3 Things You Need for a Closet Makeover Project

I'm always making over other people's spaces. I provide home organizing services in the Twin Cities and surrounding suburbs, including Blaine, Minnesota where I live. As a busy full time mom, and Professional Organizer and owner of Smiling Spaces, LLC, I rarely take the time to tackle a project I want to do in my own home. My hall coat closet, for instance, has been in need of some attention for a while now. I finally got to it!!

While I could always find things in this closet, and had systems in place for containing items and keeping things organized, it was time for an "upgrade." I made it a goal to improve where I thought I could, and fix a couple of key problems. Here's how I tackled this closet I'd been making do with since we moved in 5 years ago. Read on for 3 things you need for a closet makeover project.

Coat Closet Before & Afters

Closet (Before)

Closet (After)

Have a space in your house that you've been wanting to redo? Below are 3 things you need for a closet makeover project, or really any project you want to tackle. After you're done reading, I'd love for you to leave a comment below. Carry on.

1) Motivation

My Motivation: The time of year, and a changing family-

• January is Get Organized Month- meaning, I just feel more like doing this kind of project at this time of year. The colder weather also reminds me daily how I need my closet to function properly. Also, a favorite organizing store of mine, The Container Store has a fabulous once-a-year 30% off sale on their Elfa Shelving. I knew I wanted to take advantage of that.
  
• Our family is growing and so are our possessions- Since we moved here, we've added a dog and had a baby, adding to what's currently being stored in the closet. Our chocolate lab Savannah has leashes, treats, a couple sweaters, and toys. My son turned one at the end of last year, and now has his own set of coats, little shoes, and a diaper bag.
  
  

2) Timeline

My Timeline: Three weekend days in the month of January-

• One Saturday to plan and purchase/order shelves (babysitter in place)
• One Saturday to pick up shelves (drive down to Container Store)
• One Sunday to put up shelves (4-5 hours to do it ourselves during nap times)
  
  

3) Goals

My Goals: What was on my list-

Goal #1: Make coats more accessible. The previous owners had shelves in place, but they were awkwardly positioned and not easy to readjust to fit our needs. I also didn't like how the shelves lacked rods for coats that you could move hangers back and forth on with ease. We wanted coats to be easier to grab in and out.

Coats in Corner of Closet (Before)

Goal #2: Be better able to see the family's scarves, hats, and mittens. There is no light in this closet which makes seeing anything a challenge. Although we had each family member's outer wear accessories separated and contained already, we wanted to be able to see them better without having to hire an electrician.

Cluttered Closet (Before)

Goal # 3: Have shoes and boots be better organized and upgrade storage solutions in look and style. I'd been reusing shoe shelves from my college days thriftily, and trying to work with the existing closet system. But I wasn't fond of the white shoe shelves making dirt show and we always seemed to be slightly short on space even after removing out-of-season shoes.

How it turned out:

Closet (After)

(Left) Moving the coats to the front and adding coat rods make it easier to see and grab coats. Shoes are now on pull-out shelves that provide enough space and no longer collect dirt.

We moved all of the dog supplies to the laundry room where the food and water bowls are located. The broom and small vacuum, backup kitchen appliances and paper goods got moved there too. This freed up the side wall and upper shelf space.

We also tackled our laundry room space at the same time, so the items we purged from the closet had a place to go. (Normally, I don't recommend doing more than one space at a time)

Closet (After)

(Below) Pull-out baskets for each family member keeps outerwear and accessories contained. Moving the unit close to the front of the closet makes it easier to see things even though there still isn't a light in the closet.

Pull Out Storage Bins for each family member 

Pull Out Storage Bins for hats, scarves, and mittens

(Below) I even found a solution to a problem I didn't expect to get to.  I wanted an easy to reach spot for the diaper bag, recipe books, and reusable shopping bags. Installing four shelves above the basket system did the trick.

A spot for the Diaper Bag, Recipe Books, and Reusable Shopping Bags

This will make meal planning easier!

I'd love to hear what you think about this project, the tips you find helpful, or ask a question. 

Leave a comment below. Thanks!

Essential Documents to include in your FireSafe

Every household should have a firesafe (period). It's not just for people with money or oodles of jewels like the Queen of England might have guarded by fancy men in furry hats and crisp red uniforms. If you have a birth certificate and/or a social security number, which I'm guessing you do, then yup, you qualify as an owner of such a tool.

FireSafe Owners Manual 101:
I recommend the size that fits hanging file folders inside so you can not only keep essential documents organized, but categorize them accordingly. I personally like the style SentrySafe makes. I got mine from Target with some wedding gift money after my husband and I got married. While that was over eight years ago now, and we've never had to put it to test in a fire, it sure has made storing essential documents simple. We put things like birth certificates, social security cards, our marriage license, passports and important numbers and contacts in case a wallet or purse get stolen inside. I've gradually added things as the years have gone by. Here are a few other tips to consider.

• Keep the firesafe where it's convenient enough for you to get to, but not in a commonly used area. A corner of your home office, a spare closet in a guest room, or cleared out area of your basement are all options.
  
• Keep it locked and store the key somewhere safe. It won't work in a fire unless it is locked. 

• Don't over stuff it. Buy a safe that is big enough for what you want to contain in it. Gather your essential documents first to assess the size you will need. 

For a great checklist on what to include in your firesafe:

Go to: http://addiewoods.com/articles
Download: The FireProof FileBox Checklist (under the "Wealth Manager" section)

Now start gathering up your papers. No time to waste. Check 'em off one at a time.

2 Questions to Ask Before Downsizing Your Home

Ever want to just pick up and move? It may seem like that could fix certain problems, but in reality many times it won't. It might even create new ones. Maintaining a home and managing possessions is a lot work if we don't stay on top of it. Our stuff tends to follow us or stay with us no matter if we have moved five times or have been living somewhere 20 plus years. This means we still have to deal with it if we wish to live a simpler, less chaotic life. Not everyone wants to move or can move either. Sometimes we just have to stay where we are at and make the most of it. It can help to change our attitude about where we live by getting a fresh perspective.

I specialize in making the spaces that you currently have work better for you now. Working with people who are curious about downsizing but not sure how to get started is a growing trend I encounter. When people have a lot of years of accumulation it's my job to help bring energy and focus to making a plan and digging in. Like a lot of things, getting started can be the hardest part. 

Considering Downsizing Your Home? 

Ask yourself these two questions first:

1) If there were only 10 minutes to grab items from your home, what would it be? Perhaps it's things you use everyday that make life function or items that make you really happy. As a new mom, the first thought that comes to mind for me is the coffee pot. But I've also got some family videos and wedding pictures that are super important to me. What about you?

Start Here: Make a short list of the items in your house that you absolutely cannot live without.

2) Do you have the same lifestyle as you did before? What does a current day or week look like for you? Consider what you are into now, and what you may no longer be so into. My life has changed a lot since having a baby. My clothes are different and I spend less time at my desk and more time on the floor playing with my son. I definitely see things differently down at his level. I also notice that my priorities have changed and I care less about certain things than I used to. This means it's an opportunity to do a bit of rethinking about what I surround myself with on a daily basis. What has changed for you recently? How has it affected your lifestyle? What things from your past are things you might be able to do without?

Start Here: Make a short list of your current hobbies, interests and activities you are involved in on a daily or weekly basis.

5 Daily Organizing Tasks to Keep Your House Smiling

Let's be realistic. Sometimes it's hard to find the time for a new project when we can hardly find the time to maintain our home as it currently is. I'd like to share a saying I remind myself of when things get a little crazy: "Done is Better than Perfect." Can't quite remember when I first heard this, but for some reason it has stayed close in my mind. I find myself repeating it to others when I help them get stuff done.

Read on for 5 Daily Organizing Tasks to Keep Your Home "Smiling." I figure, if I can at least do these each day, I will feel better and keep up on the things that make my household run smoothly. So for the days or weeks that seem to leave you spinning, hold out your hand and count to five. If you got up in the morning, you could have already accomplished number one and two off the list. Here they are:

1) Open & Close the Curtains/Blinds Sounds simple, I know. But this gives each day a start and finish. Letting the sunshine in can help wake us up and provides a much needed dose of that Vitamin D we all need. When it's time for bed, let the worries of the day go as you "close up shop." Tomorrow's a new day. extra credit: Pause 10 counts and soak the sun in, or open the window and let some fresh air in. 2) Make Beds Ever watch that episode of The Cosby Show where Bill Cosby shows Theo how to make the bed? It's really funny! Watch Here (10 minutes into the episode called Season 1 Episode 19 Clair's Case) We're not talking hospital corners for the fitted sheet, unless you want to and it brings you joy, just get it done. Throw the sheets up under the pillows, and whip the comforter on top. This provides a flat, clutter-free surface for you to enjoy all day. extra credit: A few swipes across the bed to get the wrinkles out. Toss decorative pillows on top. Use the surface to fold laundry and put away before bed time. 3) Return Food and Dishes to Kitchen & Keep Sink Clean Whether you eat in other rooms of your house or not, at the end of the day all of your food and food containers should go back to the kitchen. One, two, three. This keeps things from getting smelly and protects your home from unwanted pests. Choose a time of the day, morning or night, to do the dishes. But if things get busy, at least get them closer to where they need to be, next to or in the sink will do. extra credit: Scrape food scraps into the trash, run the disposal, or rinse plates and load the dishwasher. 4) Pick up Trash and Recycling It's not going away on it's own. We are constantly bringing new things into our home, which means we constantly need to be removing things. Tissues, food wrappers, fruit peals, napkins...throw 'em out. Have trash cans around the house in each room. Have a recycle basket or container where the mail comes in so junk can be collected right away. Try putting one in your bedroom or bathroom too. So many plastic bottles come from body products and it will just be handier to have one near where you use things up. extra credit: Take out the trash and recycling. Gather it up daily, but take a trip out a minimum of once a week.  5) Put Dirty Laundry in a Hamper/Clothes Basket Everyday we get dressed and undressed. So, everyday we must collect dirty laundry that needs to be washed. Instead of throwing it on the floor, or on the bed you just made, put dirty clothes in a hamper, laundry basket or clothes bag. When laundry time comes, knowing what is clean and dirty will take no guess work. extra credit: Do laundry at least once a week. More often if you have kids. Designating days of the week for laundry helps stay on top of it. (See the below quick tip for a helpful laundry day trick)

Use Vodka to Keep Clothes Smelling Fresh

Ever have a garment that you've worn once or twice and it only slightly smells, but you could wear it again? Or have you ever wanted to hold off on having something professionally dry-cleaned for just a little longer? 

This is no substitute for doing your weekly laundry, but a trick I learned from my theater background and how we'd take care of costumes: Spray VODKA on the armpits of jackets, dresses, or suit coats to get rid of odors. The alcohol serves as a safe disinfectant. A few squirts will do. 

My suggestions:

• Buy the cheapest bottle of Vodka you can find
• Pick up a $1 store spray bottle
• Label the bottle "cleaning vodka" with a Sharpie
• Keep the bottle in your closet so you have it handy when you need it

Flexible Storage Bins for Baby Toys, Nursery & More!

Being a new mom, and wanting everything to have it's place, I'm so excited about these handmade fabric storage bins by NikJDesigns! They're perfect for keeping things organized in my son's nursery.

Small Fabric Storage Bin in Zig Zag

I too had a baby registry at Target and BabiesRus for all the baby items I'd need, or thought I'd need, before my baby arrived. But being the neat freak I am, and believer in supporting smaller businesses too, I was so excited when my sisters wanted to gift me a few of these at my baby shower. I remember being asked what colors I was planning on having. Since I chose a Peanuts Themed Nursery with Snoopy and Charlie Brown elements, I told them bold, primary colors. 

My Charlie Brown Themed Nursery I wanted to match my bins to:

A window valence I made.  Wanna see how? View "How to Make Your Own Box Valence"

Who has time for painting murals!
A Snoopy wall decal I ordered on Etsy.com

Take a look below at what this gal from NikJDesigns on Etsy.com custom made for me!

How I'm using them:

I don't know about you, but I don't like folding sheets. I found that rolling sheets up is quick and easy. So I'm rolling up and stuffing extra crib sheets and blankets into the red striped one (pictured below).

Tip: Roll & stuff extra crib sheets/blankets in a bin instead of placing them in a closet or drawer.

(Left) Medium Size: Stuffed Animals & Small Toys
(Right) Large Size: Blankets & Sheets

I'm realizing how kids create clutter. Well, or how we adults create clutter when we have kids. Not sure exactly which comes first, but either way, things can get out of hand pretty quickly. These bins are great because they reduce clutter spilling out everywhere and keep those "like things" together. I love how they fit items that oftentimes have awkward shapes like stuffed animals and small toys. See it in the black striped one (pictured above).

Where I'm using them:

They are made of fabric, which is flexible. That means they fit in many places you may have a hard time finding a storage container to fit. I've found they fit great in a tight spot, for example between the crib and a wall (pictured below).

Tip: Place sheets and blankets close to the crib for easy access.

They can come in various sizes. I love the smaller ones for containing things like extra bibs, burp cloths, hand sanitizer and a rattle (pictured below). The key is to see where you gather clutter, and then contain it. These bins do the trick nicely.

Tip: Put a smaller fabric bin next to a favorite chair where you read books or nurse.

To view all her fabulous fabrics and available size options: NikJDesigns

Pillow also by NikJDesigns in Charlie Brown Themed Fabric.
Snoopy Woodstock Wall Decal also from Etsy.com

Organize with a Baby K'tan

I recently had a baby. Well, nine weeks ago to be exact. The cold Minnesota weather has kept us inside a lot, leaving us plenty of time around the house. Even though we haven't been driving around a whole lot, I have learned that babies are super portable. I've discovered that it is possible to organize with a baby in tow, especially using the Baby K'tan.

A good friend of mine showed me how to wear a cloth baby sling to carry my baby around. While most people would probably think to wear it to the grocery store or the zoo, I've been wearing it around the house while doing house work.

Baby K'tan

Organizing tasks I can do with a baby in tow:

• Fold Laundry
• Sort Mail
• Do Dishes
• Pay Bills
• Check Emails
• Make a Grocery List
• Cut/Download Coupons
• Make Phone Calls
• Schedule Appointments
• Collect Garbage
• Wipe Surfaces

I have yet to try running the vacuum while wearing it, but my son loves white noise so I'm guessing I might just be able to do it. With the added weight, it will definitely be multitasking a great workout in too!

I love how supportive the Baby K'tan is. My son also finds it comfy enough to sleep in. The only problem is, that means I'm not sleeping when he is. Being a new mom isn't easy and nothing is perfect, but at least I can still get things done. With a few adjustments to my home maintenance routine it makes staying organized easier.