Even people with adequate physical storage space — including closets, pantries, and garages — may find that these spaces themselves can become the source of chaos. This is especially true if they are ill-designed. Are your closets stuffed to the max? Can’t find anything in your packed pantry? Then you might need a little professional help!

Closets by Design provides custom solutions for organization — including reach-in and walk-in closets, pantries, laundry spaces, home offices, and garage storage. We also provide all the accessories necessary to furnish a functional space — including cabinetry, shelving, cubbies, drawers, racks, jewelry trays, tilt-out hampers, and wall organizers. If you can imagine what your perfect space would be, we can build it. And if you cannot imagine what it needs to be? That is why we have professionals who can help you personally evaluate your comprehensive needs and what designs will best serve you.

If you are truly stuck, you might even want to make a call to us your first step in canceling the clutter in your home. Meanwhile, here are some tips to get you started.

Closets

If you have not done a thorough purge of your bedroom closet lately, it will make your decluttering project a little longer but more productive in the end. You will be able to really assess your space and what it lacks.

• Get rid of whatever you do not wear. To help you truly determine what you do not wear, try this trick. Face hangers in one direction and turn them around when you wear what is on them. After six months, clothes on hangers facing the original direction can be put in the donation pile.
• Hang tops and skirts over built-in shelves or drawers and hang long dresses and pants on higher rods where there is nothing underneath.
• Consider installing a system with slanted shoe shelves. A hanging shoe storage system is a temporary option, but shelves will help shoes last longer and keep them out of the way (yet on display).
• It is easy to make a mess if you do not have designated spots for smaller items, like ties, belts, and jewelry. Pros can install a tie drawer, jewelry drawer, and a sliding belt rack to help keep such items organized.
• Look for unnecessary items that may have intruded on the space, like unused sporting gear or electronics. Move these to garage or living room storage areas.

Pantry

You may turn your pantry inventory over quickly, but most of us have those jars and cans that seem to remain untouched.

• Remove everything from the pantry and purge! Check the expiration dates and toss everything that is past its prime. If you have food items that are still good, but you know you will never use them — consider donating to a local food pantry.
• After a quick wipe down, begin to put things back in an organized way. Clear containers and bins are helpful for corralling things by type, such as a bin for snack bars, one for chips, etcetera.
• Consider decanting pasta, rice, and cereal and baking items like flour and sugar for a more streamlined look.
• One of the benefits of having a custom pantry installed from Closets by Design is NOT dealing with wire shelving. It is so much easier to organize items on flat shelving.
• Some of the trends we are installing in home pantries include drawers with acrylic fronts so you can easily see what’s inside and wire baskets that pull out. These are great for storing vegetables.

Garage

If your car is in the driveway all the time because it will not fit in the garage, you are going to need a lot more than a broom and dustpan. Make a plan and pace yourself!

• Dedicate a full day or weekend to decluttering and organizing the garage. You can even make it a family project.
• Sort items into piles — Keep, Donate, Sell or Toss — with those “toss” items, be sure to identify the items that can be recycled.
• Keep items that you use frequently, such as pet leashes, within easy reach — perhaps on hooks by the door.
• Create zones for groups of things such as auto care, gardening, and sports equipment, so that like items are stored together.
• Place rarely used items, such as holiday decorations, on shelves or in cabinets. We install a line of extremely study cabinetry and shelving units specifically designed for garages.
• Tools like shovels and rakes as well as bicycles are best stored by hanging on the wall. Our slatwall system is perfect for these items. You can move the hooks around and even pop on baskets and bins to hold smaller items.

Imagine having a garage where there is also room for your car. Closets by Design can not only provide garage organizational solutions but also help you outfit custom work areas for carpentry or other hobbies.

Let Us Help!

Decluttering would be less of a chore for many people if they did not feel like they were just moving “stuff” from one place to another. Having a custom home organization system might seem like too much of a luxury, but quality, affordable options are available to you. Contact our professionals today for a free consultation.

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With toys, shoes, sports and art supplies, the kids are turning your palace into a pit…who you gonna call? Camp Kid Clutter Busters!

The pros at Closets by Design came up with some ideas to help you transform messy Madison and Junkyard Jason into mini Marie Kondos.

Helping You Contain the Clutter

We help people put their mess to rest every day – designing and installing custom closets, pantries, garages – you name it. People usually focus on the adult spaces – but by putting some effort into your kid’s closet and play spaces – you can ultimately cut down on the clutter around the entire house AND teach kids organization and responsibility at the same time.

Here are some of the helpful Camp Kid Clutter Busters tips for busy families.

Hang Time

Two sets of hanging rods doubles your hanging space. The lower rod allows a smaller child to reach their own clothes without help. The accessibility also allows kids to put their own clothes away on laundry day. This teaches them responsibility and organization at an early age. Store clothes your child doesn’t fit into yet or out of season items on the top rod.

Bin There, Done That

By adding some open shelves to your closet, the space can be transformed with decorative bins and baskets; key components of clutter control. Bins and baskets hold everything from clothes to toys. Children can easily pull these containers out of the closet and put them back at the end of play time.

Kids Kicks

Kids tend to kick their shoes off anywhere and everywhere. This makes finding those shoes difficult sometimes. Designate a specific spot on one of the open shelves to neatly store shoes. You can also store shoes in a bin or a basket. If the closet has a hinged door, utilize an over-the-door shoe organizer.

Clutter Command Center

If the closet space isn’t ideal for the ideas mentioned above, consider creating a free-standing clutter command center. These can be customized to fit a child’s needs. Lots of books? Add more bookshelves. Need a place to read those books? Add in a bench seat with storage underneath. Lots of Legos? Custom cubbies can store these trip hazards in a snap.

Win the Chore Wars

In addition to the design tips, Closets by Design’s Camp Clutter Busters includes ideas to help parents win the chore wars:

• Make cleaning a game! Set a timer on a task and have kids try to beat the clock. Or, have them ring a bell when they finish a chore.
• Create a cleanup chart. As they finish a task, have kids mark a check in the box. Or, let them fill in the box with fun stickers.
• Offer incentives. If the kids do their share of cleaning, allow them to have more screen time with their favorite electronic device. Or, let them choose what to have for dinner or what movie to watch for a family movie night.

Are you a parent in need of Camp Kid Clutter Busters? Save your sanity and space! Click here to contact Closets by Design today for a free consultation.

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1) Figure out what to toss before you move in

Moving provides a great opportunity to go through your wardrobe and figure out what stays and what goes; but, it’s especially important to do so before moving in with your significant other. A good rule of thumb is if you haven’t worn a piece of clothing in over a year, then you probably won’t wear it again. Label three large bins “Keep,” “Donate” and “Toss,” and separate the items in your closet accordingly. This will give you a chance to go through everything before the unwanted items reach the dumpster. For couples who already live together, this can be a perfect partner project. Instead of throwing out something on behalf of your spouse without his or her knowledge, sift through everything together.

2) Keep your closet tidy and it won’t feel so tiny

Keeping a closet clean and organized is an easy way to make it feel larger. Small storage solutions, such as sliding belt racks and jewelry drawers, provide simple opportunities to stash loose items. Adjustable shelves, cubbies and baskets m

ake it eas

y to store away articles of clothing, rather than allowing them to pile up on the floor. When everything has a place, there may be more room inside your tiny closet than you realize.

3) Create hiding spaces

No one needs to air their dirty laundry in public. Consider placing tilt-out hampers into custom closets to stash away laundry or keep dry cleaning items separated. Cabinet doors are also a great way to hide whatever doesn’t need to be out in the open but may be too large for a drawer.

4) Establish closet boundaries

Like it or not, you can’t share EVERYTHING — even if you are sharing a closet, you don’t have to share every shelf and every drawer. Dividing a closet into sections allows each partner to feel like he or she has a space of his or her own. Even if one person’s wardrobe takes up more than half the closet, drawing a line can help keep you both in check.

5) Partner up for a dream project

You might not already have your dream closet, but who says you can’t turn it into one? Whether your closet is a large walk-in or a small reach-in, Closets by Design’s Everyday, Classic and Regency Collections provide numerous styles and options. Creating a custom closet that’s the right fit for you and your spouse will prove beneficial in the end — and this is the perfect project for newlyweds learning how to live (and work) together. After all, two heads are better than one. But of course, in this case, it’s three heads since you’ll have the help of a Closets by Design consultant.

Learn more about Closets by Design, and creating custom storage solutions, by visiting closetsbydesign.com.

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Personalized Design Considerations

While your lifestyle will dictate what is in your closet, e.g., business suits, workout gear, and casual or formal wear, you have options for how to manage your wardrobe and design your closet. For instance:

• Shoes and boots: shelves, hanging bags, marked boxes or a shoe wall/shelves
• Folded sweaters/shirts/jeans: Shelves for stacking or pull-out drawers
• Pants: Fold-over hangers or full-length hangers
• Purses and hats: Stacking shelves or wall hooks
• Hangers: Color coded and space saving
• Individual garment bags or space bags for storage
• Accessory drawers for scarves, gloves, jewelry, sunglasses
• Belt and tie hangers
• Foot stool or ladder to reach high shelves
• One or two-tiered garment rods, valet rods
• Standing or tilt-out hampers
• Additional lighting

If you have a large walk-in closet or entire room, you may even consider the options of an island containing shelves or drawers, a storage bench or ottoman, dressing table, boudoir chair, full-length mirror, glass display cases, fancy chandelier, luggage storage, pullout packing table, wall-mounted or pullout ironing board, or a security drawer for valuables (check out the closets of the rich and famous!).

As you can see, there are many options to discuss with a design expert to help you achieve the most perfectly matched closet features specifically suited to you.

From Dream Design to Closet Completion

The time you spend with your Closets by Design consultant is the first step toward relieving the stress of closet and storage chaos. Complete organizational relief is in sight!

Once the design is finalized and all measurements are confirmed, your custom closet is built in our own state-of-the-art factory to ensure highest quality construction and best value. Each unit is built to your specifications and a Closets by Design installation team will install the units quickly and professionally.

All installers are bonded, licensed and insured employees of Closets by Design; we never send contract labor to your home. Most installations take just one day and can be accomplished within 7-10 days after final design agreement.

Don’t wait any longer to get organized! It’s as easy as a phone call. We also design storage systems for garage, home office, kitchen pantry, laundry, utility and hobby rooms and more.

Call 1-888-500-9215 to set up your free, in-home consultation or use the online form at http://closetsbydesign.com/ScheduleRequests.

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Most people view closets with dread, intending to “someday” get it all organized and neat. Imagine never again saying:

• I know I have a black evening wrap…where is it?
• Why are those hiking boots where my heels are supposed to be?
• Where are my new skinny jeans?

And the really big complaint—I don’t have anything to wear!

What Really Is In Your Closet?

Closets can sometimes become a catch-all for anything that doesn’t have a place. A visit to your bedroom closet should be a nice experience, it’s where you begin and end your day. An organized, useful closet can even help set your mood for the day. A well coordinated outfit that you pulled together easily can be a reaffirming way to start your day. Conversely, you can begin your day rushing out the door frustrated because you can’t find what you were looking for as you were getting dressed.

The 80/20 rule even applies to closets, in that we wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time, yet the “non-wears” take up 80% of our space, crushing, wrinkling and hiding the 20%.

You owe it to yourself to get your closet under control to maximize your wardrobe and your space. By filling your closet with clothes, shoes and accessories that you really do use and feel good wearing you are setting yourself up for a successful day.

Purging the 80% “non-wears”

The goal of downsizing is to end up with clothes and accessories that you like to wear, comfortably fitted into your space. Some of the reasons that we hold on to things have absolutely nothing to do with our actually wearing them.

• I got it on sale
• It was really expensive
• It was a gift
• I may need it someday
• I’m emotionally attached to it

None of these are good reasons for keeping something that you’re not going to wear. Instead, use these criteria for purging your wardrobe (be ruthless!):

• Do I love it?
• Do I ever wear it?
• Does it go with anything I have?
• Does it project the image I want to project?
• Is it comfortable to wear or is it a bad fit, itchy or scratchy?
• Do the shoes pinch my toes? Are the heels too high to walk in?
• Is it seasonal, should I pack it away?

If you haven’t worn something in a year, you probably won’t miss it. An incremental way to test if you will miss items is to move them to a box and if you think of it and retrieve it, keep it. If you don’t think of the items in the box for six months, get rid of it.

Don’t keep things intending to fit into them “someday.” By the time you do, they will be out of style or dingy with age. And if you never do fit into them, it’s depressing to have them just hanging there.

Don’t keep clothes and other items because of emotional attachment. Take a picture to keep the memory if it’s really important, or do a kitschy craft like a tee shirt quilt.

Donating your things to a favorite charity or thrift store can ease the feeling of “throwing out good stuff” or seemingly being wasteful. Your misfits can go on to lead a happy life in someone else’s closet. As you sort, set aside a “donations box” and use it liberally.

Anything that needs mending, dry cleaning or altering should be set aside. Get it wearable before returning it to the closet, or toss it into the donations box.

If you’re really struggling with separation anxiety, get a friend to help you sort through and give honest feedback on what works and what doesn’t in your wardrobe. (Then you can return the favor for her.)

Maintaining Control

Closet space has been called “prime real estate.” That’s why you want everything in your closet to be a valuable contributor to your wardrobe; it should both flatter and fit to earn its space. After downsizing, you will want to organize your closet for maximum convenience for everyday use.

• Keep your most often worn items to the front of racks, shelves and drawers.
• Group business or work clothes together for easy access and coordination.
• Evening or special event outfits can move to the back, in protective garment bags.
• Use belt or tie hangers for belts, scarves or ties.
• Use jewelry organizers to pull accessory sets together.
• Shoes should be viewable and accessible, on racks or in shoe bags.
• Keep your closet “seasonal.” Rotate out summer and winter items. For example, pack scarves, gloves and heavy coats in space bags with fabric softener sheets to keep them clean and fresh. Off season they can move to the garage or under-bed storage.

Keeping your clothing budget and closet under control is an ongoing process. To avoid the crammed, can’t-fit-one-more-thing-on-the-rod syndrome, consider the discipline that for every new item you bring in, one goes out. This helps curtail impulse buying since you have to remove a piece to allow for the new one. If you don’t love the new piece more that the old, you won’t buy it.

Maximizing Your Space

Whether you have a walk-in closet or a reach-in closet, you want to most effectively use every inch of space. Intelligent closet design will help create more space by conforming to the needs of your unique wardrobe, making a place for everything and creating a sense of beauty and order in your closet.

A custom-fit closet system designed for efficiency can add resale value to your home in addition to adding more storage in any space such as a garage or pantry. Your local Closets by Design offers free in-home consultation with a designer to help you maximize your results.

Visit www.closetsbydesign.com for more information.

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1. Reclaim the garage floor – The trick is to use the space on the garage walls to your advantage.  Toys such as golf clubs, tennis rackets and skates can be stored along the walls while bikes can be hung on hooks from the ceiling.  Rakes, shovels and other yard supplies can also be easily be organized on an interior wall.  Using this space wisely will not only help you to increase your storage space but make items easily accessible.
2. Cut the clutter – It’s amazing how many “things” you acquire over the years, and finding a place for each one is not always possible, or necessary.  It’s important to discard items you no longer want or need.  Sort through all of your tools and home maintenance supplies, and separate items into those you can sell, donate, throw away or recycle. A good rule of thumb is; if you haven’t used it in a year, you can probably get rid of it.
3. Sort and label – It’s not enough to simply get organized.  The real test is to stayorganized.  Labeling boxes and containers eliminates the frustration of rummaging through all of your belongings to find one specific item.  Put similar items into categories (i.e. tools, holiday decorations, etc.) so you will be able to maintain an efficient organizational system.
4. Safety first – Since you’re already sorting items, be sure to keep potentially hazardous chemicals together and locked.  It’s best to use a lockable tool chest or cabinet for extra caution. Also, make sure that any power tools with an on/off switch are stored securely out of children’s reach.
5. Increase storage with sturdy cabinets and shelving –Because paint cans, tools and other bulky items will be stored in the garage, it’s important that cabinet and shelving is sturdy enough to support the extra weight.  Not all cabinets are built the same and it’s important that you understand the construction behind your cabinet and the weight limitations.  A proper storage solution can organize your items and keep them out of site.  An important note when purchasing garage cabinets – make sure the doors will open when your car is parked in the garage.

About Closets by Design
Since 1982, Closets by Design has built a reputation as the nation’s leader in the closet organizing and storage remodeling industry. The company offers customers comprehensive solutions to all their organizational needs in a short and simple process by designing, building and installing custom home offices, closets, garage cabinets, wall units, laundries, pantries, wardrobe mirror doors and other home organization systems. Closets by Design offers a wide selection of finishes, accessories and hardware. There are currently 33 franchise locations serving major markets across the country. To schedule a FREE in-home consultation or inquire about franchise opportunities, please visit www.closetsbydesign.com or call 800-293-3744.

Media Contact/Photo Requests
Monica Rutkowski
847.945.1300 ext. 235
mrutkowski@fishmanpr.com

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1. Stop storing your seasonal clothes and get a Closet Organizer – It’s amazing how much more can fit into a closet that has an organizer system installed. Clothes, shoes and accessories for all seasons can fit neatly into one closet. No more searching through boxes under your bed or in the garage for something you “put away for summer” when everything can be at your fingertips.
2. Give your closet a fresh start – Once a year you should give your closet a complete cleaning; wash or vacuum the floor, dust the shelving and walls of your closet so your space is clean and fresh smelling. By committing to an annual cleaning, you are also committing to going through your belongings to decide what you really want to keep and what is ready to be discarded.
3. Sell, trade, or donate – Many people have tightened their budgets and people are finding new ways to make their money stretch farther. Sell clothes through on-line auction sites or a garage sale. Hold a Trading Party with girlfriends to acquire a “new” wardrobe without spending any money. Donate the remaining items to a tax-deductible charity.
4. Create an organizational system – Hang like-types of clothing together (i.e. shirts, pants, skirts, etc.) and make sure all articles are facing the same direction. Group them by color and from dark to light.
5. Avoid wire hangers – Use sturdy plastic hangers or wood hangers with clips for all items. Wire hangers tend to misshape clothes, and because most do not have groves to keep clothing from slipping off, you’ll spend extra time sorting and re-hanging items you find on the floor.

About Closets by Design
Since 1982, Closets by Design has built a reputation as the nation’s leader in the closet organizing and storage remodeling industry. The company offers customers comprehensive solutions to all their organizational needs in a short and simple process by designing, building and installing custom home offices, closets, garage cabinets, wall units, laundries, pantries, wardrobe mirror doors and other home organization systems. Closets by Design offers a wide selection of finishes, accessories and hardware. There are currently 33 franchise locations serving major markets across the country. To schedule a FREE in-home consultation or inquire about franchise opportunities, please visit www.closetsbydesign.com or call 800-293-3744.

Media Contact/Photo Requests
Monica Rutkowski
847.945.1300 ext. 235
mrutkowski@fishmanpr.com

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July 22, 2009 — Professional organization systems installed by Closets by Design are helping consumers across the U.S. get organized and the company’s professional designers offer up expert advice to help clients keep their closets uncluttered. Here are five simple tips from the pros that every consumer can use:

• An Operating System Isn’t Just for the Office – Organize your clothes by color or by casual to formal and then hang like-types of clothing together (i.e. shirts, pants, skirts, etc.).
• Make the Shoe Fit – Squeeze in more shoes per shelf by arranging pairs with one toe facing out, one toe facing in. If you like to keep your shoes in boxes, make sure you the label the original box or use clear storage containers.
• When Seasons Change, it’s Time to Rearrange – Rotate your fall & winter clothes with your spring & summer clothes. Store the out-of-season clothes in covered clothing racks in the attic or basement or flat storage boxes under your bed.
• If You Don’t Use It, Lose It – If you’re hanging onto that pair of jeans that will fit only if you lose 10 pounds, donate them. Once you shed the weight, you can buy a new, trendy pair. Get rid of stretched out bathing suits, worn out shoes, and that pair of pants you’ve been planning to alter for months now. Cutting the clutter will automatically make you more organized and efficient.
• It’s Not Your Closet, It’s You – Get into a routine of straightening up your closet the same time each day. Whether its before work, after work, or before you go to bed, don’t wait to put your shoes away or hang your clothes until you can’t see your closet (or bedroom) floor.

About Closets by Design
Since 1982, Closets by Design has built a reputation as the nation’s leader in the closet organizing and storage remodeling industry. They offer customers comprehensive solutions to all their organizational needs in a short and simple process by designing, building and installing custom home offices, closets, garage cabinets, wall units, laundries, pantries, wardrobe mirror doors and other home organization systems. Closets by Design offers a wide selection of finishes, accessories and hardware. There are currently 33 franchise locations serving major markets across the country. To schedule a FREE in-home consultation or inquire about franchise opportunities, please visit www.closetsbydesign.com.

Media Contact/Photo Requests
Monica Rutkowski
847.945.1300
mrutkowski@fishmanpr.com

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