My Messy Secret

I consider myself fairly organized and as a general rule I try to keep my closets well organized (from time to time they go off track...but generally organized). Well I have a confession...the closet in my guest room looks like an episode of Hoarders.  It had started to become a wasteland for everything that didn't have a proper home.  Part of the reason this closet has been neglected for so long is that I really want to outfit the closet with a new organizing system.  The biggest problem is that with the current closet doors, any system I install won't benefit me enough to rationalize the cost since you can only get to 1/4 of the closet at any given time.  The bedroom isn't really big enough to accommodate french doors.
While I was sick over the break I found myself watching a marathon of the show Hoarders.  As soon as I was feeling better I went and tackled that closet.  Here is the before pictures:

I use this closet for my crafting and sewing supplies, extra bedding, pillows, clothing that is one step from being donated and gift wrapping supplies.

This closet got to the point that it actually made me hate to have to open the closet door.

It got so bad that I would have to shove things into the closet just to shut the door. Then when I opened the door they would tumble out.

Enough was enough.  It was time to address this mess.  I emptied the entire closet out to assess exactly what was there.  I wish I had taken a picture of the entire contents of the closet spread all over the guest room.  My husband came home in the middle of me doing this and was actually speechless when he saw the room.  Now it really resembled an episode of Hoarders.  I could barely get around the room...much less find where I put the camera.  I separated the items into several piles:

1. keep in this closet
2. move to the attic
3. donate
4. trash

The trash and donate piles filled several bags.  A few items got moved to the attic.  The rest got to stay - except in a much more organized way.  Here is the after:

The biggest change is the gift wrap organizing system I added.  It's from the Container Store and now all of my gift wrapping materials are all together.  The bottom two drawers are for gift bags, the middle drawer for tissue paper and the other drawers for ribbons and bows.  So nice to have things all together.  Before I had gift bags in one container, wrapping paper elsewhere, tissue in another box...just a mess.

So much better.  I actually enjoy opening the closet door now.  Is this closet maximizing organization?  Probably not.  But it's so much  better than before without me spending much money at all.

How about you...have you been cleaning out any closets lately?  I'd love to hear.  Have a great weekend.

-Judy

Come check out: