Next Stop: The Closet!

I can say that my closet is a complete and total disaster area. It's absolutely cluttered with boxes, shoes, etc. I think that in order to make more space, I should get some handy organizing thingamabobs--you know, shoe racks, file cabinets, and the like. I find that just throwing stuff in there takes up more space than necessary.

Hi Stephanie, I read a book last year called "Your Money or Your Life." Th premise of the book is to teach people to be aware of their relationship to money and worklife hours that going into earning things we want or need. One of the exercises included taking an inventory of every single thing I own. I counted 60+ belts alone! I had been spending lots of money for storage containers for all of this stuff (not to mention what I spent buying it all to begin with), most of which I wasn't using. Something snapped for me at that point and I gave away an enormous amount of clothing and household items that I no longer used. I gave jewelry, scarves and pretty objects to friends who wanted them. It's fun to see friends wear/use these items now - I can still enjoy my former stuff without having to own, clean, store or otherwise care for it all. Good luck with your closet project!

I spent some time during my college years working at Victoria's Secret. I learned that things really do look more elegant on padded hangers. You can get all ivory, or match the colors of the hangers to your outfits. Also, I hang everything by color -- my closet looks like a rainbow. And, let's face it -- you think of a given item by its color -- "My purple silk blouse", not by its season. Some people suggest hanging accessories, such as belts or necklaces, that only go with one outfit (or go best with one outfit) on the hanger, but I find that's a good way to lose your accessories! Also, I am in love with SpaceSavers.com for great hanging shoe bags that are clear-- I see everything and save space!