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Month: May 2023

When is the best time to organize my closet?

Any time is a good time for organization! Consider that one of the first things you see in the morning is your closet. This should not be a frustrating experience! A great amount of time is often wasted looking for shirts, sweaters, and that pair of shoes you once had which is now lost in your closet. When you feel that it is time to get control of your closets, that is the time to start organizing. At the change of season or before a move is also a good time to organize your closets. If you are building a new home, the best time to organize your closets is now, before you move in. Do this yourself, or call your local custom closet design firm and allow an expert designer to meet with you in your home. They will assist you in using all your space efficiently.

Now that the holiday season is here, consider organizing your closets for the holidays to get ready for all those presents. A super idea is to surprise someone by having their closet organized. Gift certificates are also available for those of you who would like to give the gift of an organized closet to someone special.

We wish you luck in organizing your closets and also wish you a very happy holiday season!

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

Ellyn Elstein The Closet Lady®

Click Here To Setup A Complimentary Consultation

 

Organizing Hints for Your Laundry Area

To make your laundry area run smoothly, always allow for the following conveniences. A sink for soaking items and scrubbing out stains is extremely important. Storage racks and shelves are an absolute necessity for storing detergent and other laundry accessories! Storage racks can be mounted on a side wall to allow for other shelving on the back wall and to give you convenient storage space for soaps and bleach. A slanted shelf above your washer is wonderful for holding laundry baskets. After you fold your clothes on top of the dryer, they can be put directly in the laundry basket. This slanted shelf should be placed sixty-six inches from the floor. A laundry basket placed in each person’s closet will allow them to carry their own basket to the laundry area. That is a great help for Mom!

The type of shelving best suited for a utility area is vinyl-coated ventilated steel shelving. The ventilation property decreases the chance of any mildew due to the high humidity in the laundry area. Wire basket systems can be used for sorting dirty laundry. A solid top can be placed on top of this basket system to give you a solid place for folding your laundry. If you have a laundry chute, roll your basket system under the chute and place a basket on top to catch the laundry.

You should always have a place to hang clothes. Often, people end up hanging clothes straight from the washer or dryer on door knobs or lights. The solution to this is simple. Place a rod eighty inches from the floor above your washer and dryer to give you the space you need to hang your clothes. Hooks placed onto a wall are great for storing your ironing board off the floor.

We hope these helpful hints will make doing your laundry less time-consuming.

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

Ellyn Elstein The Closet Lady®

Click Here To Setup A Complimentary Consultation

 

Organizing ideas for workshops

The location of your workshop is the first decision to make. Do you want your workshop in the garage or basement, or do you want your own separate area built outside of your home? The amount of workspace is as important as the organization of the area.

Disorganized tools usually get damaged. Space your tools far enough apart to avoid damage. Mount pegboard onto your walls and hang tools from hooks off your pegboard. Outline each tool with white paint allowing you to always know where each tool belongs. Storing tools behind doors may keep them cleaner and locked up if you choose. A less expensive way of storing tools is putting assorted nails into the existing wall and hanging your tools from them.

Heavy power tools should be mounted onto a movable bench so that the bench can be rolled wherever the tools are needed. A great use for the space under the bench is the storage of extra lumber. Accessories for your tools can be hung from the sides of the bench.

Small hardware items such as screws, nuts, and bolts may be kept in glass jars and tin cans. A great alternative to this is heavy-duty plastic storage bins. A steel grid is mounted into the studs of your wall and the bins are mounted into that grid. All the bins are very easily removable for your convenience and come in bold, primary colors.

Mount shelves onto your walls for specific projects on which you may be working. Make sure your shelves are big enough for your needs. Don’t make them too deep that things can easily get lost. Space near your ceiling often goes unused. Attach hooks to the ceiling joists and hang chains from them. To these hanging chains, attach plywood and use this space for storing long pieces of lumber.

We hope these helpful hints for your workshop will save you some time and money by being so organized.

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

Ellyn Elstein The Closet Lady®

Click Here To Setup A Complimentary Consultation

 

Organizing Your Foyer Closet

Your foyer closet may be the most often used closet in your house. It usually becomes a storage place for shoes, boots, mittens, gloves, hats, scarves, book bags, and occasionally coats. Because this closet is so frequently used, it is important that it is organized and all space is utilized.

 In starting to organize your foyer closet, you must determine exactly what your needs are, as you would in any closet. Using a tape measure, measure the amount of long and short hanging space needed. Always keep notes on all the information you are gathering. Count the number of shoes or boots that must be kept in your foyer. Also, measure the width of the shoes to determine the amount of shelf space needed to store them. If you have a mud closet, keep the shoes, boots, and outerwear garments in there and keep your foyer closet more formal, especially if you often have guests. No longer will you have to be embarrassed if they get their own coat.

 In organizing your closet, allow enough double-hanging space for the short-hanging clothes you measured earlier. If you measured four feet of short clothing, two feet each of upper and lower hanging will accommodate your needs. Remember to put those rods forty-two and eighty-four inches from the floor. The lower rod is super for kids because they can reach their clothes easily. The rod for your long hanging space should be seventy-two inches from the floor, which will allow you space for two shelves above your hanging and a shelf below for boots. Wire drawers are wonderful for storing hats, mittens, and scarves. A neat idea is putting one basket or drawer into the foyer or mud closet for each child. It certainly does keep each child organized. Placing hooks on the back of a swing door is great for kids’ book bags and umbrellas.

 We hope that these organizing hints on foyer closets will make your life run a little more smoothly.

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

Ellyn Elstein The Closet Lady®

Click Here To Setup A Complimentary Consultation

How to move into your new home in an organized manner

Start by making a list of all items to be removed. Leave two spaces aside from each item, one for the room destination of each box and one for the number that will be on that box. As you pack, remember to mark the room, the contents, and the number on each box. Keep your list readily available for use as you are packing

When should we start packing?

Packing for a move can be done months in advance. Anything not needed until after your move can be packed now such as kitchen items and out of season clothes.

How should we move all our clothes?

Chests of drawers can be left alone as each full drawer can be moved individually. Hanging clothes can be moved in wardrobe cartons obtained from your moving company. Clothes can be taken right from the closet to the carton. Consider organizing your new closets now. Have your closet firm meet with you in your current residence as well as in your future home. An inventory of your present wardrobe is essential to making the most of your new closet space. Newly organized closets can be installed in your new home prior to your move.

We are renting a van. How should we go about loading it?

Put the heaviest items in the front of the truck. Sofas and mattresses should go on the sides of the truck. Remember to rent a van that fits your needs. The tighter your van is packed, the safer all of your items will be.

 Now that you are starting fresh, organize your new home once. Don’t try to unpack and organize everything in one day. Enjoy your new home!

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

Ellyn Elstein The Closet Lady®

Click Here To Setup A Complimentary Consultation

Here are some helpful ideas on cedar closets

Cedar closets used to be a luxury item in a home, but now anyone can have one. Cedar closets give us a wonderful, woodsy aroma. Cedar repels moths, silverfish, cockroaches, and mildew. Cedar closets are great for storing linens, towels, and blankets. Save money by storing all your woolens, furs, and seasonal items in your cedar area, and consider putting cedar into your current closets.

If you are building a cedar closet, first, decide where you would like it. Build your cedar closet in your attic, basement, or any unused space. If you build a closet in an attic, build it near the highest point if you plan to hang clothing in there. If you are building a cedar closet in a basement, be sure to use insulation paper because of the moisture. Two types of cedar wall covering are available. One is the traditional tongue-and-grooved planks. The second is the 4x8 pressed board ¼” sheets. Either is suitable, but the planks are twice as expensive and more difficult to install. The advantage is a solid piece of cedar material. When cedar lining a closet, be sure to cover the doors and ceiling. Weatherstripping around the door of your cedar closet will give you an airtight seal. Sand the walls lightly each year to perpetuate the usefulness of the cedar aroma.

The best type of shelving to use in a cedar closet is ventilated steel shelving. The ventilation allowed by the shelving is ideal. Decide what you need to store in your cedar area and be sure to use that space efficiently.

Cedar closets are a wonderful idea. We hope these ideas will be helpful in planning your new storage area.

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 please give me some hints for my attic?

If you are fortunate enough to have an attic that can be used for extra storage, be sure that ¾” plywood is placed across the floor joints to act as your storage surface. You may want to insulate your attic now and add an exhaust fan for proper ventilation.

Access to your attic is very important. If your only access is through a ceiling crawl space, you may consider installing a ceiling hatch with a fold-down ladder. Better yet is a large entrance with a permanent ladder or stairway.

If your attic is very large and can be used completely for storage, arrange all your articles and boxes around the walls. Things can be found much more easily if they are visibly labeled. If your whole attic cannot be used completely for storage, section off part of it. Place a rod across the rafters to add garments. These garments should be hung in garment bags with lemon-scented closet fresheners to control moths and mildew. Shelving can be installed in your attic to keep things off the floor and to allow you extra storage space.

Keep things organized by storing similar items together. Large bulky items can be stored near the high roof line. Build a closet to store extra hanging if needed. Remember to make that closet 24 inches deep for hanging clothes comfortably. Another alternative is a walk-in cedar closet in the center of your attic, which will utilize space and protect your clothes. Watch for our next article exclusively on cedar closets.

You may not be in your attic too frequently, but we hope these organizing tips will make those trips more pleasant.

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

Ellyn Elstein The Closet Lady®

Click Here To Setup A Complimentary Consultation

Organizing Your Pantry-Creative Closets-Allentown PA

How can I organize my pantry?

Start by determining exactly what you need to store in your pantry. Do you need to store many canned items or dry goods? Do you need to store paper and cleaning supplies? Using a tape measure, measure the amount of shelf space you are currently using, and this will help determine your needs.

 Now, let’s start organizing your pantry. It is best to start fresh. If you are installing new shelving in your pantry, always be sure to prepare and paint the area first. Keep in mind if you are painting a small area, you should allow extra time for the paint to dry. Shelving in your pantry should be twelve to sixteen inches deep. Shelves should not be deeper than sixteen inches because then they will become cluttered. If shelves are stationary, put the first shelf at fifteen inches from the floor and then every thirteen inches. Solid adjustable shelving works well and gives you added flexibility with your shelf spacing. A wire drawer system on casters is great for storing your onions and potatoes. You can roll the system out of the pantry when you need to and roll it back in when you are done.

When restocking your pantry, keep the larger items to the back and smaller items near the front. Always keep all the labels forward so one quick glance in your pantry will allow you to know what you have. Categorize your products so that you keep all your canned items in one section and your dry goods in another section. In storing cleaning items in your pantry, never put cleaning items on the same shelf as your food. Paper items not frequently used can be stored in difficult-to-reach spots, such as the top of your pantry.

 We hope these ideas will be helpful in organizing your pantry.

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

Ellyn Elstein The Closet Lady®

Click Here To Setup A Complimentary Consultation
Or Call 610.433.0933

Ideas On Organizing Toys-Allentown Creative Closets Advice

Toys are a real specialty! It is preferable to have a whole closet to devote to these items, but if that is impossible, section off part of a closet. Now ask yourself some basic questions and your needs before starting to get your toy situation under control.

 Shelving in your toy closet should be at a height that is easy to reach for your children. If toys are easily available, then putting them away will be just as easy. Higher shelves should be reserved for toys and games requiring supervision. Adjustable solid shelving is best for this type of area. As children get older and toys change, so do the type of space they require.

 Toy boxes are not ideal. Things get cluttered in toy boxes. Toys get broken and are often unused because they cannot be found. Toy boxes, if used, should only be filled halfway to avoid cluttering. Wire drawer systems are great for storing toys. With clear liners, small things will not fall through and your children can still see the contents of each individual drawer. Children can roll the entire system out of the closet, play with their toys, and roll the system back into the closet when they are finished. A drawer system can also have a solid laminate top for children to use for molding clay. Basket systems can be working into most storage solutions.

Colorful heavy duty plastic bins look and work wonderfully in a toy closet. A steel grid is mounted into the studs of your wall and each individual open bin hangs on that grid. Bins vary in size and are terrific for story little pieces and construction-type toys. There is a space for labeling each bin. These bins are available in bold primary colors and will make your toy area bright and cheerful.

We hope your children enjoy their newly organized toy area and that you enjoy their new habit of putting away their toys.

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

Ellyn Elstein The Closet Lady®

Click Here To Setup A Complimentary Consultation
Or Call 610.433.0933

How can I organize my linen closet?

Begin by determining what you need to store in your linen closet. Do you need shelf space for towels and bed linens or a place to store shampoo, toothpaste, and other bathroom necessities? Do You want to keep a hamper in your linen closet? After you have determined all your needs, let's start organizing.

 Ventilated shelving is ideal in linen closets because it prevents things from getting stuffy and always allows air to circulate. Shelves in your linen closet should be sixteen to twenty inches deep so your towels and linens fit completely on the shelf. Space the shelves according to your needs. Allow thirteen inches between shelves for sheets and towels and twenty inches for storing blankets and pillows. Keep the things used most often in an easy-to-reach spot.

 Wire drawer systems are great in linen closets because you can store things in the wire baskets that you do not want to store on the shelves. You may choose to store your curlers and hair dryer in a basket and even the kid's bathtub toys in another basket. You can use one large basket in your system as your clothes hamper. When the basket gets full and it is time to do the laundry you can pull the basket out of the frame and take it right to the laundry area. Rachs on the back of a swing door are great for extra storage. Tissue, toilet paper, medicines, and other bathroom accessories can be kept out of the way on this door rack. Medicines should always be kept high and out of reach of children.

 We hope these tips will be helpful in organizing your linen closet and if you need some assistance, consult your local closet design firm.

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

Ellyn Elstein The Closet Lady®

Click Here To Setup A Complimentary Consultation
Or Call 610.433.0933