Getting organized doesn’t have to be hard. Often times we hear from clients that they just don’t know where to start. Well, we’re here to help!

Recently, CNN reported 10 tips for organizing your closet from MYHOMEIDEAS.com. You can view the whole article here, but basics can be be found below.

1. Clear it out – This will take some time, but it’s the best way to start. Go through your clothes, shoes, handbags, etc. and sort it by what you wear and what you can get rid of. You might even find some things you forgot about! Consider donating items to a charity or Goodwill/Salvation Army to help others can get a tax deduction. You might also want to consider selling some items – Craig’s List is a good place to start.
2. If the shoe fits – How are your shoes organized? Are they kept in shoe boxes cluttering up and taking up your space? Consider shoe racks or purchasing transparent plastic shoe boxes so they are easier to find and access.
3. Measure up - Now that your wardrobe is smaller, it’s time to plan the layout of your closet. Measure the space you have, making sure to utilize backs of doors, floor space, and all interior walls. Hang shoe racks on the back of your closet door. Classic belt hangers with multiple hooks are also a good solution for hanging camisoles, bras, or scarves.
4. Get hung up – Hangers are one of, if not the, main components in any organized closet. Believe it or not there are a variety of types for different items. Make sure you’re using the correct one – padded, wood, etc.
5. No sweat – Fold items such as sweaters and sort them by color. This will avoid sagging and stretching and make them easy to locate. Since we live in Florida, you might consider doing the same with t-shirts as you probably have more of them.
6. The eyes have it – keep your primary items at or below eye level for easy locating. Labeled boxes make excellent tools for storing swimsuits, scarves and other smaller seasonal items. They can be rotated as the weather changes.
7. Changing seasons – while not a huge concern in Florida, we do have cooler weather in the beginning of the year. If you still don’t have enough room in your closet after sorting it, consider separating your winter wear from items you use the rest of the year and storing them in a separate space or air tight, condensed container.
8. Linen closets – A space-saving trick anyone can use, store folded sets of bed linens inside one of the set’s pillowcases. You might also group same-size sheet sets together on shelves.
9. Storing table linens – Tableclothes are best stored hanging from a pant or skirt hander in your closet. They should always be cleaned and ironed after each use.
10. China and crystal – While our fine serving dishes and glasses are beautiful they often take up a lot of room. However, since they aren’t used frequently try to find a place in the dining room, spare closet or other room where they can be stored during the year. Use coffee filters between each place and bowl prior to stacking and be sure to store crystal upright and with ample space between glasses to avoid chipping.