5 Clothing storage strategies

If your closets are crowded and you are unable to find anything, you're not alone. Storage is a big problem for most people but these ideas will help you organize your closets and give your clothes room to breathe.

The best way to make room in your closet is, obviously, to get rid of the items that you don't wear. That — and learning to resist temptation when you see a sale — will go a long way towards freeing up some clothing storage space. Still, most of us would like some storage solutions beyond this. Try out these storage tricks and you'll have more space in no time.

1. Jacket? Rack it. Freestanding coat racks come in handsome designs and they can turn a small bit of floor space into vertical clothing storage. Park one by the door, in the mudroom or in the kids' bedrooms. With several hooks for jackets, scarves and hats, coat racks go a long way towards freeing up space in crowded coat closets.
2. Send them packing. Pull out any suitcases that aren't in current use and fill them with the kind of clothing you don't need day-in and day-out. You'll gain some elbow room in your closet and your luggage will take up no more space than it did before.
3. Spare the rod. To save closet-rod space, become a fan of the specialty hangers that are available at home stores, discount stores and organizing stores. Such hangers take up very little rod space, but they can accommodate several skirts, a dozen neckties, scarves or a score of belts, for instance.
4. Bin there, stored that. See-through, stacking bins are ideal for storing sweaters, other foldable clothing and accessories such as handbags and shoes. When you stack such bins, they take up vertical space — but minimal floor space. Since they have transparent sides, you can quickly identify the items that you want. Drawer-type access makes this all the easier.
5. Hang 'em high. Install high shelves in your bedroom to accommodate hats, purses or small storage bins. A shelf mounted 30 to 46 centimetres (12 to 18 inches) below the ceiling will be in no one's way, but it will provide some relief for an overstuffed bedroom closet.