Closet Organizing System

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• Less nagging?
• Less frustration?
• More peace?
• More hugs?!

Get organized! Your whole family will enjoy the benefits and it's not as hard as you may think.

It's a matter of

• planning
• rearranging
• using your system

Here are some great ideas using a closet organizing system for your linens.

• Planning

Every organizing step begins with planning and a closet system for your linens is no different. I always recommend taking everything out of the existing linen closet and spreading it out where you can see what you're working with. Then...

• Divide and conquer

Make piles of like items. You know, body towels here, wash cloths there, toilet paper over here. If you have stuff you don't know what to do with, that's fine. Make a pile with those items, too. Your closet organizing system can expand to include whatever items you must put into it.

• Toss out.

Now is the perfect time to get rid of whatever you don't need, is past its prime, or is just plain trash. Remember, if you get rid of it, you won't have to 'organize' it!

• Measure

Closet organizing systems and accessories that work well for linens closets are usually smaller than other closet types. Therefore, taking a few measurements is vital and now's the time to do it. Make a simple sketch of your linen closet on a scrap of paper and label the height, width and depth of each shelf. This piece of paper you will take with you when you go to look at closet organizing accessories. This is how you will KNOW if that bin, basket or shelf will actually fit in your linen closet makeover when you get it home.

• Music

Okay, you don't really have to listen to music to get organized, but it helps me enjoy the process a lot more and if you have trouble getting started doing a project like this one, find something you enjoy and reward yourself with it while you're doing your project or afterwards.

• Decision time.

Take a look at those piles you assembled earlier and decide what organizing accessories will help you keep them

==> separated, so you can reach in your organized linen closet and grab whatever you need in a flash, and
==> visible, so you can see what you're reaching for and what you're putting away.

It's really as simple as that.

The reason this is a closet organizing system is because you are organizing items according to usage and your personal needs. In fact, you already have a system in place you are using, we are simply going to improve upon it. Think about it a minute. What items do you use everyday from your linen closet? What items do you only store there? What items are tippy or tiny and tend to get lost? Answering these questions will help you convert your current 'system' into the right closet accessories.

• Rearrange and assemble.

Once you have all your closet organizing accessories ready to go, start rearranging your items back into your linen closet. This may take some trial and error to get it exactly as you like it and that's fine. Live with your organizing decisions a week or two, note everyone's usage of this version of your closet organizing system, and make changes accordingly.

• Maintenance.

The key to closet organizing maintenance is simple.

1. When you finally find a closet organizing system you like, you WILL use it.
2. Tidy it up every few months or so.

And that's it! Closet organizing systems that allow you to put your personal system into place always work the best. If you need to, run a short training session on your newly organized linen closet for others in the family that will be using it. And don't forget the music!

Colleen Langenfeld is a mother with over 25 years of parenting experience and helps other busy moms at http://www.paintedgold.com.