With the holidays fast approaching, it might be a good time for you to inventory your closet and see how you can better organize the space to make room for the new gifts you’re sure to receive.  The National Association of Professional Organizers says that there is not any one way to get your closet into shape so that you can carefully store all of your belongings; it’s a personal matter that must be addressed with your own preferences for style and trends in fashion.  It’s best to have a plan in mind before you begin buying new products that will increase the space that you have; begin with an inventory of your closet and make changes where you can in preparation for your new wardrobe additions.

The first step is to empty your closet completely so that you can sort your personal clothing and shoes into categories.  Have a pile for keeping, another pile for items that are misplaced, and a final pile to donate to a local charity or to store for your annual yard sale.  Relocate the items that don’t belong in your closet, box up the donations, and then see what you have left that will need closet space.  You should take inventory of your seasonal items as well so that you can put them into another closet, perhaps upstairs, so that you can rearrange your closet as the seasons change.

You’ll find a closet organization system to fit whatever budget you may have.  You can choose from custom wood to coated wire to shelf-and-bracket systems that all do the same thing: organize your clothes so that they won’t become wrinkled or look poorly maintained.  The most versatile and economical choice is the coated wire system.  You can easily see what you have and the air inside your closet will be able to circulate freely.  These systems are extremely durable, can be adjusted to your personal preference, and can accommodate baskets and bins for versatility.

Once you have the system installed, you should take great care in hanging your clothing onto plastic hangers so your investments will be protected.  Make sure that shirts and blouses have the top button buttoned so that wrinkles won’t form and the piece of clothing will hang properly.  This will keep your clothes looking great and will decrease the amount of ironing that you have to do before you wear something.

Once your gifts are opened and your new shirts are unboxed and the new sweaters are ready to be stored, you can use your new storage system to adequately and safely store your wardrobe.  Just a few hours of planning what you want, sorting what you have, and installing what you need can make your appearance crisper and more professional looking.