Search for the Messiest Closet?

Now, I wasn't exactly searching for the messiest closet, but I think I still may have found it. I spent some time at my parents' house over the holiday weekend. It was go-go-go time until Sunday rolled around. Mom and I were ready to hunker down and get some things accomplished. We planned to clean/re-organize her closet, and set up the tree. We only accomplished the first. And now you'll see why:

(I spy perm rods, a family picture from the 1980s, the dress my mom wore to my wedding, old makeup bags, board games, and lots of out of date clothes.)

No, this is not a joke. She and Dad have been living with this closet for some time now. It's not as if there was 20+ years of stuff packed in there, we did a closet overhaul a few years ago! Honestly, the closet belonged on TLC's "Messiest House." My inner OCD comes out in such situations and I actually enjoy making progress organizing.

We worked for 5 1/2 long, hard, hours, but not without some laughs. I threw out half of my dad's worn-out wardrobe, including a couple pairs of shoes. He gave me permission to get rid of the shoes above. He said, "Yeah, go ahead and throw these out. I haven't worn them since last year."

If you knew my dad and his dumb humor you would laugh. Clearly, the dust reads several years.

Mom found a picture from 1996, where we attended a cousin's wedding. She and Dad were in pretty amazing shape back then, not to mention, it was mid summer and Mom was rockin' a great tan. She showed my dad the photo and he couldn't believe how different she looked (or the fact that he had a comb over). To which he exclaimed,

"Is that you?! I thought it was Michelle Obama!"

After packing 3 large bags to go to Good Will...

 

One to consignment... (hi, layla)

and 10 bags of GARBAGE...

We have the end result.

(Those are not carpet stains, just shadows. Up until this point there has not been enough room to picnic in the closet.)

Can you believe the amount of trash we took out? What a transformation. And look at all the open space in that average size walk-in! Two things I learned:

Dad could use more clothes.

Mom doesn't need another thing:)

Does your closet look like the before picture? Or are you a naturally organized person?

*Comment to inquire about my hourly rates:)

 

Organized.

What mother asks their teenage daughter to come organize THEIR closet? Mine did. I've always been crazy about organization. Even at sixteen. I told Jake I want to wake up Easter Morning and find an electronic labeler in my basket. Seriously. I love totes, folders, bins, plastic shoe boxes..anything used for organizational purposes.

 And everything has to be labeled. It's time I'm given the magic gadget. I definitely pride myself on being organized. Wait, the Bible says "Pride comes before the fall..." Oh dear...

Let's talk closets for a minute: When organizing your closet (which is one of the most important "rooms" in the house, I believe), you should always start by de-cluttering. Get RID of the JUNK!

An ideal closet only houses the proper seasonal items. We store our out-of-season-clothes in plastic bins in the basement, but cedar chests are nice for coats and sweaters.

Color coordinate your clothing. This makes finding things much easier, not to mention, more aesthetically pleasing. Oh, and wooden hangers...gotta get some of those.

Properly store shoes. They protect your feet, they deserve to be treated with care, not thrown in the bottom of your closet. Clear boxes are ideal, as they don't leaving you guessing. Personally, I label mine.

Divide unmentionables. There is nothing I despise more than a drawer stuffed full of bras, panties, tights, socks, and bathing suits (in my case)

For those of you who do not have adaquate closet/storage space, just be creative!

Showcase your lovelies!

Hang your boots in a unique way, almost as if you're using them to decorate!

Children's clothes and shoes should definitely be exposed, they're so darn cute.

Aren't organized spaces refreshing? Thanks for this photo, Martha. (As in Stewart.)

Now, go clean your closet!

since we're talking closets...

            

Here is our small, oddly shaped, third bedroom, which we turned into a walk-in closet.Since the house was built in the 1940's, it lacks sufficient closet space. The above picture is the ACTUAL closet in this small bedroom. The mini, door-less space now houses my dresses, belts, and SOME shoes. This whole thing was like a $100 project. All we bought was the steel rack from Sam's Club to hang the majority of our clothes, everything else we already owned. (Which explains the mix-n-match.) There is still several things I would like to do to make this walk-in more appealing. A few of those would be:

* Get ALL matching hangers..probably white.

*Get a white seat cushion for my vanity stool..after spray painting the shiny gold stool black!

*Buy a white and black striped runner rug for the middle of the room, to continue the flow of black and white which runs throughout the rest of the house.

*Paint the old dresser black. (Poor thing should probably be retired. It's been around.)

*More appealing window treatments. The boring black was simply to keep out the peeping toms:)

*Paint the floor black, and the walls a crisp white, giving it an industrial look.

Now, I won't do all of this, Im sure. The house is only a rental. One we may not be in much longer. But I have a lot of ideas so part of me is hoping our next house has enough bedrooms to create my dream closet. Like this one from Miss Gracious Living:

show some closet love

I have to admit that I am a little envious of these girls' closets. My husband, who I, lovingly, refer to as Monkey, and I have transformed our third bedroom into a walk-in closet. (Pictures to come), But I will tell you it doesn't quite look like these. Someday...ah...