As these last few chilly days of winter make way for a wet and warm spring, the coat closet remains a scene of daily chaos as coats and boots and everything else try and find a spot to call their own. If your coat closet is crammed and out of control, what better time to bring some order back to this active storage space than this time of year? So if March comes in like a lion, we hope these tips will help you end the month like a lamb.
1.Be realistic about what should or should not belong. In order to determine this, you need to go through each item in the closet. If you know you will never store shoes in the closet, then don’t invest in a shoe organizing system and leave it in there.
2.Store small or less frequently used items in woven baskets or transparent plastic bins. These can also be used for storing seasonal items such as scarves, mittens, gloves, hats, and sunglasses.
3.Keep a basket of umbrellas handy for quick grabs. Ideally, this should be placed close to ground level so even the kids can reach in for theirs.
4.Keep moths at bay with off-season coat storage. Store clean winter coats and jackets in natural cotton garment bags that are breathable. Hang a natural moth repellent such as a cedar plank in each bag as well.
5.Keep a stash of clean, heavy-duty towels in the closet ready for wiping off muddy and wet boots.
6.Invest in sturdy hangers that won’t leave your coats on the floor. (The cheap wire hangers from the dry cleaners just don’t hold up well.) Make it fun and design a system of color-coding your hangers for each member of the family.
7.Never mix wet and dry. Wet coats and shoe wear should be dried elsewhere — a heated basement is great for this —before moving them into the coat closet.
Taming the coat closet monster now will lead to more calm and less stress in your daily rush out the door.
If you would like to share your own ideas and personal experience with keeping the clutter down in the coat closet, we would love to hear them. Feel free to leave a comment below.
Image credit: Amy Burton
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