Store oddly shaped items in special bins, use small boxes that fit into
tight spaces like pieces in a jigsaw puzzle, and keep everything from
crashing down onto your head.
The Challenge
For Micki Burns, a 30-year-old family therapist and postdoctoral fellow
in psychology, the hall closet in her loft served only as dead storage
for "miscellaneous junk," such as phone books, cleaning supplies, and an
old cooler filled with her dissertation research. Now, she says, "I can
use the space for day-to-day items and instantly find what I'm looking
for."
The Solutions
Gift closet Micki got a bin to keep wrapping paper from wrinkling. (It could also store tennis rackets or yoga mats.)
Vertical Gift Wrap Organizer, $10, see www.containerstore.com for store locations.
Hide and see Clear blanket bags keep out-of-season linens dust-free and easy to
locate when you need them. Clear Vinyl Blanket Storage Bag, $7,
www.containerstore.com.
Divide and hide A leaning tower of phone books and photo boxes was divvied up among
hanging shelves; handbags that used to spill out the door were stashed there too. Drawers hold small items, such as
scarves. Canvas 6-Shelf Sweater & Accessory Organizer, $17;
canvas drawers, $10 for two: Organize Everything,
www.organize-everything.com.
Bag it Micki gets out the door more quickly in the morning now that the pockets
of her shoe bag hold just about everything she needs for
the week, from water bottle and ID to keys and umbrella. 24-Pocket Vinyl Overdoor Shoe Bag, $15, the Container Store,
www.containerstore.com.
Downsize Micki now stores her dissertation materials in labeled canvas boxes;
small ones give easy access in tight spaces. Small
Natural Canvas Box, $16, the Container Store, www.containerstore.com.
Standardize Replace a mishmash of hangers with a row of wooden ones — an easy upgrade. Bumerang Hangers, $3.50 for eight, Ikea, www.ikea-usa.com.
Let there be light A battery-operated light in an unwired closet makes finding things easy.
Wall-mounted holders keep brooms from knocking you out when the door
opens. GE six-inch Fluorescent Closet Light, $9, Lowe's, 800-445-6937.
Crawford Broom Clips, $3 for two, Ace Hardware, www.acehardware.com for store locations.
