Coco 's LA Condo Lifestyle Blog

     If you want the perfect California closet, the first thing you need to do is take stock.  Step into your closet and really look at what's in there.  Whenever you start to feel panicky or overwhelmed close your eyes and visualize how beautiful your closet is going to look when you are done.  Once you've taken a look around it's time to purge.  Get yourself a large box and a large trash bag.  Anything that you haven't worn in over a year is going to go in either the box or the bag. If it's in good condition put it into the box, because these items will be going to charity.  Remind yourself as you put these items in the box that they served you well, but now they will go to someone who truly needs them.  Release them and be grateful for the happy times they have brought you and if there is anything in the closet that reminds you of something negative let it go. Anything that you can't in good conscience donate to charity needs to be thrown into the trash bag which will eventually go to the nearest dumpster.  Sometimes it's hard to throw things away - remind yourself that you are making room for new possibilities in your life. Clear out the clutter and make room for the new energy. The more you declutter and clean the more energy you will get.  Seriously, anything you haven't worn or used in a year - gone. 

     Your closet should look substantially different when you are through.  Now, it's time to get out the tape measure.  Take all of the dresses and long things in your closet and group them together.  If you hang your pants the long way include them in this section as well.  This is your long hanging.  Make sure to include your bulky robes and any coats you keep in the closet as well.  When all of these items are together in one place measure the amount of space they take up on the rod and notate it on a piece of paper as "long hanging."

     If you've sorted out the long hanging appropriately then everything else on hangers should be capable of fitting in double hanging.  Double hanging is when there are two rods one high and one low to maximize the amount of hanging you can fit in a space.  Take a moment to measure the distance from the ceiling of your closet to the floor of your closet.  Notate this measurement as height.  If the measurement is at least 88 inches then your closet is a perfect candidate for double hanging.  If the measurement is less than 88 inches there are still many space saving things you can do with your closet.

     Check to make sure that all of the items not included in the long hanging are within 44 inches in length, anything that is longer than 44 inches will need to be moved to the long hanging section.  Now measure the rod space occupied by the rest of the clothing. Notate this as short hanging.

Check back for more installments of the California Closet Makeover.