How to organize a closet on the cheap!

**forHISglory** · 06-09-2009, 04:51 PM

I need some help and ideas. For some crazy reason, I decided to clean the closet today in our bedroom. It's not a walk-in, but is a little extra deep and 18 feet long. We have an extra heavy-duty rod that runs the entire length, and a shelf above that. Hubby has half of the closet and I have the other half. We each have an old dresser in our respective halves, so that we have drawers ifor storage. Each half of the closet has bi-fold doors.

Now I'm looking for ideas on how to organize this closet for cheap or free. I want to be able to see everything neatly displayed and easy to get at.

What I need to store on my half:
1. Shoes. I went wild years ago buying shoes, so I now have about 40 pairs to store. (And by the way, it's hard to wear out 40 pairs of shoes, so I may have them forever......)
2. Purses. I have about 8 purses/bags of various sizes.
3. Sweats and knock-around clothes that I use for cleaning, yard work, furniture refinishing, etc. Not pretty, but it doesn't matter if they get stained or torn.
4. Hats. I have 4 hats/caps of various styles/sizes.
5. Sweaters. I really need to get rid of some of these. I have probably 30-35 sweaters. (I know......... sigh.....)
6. Variety of skirts, dresses, tops, pants (as you can imagine, I have lots of them)
7. Shorts and capri's and T-shirts. Right now I keep them in the dresser that is in the closet.

I had a large professional wardrobe for years, but since I retired, you will be relieved to know that I have bought NOTHING!!! My clothes are in good condition and should last me a long time if I take care of them.

So..... with this info, can you give me ideas of how to store this stuff for cheap?

**monkeywrangler71** · 06-09-2009, 08:45 PM

The first thing I always do in closets is install another shelf above the one that's there. The original shelf is usually at clothes hanging height, and leaves a lot of wasted vertical space above it.

I hang my clothes in groups - tops, sweaters, pants, skirts, dresses. My sweaters are all hoodies, so I don't care about hanging them, if you have expensive wool sweaters, you'll want them folded. If you purge the sweaters you can fold them and put them on the shelf, but anything more than 2 or 3 to a stack and it ends up a mess. I would put purses and hats in baskets or boxes on the shelf. I only own 3 or 4 pairs of shoes so they are hanging in a shoe bag. If I had 40, I would group them by colour and put the groups in boxes on the shelf, with big labels that say 'blue shoes' 'red shoes' etc.

I'm big on containerizing stuff though, that might not be your style.

**forHISglory** · 06-09-2009, 09:16 PM

Thanks. I did purge sweaters and Tshirts today and also about a dozen pairs of shoes. I've still got a mess to deal with, but that's for tomorrow!

**shoiji** · 06-10-2009, 03:12 PM

I just started using Wonder Hangers. I bought them at CVS. They hang 5 items on each hanger and there are 8 in each box for $9.99. They have really helped in creating more room in the closet. I really don't enjoy ironing and like to hang up most of my shirts.

40 pairs of shoes? WOW LOL

**forHISglory** · 06-10-2009, 03:31 PM

Thanks, Shoiji. And 40 pairs........ yeah, well, um........ There was a point in my life where I was easily carried away.......

I got some plastic coated wire shelves from Walmart, and put them on the shelf to double the space. Makes a good place for shoes.

**Palooka** · 06-10-2009, 05:21 PM

Our closet is so small! My husband did buy one of those closet organizers and put it in himself and it didn't cost much.

On my side there is several shelves. The high shelf I keep my extra purses, on one I have my capris folded, another sweaters folded, another jeans. I have my summer and winter shirts hung seperate. I keep my belts organized on one hanger. Skirts, slacks and dresses are hung at the back because they don't get used as much.

Oh shoes....I have a thing with shoes but they are mostly cheapos like a million flip flops or sandles. I won't share how I store them because you would probaly die. lol

I find myself cleaning my closet a lot and donating clothes that I don't wear anymore, but I won't part with my shoes.

**Emarie** · 06-10-2009, 06:41 PM

I went on a rampage a few months ago and cleaned out our master bedroom closet too and it's still clean! My closet is not as big as yours but I have double rods on the side and a single rod along the back. Here's what I did.

1. I bought a cheap metal over the door shoe rack for 15 bucks at Target. I didn't put this in my bedroom closet, I put it in my entryway closet. Everyone's most commonly worn shoes go there. It also helps keep my carpet cleaner cause I have everyone trained to take them off as soon as they get in the door and hang them up. An added benefit is they rarely "lose" their shoes anymore.

2. I have a few of the super cheap clear plastic shoe shelves that hang from a closet rod. I have one in the back on "his" side for his shoes and one in the back on my side. I have more than 10 pairs in mine tho, lol. I have all my flip flops in one and then I'll put 2 pairs of dressy shoes that are the same color in one. I've seen the shoeboxes you can buy with the insert to write what's in them but that would never work for me. Once something goes in a box, its out of sight, out of mind for me.

3. Also along the back in between the hanging shoe shelves we have 2 of the 4 drawer plastic dressers from rubbermaid stacked to make one 8 drawer dresser for our folded items. On top of the dresser which is still below my eye level are baskets for purses.

4. So, on the back wall it goes, dresser in the middle, hanging shoe shelves on both sides and then his suits(which he rarely wears) on his side and my dresses on my side. I have them all organized from light to dark.

5. The double rods on his side are organized by his pants and short sleeve shirts on the top rod and long sleeve shirts on the bottom. His pants are all on "multi" hangers by type. All dress pants together, khakis, jeans etc. He has a ton of shirts which is why his side is done a bit different from mine.

6. My side I have all my pants and skirts on the bottom. I have my pants organized the same way on the "multi" hangers. Then I have my skirts. On the top rod, I have all of my shirts, tops, blouses, etc organized from lightest to darkest in color. It seems to be easier to find what I'm looking for this way and it's been easy to maintain it.

I also ended up donating a lot of things. For the stuff we don't wear but can't part with we have it stored in clear plastic containers on the top shelf. I already had everything I used except the shoe rack from Target. So, I spent a total of 15 bucks.

**Emarie** · 06-10-2009, 06:55 PM

I forgot to add that when I did this, my bedroom was a mess for a couple of days because I took everything out of my closet. My husband looked at piles I had made all over our previously clean bedroom and was speechless for a few seconds and then said, "at least the closet looks really clean"!

**frugalwarrior** · 06-10-2009, 07:04 PM

Heres what I told me a couple years ago.
Frugalwarrior it is unchristian to hoard. Other people have need of those things you are wasting by keeping and not using. This went a long way to clutter release. then:

Get a shelf for the top. Put items in clear storage tub so you can see whats in there.

buy clear shoe boxes at big lots for 1.99 each (20 should be enough)

Hang 5 key purses on a hanger. Put the rest in a clear tub. Rotate.

label everything with note cards-one on the outside,one on the inside for quick reference.

Key-grab the stuff and drive it, today, to Salvation Army or Goodwill so you don't reshop or rethink.

Next week grab a paper and make a list of what you got rid of. You will be astonished at how little you can list. That proves actual need. I am always flabbergasted.

Now make a rule: nothing else goes in unless something else come out.

**strezzed** · 06-11-2009, 12:24 AM

We went to Ikea and found a system we liked. Since DH is handy, he actually made the pieces to create our own version of that closet.

**Emarie** · 06-11-2009, 12:26 AM

I love Ikea! I always find great bargains there!

Originally Posted by strezzed

We went to Ikea and found a system we liked. Since DH is handy, he actually made the pieces to create our own version of that closet.

**mauimagic** · 06-11-2009, 01:59 AM

I wish we had an Ikea here. DH tore out the closet in our master bedroom years ago when he though we had termites. We have making do with makeshift mini closets since then. I haven't found anyone who will enclose the space to recreate our closet - guess it's too small a job - but too big for DH to do. Still, things would be better if I decluttered more, so that's my job first!!

**forHISglory** · 06-11-2009, 09:44 AM

Palooka, my shoes are mostly all cheapies, too! Sometimes I found them for 5 bucks at Walmart, sometimes at yard sales and thrift stores, sometimes on mark down at Kohls, etc. But even cheap shoes last a long time when rotated around 40 pair!

emarie, you have a wealth of ideas! thanks!

frugalwarrier, I like the idea of writing down what I donate and seeing how little I remember.

strezzed, I've never been in Ikea. Don't have one in this small town, but might find one in the city.

Thanks to you all! I filled 12 large boxes with shoes and clothes that I will try to sell at yard sale or donate. That freed up a LOT of room. Then I used the wire shelving I found at Walmart to create more space. I'll try to take a pic of what I did. It looks a lot better now!

**strezzed** · 06-11-2009, 10:29 AM

forHisGlory, I think it's a great idea to rotate pairs of shoes. You get more wear out of each. Great tip! I don't do that with shoes since I need specialty shoes, but definitely with socks.

**Palooka** · 06-11-2009, 02:45 PM

Instead of starting a new thread, I am curious how you guys store your're shoes in the closet, especially when you have a lot? I don't keep the boxes they came in and never was good at that.

I seriously have mine in those small laundry baskets. I have one for tennis shoes, flip flops, and boots, etc. I have just a couple of nice dress shoes that I never wear and they are nice and neat in the corner. Okay, don't laugh.

Any suggestions? I used to have one of those like wire thingies but it took up more room then it held shoes.