Get Rid of Closet Clutter: Ways to Keep Your Closet Tidy

by Kyung Kim 11/14/2019

Generally, a closet ought to bring simplicity to your life. Whether it's a large walk-in or an itty-bitty space, a neat closet should be where you can get the things you need any time of the day. However, keeping a closet neat and organized can be more complicated than it seems. One day you have a clean closet that makes you hum James Brown's "I feel good." The next day the closet looks like a sharp gust of wind swept through it. No worries. Erase your closet headaches with these excellent tips.

Remove What You Don’t Need

Take your time to go through every single item in your closet, and discard anything you have not worn in a year or so. You could always donate to your local shelters or clothing drives visiting your community.

Save with Hanging Organizers

If there is no space for shelves or a dresser in your closet, try using hanging organizers to save more space. They are inexpensive and will provide an ideal place to put your folded clothes.

Hang Items on the Inside of the Door

For those that don't have sliding doors, you can add hooks to the inside of your closet door to hang items like scarves, handbags, and jewelry.

Store Out-of-Season Items

If you live in an area that is particular to season changes, storing your clothing from the prior season could free up some of your space. Check for any out-of-season clothes and neatly fold them into a bin or utilize space-saving bags to keep any critters, dust or unwanted things from getting to them. Bin's and saver bags are easy to stack and can fit neatly under your bed or in a corner in your closet.

Add a Light

Some closets come with light, while others may not. If your closet does not have a light fixture, you could easily add one. You may wish to use a preexisting light feature from another area of your home, such as free-standing lamp, or simply use a wall-mounted lamp to give your closet a little more illumination. If you opt for in-depth installation, there are a few key points to remember when it comes to choosing your bulb, such as halogen lights not typically being suitable for small, enclosed spaces due to the heat they give off. Instead, make use of fluorescent or LED options. They're energy efficient and give off minimal heat. Being able to see your things will help you keep them in order.

Store Your Shoes Elsewhere

If your closet has limited floor space, you can store your shoes in a bin under your bed, or in an over-the-door, hanging organizer on your closet or bedroom door. Both are relatively inexpensive and save a tremendous amount of space. If you prefer to do it yourself, there are ample ideas to search for such as recycled PVC shoe holders or repurposing old display furniture, like bookshelves.

Follow these simple tips, and you could save endless amounts of space in your closet. You can then use your well-designed closet as a great home feature to entice new buyers. Talk to your real estate agent about the most popular closet layouts and how to set yours up for an open house.

About the Author

Kyung Kim

Hi, I'm Kyung Kim. I immigrated from South Korea to the United States in 1968 when I was 7 years old. I have seen my mom struggle with the English language and work hard to raise her four kids by herself. Still to this day, I don't know how she pulled it off, but she bought her first home in 1979 for $70,000 and because of that decision, she was able to live without worrying about her financial future. I want that for everyone, to feel the pride of home ownership and to build their financial wealth using real estate as part of their financial portfolio. I feel so blessed to play a small role in helping others reach this goal.

I live in Beaverton with my husband, Richard. My mom, who lived with us for several years, passed away in our home in February 2022. Her first home purchase in 1979 made it possible for her to live to the very end, without worrying about her finances. As of August 2022 with a little downpayment assistance, our four children own their own homes. Being in real estate, I quickly realized that if they didn't buy now, they may be priced out of the market in the future. Whether that would have been the case, we will never know, but what we do know is that they are all realizing some good, healthy appreciation in their home values.

As passionate as I am about people owning their homes, I'm also passionate about giving back to our community. I support Compassion First, a non-profit organization that provides aftercare for sex trafficked girls in Indonesia. My husband and I also feel called to financially support social injustice organizations.

I'd love to assist you. Whether you're in the research phase at the beginning of your real estate search or you know exactly what you're looking for, you'll benefit from having a real estate professional by your side. I'd be honored to put my real estate experience to work for you.