I had some specific goals last week when I cleaned out our master bedroom closet, namely to declutter, organize, and prettify. Now, as much as I would have liked to invest in fancy closet organizers, or re-do our shelves and hang up a chandelier, this was not going to happen. Instead, I approached the task practically by using what I had, adding some organizational elements, and making the space clean, functional, and yes ... pretty.
Here is what I did:
1- The Great Closet Purge
And when I say purge, that is exactly what I mean. I got rid of things I did not use anymore AND things I still liked but, for whatever reason, have not worn. Holding on to something that is not being used is only keeping it from someone who can, so most of the items were donated to Catholic Social Services.
There was another smaller pile of brand new shoes, purses, and clothing which I gave to a family I know with three teenage daughters. As I walked out of their house, one of the daughters was trying on a pair of boots I had worn ONCE in three years, and as much as I loved those boots I realized they were much more needed (and appreciated) elsewhere.
I also said goodbye to my wedding dress which was packaged in a preservation box and took up an insane amount of space. You can go here to read about what I decided to do with it.
2- Shoe Organization
Shoe storage is always an issue, but I purchased these shoe containers from Amazon that I absolutely love. They are clear, vented, and stackable. It is so easy to find a pair of shoes, and even easier to store things back where they belong.
3- Hanging Handbags
I have tried so many ways of storing purses, but for me the best method is to simply hang them from hangers. So handbags and totes are placed on a hanger, while clutches are lined up on a shelf. I use purse inserts to easily transfer contents of one purse to another.
4- Hooray for Hats!
I have four hats (two spring/summer, two fall/winter) that I wear on occasion. Originally my hats were stacked on a closet shelf, but now I use clothespin command strips to hang them on the wall. My hats now make a cute wall display until they are ready to be worn.
5- Monochromatic Storage Bins
While many people store Christmas decorations in the attic, here in the south it just gets too hot up there and, over time, it can be damaging. For this reason I keep decorations on a shelf in our closet. Originally, the storage bins were clear so I could see the contents, but I switched the containers to non-clear ones to unify the area and make it look less messy.
6- Something Pretty
What I really wanted was a French vanity and an oversized gilded mirror, but that was NOT happening. But I still wanted to make the space more visually appealing. So I took an old bookcase, added some burlap storage bins, hung up a mirror, and added some pretty things ... and just like that I have my pretty corner where I can accessorize.
