Closet questions

[Grantmom]

I have a very nice walk-in closet that I am very grateful to have.  I have very little other storage in the house (no basement, attic, etc.), so it's nice to have this one space.  It isn't huge, just a normal, bedroom walk-in closet size.  I don't use it as a clothes closet, because I need it to store all of the other things that need to be stored out of the way.  Right now, things that are only used once a year, like holiday things, are in plastic bins, and crammed in this closet.  The closet has shelves though, and I think I could probably get rid of a lot of stuff on the shelves and make room for the things in the bins to just be out on the open shelves.  Do you think it would take up less space that way?  I am thinking it would.  The only hesitation I have is that things might get dusty, since I only use them once a year.  I just feel like I could make much better use of the space in this closet.  Any suggestions for me?

 

 

Edited May 31, 2016 by Grantmom

[TammyS]

Open, movable shelving is the most efficient.  You could use sheets to cover things against dust.

[Grantmom]

So do you think it would be more organized and take up less space if I took all the holiday stuff out of the plastic bins and just kept it out on open shelves?

[TammyS]

So do you think it would be more organized and take up less space if I took all the holiday stuff out of the plastic bins and just kept it out on open shelves?

 

It would depend on the bins.  Many are very space inefficient.  Look at the bin and ask yourself, "is this packed in tight or is there a lot of air space in the bin"?

 

Most things you don't want to keep directly on the shelves, because then you won't be able to stack.  But simpler boxing is probably called for.  I like shoe boxes.

 

ETA: my sense is that what you really need is a small storage shed,but I get that money isn't infinite (for most of us, at least)

Edited May 31, 2016 by TammyS

[MEmama]

It depends what you have. I'm a big fan of baskets and bins so I don't have to look at clutter. Holiday items are not something I would want to look at all year. Nice baskets add a sense of orderliness and calm that I prefer, even if I know they are just crammed with stuff. It's a personal preference, I think, though in general I would thinking lining up individual items on a shelf would take up more room.

[marbel]

When I think of holiday stuff I think of many items of various sizes and shapes.  So those I think would be better kept in boxes or some other sort of container, preferably with a lid so they can be stacked and dust doesn't get in.  We keep some things in shoe boxes but those may be too small for your needs.

 

But really I think without seeing what you have and what your closet looks like, no one can really help you decide.   I prefer the look of stacked boxes, labeled or numbered so I can find the things I need when I need them. 

[kroe1]

The plastic bins are probably going to look a lot neater and keep your pulse down every time you open the door.

 

Do you have a garage? We installed shelving that drops down from the ceiling. That might help you get your closet back.

[Grantmom]

Yes, I probably just need a storage shed.  I was just trying to think of a way to reduce and get rid of all this plastic, and to make better use of this space.  The problem is that I feel like it takes up more space than it has to in the bins, because they are all oddly shaped things, there is air space, as you say.

 

I don't feel like I would be looking at this stuff all the time if it were out on open shelves, because it's still a closet with a door.

 

I'm not really a fan of open kitchen shelves, for example, at least not in my house.  I have a few, and I think they tend to get too dusty and look cluttered.  (It looks nice in a magazine but not in my house!)

[Grantmom]

No, we have zero other storage.  No garage.  Not even a linen closet.

[TammyS]

Yes, I probably just need a storage shed.  I was just trying to think of a way to reduce and get rid of all this plastic, and to make better use of this space.  The problem is that I feel like it takes up more space than it has to in the bins, because they are all oddly shaped things, there is air space, as you say.

 

 

 

I would probably get some generic shaped bins of the same footprint for easy stacking, and move items out of their original boxes and into those.

[nd293]

I think dust will be an issue. Stackable bins in different sizes such as those from Ikea help a lot, as do shelving units with adjustable shelves. We have a tiny tiny walk in closet (I call it a step-in closest) and I ended up ripping out the existing timber shelves and replacing with a modular shelving unit from Ikea. We also have an outdoor storage shed, and we again opted for modular shelving. For the most part things are in closed bins although tools and such are in open bins or directly on shelves.

[gypsymama]

I would vote for good boxes. I wouldn't want the items all dusty or to get broken. I don't like the cluttered look of many things on a shelf. Stacking saves space. For me I'd vote for small, space efficient boxes on the shelves. That said some things might be better out of the boxes... I have a wall of shelves in the shed for wreaths. All other holiday items (that aren't huge) go into small boxes on shelves.

[Grantmom]

I would probably get some generic shaped bins of the same footprint for easy stacking, and move items out of their original boxes and into those.

 

Yes, this is what I have right now.  I have large plastic bins all the same size, so they can be neatly stacked.  I just don't really have a place to neatly stack them!  :)  I have them separated out by holiday, like Christmas, Easter, Halloween, general birthday party supplies, etc.  But I just don't have a place to put all of these neatly stacked bins.

[prairiewindmomma]

I went through several rounds of trying to organize things.  I had a basement then.  Now I've moved to a one-story house with no basement, no garage, etc.  I chose to get rid of 90% of my holiday directions and other once-a-year items, and I'm so happy that I did. It's ridiculous to make my life complicated 330 days out of the year for the 35 days that I want to have things out. I have one plastic bin of holiday things, things I LOVE and have great sentimentality for me.  That's it. I have four holiday wreaths in my garage. I rotate them throughout the year, depending on the season.

 

My vote is to take back your closet.  Use it as it's designed. If you really must store something, I'd remove shelves off of one wall, and make a row of stacks of uniform plastic bins.  But, honestly, I am so glad that I gave it all up. 

[TammyS]

Yes, this is what I have right now.  I have large plastic bins all the same size, so they can be neatly stacked.  I just don't really have a place to neatly stack them!   :)  I have them separated out by holiday, like Christmas, Easter, Halloween, general birthday party supplies, etc.  But I just don't have a place to put all of these neatly stacked bins.

 

But isn't that what the shelving is for?  To stack them on the shelves?

[Grantmom]

Well, they don't fit on the shelves.  I can put them along the bottom, but they don't all fit.  That's why I thought, all this stuff would probably fit on the shelves if I just took the stuff out of the bins.  It might make me cull things better too.  I feel like with the bins, I just throw everything in the bin and don't look at it again until the following year.

 

To be honest, I don't have a ton of decorative type stuff, but it's things like Christmas stockings, ornaments, Easter baskets, a Christmas tree light from my childhood, a dancing Santa the kids got from grandma, you know that kind of stuff.

[TammyS]

Well, they don't fit on the shelves.  I can put them along the bottom, but they don't all fit.  That's why I thought, all this stuff would probably fit on the shelves if I just took the stuff out of the bins.  It might make me cull things better too.  I feel like with the bins, I just throw everything in the bin and don't look at it again until the following year.

 

To be honest, I don't have a ton of decorative type stuff, but it's things like Christmas stockings, ornaments, Easter baskets, a Christmas tree light from my childhood, a dancing Santa the kids got from grandma, you know that kind of stuff.

 

Ok, first you need to purge.  You can't make intelligent storage decisions until you know just how much you need to store.

 

Once you've purged, you can get a good look at what you need to store.  Then group things together (easter, Christmas, etc).  Once you have those piles, you will have an idea of  what size boxes you need to keep it in.  If your shelves won't hold boxes (what size are the shelves?) you may need to get a better shelving system.

 

Of course you just throw it in the bin and don't look at it until next year.  That's the point!  Who wants to deal with their holiday stuff at any time other than the holiday?

[fairfarmhand]

Yes, take it all out and purge. Keep only the things that you LOVE and are meaningful to you. As for things that are cheap and easily replaceable (like the Easter baskets--you can go to Goodwill/dollar tree in the weeks before easter and get one for a dollar.) toss/donate them. I know it sounds wasteful, but a dollar or two for easter baskets is a good trade for my sanity the rest of the year.

 

Then go shopping for your bins. I bet several shoebox sized ones will help you organize and like the look better.

[Ausmumof3]

Purge is but keep the bins to put it back into. Do you have your clothes in a separate place?it would drive me nuts keeping clothes and Christmas decorations all mixed up.

[lmrich]

I would keep the bins. It makes easier to move the stuff to the location later. Do you have under the bed space? Can you use bed risers? 

[Tap]

Have you considered making storage in other areas of the house?

 

I have a trifold screen that hides the large exercise balls in the corner of the dining room.  In the family room, I have one that used to hide an electric keyboard.

 

I have seen images where people have put a piece of wood over the top of a couple of bins and covered them with a table cloth.  Then they used it for and bedside table.

 

I have a window seat bench that holds all of the yoga blocks, mats, bands and other gear. 

 

I had a small decorative trunk for a coffee tablet that held rarely used items, like old picture frames. 

 

Flat items like extra shelves for the entertainment center are under the couch.

 

Under my bed, are 'under bed storage boxes' full of last seasons clothes. 

 

A decorative clothing wardrobe, can be used in other rooms to hold items.

 

The upper cabinets over the entertainment center (ceiling height) hold a vast array of items here.  From extra blankets, to old cell phones/cords.

 

[Grantmom]

I don't store everyday clothes there.  It's the one storage space we have, so things like suitcases, sheets, beach towels, any and everything.  But, I know there is stuff I could clear out of there, which is why I thought I could make room for even the once-a-year stuff.