We spend a lot of money on the things we wear. Clothing is our modern day calling card.  It establishes who we are before anyone even meets us.  It lets people know what kind of mood we are in; jeans & a tee = relaxed, suit = business, fun dress = flirty.

Why then are these first bastions of our personality so neglected? Treated with less than the greatest care? Smooshed together so tight we can’t get out the shirt we want to ware? Tossed to the floor of our closets & walked on?  Or worse, pushed to the back and forgotten?

1.Your closet lacks the basic tools.  If your closet has only hanging rods with one shelf above, then where can you possibly store shoes, handbags, folded items & more to make them accessible?  California Closets can design a custom place for each and every item in your wardrobe so you’re able to find the perfect look you want that day.

2. You haven’t layered your closet.  The decor in your home is layered and your closet should be too.  Here, the layering becomes practical as well as aesthetic. Like book ends, shelf dividers curtail floppy handbags. Bins/baskets on shelves can corral scarves while streamlining the overall look. Instead of letting drawers be dumping grounds, add inserts to contain & separate items. (You’ll love it every time you reach for a pair of tights or your workout wear)   Of course, you want jewelry neatly stored in a jewelry drawer or box.  But a few pieces artfully draped across a small dish  can accessorize a countertop.  Now, finish the layering with a favorite picture.   With that done, you’ll want to take the plunge to matching hangers.

3.You think everything has to stay. If you think about how much your home costs per square foot, then apply that to your closet i.e. $100/square foot, you are looking at valuable real estate.  Only the most valuable clothing items, ones that you love & that love you back, should remain.  Get a friend and start pruning!

4.You don’t know what should stay and what should go?  Use the turn of the seasons from summer to fall and from winter to spring to take a good long look at your wardrobe.  This will help you flip your closet for the new season and remind you of what you have and what you don’t.

5.You find discards coming back!  Find a place to tuck a shopping bag in your closet.  When you try something on & discover you don’t care for it anymore, tuck it in your donation bag.  When the bag is full, drop it off at the donation center.  Editing was never so easy.

Which of the 5 problems above is keeping your closet from being

your best friend?  What’s the worst thing about your clothes closet?