Closet TO BOOT CAMP

WELCOME
TO
Closet BOOT CAMP
Let’s face it: Your closets hold a ton. Perhaps a ton too much.
It’s time to rein in the excess—from last season’s stilettos
and the kiddos’ soccer gear to barely used guest towels and
Grandma’s fine china—and bring order to the chaos
BY KARI MOLVAR REPORTED BY EMILY HSIEH ILLUSTRATED BY LAURA LJUNGKVIST
InStyle / MARCH 2015
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Your worst
closet nightmare?
“Jamming too
much stuff
in there,” says
Sabrina Soto,
decorator and
founder of
Casaandcompany
.com. A better
solution is to nix
the clutter and
make room for
what you love.
Then it’s just a
matter of keeping
the pieces you
wear most within
arm’s reach and
(neatly) stowing
the rest.
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GET
INSPIRED
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Treat this area as
a sanctuary—that’s
the motto of Lisa
Adams, L.A. Closet
Design’s founder,
who dreamed up
the streamlined
space shown here.
Even if you don’t
have a walk-in,
little upgrades can
make a huge difference. The key is
to design a serene
zone that’s suitable
for tasks like
putting together
outfits, trying on
shoes, and moving
the contents of one
purse into another.
MAKE IT APPEAR
A LOT BIGGER
When you place a
mirror at eye level
inside your closet,
it creates the illusion
of a much larger
room. Choose a
mirror that’s at least
18 inches wide.
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THE
VIRTUAL
ORGANIZER
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1 TUCK IT AWAY
Store off-season
clothing in matching
large boxes at the
top of your closet.
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RAISE THE BAR
Give your closet a boutique feel by installing a
valet rod ($17; wayfair
.com). Use it to hang
clothes for the next day
or plan ensembles for a
trip. Pick a retractable
version that pulls out
only when needed.
InStyle / MARCH 2015
2
HAVE A
COMMAND STATION
Swapping out your tote
for a teeny cross-body
style? Designate a pursechanging drawer for outof-rotation essentials
(we’re looking at you, mini
flatiron) so you’ll know
where to find ’em later.
3
SHOW OFF
YOUR SHOES
Establish visual harmony
by arranging shoes by
heel height (from pumps
down to ballet flats) and
clipping tall boots to a low
tension rod with hanging
shapers ($10/pair; bed
bathandbeyond.com).
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4 BE ACCESSORY-SAVVY
Don’t let shoes and bags fall into a heap on the floor.
Sort them into two canvas cubbies. Bit of a boot
hoarder? Then you’ll love Organize-It’s Transformer
Adjustable unit ($60; organizeit.com) for tall styles.
Tore Trunk Canvas
in Grey, Bigso, $42;
aifriedman.com.
THINK LIKE A
DECORATOR
Simple touches like a
plush rug with a bold
pattern make the
space inviting. Add
to that cozy vibe by
filling a bare corner
or shelf with a vase
or framed photo.
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2 PUT JEWELRY
IN ITS PLACE
Keep baubles in stackable trays that you
can browse through
each morning; lined
ones prevent metals
from tarnishing.
Stackable jewelry trays,
Wolf Designs, $23 each;
wolfdesigns.com.
Handbag cubby and shoe cubby, $49 each, Container Store;
containerstore.com.
3 DIVIDE AND
CONQUER
A tall dresser in the
center of your closet
neatly splits your
hanging space in half,
so you can separate
workwear from weekend clothes. Upgrade
a basic unit by switching out the hardware
for luxe drawer pulls.
Hemnes chest, Ikea, $149;
ikea-usa.com. Knobs and
handles, Nest Studio, $55–
$60; nest-studio-home.com.
BONUS TIP!
FRESHEN UP
Revitalize your shoe-storage
units with scented drawer liners.
Choose a plain neutral rather than
a busy floral to maintain a zen vibe.
Drawer liners, Hermès, $60/5 sheets;
hermes.com.
Does that
jumpsuit
fit you well?
Are those
leather
pants workappropriate?
When you
need a
totally honest
opinion on
what to ditch,
donate, or
save, consider
a Skype
session
with Geralin
Thomas,
founder of
Metropolitan
Organizing.
You try on
your pieces,
stand in front
of the screen,
and she’ll
tell you what
flatters, what
has to go,
and what you
have way
too much of
(ironic Tshirts? Not.
One. More).
She’ll even
help you
plan outfits
for events
and trips
($100/hour;
metropolitan
organizing
.com).
InStyle / MARCH 2015
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INSPIRED
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Beware of falling
objects like rogue
ballet shoes and
misplaced sports
equipment. “Your
children’s closet is
where you really
need to use your
imagination to
make the area fun
and mess-free,”
says Barbara Reich,
owner of Resourceful Consultants.
If the space feels
playful, a child will
be more inclined
to put things back
where they belong.
Imagine that!
It can be a game
to keep toys and
clothes in place.
CREATE
A GALLERY
Kids will love shelves
filled with toys, artwork, and books. Just
observe the magic rule
of design: Pick a consistent pattern or color
to carry through with
storage boxes or bins.
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THE
COOLEST
WAY TO
CONSIGN
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Even if your tiny
tot has an equally
micro closet, there
are plenty of
options for tricking
it out and tidying it
up, says home-style
expert and television host Emily
Henderson. Go for
a mix of concealed
and open storage,
and above all else,
leave square footage for growth
spurts. “Kids
grow—a lot,” says
Henderson. “Invest
in tension rods that
can be adjusted
to accommodate
clothes of various
sizes and lengths.”
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2 CONTAIN
THE CHAOS
Boxes on upper shelves
are ideal for items you
don’t need daily; oversize bins on the floor
are perfect for tossing
in toys and laundry.
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CONQUER
CLUTTER
Invest in drawer dividers to prevent socks
and small accessories
from going AWOL. You
can even install a lock
on one pullout so
special mementos are
safe from tiny hands.
InStyle / MARCH 2015
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SEE THINGS
CLEARLY
With small wire drawers, it’s easy to find
that favorite T (bonus
for you: no more
clothes dumped on
the floor). Larger units
can hold shoes and
sports necessities.
3
STEP IT UP
Place a cheerful yet
sturdy stool nearby so
cuties can reach
what’s needed on
their own—and get a
boost when it’s time
to stash toys and
clothes back in their
respective places.
4
MAKE IT A
HANGOUT ZONE
Mount a wipe board
on the wall so kids can
doodle while you
straighten up. Have an
unused corner? A beanbag chair is a comfy
place to read while the
grown-ups multitask.
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1 ADD A
HAPPY PRINT
Hang a piece of
framed artwork,
a paper poster,
or a masterpiece of
your child’s own
making on the back
wall of the closet.
Choose a simple
design with bright
pops of color to
create feel-good
vibes without
sacrificing valuable
shelf space—it
costs a lot less than
wallpapering.
Hello Sunshine
by Wayne Pate
screen print, Serena
& Lily, $250; serena
andlily.com.
Pop Up tote, Pottery Barn,
$19; potterybarnkids.com.
Hamper, Pehr Designs,
$65; pehrdesigns.com.
DIY
idea!
Malm chest, Ikea, $149;
ikea-usa.com.
3 SIMPLIFY YOUR MORNINGS
Glue wooden letters onto hanger handles to represent the days of the week so kids can build their ABC
skills and pick each day’s outfit the night before.
Velvet hangers, AmazonBasics, $15/30; amazon.com.
4 OMBRÉ A
DRESSER
Go from drab to downright dazzling by painting a chest of drawers
with graduated colors.
Buy 8-ounce sample
paint cans of varying
shades of the same hue
($3 each; homedepot
.com). This makes
choosing light to dark
tones in a color family
a cinch, and nothing
goes to waste since
you have only a small
surface to cover.
BONUS
TIP! GET
HOOKED
Install bright hooks on
the back of the door in
a grid pattern. It looks
rad, and it’s a handy
place to hang up coats.
Coat hooks, Merkled
Studio, $16 each;
allmodern.com.
Schlepping
bags to
the resale
store: so not
fun. Enter
Liketwice
.com, which
will send
you a bag
with prepaid
postage to fill
up with gently used
clothing and
handbags
from highend and
midlevel
brands (think
Ann Taylor,
Banana
Republic,
BCBG Max
Azria, and
J. Crew),
and then
make you a
cash offer
based on
what can be
resold. It’ll
donate the
rest to
Goodwill
or return it
all to you
for a $5 fee.
The site even
provides a
donation
receipt for tax
deductions.
InStyle / MARCH 2015
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THE CLOSET
WHISPERERS
A place for
everything and
everything in its
place? Might as
well make this
your mantra for
organizing the
pantry. Style and
efficiency expert
Jeffrey Phillip
recommends
creating a road
map with labels so
everyone in the
house knows where
things go. Also
key? Removing
expired goods
regularly. “Daylight
saving time is a
good benchmark
for when to take
stock,” he says.
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INSPIRED
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A gorgeous pantry
is like an invitation
to cook and
entertain—all the
more reason to
spruce it up a bit.
“Just because
it’s a storage space
doesn’t mean you
have to fill every
inch,” says Jill
Pollack, designer
and host of Consumed on HGTV
Canada. Instead,
strike a balance
by putting your
beautiful items on
display and creating a neat arrangement of your
daily essentials.
POP THE PLATES
Rather than hide china
and stemware in a
closet (or worse, in a
packing crate), think of
them as jewelry for the
pantry and show them
off. Painting the walls
and shelves gray makes
white pieces stand out.
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1 DECANT STAPLES
Avoid a hodgepodge of variously shaped grocerystore packages by transferring snacks, cereals,
and pasta into clear seal-top containers. They
stack easily, and food will stay fresh longer.
2 SORT
YOUR SPICES
Overcrowding? Major
pantry fail. Use vertically tiered racks to
keep all the containers
in plain sight.
Steel Pop containers, Oxo, $17–$23; oxo.com.
Metropolitan Rack,
Dean & DeLuca, $75;
deandeluca.com.
4 PULL OUT POTS
Maximize your storage for pots, pans,
and mixing bowls with portable drawers, and
stow lids in long, horizontal organizers.
WEIGH OPTIONS
Place heaviest items
(crates, pet food,
vino) below deck. Get
a wine rack that keeps
labels visible so you
can grab that Sancerre
tout de suite.
20" pull-out cabinet organizer, Simplehuman, $59;
containerstore.com.
Trifecta rack, Oenophilia,
$35; amazon.com.
3 PUT A
LABEL ON IT
Edge each shelf in
colorful write-on
tape so you can
note what belongs in
every space.
Washi tape, MT,
$4 each; mt-tape.us.
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AVOID DISH
DISASTERS
Shelve plates where
you can reach them so
there’s no worry about
dropping a dozen dishes
from atop a step stool.
Save high storage for
vases since you don’t
need 12 at a time.
InStyle / MARCH 2015
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ENTERTAIN
WITH EASE
Keep an area free of
clutter to use while
hosting. For parties,
stock simple appetizers
(crackers, nuts, olives),
bottled water, and wine
that you can whip out
at a moment’s notice.
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GO VERTICAL
A single well-placed
design fix can transform a pantry’s entire
storage potential.
Installing vertical shelf
dividers for cutting
boards, cooling racks,
and baking sheets
maximizes space.
4
GET IN THE ZONE
Drawers can be organized by meal, container type, or even
family member. The
only rule is to find a
system you can stick to.
Place dividers inside
to hold loose packets
and condiments.
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BONUS TIP!
CHALK IT UP
Use chalkboard paint on
the inside of the pantry
door, then jot down what
you need as soon as it
runs out. Snap a smartphone pic of the list before heading to the store.
Chalkboard paint in Charcoal, RH Baby & Child, $18/
quart; rhbabyandchild.com.
Hiring a
designer to
redo your
closet might
be a stretch,
but you can
make your
budget go
far with
Organized
Living’s new
Select Your
Own tool.
Choose the
type of closet
you want
to tackle and
enter its
measurements. The
site then generates several
predesigned
spaces, complete with
products that
would fit
your framework and suit
your needs.
Once you
pick your
favorite, you
can purchase
the recommended
items individually or
opt to snag
the whole
shebang in
one sweep
(packages
start at $117;
organized
living.com).
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CLOUD OF
CLOSETS
GET
REAL
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Tiny-linen-closet
woes often go
like this: “Nothing
is folded. It’s
overstuffed.
It’s hard to
access, and things
get lost,” says
organizational
guru Alejandra
Costello. “The
reality is that
you want this
space to feel
stress-free.”
Consider this
your action plan
for making tight
spaces highly
efficient (and
attractive too).
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GET
INSPIRED
TAKE
INVENTORY
No chance of a
closet feeling elegant
with ratty old towels
hanging around. Ditch
what you don’t need
or like, and make a
list of what you should
restock pronto.
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The secret to setting a stylish
scene in this multi­
purpose space?
It’s all about maintaining a sense of
consistency and
relaxed order, says
Ginny Snook
Scott of California
Closets. So say
sayonara to mismatched towels
and Costco overflow. Instead,
focus on grouping
like items together
and stacking
similar hues on
the same shelf.
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2 SORT AND LABEL
Organize sheet sets by size in tall cotton baskets
placed at eye level since you’ll need these most
often. Another option? Gather your sets together
and store everything in the matching pillowcase.
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CATEGORIZE
THE CHIC WAY
Put similar-size linens
together for a tidy effect (all king flat sheets
in one stack, all pillowcases in another). Affix
labels underneath each
grouping to quickly
find what’s needed.
InStyle / MARCH 2015
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FOLD IT WELL
Streamline shelves by
placing all linens in the
same direction, with
the neat crease facing
out. Keep stacks to a
reasonable size: For
bulky towels, limit your
piles to four each to
prevent an avalanche.
3
Striped closet bins, Great Useful Stuff, $22–$25;
greatusefulstuff.com.
PLAN FOR (AND
PAMPER) GUESTS
Stash a set of sheets
and a quilt in a nylon
bag, labeled by bed
size. Then tie a ribbon
around a set of guest
towels so you always
have overnight essentials at the ready.
4
BAG IT UP
Keep miscellaneous
items, like bath mats,
shower curtains, and
extra sheet sets, in
a zippered bag on the
floor. Everything is
within reach when
needed but otherwise
out of your way.
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1 SHOW TOILETRIES THE DOOR
An over-the-door shoe
rack is a good place
for small products
(cotton swabs, toothpaste, and razors).
Stow larger bulk items
(toilet paper, shampoo,
and body washes) on
a lower shelf.
Over-the-door
organizer, the Macbeth
Collection, $17; bedbath
andbeyond.com.
4 BE A BASKET CASE
Place small towels and washcloths in lined baskets
to prevent snags. No need to fold everything neatly,
as the edges won’t be on display. Roll large towels
into cylinders for a spa-like feel.
Willow baskets, Cost Plus World Market, $18–$25;
worldmarket.com.
3 CHOOSE A BRIGHT
BACKGROUND
Jewel-toned paint on
the wall makes linens
pop so it’s easier to distinguish between various neutral-hued sets.
Aura paint in Sunshine
2021-30, Benjamin Moore,
$68/gallon; benjamin
moore.com for stores.
BONUS TIP!
SHED SOME LIGHT
Keep tabs on what’s
inside your space from
anywhere in the room
by mounting remotecontrol-operated LEDs
near the ceiling.
Battery-operated light
kit, Lamps Plus, $25/2;
lampsplus.com.
DOING YOUR OWN CLOSET REVAMP? Tweet us a picture @InStyle using
#closetbootcamp for a chance to be featured in an upcoming issue
Even the
most organized space
can’t hold
everything.
That’s where
MakeSpace
Air comes in.
Pack up what
you don’t
have room for
(old books,
that fondue
set) in bins
sent to you
with prepaid
shipping
labels. The
service will
snap shots of
your stuff,
prep an
inventory
list you can
access 24/7,
then store
everything in
its secure
facility. Want
something
back? Just
submit a
request online
and your
items will
arrive in a few
days. Shipping
is gratis, and
the monthly
storage fee
starts at $25
(makespace
.com/air).