The coat closet seems to exist simply to shove our coats in and close the door as quick as possible. It feels like our only option is to live with this disorganized beast. That is not the case.

Purge

Pack and store unnecessary items in your garage, attic or locker. Rollerblades, scuba gear, sandals, baseball caps, random beach paraphernalia, these can all be purged!

Make the Hard Decisions

How many pairs of shoes are there? Does one particular family member have more than the rest? (You know where I’m going with this). Relocate them to your bedroom closet. We’ll deal with that space later. Keep only the shoes you wear regularly.

Look at bags. Repeat the process. Then coats. Scarves. Mittens. Hats. Be tough, you’ll make it through.

Start at the Bottom

Invest in at least two things:

1. Rubber mat the width and depth of the closet floor.
2. Shoe rack half the width of the closet.

The tray protects your closet floor and makes cleaning mud a cinch. The rack keeps shoes organized and allows them to dry faster.

Now Look Up

There should be a rod in your closet. Check for hooks. If there are none, install hooks for your bags and scarves along the wall, a little below rod height. Ensure they are strong enough to hold that weight.

Look Way Up

That shelf is useful in three ways:

1. Baskets – the more storage the better and baskets make it easy.
2. Bulky items – I find this is the only place I can store rollerblades.
3. Boxed items – board games, keepsakes boxes, your winter clothes in a box; if it fits, it sits.

Turn to the Door

Two words: Pocket Organizer. Use for tuques, mittens, umbrellas, sunscreen and other knickknacks you might want in an easy to find place.