DIY Closet

Dear Melissa:
My wife and I are planning to convert a small bedroom into a walk-in closet. We are doing the work ourselves to save money. We have the choice of a wire system or melamine. Is there a disadvantage to one over the other, besides cost? C.B.

Dear C.:
Yes, so pick your poison: dusty shelves versus a waffle weave on stacked clothes. Personally, I like the furniture look of solid closet systems, but I would choose wire myself nowadays. When I was younger I thought that having the imprint of a wire grid on my sweaters would be horrible. Now that I’m aging rapidly, the thought of dust collecting on my closet shelves along with the rest of the house is just too much. See, it’s really just a matter of perspective.

Some words of advice, though, since you are doing the closet plan yourselves. First, discard everything you don’t need to store, before you start measuring. (Sometimes simply cleaning out a closet solves the problem.) Group like items together for planning purposes. Lay out the closet for easy retrieval by placing the things you will need most often in an accessible location. Place closet poles over one another for shorter items. If possible, place a small island in the center of a walk-in closet for folding and arranging outfits; a small chair would also be helpful for putting on shoes. Don’t forget good lighting – think about what the lighting in store dressing rooms does to our self-esteem.

Keep some dimensions in mind when calculating the space. Clothes closets should be 24-32 inches deep. Allow 2 inches of hanging space for each item of indoor clothing (more for outerwear). Allow at least 12 inches between wire shelves for the brackets to fit. If planning on putting a hanging bar close to the ceiling, leave space above it in order to lift out the hangers. Figure at least 4 inches beneath the longest hanging garments for air circulation and vacuuming.

That said, you should be off to a good start. Let’s face it, organization keeps life running smoothly. M.A.K.

Pint-Sized Collector

Dear Melissa:

My adolescent has the smallest room in the house and the most stuff. She’s a collector and every surface is covered. Can you suggest something to stop the battles? Frustrated Mom

Dear Frustrated:

I totally sympathize. I have two collectors myself, and we’ve tried everything, including the dreaded “mom cleaning with a garbage bag”.

Consider replacing some pieces of furniture with those that do double duty, such as a captain’s bed, a cabinet with built-in hampers, wall mirrors with an attached shelf/hooks, and a vitrine (glass-topped display table). Trust me, you’ll feel better freeing up some horizontal surfaces just so you can actually see the dust for a change.

There is also untapped space just below the ceiling. Consider running a 4” deep display shelf around the upper part of the walls. Your child probably just wants the comfort of having her favorite things nearby where she can see them. Keep only her actual playthings within easy reach.

You might also try rotating her collections, the way adults do when they have too much clutter. Possessions feel fresh and new again when brought out of storage. And if all else fails, keep the bedroom door shut. M.A.K.

Landfill as the Ultimare Organization Solution

Dear Readers:

It’s time to clean out my studio for spring. I just got back from buying a paper shredder and seven plastic organizers. What I need are seven human organizers. I really have the best of intentions, and I’ll buy anything. It’s the commitment that’s lacking. You would not believe the amount of paper and samples a design firm generates. My assistant and I are literally buried.

Here’s my latest strategy: hide everything in the bins until I have a few spare hours to sort, shred, and toss. (That should be around June.) The only drawback to my camouflage plan is the old ”out of sight, out of mind” problem. What I really need is a place for everything. Alas, that also requires time and planning, both at a premium these days.

Perhaps the best home for everything would be the dump. Throwing everything out would be very liberating. Having had a dumpster for a few months while under construction for an addition was fantastic. I highly recommend it for motivation.

Wish me luck with my spring cleaning!

M.A.K.