It’s gotten so difficult to shop for significant others in recent years that many households are skipping gifts altogether. Call us old-fashioned, but we still love receiving something special during the holidays. Even better, we have some great ideas for how you can surprise that special someone in your life.

Instead of racking your brain trying to think of the perfect gift for your partner, you should seriously consider giving them somewhere to put all those incredible gifts!

We’re talking about upgrading your storage space for the holidays with a new closet, pantry, or organizational system to bring peace on Earth to your home — and your relationship!

Find out how you can win this holiday season by giving the gift of organization!

Give Them the Closet They’ve Always Dreamed Of

It’s been reported that people will give up some wild things to have more space in their closets. Thankfully, you don’t have to make any drastic sacrifices to upgrade your closet with Closets by Design.

Even without a full closet remodel, there are all kinds of changes you can make that can maximize your space to make your closet seem bigger and more efficient.

Not only do people want more space in their closet, couples also fight about sharing closet space. A custom closet system could be just the thing to give your partner the space they deserve. It might even improve your relationship!

It has been shown that a tidier home leads to a happier relationship. Maybe some organization is just the spark your relationship needs. See how you can upgrade your closet this holiday season to give your partner a surprise that keeps on giving.

Install the Perfect Pantry for the Foodie in Your Life

If you or your partner love cooking, baking, or just eating, then you’ve probably given plenty of kitchen gadgets and cookbooks as gifts. These can be thoughtful, but what if you already have a stand mixer with too many attachments?

Instead of adding more clutter to the kitchen, you could find a way for your partner to store and organize all their stuff! If there’s one thing that foodies love, it’s an organized kitchen with everything at arm’s reach. The same goes for your pantry.

Consider adding custom shelving solutions to your pantry to find the perfect place for ingredients, spices, and more. Improving your pantry and kitchen storage is a terrific way to make this room one of the coziest and well-organized rooms in your house. That’s not to mention finding a place to put all those holiday sweets and treats!

A Place to Put Those Special Holiday Bottles

If the market trends are to be believed, then there’s a good chance that many people may be giving out a different kind of holiday cheer for gifts this year. Alcohol sales are up more than 25 percent, and sales traditionally double during the holidays. With so much cheer flowing around the table, where are you going to keep it all?

Even the nicest and most well-meaning bottles take up space on the shelf. If you plan on saving some of the nicer bottles from friends and family, then you’re going to need a place to store them.

If it’s a particularly rare or valuable bottle, you may want to show it off in a special light. Installing a custom wine rack and organization system is a wonderful way to store your wine. It also lets you add much-needed organization to show off that special bottle for your holiday feast.

Schedule Your Consultation to Make Your Season Bright!

Do you have a special someone in your life that could use a new closet? Give them the gift of organization to simplify their life during a stressful time and help them go into the new year with style!

Schedule your free consultation today and learn how you can give a gift that will keep on giving long after the holidays are done.

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So many decorations, so little space! If you think outside the box, then you won’t need to store as many things inside a box! Here are some ideas to keep all your holiday trimmings under control.

Decide Before You Buy

When buying decorations, ask yourself this question: “Where am I going to put this when the holidays are over?” Decide where you will store the items before you buy them.

Sneaky Swaps

What everyday items can you make a few tweaks to and use for the next holiday? For example, instead of buying Christmas-themed pillows, cover your regular pillows with holiday slipcovers.

Be Transparent

While storage containers come in a variety of cool colors, it is best to stick with transparent containers. This way you can easily see what is inside each box without having to open them. It will save you time and a potential mess.

Name that Item

If you can’t afford to buy new see-through storage boxes, buy inexpensive label stickers to attach to your containers. Instead of simply marking a box “Christmas” include details as to what is in the box that you might want to use for other holidays, such as “tree ornaments or Christmas lights.” This way, the next time you go to decorate, you’ll be able to easily see what items you are looking for.

Decoration Donation

When you pull out your decorations for the season, go through them and get rid of what you no longer want. You can donate them to a thrift store. There’s no use continuing to store things you never use!

Other Fun Decoration Storage Ideas:

• Wrap string lights around a hanger to keep them from getting tangled.
• Hang artificial wreaths in drawstring garbage bags.
• Store fragile ornaments in plastic cups to keep them from getting crushed.
• Make use of used tissue paper from gift wrappings to wrap up decorations
• Place small ornaments in egg cartons.
• Put bead garland in a water bottle to keep it under control.
• Place wrapping paper rolls in a garment bag and hang it in a closet.

Gift of Organization

The above tips can help a bit, but to truly keep your holiday decor under control, consider giving yourself the gift of custom organization from Closets by Design – whether it’s in a closet, a garage, or a utility room. Custom shelves give you a spot to keep boxes and bins. Drawers can be ideal for small decorations. We can even customize drawers with clear drawer fronts so you can see what’s inside from the outside.

Click here to schedule your free in-home consultation. We can look at the items you want to store, talk with you about your objectives, and assess your existing space and create storage for your holiday decorations and heirlooms.

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Although the holiday rush can get overwhelming, there’s lots you can do to make sure things run smoothly without sacrificing your sanity. Pour yourself a cup of spiced apple cider, settle into your favorite armchair with a paper and pen, and begin mapping out your game plan using our tips below.

Start With a System
First, create a system for managing all of the holiday details, from holiday recipes to your shopping list and budget. We love this holiday binder idea for keeping everything in one place. It might take some time to put the binder together, but once you do, you’ll be able to store it on a bookshelf and reference it year after year.

Next Up: The Pantry
Now that you have your recipes in mind, it’s time to do some holiday meal planning. Save yourself from endless trips to the grocery store by writing out the ingredients you’ll need for main dishes, side dishes, desserts, drinks and snacks. Next, take an inventory of what you do and don’t have on hand in your pantry. As you visit the grocery store in the coming weeks, start stocking up on anything you need.

Don’t forget to include extras of anything you know you’ll run out of quickly, such as sugar, flour and oils. It’s also a good idea to check with guests about any dietary restrictions so you can do your best to accommodate them when they visit. In the meantime, you also can set aside a bag of canned goods to donate to a local food bank.

Are you in need of a custom solution to organize your pantry? We have a variety of space-saving, attractive options to suit your needs.

Keep Them Entertained With an Organized Media Center
As you and your guests gather to play games, sip cocoa and watch movies and sports, you’ll want a comfortable space where everyone can relax. An organized media center makes it easy for family and guests to locate favorite movies and games. Meanwhile, it keeps them occupied and out of the kitchen as you’re busy preparing meals!

Prepare Guest Rooms
Whether your guests are staying in a spare bedroom or on a pull-out sofa, they’ll need a place to store their belongings while they’re visiting. Consider clearing out a section of a closet, getting rid of any excess clutter, and preparing extra towels and washcloths for your guests. An extra storage trunk or cabinet is a great way to keep items organized and accessible. Your guests will feel right at home!

Set Up a Gift-Wrap Station
Having a dedicated space for gift wrap, boxes, ribbon, tape, scissors and other supplies makes wrapping a cinch. Rather than having to clean up and put away materials after wrapping a gift or two, you can simply keep everything in easy reach. Check out our great ideas for a hobby center with a built-in gift-wrap station.

Encourage Everyone to Pitch In
Many hands make light work! Encourage your family members to pick up after themselves throughout this hectic time. If everyone does their fair share of tidying up, your home will stay not only orderly, but welcoming and cozy as well.

Last but not least, remember to take time to enjoy this precious time with loved ones. If you need an extra pair of helping hands to get your home prepped for the holidays, please contact us to schedule a free in-home design consultation. We have lots of great solutions to help you stay organized all year long.

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Step 1: Plan, Plan, Plan

A few minutes of careful planning can save you hours of work later on. Ask yourself the important questions. What items will you need the most this holiday season? They should be easy to see and reach. Are there any items you only use from time to time? Things you want to keep away from tiny hands? While you are planning, keep your daily habits in mind. If your pantry isn’t easy to use, then odds are, your organization efforts won’t stick.

Step 2: Install Space-Saving Shelving

Add rolling shelves to deep pantries so you can store cans and jars all the way in the back. Custom shelving can create spaces for oddly shaped items. Horizontal cubbies are great for cutting boards or baking pans. If you want to maximize your storage space, take a look at our custom pantry options!

Step 3: Organize Your Food Into Fun Containers

Look for clear containers to store your food. These let you see when supplies are running low, so you can restock before a holiday meal.

Give these creative containers a try:

Tall glass jars for pasta

• Plastic tubs for flour, sugar and rice
• Wire baskets for potatoes, bread, onions and more
• Lined baskets or wooden boxes to hold heavier items like cans, olive oil or pasta sauce
• Rolling boxes on the floor for heavy, bulky items

Step 4: Get Rid of Bulky Boxes

Boxes take up space you can’t afford to lose! Pull things like cereal and crackers out of their boxes and store them in baskets instead. Alternately, put binder clips on those bags and hang them from hooks.

Step 5: Label Everything!

Good labels help you and your family keep things organized, which means you can actually find your ingredients when it’s time to get cooking. Custom labels add some personal flare.

Try some of these unique labels:

• Chalkboard paper makes for creative and rewritable labels
• Print out labels on sticker paper for full-color designs
• Chalkboard or whiteboard paint is great for wooden boxes
• Write on clothespins for movable labels
• Magic decals are dishwater-safe; use this tutorial to make them

Step 6: List Space Inside the Pantry Door

Paint the inside of your pantry doors with chalkboard or whiteboard paint. Use this writable space to plan holiday meals and make grocery lists early so you can buy food on sale. You save money and have peace of mind, knowing your pantry is well-stocked and ready for the holiday festivities to begin!

We are always ready to help you get organized! Call 1-888-500-9215 or a location near you or go online to www.closetsbydesign.com to see our virtual showrooms and to find a designer near you.

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