet!
Hahaha! I do not have any daydreams that entail folding each and every pair of socks and underpants into a tidy little packet to go in its own wee cubby. I could certainly use a tights storage solution, but I think I'd just want a big basket to throw them into. I'm a slob.
I love that you used the word "morass".
Hey, I posted on your FB, but I thought I'd also ask here. Do you have a couple must-do thrifts up in Minneapolis? My girlfriends and I are going up there next weekend and I'd love to find some of the cool stuff you do. Indy thrifting is pretty barren. :/
Ang: I didn't see your note! Feel free to e-mail me at sally@alreadypretty.com, too, but here are the highlights:
Valu Thrift in Sun Ray (just outside St. Paul)
Savers in Columbia Heights
Downtown Mpls Salvation Army (includes Target samples in the basement floor)
Any of the Value Village stores
Ross often has wooden drawer organizers. If you don't have a Ross, you've likely have Marshalls and TJ Maxx. I tend to try all of the stores in the area on the same day. What one store doesn't have another might.
I am an utter neat freak. I actually get antsy when my wardrobe isn't organised properly. I have everything hung in order and by category of garment. Then in draws I have things like t-shirts folded and ordered by colour, or ties and socks rolled up and laid out by colour.
Meg – I took that idea from Jess too. it works so well and keeps you from forgetting what's stuck in the back of a drawer. I do it with scarves too now and it really does help things get worn.
I only have one organizational tip I am proud of – for leggings and tights!
I use a gallon size zip-lock bag for leggings and a quart size bag for tights, one bag per pair (freezer quality!). I write the brand & description, in Sharpee so I don't need to use glasses, in that frosty box on the bag (i.e., Style & Co cropped under knee matte, or DKNY above ankle with sheen, or Loft cropped with buttons, or Hue super opaque with control top, etc.)
I have leggings in one drawer and tights in another. As I sift through them, they are safe from damage and I am reminding myself about what I have to choose from. I have recommended this to some who use Rubbermaid storage boxes for their bags.
Anyway, it really works well for me. I even love the empty, labeled bags to remind me to do my handwash
I recently got my dream shoe organizer. I love being able to see all my shoes at once.
I had one of those sock organizers and failed at using it miserably. My sock drawer is a mess!
Oof, you've sent me off on a glorious train of organization thoughts. Thank you!
I pretty much need to reorganize my entire bedroom, it's a mess. The sock divider is an especially brilliant idea; as it stands my socks-and-underthings drawer practically explodes when opened.
That looks like a great system for a closet! Mine is atrocious right now. Positively atrocious!
Hye thee to a Container Store my dear. Your head will *spin* with the options…and the sales staff is always creative about finding ways to stash/store your stuff.
Wow, thanks for the suggestions- definitely going to grab a few of those items!
I'd love to see you do a blog post on how you organize your clothes- in drawers and your closet.
A stack of catalogs arrived the other day, and I tossed them all aside except for one, which I'm always excited to get – The Container Store catalog! I could look at organizational devices all day I think. I love the ones you discuss here, and really want to try out the clear dividers for my purses. Such a great way to keep them from squishing against each other.
I keep my tights in individual ziploc bags labeled in Sharpie–"black stripe," "black solid," etc. And for my purses, I bought a hanging "handbag file" from Target that I hang in my coat closet.
These are some fantastic organization ideas.
My dream would be to get a custom made IKEA wardrobe. One day, I hope to get one.
i think i got my tights and scarf storage idea from style symmetry; for both i use a very slim, flocked hanger with multiple horizontal bars and drape several pairs of tights or several scarves over each bar. there's no need to knot the tights since they stick to the flocking. it takes up very little closet space.
I would settle for a shoe rack and maybe a few more shelves in my closet. Some hooks on the wall for my purses and hats. I recently got a jewelry tree from Claire's for about $12 that works AMAZING and keep everything (rights, bracelets, necklaces, earrings) in good order.
Wal-mart currently has some great little faux-suede covered hangers made especially for hanging ties and belts. As I don't wear ties and have few belts, I use them for scarves and hair-ribbons. They've made my closet less of a nightmare, for sure.
ooohhh, i'm going to try the tights-on-a-hanger idea ASAP!!
for tanks, tees, camis, leggings, etc. i roll them up into a sausage shape and pack them in a drawer either on end or side by side, depending on how best they fit. then you can have one layer in your drawer and everything's showing. i completely forget about anything i can't see, it's pitiful……steph
Oh man, I could use a sock organizer like woah! I'm always losing socks, and my tights are in a similar state of disarray!
I may have just broken my laptop by drooling on it. Holy cow. I am so OCD and these kinds of organizational things make me lightheaded with sheer giddiness!
They're fabulous! I must have them all. RIGHT NOW!
It's kind of funny; my husband works for California Closets. Because of his hard work at company picnics (being on the winning team for some game), he's been rewarded with a coupe of systems that were being removed from malls. (Glamorous, I know). Thing is, I have this beautiful closet & I still manage to dump things, but I LOVE the divided drawers! I don't know what I'd do without them. All my tights, swimsuits, bras, scarves are all neatly in their places. And when I do manage to hang everything else up, it's really rather beautiful.
OMG – I'm going to reorg a few drawers tomorrow to make space for the grand haul. The lingerie drawer is a total nightmare – as is the sock/tights one. Where scarves also live. Honestly, I really hope I can figure out how to add more to a space that's already too full. And that first photo is SO compelling. I. want. that. closet.
Well I do not have any organisational tips at all for my drawers or others…
Is taht typically french though? I do not think. This is typically me.
It always amaze me how some of the americans I am reading of can be so serious about nearly everything in your life. Of course organization i important and sometimes a must,and I DO not live in a perpetual mess but regarding my clothes I try to meke the best with the room I am leaving in.But,at least,I have an excel chart with all my clothes and shoes(a lot!)And I tried to have some harmony in my drawers in order to have a tidy and full of different colours range of clothes.And I Have all my shoes in boxes and/or dusting bags with the names and description on the boxes.THAT is actually MY must. Apart from this…I have 2 huges armoires and dream to buy drawers to put inside:being petite I can't reach the very top neither the far part hense the lack of room.But your tips are interesting for me.
This looks like the basket in the sock organizer picture. Not sure if the link will work in Blogger comments…
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KPWHR4/ref=asc_df_B000KPWHR41173706?smid=AVQWFME6BBGA0&tag=shopzilla_rev_277-20&linkCode=asn&creative=395105&creativeASIN=B000KPWHR4
I wear tights everyday, all winter long. Since my closet space is very limited (two feet wide, and shared with my sibling), hanging tights is really not an option. I store my tights in a large hatbox under my bed. I keep them rolled up like tinyjunco mentioned, with black and brown in the center of the box, and colors arranged around the edge. Really delicate tights go in two satin bags that lay on top of the everyday tights.
I also paint most of my storage boxes. I use sturdy but nice cardbord boxes, either from the dollar store or the trash, paint them all to match, and give them a few protective coats of matt sealer. They are quite sturdy, and can be cleaned with a damp sponge.
Great storage ideas! I especially likej the idea for tights, and the acrylic dividers for shelves in the closet. THANKS for sharing them!
Maureen
http://www.inspiredcyclist.wordpress.com
I use shoeboxes as drawer dividers which works really well. I too dream of dividers, having seen them on here and on the Glamourai's blog too.
What a great post! I'm moving at the end of the summer to a place that has a much smaller closet but way more drawer and shelf space, so I'm rethinking my closet organization to make it work for my new space.