My master closet is one of the only rooms in my entire home I haven't renovated since we bought it 5 years ago. For someone who loves fashion, and truly enjoys the experience of styling outfits every day, my closet was not a space I loved. It's small and has been a catch all space.

I've partnered with California Closets to share how I maximized my closet space and how you can too!


I had the pleasure of having a consultation with Jill from the Austin California Closet location to get my closet in to shape! I thought they only did closets but they offer customer organizational solutions throughout the home including pantries, media centers, mudrooms, garages and more! California Closets enhances the storage potential and purpose of even small spaces to maximize the efficacy of the home.

After Jill took a look at my closet, which Alex and I both share, she provided me with ways I could maximize my closet space and turn it into a space I enjoy. Here are her top tips!

PURGE:
Ask yourself, does this bring me joy? Have I worn this in the past 6 months? Year? Be brutal. Purging isn't a hard step for me as I tend to do it quite often, but I grabbed Alex and had him get rid of anything he doesn't want or wear anymore. I filled up two trash bags full of clothes and accessories we didn't want anymore. Some I will sell and most I will donate. I did have a few sentimental clothing items in my closet, and my consultant advised me to find another spot in my home for keepsakes and items I want to hand down to my children. It's ok if you're not ready to say goodbye to certain items, but it may not need to live in your closet especially when space is an issue.

Keep a bag in your closet for future donations, and as soon as you fill it up you donate it! This will help you to keep your closet clutter free as well as keep you honest about what you're finished with in your wardrobe.

REMOVE CLUTTER:
Is there an area in your closet that's a "hot spot" for clutter? For me it was the middle shelf on the back wall as well as the floor. I found myself throwing things in those spots when I couldn't find an exact place for it. I went through all of my clutter and was able to get rid of a ton, and find new places to store the rest. I actually removed the back shelf after my consultation because it really served no other purpose than to hold my junk.

GROUP:
Organize your wardrobe by grouping. For some you may want to organize by color, by use, or by specific items such as dresses in one area and shirts in another. Do what makes sense for you! Personally I group by item. First up are pants, dress shirts, casual shirts, cardigans/jackets, and dresses.

*Pro Tip* Purchase matching hangers, specifically the low profile velvet hangers. They are a GAME CHANGER for the overall look of your closet, and they take up much less space.

COORDINATE:
Now that you have your groups chosen, coordinate by color. Start with creams at the front and darker items at the back.

SHOES:
Shoes are hard for me to part with because most of mine are in pretty good shape and my shoe size hasn't changed in 15 years. It's ideal to not have to put your shoes on the ground, so utilize shelves if you have them.  Most of my winter shoes were sitting in boxes stacked up in the bottom corner of my closet, so I went out and bought small profile plastic boxes which have saved me a ton of space and are much prettier. Don't let your shoes pile up on the floor! Keep their quality preserved by either putting them on shelves, using a shoe organization system or storing them in clear shoe boxes. I also have a shoe organizer that hangs on my closet door and holds around 20 pairs of shoes! California Closets can work with whatever space you have, and can even design drawers and shelves to help manage your shoes better!

After my consultation I decided to remove the disgusting 80's shelf paper and paint the shelves and rods white. A few coats later and I felt like my closet looked 10 times better!  I brought in a mirror to make the space feel larger, and found new places to store my bags and sentimental items.



California Closets' professional design consultants will collaborate with you to create a custom design that meets your needs, reflects your personal style and works within your budget. They were extremely friendly and very knowledgable about ways to maximize my space, specifically on a tight budget. If you need help with your space I recommend reaching out for a free consultation!



I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.