One of the things I’ve recently realized about myself is that I really like to organize. Storage spaces are like a fun, real life Tetris game. Though I’m sure professional organizers would not frame it this way. I really love coming up with solutions that make sense in terms of location and ease of accessibility; and of course I want them to be beautiful too.
I’ve shared my storage spaces a couple of times here on the blog, starting with this OG post HERE. But there are three main storage closets in my home: downstairs there is coat closet near the front door, and a utility closet (I shared the most recent overhaul HERE); and then there’s a large hall closet upstairs.
In August, I had big plans to revamp the upstairs hall closet while I was on my summer staycation including going through a lot of memorabilia, but instead I was gripped by sickness and didn’t get as much done as I wanted. Still, it is different than the last reveal I shared HERE. I did manage to rework the coat closet a bit during my time off, going through all the bins and drawers. The hall closet was more of just a tidy from it’s previous shambles (not photographed), and taking out some empty bins to see what I was working with as I do reorganize down the road. So, that said, I’m sharing the current state of affairs in both the coat closet and the hall closet today!
COAT CLOSET
Since my last post, I did rework the shelves (removed the big one up top and shifted the shallower one up to allow more hanging space — or more accurately, space below the hanging space). Bins on the shelves (and on top of the file cabinet) hold scarves and hats and gloves, grouped in DIY color coordinated sets.
I got an IKEA cart for all of my car supplies, extra plastic grocery bags, and towels if I need to mop up water or for when I traipse in snow after a grueling clean up. I also relocated a Container Store stacking file cabinet for hats and purses.
And of course, the shoe organizer on the door is still going strong, though I did pare down a lot of my sunglasses and now store other bits like old sneakers for gardening messes, ear muffs and headbands, bigger gloves, and umbrellas.
UPSTAIRS HALL CLOSET
This reveal may not look too impressive, but there is floor space to walk in now and that alone is an improvement. Believe me! As I mentioned, I removed some bins that didn’t have anything in them, so there is some empty shelf space. When I do that project, I’ll share a more indepth look, but for now– a mini tour!
The shelving unit on the left closest to the door, from top to bottom, is bath supplies, towels, cleaning tools and recycling. The next unit holds mostly memorabilia and at the bottom some carpet cleaning tools.
The bookcases straight ahead has a bin of electrical supplies and tools and such at the top, and then more decorative things I can shop when I want to change a vignette up elsewhere in my home. The far right corner is all holiday decorations.
As we move to the right, the cabinets hold cleaning supplies and below them are stacked filing bins for papers, luggage, and a drawer unit with extra linens and the like (beach towels, curtains, bath mats, etc). The bins at the top hold purses and totes for more specialized usage and travel items and pouches, etc.
My hall closet may not be what I had originally planned for this year, but I’m still happy with it’s current state. I love when I can keep like things grouped together in a way that makes sense and is also aesthetically pleasing. And when I know where to look to find them!
Don’t you just love a good closet cleanout?
