Maximizing Your Closet Space

Just think, now that you are on board with purging four times a year, not keeping items more than three years, reselling, and donating, you're not going to be holding on to anything long enough to accumulate clutter.
Once you've purged, it's time to organize:
1. Remove everything from the closet.
2. Clean the space—don't be afraid to use a little elbow grease!
3. Paint the space (optional, of course, but worth the effort).
4. Plan how you will fill the space—grab a pen and paper and start diagramming.
5. Purchase storage and organizing pieces.
6. Put everything back.

The Basics of Closet Design
You don't need a professional contractor to design and create a better closet system. Start by knowing what you have to put in the closet and becoming familiar with the area with which you have to work.
Whether you're proceeding on your own or with professional assistance keep these principles in mind:
1. Visibility: You want to arrange your pieces so you are able to easily see the elements of your wardrobe.
2. Accessibility: Your clothing and accessories need to be easily accessed. Packing everything into unmarked towers of tubs will not only cause you to forget what you have, but you will undoubtedly struggle with toppling bins and boxes.
3. Flexibility: Your wardrobe is an evolving entity; your closet needs to accommodate seasonal and lifestyle changes. In other words, don't over-stuff it; leave room for newly acquired treasures.

Making Arrangements
In order to keep your closet organized, you have to put your clothing back in a way that will help you keep it organized. Start by thinking about how you would normally put things back into the closet. You should strive to arrange your wardrobe in a way that's natural and unchallenging for you (note: dropping things onto the floor doesn't count). Perhaps arranging your pieces by type is most appealing to you. Maybe sorting your clothing by color and occasion is best for you. It's easier to find what you want to wear if you hang similar items together. You may want to avoid combining play and work clothes, but it's up to you.
Atmospheric Pleasure
Lighting is an important feature of your closet. Halogens are a fire hazard; Fluorescent bulbs are the safest choice, though incandescent lighting shows clothing colors more truly and is safe if enclosed or recessed. Surface-mounted incandescent lighting should be at least 12 inches from your clothing. Fluorescent and recessed incandescent bulbs need six inches of clearance.
Shut It
Your closet's door or doors require some thought as well. Most older homes feature standard, hinged closet doors. These are great when space inside the closet is at a premium because you can utilize the back of the door for shoe storage, a mirror, or anything you can hang on a hook. If space is not a problem, however, go ahead and populate one side with hooks for casual coats or a robe or your most-used bags and hat; the other is ripe for a full-length mirror or a sweet shoe rack. Those of you who do not need to exploit the back-of-the-door territory may want to consider a decorative option: French doors. These window-paned beauties can be outfitted with tres jolie curtains to conceal your wardrobe.
By far the most unfortunate door style for a closet is the sliding variety. The swinging issue is eliminated, but you are unable see all of your clothing at once! Poor visibility, indeed! I recommend switching out sliding doors for bifolds. Bifold doors save space while allowing you to survey your entire wardrobe with one graceful two-handed swish to the sides.
Another door option for tight spaces is the pocket door. These now-you-see-'em-now-you-don't doors slide on a track and hide inside your wall while you have a full view of your wardrobe. Finally, you can chuck the closet door altogether and hang a long curtain (sheerness is up to you) on a rod mounted above the doorway. You won't gain any storage space, but you will add drama to your space. It all depends on what's important to you.
Excerpted from Closet Control (Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.,)
A clean, white closet is the best backdrop for your wardrobe. The crisp, spotless canvas will allow you to see your clothing clearly. A washable semi-gloss paint is a good choice.