Let’s chat about an often-overlooked area that could majorly improve your daily life – your closet! As a home decor blogger and thrift store fanatic, I’m constantly reorganizing my wardrobe. Over the years, I’ve found that installing hanging closet organizers makes all the difference in keeping my closet functional and fabulous.
Whether your current closet situation consists of teetering piles or jam-packed spaces, trust me, hanging organizers can help. Not only will they maximize your storage potential, but they’ll also provide some serenity to your getting-ready routine. Who doesn’t want that?!
This post will explore why closet organization matters, the types of organizers available, tips for choosing the perfect system, and how to DIY your installation. I’ll also share my best tips for using your spiffy new organizers. Let’s dive in!
Contents
Why Organizing Your Closet Matters
I know, I know – cleaning and organizing seems so dull. But hear me out! Getting your closet in order reaps all kinds of benefits that make your day-to-day life more streamlined and peaceful.
The Psychology of a Clean Closet
Clutter can seriously zap our focus and motivation. When your closet is organized, finding an outfit becomes manageable. You’re left scrambling through the mess, trying to assemble something wearable.
Research shows that morning stress and chaos can throw off your entire day. By taking the time to organize your closet, you’ll start your day off on the right foot. You’ll feel calm and collected instead of overwhelmed.
Boost Your Productivity
An organized closet helps you prepare faster, saving precious time and brain space. No more standing there staring into your wardrobe, clueless about what to wear! Finding that perfect top or dress gives you time for another cup of coffee, walking with the dog, or catching up on emails.
Beyond just getting dressed, a neat closet clears out the mental clutter. You’ll free up mental bandwidth customarily spent trying to remember where things are. With that extra focus, you can be more productive and creative.
Hanging Closet Organizer Options
Now that I’ve convinced you that closet organization is crucial let’s explore the various types of hanging closet organizers. You may be imagining bare shelves or racks. But there are tons of options to suit your space and lifestyle perfectly!
Shelving Units
The most common style is a shelving unit that mounts to your wall. Typically made of coated steel or wood, these come in various dimensions. Choose based on your closet layout and what you’ll store.
I love the modular ClosetMaid units with adjustable shelves. You can customize the spacing to fit your wardrobe. Use shelves for folded items like sweaters and jeans. Or try vertical dividers to neatly store purses and shoes.
Hanging Shelves with Drawers
Get the best of both worlds with a hanging shelf unit with drawers. I’m obsessed with the IKEA Algot system because you can mix and match the components. The hanging rods are great for dresses, while the drawers stow bras, socks, and other intimates hidden from view.
Drawers also allow you to utilize vertical space that otherwise goes unused. I like to stash accessories like belts and hats in these discreet compartments. Pull-out baskets are another drawer alternative for wrangling clutter-prone items like tights or scarves.
Specialty Organizers
Beyond basic shelves, you can find solutions tailored to specific items like shoes, accessories, and bags. Here are some of my go-to specialty organizers:
- Shoe organizers: Clear up floor space with hanging canvas shoe shelves. Or try a multi-tier plastic organizer that attaches to a shelf or door.
- Accessory storage: Acrylic trays, divider boxes, and wall hooks keep jewelry, sunglasses, and other small items in their place.
- Scarf racks: Pretty up your closet with a display stand or wall-mounted rack for your scarf collection.
- Purse organizers: Stationary or rotating shelves give every bag its spot off the floor.
Measuring Your Closet for the Perfect Fit
Now comes the fun part – selecting your organizers! But slow down: first, you must figure out what will fit your space. Taking measurements may feel tedious, but doing it upfront prevents headaches.
Find Your Closet’s Dimensions
Start by measuring the length and depth of your closet. Note the position of any doors built-in components like drawers, cabinets, or windows. Also, measure the height from floor to ceiling.
Don’t forget to account for trim or molding that might eat into your usable space. You want to end up with the maximum area available for your organizers.
Map Out Your Layout
Next, sketch your closet layout to scale using the measurements you just took. Map the existing permanent elements like doors and built-ins. Then, play around with adding different organizers to your drawing.
Refer to product dimensions from the manufacturer’s websites or packaging as you experiment with layouts. This will give you a rough idea of how things might fit before purchasing.
Order Samples to Test Fit
Order free fabric or plastic samples from organizer brands like ClosetMaid or Elfa for a foolproof approach. Or pick up inexpensive baskets or shelves from a store like IKEA. Position these in your actual closet to assess fit and spacing.
This test run will confirm your layout works in real life. Bonus – you can incorporate some of the samples into your final setup!
Choosing Materials for Your Organizers
Hanging closet organizers come in various materials like metal, wood, plastic, and fabric. Which you choose comes down to budget, style, and functionality. I’ll break down the pros and cons of each so you can select what works best.
Fabric & Canvas
Lightweight canvas or fabric organizers have a casual, relaxed vibe. They’re an affordable choice and easy to install with no hardware required. But fabric is prone to staining, wears faster, and can’t hold much weight.
Best for: Light items like folded clothes, purses, and shoes.
Plastic
Plastic shelves and drawers are budget-friendly and resistant to moisture and mildew. This material won’t corrode or rust over time. But plastic organizers typically max out at medium duty – they can bend with heavier loads. Cheaper plastics can get brittle after many years.
Best for: Foldables like sweaters and tees, undergarments, bags.
Wood
For a warm, crafted look, I adore wood organizers. Solid wood is beautiful but comes with a higher price tag. These pieces are heavy-duty and super durable. However, moisture can warp natural wood over time, so maintenance is critical.
Best for: All clothing types, heavier accessories like purses and jewelry.
Metal
Sleek metal organizers last forever and have the highest weight capacity. But they’re also the most expensive choice. Metal conducts temperature, making it prone to condensation and rusting. Stainless steel has corrosion-resistant properties.
Best for: Heavy garments like coats and formalwear.
Eco-Friendly Materials
Sustainable materials are on the rise for green glamour. Bamboo, recycled plastic, and upcycled fabric organizers check the style and eco-boxes. Supporting ethical brands matters, so I buy secondhand organizers whenever possible.
Installation Tips for Hanging Organizers
Once you’ve selected the perfect organizers for your closet, it’s time for the fun part – installation! I’ll walk you through the process I use to hang shelves and rods securely and safely.
Tools You’ll Need
Before getting started, assemble the necessary installation tools:
- Tape measure
- Stud finder
- Pencil
- Electric drill with assorted drill bits and screwdriver heads
- Wall anchors (like drywall toggles) if needed
- Level
- Hardware like screws and wall brackets
Safety first! Be sure to wear goggles to protect your eyes from debris.
Find and Mark Stud Locations
First up – find the wood studs within your wall and mark their locations with pencil. Studs provide the strongest anchoring for heavy shelves. I use a stud finder tool, then make light pencil lines at the edges of each stud bay.
No worries if there aren’t studs lining up where you want to place your organizers! Hollow drywall anchors work just as well in many cases.
Install Wall Brackets
Refer to your manufacturer’s instructions for bracket placement and hardware. Styl shelves and rods attach to vertical brackets anchored into studs or drywalls.
Use your level to ensure brackets are mounted straight. After securing the first bracket, measure over equal distances to install any remaining ones in a row.
Hang the Shelves and Rods
Now, the fun part – hanging your organizational systems! Rest the back edge onto the brackets for shelving units, then screw into place. Be sure to keep the shelves perfectly level.
For double rods or clothing racks, situate the rod ends into the brackets with the included hardware. Place shorter clothes hangers towards the front rod and more extended pieces like dresses towards the back.
Add Finishing Touches
The last step is to load up your gorgeous new organizers! Add handy extras like storage bins and baskets that fit your lifestyle.
Labeling helps establish “zones” – like one area for accessories only. I used my label maker to tag jewelry, hats, and scarves spaces.
Take time to arrange clothes by category, season, or color. And frequently purge items you don’t love – we all have those pieces!
Maximize Your Hanging Closet Organizers
The work doesn’t stop once your new organizers are installed and loaded. Follow these tips to make the most of your upgraded closet space.
Group by Category
Make clothes easy to find by grouping hangs and folding items by category – blouses together, pants together, etc. I take it further and organize by sleeve and pant length within the groups.
Use Dividers
Whether made of fabric or plastic, dividers help create designated zones in your organizers. Section off categories like workwear versus loungewear.
Or divide by color to create a pretty rainbow closet! Dividers keep everything neatly separated.
Label Everything
I’m a labeling addict, and it makes such a difference in a tidy closet! For shelves, label bins and baskets so you can quickly stash items.
On hanging rods, label categories or seasons. I have a “Favorites” section for most worn pieces. Labels help other household members put things away correctly, too.
Store by Frequency
Keep frequently worn items at eye level in prime real estate. Reserve upper shelves or rods for out-of-season pieces used less often. I have my everyday favorites right in front!
Max Vertical Space
Don’t let vertical storage space go to waste! Use a shelving system with adjustable tiers to double your usable area. Risers lift shelves even higher.
For hanging clothes, install double rods to hang more. Or try a stacking organizer that fits around pipes.
Purge Regularly
I know I already mentioned this, but it’s so vital I had to repeat it! Take time every season to weed out clothes you don’t wear anymore. Donating gently used items gives them new life.
Maintain Organization
All your organizing efforts will be for naught if you don’t maintain the system! Set aside 5 minutes each night to tidy up clothing piles and put stray pieces back in their homes.
Final Thoughts on Improving Your Closet
As you can see, hanging closet organizers offer many solutions for your needs and style. Taking time to install and maximize them will bless you with a sanctuary-like closet.
All these tips give you the confidence to tackle your closet revamp! Remember to measure twice and customize the design to your space. And don’t forget the finishing touches, like lighting and pretty baskets.
A blissful closet doesn’t happen overnight. But approach the organization in stages, and soon, you’ll reap the benefits. You’ve got this! Now, make your closet dreams come true.
