UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS

Just as important as any room in the home or, even more important for some people, is the closet. Most of us wish we had more closet space and the spaces we do have are just never large enough. We depend on these tiny “rooms” where we can store important items and keep them closed away from the rest of the home. We all appreciate wellorganized closet spaces and are always looking for good advice on how to keep our closets organized. It is a good idea to keep closets neat and conducive to convenience so we can find items when we are looking for something specific. There are countless websites and magazine features that offer organization advice for your linen, bedroom, hallway, laundry room and other closet in your home.

The first thing to be done when organizing a closet is to purge anything cluttering the space. Decluttering or getting rid of things you don’t need that just take up space is fundamental to organizing closet space. Start by clearing the shelves and discarding what is not needed and prioritizing what is left. The next step to organizing your closet is to choose the shelving or organizational device you want to use. There are hundreds of styles of organizers like shelves or compartment pieces for any closet in your home, and a selection at almost any good hardware store in Guam. What you have to determine is which organizer suits you best and will be one that you are able

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to use repetitively that you can maintain for years to come.

Wardrobe or bedroom closet

If you prefer your shoes in a hanging organizer to keep them off the floor to keep them away from pets, there are many to choose from and they are a quick internet search away. Storage bags and bags and that have the excess air vacuumed sealed out are useful to keep clothing from normal wear and tear if you wish to preserve certain garments like wedding gowns, costumes or other clothing. You can add shelves to offer more space for folded clothing items such as bulky sweaters that are heavy on hangers and take up too much room in drawers. Bedroom closet organizers come in varieties that can be specific for your preference. All you need to do is look around.

Linen closet

The hallway closet that you use to store bed sheets, towels, tablecloths, placemats, cloth napkins and other linens is one that is easier to keep organized since there are usually two shelves dedicated to everyday

use, and the other shelves are more seasonal. Your fancy tablecloth may only be used for holidays and special occasions, so these can be stored on higher or lower shelves with cloth napkins and other like items. Usually, these closets have shelving built in, however there are portable shelves that can be useful for these closets.

Coat closet

Many homes still come with a traditional coat closet adjacent to the front door, and these may be the ideal space for sports gear, beach mats, folding chairs, and patio cushions.

Storage closet

All-purpose storage closets are a lot of fun, because we don’t often go digging around in them unless we are looking for something specific and usually for a certain occasion or time of year. Holiday decorations are often stored in closets, and everyone gets a little more excited when they are in the storage closet at the onset of the holiday season, which begin in October with Halloween. These closets can be organized by season, and it helps to keep like things together and labeled so items are easily located.

Laundry and cleaning supplies closet

This closet houses all the cleaning supplies and cleansers plus appliances like the iron and vacuum cleaner. It helps to use shelving or a basket organizer in this closet to keep like items together. Keep laundry items in one area and cleansers and devices in another. Leave the most often used items in the center or top shelves that are easiest to reach and use lower shelves for items you don’t use often. Use your judgement based on how often you use the items in this closet, and you will be good to go. p