Solve Your Closet Problems!

Here are a few closet questions people emailed me during the Closet Clean-Up Challenge. Hope these answers help!

How do I store purses and bags? (Clarissa, Addison, TX)

I have most of mine filed neatly into a large storage bin in my closet, with some tissue paper stuffed in to help them keep their shape, and stored in their original dust bags if they came with one. If you have the space, you can also arrange hooks or pretty knobs on your closet walls and hang the purses like artwork. I'd still keep some tissue paper stuffed in there to help them retain their shape, and dust them off often if you don't use them frequently.

How do I organize the clothes in my closet so I can find what I need when I actually need it? (Sara, Midland, TX)

Try grouping your clothes by function (work, casual, dressy), then by type (tops, pants, skirts, etc.) Since my work is fairly casual dress, I skip the function and group my clothes by type (tops, pants, skirts, dresses), and then within the largest group (tops), I break them down by kind (sleeveless, short-sleeve, long-sleeve, jackets, etc.) Some people suggest you can then sort each kind down by color, but I find that a little too high-maintenance for my taste and grouping by kind works for me. Purge before you try to group them, that way you won't have all the nonwearable stuff to sort through every day!

How do you store shoes and boots? (Katie, Cleveland, OH)

I keep most of my shoes in labeled plastic shoe boxes on built-in shelves in my closet. Shoes I wear more frequently sit on wire shoes shelves in the closet (so they can breathe and be easily accessible). My short boots hang out on the wire shoes shelves, and my tall boots are stuffed with boot protectors to keep their shape (you can use old magazines or newspaper too), and they're stacked on the bottom shelf of my wire shoe shelves.

I don't have a big closet. Is there a way to make more space without building on? (Jessy, New York City)

There's not a lot you can do for a small space. Purge whatever you can, use slim hangers, and consider storing delicate items like sweaters in a dresser or pretty boxes outside the closet. Keep your closet neat -- messy items take up more space and make it harder to find what you want. Do you have space near the ceiling to put in an extra shelf for out-of-season items? Can you use double hanging racks to get more hanging space? Also use the back of your closet door if possible for extra storage using an over the door organizer or simple hooks for belts, scarves, etc.

How do you clean a closet out when you don't have time to do it? I don't want to leave all my stuff out while I spend 2 weeks trying to get it done?! (Lisa, Ashton, ID)

Do little bits while you have free time. Spend 10 minutes pulling out clothes you no longer wear, and bag them up for charity. Add a pop-up hamper or small box to your closet so you can purge clothes as you're getting dressed. Next time, spend 5 minutes refolding any messy piles of clothes. Maybe tomorrow you can spend 10  minutes vacuuming your closet floor and organizing your shoes. Next week you can spend 5 minutes sorting your clothes by type so your favorite shirt is easier to find. Little bits add up!

Thanks for all your questions everyone!