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Admittedly, a closet is a storage space for your clothes, accessories, shoes and jewelry. But it doesn’t have to be the same as a forgotten storage unit — even if you don’t have the budget or the room to build a walk-in wardrobe. If you’re hoping to update or remodel your closet soon, Regina Lark, PhD, CPO® and founder A clear pathA professional planning and estate services company based in Los Angeles, has some tips for you. In an exclusive meeting with Hunker, she says, “When you stop thinking of the closet as a place. hide Start thinking of things and it as a room with a purpose, everything changes.” So, it’s okay to get rid of a few unruly things when you have surprise guests, but don’t make it a habit.
For a A beautiful, well-organized wardrobe That highlights your current tastes and preferences, she advises, “Start intentionally: Decide what the space is actually for and let that drive every design decision. From there, treat the closet like any other room in your house.” Sharing how you can achieve this, our expert explains, “That means considering lighting—a well-lit closet looks curated, not crammed. That means choosing a consistent color palette for your bins, hangers, and shelf liners.”
As Lark thinks, you can also add a personal touch with scented sachets on the shelf and miniature art(s) mounted on the back wall. But before you start adding fun elements, declutter your closet and get rid of things you don’t like or wear anymore, she says. This is important “because no remodel can compensate for too much material,” reasons the professional planner.
How to make your closet more stylish on a budget
You might think that giving your closet a glow-up will require a huge amount of money. However, our expert emphasizes that you can Organize your closet on a budgetAlso. Speaking exclusively to Hunker, Regina Lark sheds light on a few ways you can go about it. For starters, declutter your closet and let go of unwanted items. “Swapping mismatched hangers for the same style and color is one of the most rewarding, least expensive changes you can make—it instantly gives a closet an intentional look,” she says. In case, you can get it 50-pack of Slim Velvet Clothes Hangers from Amazon Basics For about $20.
“A coat of paint (even a bold or unexpected color) on a back wall costs a lot less and creates a sense of depth and personality,” adds Lark. And if you’re not too picky about the shade, you can save money by choosing budget-friendly options, such as shopping from the “ops paint” section at Home Depot. You can also find inexpensive paint on Facebook or Craigslist. Your local recycling center can sometimes give away paint for free. “Uniform storage containers from a dollar store or discount retailer, consistently labeled, give the impression of a custom system without the custom price tag,” says our expert. The goal is to find enough bins and baskets to comfortably organize your clothes.
To add the finishing touch, a professional planner recommends looking into the lights. “Lighting is more important than most people realize—a plug-in LED strip or battery-powered puck light can transform the feel of a space for under twenty dollars,” she tells us. Motion-sensor lights, such as IKEA’s GÖMPYSSLING battery operated LED lightIt will also enhance the aesthetic part of your wardrobe.
How to make a small closet look more unique and living
from Organize a small closet with lots of clothes and keep it organizedOur experts suggest making the most of the available vertical space without sacrificing your personal style. Wondering how you can go about it? “Use every inch of vertical space with stackable bins or a second hanging rod for shorter items—which frees up visual breathing room at eye level, where personality can live,” opens Regina’s Lark exclusive to Hunker. You can also use tiered clothes hangers, eg Doivan’s 6 Tier Coat HangersTo make judicious use of limited space.
Our expert suggests another way you can maximize storage: “Hooks inside doors as workhorses for bags, scarves or jewelry and (to keep surfaces clean).” “Another great product-type is hanging bags with pockets for organizing small items,” she adds. You can use any option you like, but don’t store your luggage. Instead, be intentional. “The key in a small space is for everything to have its place — when nothing happens to be there, the whole space is taken into account,” notes our expert.
When you find the best combination to take care of the storage problem, focus on adding fun elements to make your small closet look unique. “A small, framed print, a wallpapered back panel, or a piece of removable peel-and-stick tile on the floor can make a small closet feel like it was designed with care and invites you in,” suggests Lark. Another way you can add luxury to your wardrobe is to use beautiful drawer liners for shelves.
