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Month: May 2023

What type of materials do you recommend using for organizing?

Various types of materials can be used in organizing closets. Most closets traditionally have one shelf and rod across the closet. The shelf is usually a piece of pressed board or wood, resting on a pin rail. In addition, one will find a bending wood or aluminum hanging rod beneath it. Instead of a wood shelf, you may find an aluminum shelf above your rod, which may end up bending with your rod depending upon the weight placed on the shelf. Pressed board and wood shelves as well as wooden rods may snag your clothes and they usually warp.

 White ventilated steel shelving is a super material used in organizing closets. Depending on the brand you choose to use in your closet, some can hold up to 100 lbs per linear foot. Because special hardware is utilized with this material, it is not necessary to mount it into studs. The open-air design allows air and light to reach every corner of your closet. Musty odors and mildew are minimized by ventilation. Vinyl-coated ventilated steel shelving will not chip, crack or peel and never needs painting which makes it virtually maintenance-free. This material also does not collect dust so it is great for allergic individuals. Frank Lloyd Wright, a famous architect, used this same principle of ventilation when organizing linen closets in his homes. He inserted the cane into the shelves themselves.

 Solid laminated materials are another great material for use in organizing your closet. A good laminated material will remind you of the Formica in your kitchen. A beautiful custom built-in look can be created with laminated materials. Sweaters won’t pull and snag as they may with wooden shelves. Because of the weight of the laminated material, we feel it is important that it be supported by the strongest part of your house, the floor. Not only does this give you safety and assurance, but the unit certainly looks more solid and completely resting on the floor. The edging of this material should be T-grooved right into the edge of the board so quality molding can be put on with pressure. This will eliminate the often-seen peeling of edges found when an edge is ironed or glued on. Since you are apparently looking for a high-quality material in your closet, the edging should be high quality as well.

 The hanging rods in your closet are just as important as the shelving. With ventilated steel shelving, the steel rod is already attached to the material. This is super strong and very space efficient. Wooden rods should be avoided at all costs.

 Why waste your money replacing a warped rod in the future? A solid steel chrome plated rod should be used for long-lasting strength as well as a quality look. Never again will you have that “closet sag.” If you use a steel rod, be sure to use steel flanges to support that rod.

 We hope this helps you in choosing good materials with which to organize your closet. Remember, you should only have to organize your closet once, so do it correctly and completely.

 “THE BITTERNESS OF POOR QUALITY LINGERS LONG AFTER THE CHEAP PRICE IS FORGOTTEN”

Call for information: 610-433-0933. Or email ClosetLady@CreativeClosets.com

Ellyn Elstein The Closet Lady®

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How can I organize all my ties and belts?

Ties, belts, and scarves are often very disorganized because people do not have an efficient way to store them. One may have 75 ties and use only one tie rack made to hold 24 ties. Ties hung over a hanger cause confusion when searching for a tie and may leave you picking them up off the floor. Belt rings are often used to hold belts. Unfortunately, you may have to remove all of the belts from the ring in order to get the one you are in search of.

In organizing your ties and belts, it is important to keep them all together. Do not store your ties scattered throughout your closet. Consolidate your ties into one special area and your belts into one specific area. Ties can easily be stored within the short hanging area of your closet and belts within the long hang area. Ties and belts do not have to take up two feet of wall space to be stored correctly. You can store the same amount in 3-4” hanging space.

You may choose to store your rolled-up belts and scarves in a shallow drawer or basket in your closet. An ideal size drawer for this purpose would be 4” deep, so things do not get lost. The back of your closet door, if usable, can be used to store your ties and belts.

When you start this new phase of organization, consider organizing your whole closet at one time. Various materials are available for organizing your closet. White ventilates steel shelving can be used as well as solid laminated materials. Both of these materials create a beautiful closet. Special racks are designed using these materials to store your ties and belts. These racks can hang on a slant facing you or slide out to allow full view of these accessories and allow for easy accessibility.

Organizing your ties and belts in your closet may be the first step to organizing your closet. This will certainly save you time in the morning, time usually used by searching for these items. Enjoy organizing your ties and belts!

Call for information: 610-433-0933. Or email ClosetLady@CreativeClosets.com

Ellyn Elstein The Closet Lady®

Click Here To Setup A Complimentary Consultation

I’d like to organize the walls leading down to my basement, any ideas?

Wall space leading down to basements and the back of a basement door is often left unused. Every inch of space in your home should be utilized to your advantage. The following hints will help you to use that space efficiently.

First, estimate the amount of space you can use on each wall. You may choose to only use one wall in this phase of organization. Be sure to allow ample space for you and your family to walk through this area comfortably and safely. Decide what you would like to store in this area. Creating a pantry in this area is a wonderful idea. The stairway to the basement is usually close to the kitchen, thus being very convenient.

 Adding shelving to this area is one solution to this storage dilemma. Be sure to use shelves that do not interfere with your walkway. Wire storage racks are available in various sizes to organize areas such as these. These storage areas extend out from the wall up to 6”. Racks are as wide as 18” and as high as 72”. Smaller racks are available to actually create a tiering effect wall. Racks can be as small as 12” wie an 10” high. Do not forget to utilize the space on the back of the door.

 If you want to store brooms, mops, a dustpan, and brush in this area, place a few sets of hooks on the wall. Place them at varied heights to allow you added flexibility in this area.

As you reach the bottom of your stairway, you may have unused space above your head. This space usually ends up having only one shelf and is very difficult to reach. Consider mounting a roll-out cabinet organizing rack into that area. Your storage capacity will grow and accessibility will be much easier.

We hope these organizing hints will help you organize that unused space leading down toward your basement. Utilizing this space will add a brand-new storage area to your home.

Call for information: 610-433-0933. Or email ClosetLady@CreativeClosets.com

Ellyn Elstein The Closet Lady®

Click Here To Setup A Complimentary Consultation

What are some organizing hints for under my cabinets?

Space under kitchen and bathroom cabinets is often wasted and very disorganized. The floor of the cabinet usually ends up being the only shelf for storage. The following hints will help you make that area more space efficient.

Adding an additional shelf to your cabinet may be a very simple solution, but you should maximize every bit of space possible. Pull-out cabinet organizers are available in various styles to organize every area of your home. These organizers are steel units with an epoxy finish that are easy to clean and look great. These organizers can be mounted into your existing cabinet without any alterations to your cabinet.

The trash bag holder is a wonderful way to get the trash out of sight. When in use, pull the system out, use it, and slide it back into your cabinet. A removable plastic tray sets at the bottom of this unit to prevent leakage. Carryall systems are mounted into the cabinet as well, but have removable baskets to make life a little easier. A lid rack can be used to store all the lids in your pots and pans.

Eliminate any unused space under your cabinets, and remember to use child-proof safety locks on all cabinets if applicable. These safety locks could be the best investment you make. If door space is available in your pantry or linen closet, mount an organizing rack on the door to store things currently cluttering your cabinets. Shelves in a pantry or linen closet are usually much shallower than the depth of the closet, leaving unused space which can be utilized by this storage rack.

There are many different types of cabinet organizers to fit your needs. Always be sure when measuring your cabinet interior to account for plumbing running through your cabinets as well as for the garbage disposal.

We hope these organizing hints will help you organize your cabinets with ease. Remember, you should have to completely organize these areas with only one. If this organization is maintained, you will never have to reorganize it again. Enjoy organizing your cabinets!

Call for information: 610-433-0933. Or email ClosetLady@CreativeClosets.com

Ellyn Elstein The Closet Lady®

Click Here To Setup A Complimentary Consultation

Can you give us some organizing hints for our office?

We have just started a brand new year, and what better way to start this new year than by being organized? The organization does not stop in a closet, pantry, kitchen, or garage. Organization is addictive and can be carried through into all aspects of your life, including your working environment.

Start organizing your office by getting everybody involved. During your first meeting, discuss exactly what needs to be organized. Try to improve every system in your office in hopes of being better organized throughout the new year. Ask everyone for their ideas in this organizational event. Remember that a great idea is useless if never been heard!

Remove any files or items not related to this business year. Store them in an orderly fashion in storage boxes, dated and labeled. Review all employee, client, and/or patient records and update them if necessary. Check all filing systems to ensure the accuracy of orders and update all office manuals.

Office supplies can be stored in any unused space. Supplies can be stored very neatly in wire basket systems, and they look great. A shallow basket is great for storing envelopes, paper, and other accessories. If you have available closet space in your office, it can be used for extra storage. Our expert designers will be happy to design and organize those storage areas for you.

Enjoy this organizational project in your office. Remember, what you are doing now will benefit you throughout the year. We hope that these organizing hints will help your office run more smoothly and inspire others to organize their office. But, beware… Organization is addictive!

Call for information: 610-433-0933. Or email ClosetLady@CreativeClosets.com

Ellyn Elstein The Closet Lady®

Click Here To Setup A Complimentary Consultation

Hints on putting holiday ornaments away

Tis the season to put all those holiday nick-nacks and ornaments away. One is often left trying to find an organized way to store all their holiday items. We hope the following hints will help you and make your holidays in an organized manner.

Start by taking everything off your Christmas tree in reverse order. If the top of the tree is the last thing you put on, it should be the first thing you take off. Keep all the original boxes so ornaments can be stored safely and neatly. If you loved how your tree was decorated last year, take a photograph to recreate that look this year. Be sure to label all your boxes. The great idea is to use holiday stockings to store fragile items.

Storage area for your holiday items is often another dilemma. If space is available in your attic or basement, that can often be a great place to store holiday boxes. The awkward space under the steps to your basement is a great, out of your way, space for storage. If you don’t have to store these items in your closet, don’t! Your closet should be for your everyday needs.

Make taking down your holiday decorations a special event, just as you would when putting up your holiday decorations.

Remember, the orderly removal and storage of your holiday decorations will leave you well-prepared for a quick, easy, and enjoyable holiday season next year.

Call for information: 610-433-0933. Or email ClosetLady@CreativeClosets.com

Ellyn Elstein The Closet Lady®

Click Here To Setup A Complimentary Consultation

Can you give me some ideas on organizing all my sweaters?

Sweater Organization

Most people store sweaters on the top shelf of their closet or stuff them into dresser drawers. This can make finding a certain sweater a very difficult task, often leading you to accept an alternative sweater. Sweaters should be as convenient to get to as the rest of the items in your closet.

Start by determining how many feet of shelf space is needed to store all your sweaters comfortably. A two-foot shelf will store two sweaters side by side and allow you to stock additional sweaters. Styles and types vary, so bulkier sweaters require a wider shelf. Shelves 16” deep should be used to prevent sweaters from hanging off the edge.

If you choose to store your sweaters in drawers, keep in mind that you will lose the flexibility you would have with open shelving. If solid shelving is used, you will have the advantage of storing items other than sweaters because of the adjustability of the shelves. If ventilated steel shelving is used, it will allow you many advantages. It will offer you a nice surface that will not snag sweaters (as a wooden shelf might) and a beautiful, open, airy look to your closet. Wire baskets are another option you may choose to store your sweaters. These baskets are similar to using a solid drawer for storage, but allow you to see into every basket at one glance, and also allow you good air circulation.

If you have dead space on the sides of your closets, this is often a great place to install shelves for your sweaters. If you have lots of short-hanging clothes and need additional shelf space, lower your shelf & rod down to 42” from the floor and put shelves above.

Beware! Organization is addictive! It can often lead to many beautifully organized spaces, which we hope you will create with our organizing hints.

Call for information: 610-433-0933. Or email ClosetLady@CreativeClosets.com

Ellyn Elstein The Closet Lady®

Click Here To Setup A Complimentary Consultation

 

We are building a new home and need some ideas on the ideal closet

Ideal closets are only ideal if they are adequate for your needs. You certainly are better off with closets that are too big than too small. The following tips will help you create that ideal closet.

 A reach-in closet should be no less than 24” deep, the reason being that clothes hanging on a hanger take up 24” of space from the back wall. If your closet is less than 24”, you may have to push your clothes in to close the door. The opening for your closet should be as large as possible. The type and size of the door will determine the size of the opening needed. The wider the opening, the less dead space will be created on each side of the closet. If dead space already exists, slanted shelving for shoes or straight shelving for sweaters is a great way to utilize that space.

 A walk-in closet should be 6 feet wide so you can hang clothes off of each side wall and still have feet of space to walk comfortably into your closet. A walk-in closet less than 6 feet wide may only allow you to hang clothes from one side of the closet and the back wall. If you are fortunate enough to have a walk-in closet wider than 10 feet, a free-standing unit in the center of the closet is a great possibility.

 The best type of doors to have on your closet are hinged doors or swing doors. These doors allow you easy accessibility to your closet and add another dimension to your storage possibilities. An example would be to add hooks, door racks, shoe racks, and tie racks to the back of your door.

 Lighting in your closet is extremely important. Whatever the size of your closet, light is a necessity/ Cool flush-mounted fluorescent lighting or recessed cool lighting is ideal. Lights should be placed in the front third of the closet ceiling. Light switches should be placed inside the closet.

 Discuss these hints with your builder or architect when planning your new home. Our expert designers will be happy to help you in troubleshooting your plans.

 Call for information: 610-433-0933. Or email ClosetLady@CreativeClosets.com

Ellyn Elstein The Closet Lady®

Click Here To Setup A Complimentary Consultation

Ideas on Storing Shoes

Can you give me ideas on storing all my shoes?

Shoes usually end up all over the floor in most closets. Why? Because most people don’t know how to store them. Well, we have many ways. Organizing your shoes can often be the first step to an organized closet.

First, count the number of pairs of shoes kept in your closet. Measure the width of a pair of shoes to determine how many shelves it would take to house them. For example, if you have 30 pairs of shoes and each pair is about 7 inches wide, you would need ten shelves, each 21” wide to store them. Each shelf would then hold three pairs of shoes. Be sure to allow for larger feet when considering shelf sizes. Men’s shoes larger than a size 10 ½  require a deeper shelf.

Shoes can be stored on a slanted shelf under the long hanging area of your closet or tiered to allow a complete view of all your shoes at once. Solid adjustable shelves give you the flexibility of changing the spacing between shelves. You can also organize everything in your closet so that everything has a place. A free-standing island in a large walk-in closet can be built specifically to hold all of your shoes. If you have a swing door 26” wide or wider you can attach a 21-pair shoe rack made of white-coated steel to the back of the door. If you have a deep enough closet with sliding wood doors, a shoe rack can be placed on the inside of the door.

Never store shoes above your clothing. You certainly don’t want the dirt from your shoes to fall all over your clothing. It is best to have your shoes closer to the floor so that the dirt falls there.

We hope these organizing tips get your foot in the door of shoe organization.

 Call for information: 610-433-0933. Or email ClosetLady@CreativeClosets.com

Ellyn Elstein The Closet Lady®

Click Here To Setup A Complimentary Consultation

Putting a Desk Area in My Closet

Can you give me some ideas on putting a desk area in my closet?

Building a desk area in an extra closet is a wonderful idea if that space is available. This will eliminate that furniture in a room and hopefully allow you to store all your office supplies in one area.

 If possible, choose a closet big enough for you to feel comfortable. Start fresh by taking everything out of that closet including the pinrail and rod. Spackle and paint this area a nice bright color. Soft, subtle colors are great if you intend to relax and unwind here. Bold, bright colors may raise your energy levels when it is time to get to work.

 A custom desk can be built to fit the exact width of your closet. Using solid materials will allow you closed drawers and adjustable shelving above the desk area. Wire basket systems are great for creating a desk area. Place one basket system on each side of your closet and place a solid top across your work area. The basket will act as your drawers and since they are open, everything can be seen easily. Special hand file systems are also available for the storage of office files. Heavy-duty plastic bins can be placed above your work area to hold all those important papers that will not fit on your desk anymore. Be sure to use a chair that when not in use, will easily fit under the desk.

 If a phone is important, be sure to put a phone jack in your closet. Also, be sure that adequate lighting is in your closet so that you do not have to strain your eyes.

 Types of doors on your new work closet are very important. Hinged or bi-hinged doors are great because space is never wasted, and the whole area is open for you. With bi-fold doors, you always lose 5-10” of space when the doors are open, which may interfere with your drawer's opening. Sliding doors never allow you to have full access to your work area at one time. The best advantage to putting doors on your new work area is that you can walk away from your work, close the doors, and not be bothered with it until you wish.

Good luck with your new desk area!

Call for information: 610-433-0933. Or email ClosetLady@CreativeClosets.com

Ellyn Elstein The Closet Lady®

Click Here To Setup A Complimentary Consultation