organize the chaos

Ever since declaring that I had figured out another layer of my personal style, I have been looking at my closet with a more critical eye. But unfortunately, all I could see was the MESS! 

So began the great purge of 2013. I currently have 90+ items in my sell/donate pile... which I thought was a LOT, but then I counted what was left in my closet, & thought that that was a TON too! I closed my eyes & started flipping through hangers & when I got to the last hanger, I had counted to 232… I didn't even have the strength to get to the folded items (so this does include shoes, but not sweaters, shorts, or workout clothes/t-shirts)… 

You know how they always say that the people who are "professionals" are the worst clients - doctors make the worst patients, carpenters always have unfinished projects in their own homes, & in my case, as some who enjoys dolling out "organizational advice", I am very bad at employing it in my own life!

I have a bevy of posts dedicated to the topic of closet organization… that you can see here (with my favorite being this one on "10 closet organization tips"). I have even shown you a tour of my closet before, all polished up & pretty: here (Dec, 2011) & here (Sept, 2013).

In late 2011 I tallied up my closet inhabitants - at that time they came to 272 articles (that count even included sweaters, shorts, & scarves too!) So let's just say that I do have more now, but I have also been consciously trying to build a better wardrobe, purchasing more "staples" & replacing old ratty favorites, with new, quality investment pieces. Regardless, that "minimalistic" wardrobe that I am so drawn to, has never been more of a far away dream! Far, far, far away dream.

In order to appreciate what I have now, I need to get a better system of organization going on in my closet. As you can see in these pictures, I have the luxury of space above my closet, but it is this huge void that gets stuffed with everything & in no particular order (boxes of off season shoes, sheets, presents, luggage, hats, & even some remnants from college theme parties… the stories those things could tell!)

The problem with vertical space is finding a way to maximize the opportunity, so that when removing one item it doesn't all come tumbling down. Enter the new Rubbermaid All Access storage units that I picked up at the Home Depot. They open from the front (mind. blown.) No more leaning tower of shoe boxes that comes tumbling down whenever I want to find a pair!

Three of the All Access boxes (size "small) - gave me better utilization of the vertical space than I have ever had before. 2 are filled with shoe boxes & another holds my clean sheets. And then, because everything had a place & I was able to stack up higher than before, I got to add more stuff! Greater utilization, easier to find things. That, my friends is what we call a win-win!

(After removing the 90 "purge" items (left quarter of the hang-ups) & maximizing the vertical space with open front boxes, I can finally SEE everything... the pictures do it NO justice!)

What closet organization tools do you use?

Open up the possibilities of easy access with Rubbermaid® All Access™ Organizers. The All Access™ line features a clear drop-down door so you can easily see and retrieve the items you want, even when they are stacked! Visit your local Home Depot to see why organization just got easier!
 
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Rubbermaid® . The opinions and text are all mine.