Home Organization Tips Archives -

Category: Home Organization Tips

A MONTHLY HOME ORGANIZATION CALENDAR

2022 is your year! Unlike a short-lived New Years’ resolution, this monthly home organization calendar provides you with strategies and timing to keep your home in good working order all year long!

JANUARY: Basement

January is a great month to organize your basement. Why? Cold temperatures and sheer boredom! Start by creating three categories: donate, throw, and keep. Keep like items together such as holiday, sports, memorabilia. Based on the amount you keep, determine the right amount of:

Shelving
Drawers with labels
Hanging storage

Bonus Info Ready to realize the full potential of your basement space, learn how to turn a cluttered basement room into a multi-functional space!

FEBRUARY: Home Office

Whether you work from home full time or part-time, having organized home office storage space is essential for peak productivity! But sometimes, it’s hard to know where to start. Begin with your desk and make sure it provides enough space. If not, consider a custom built-in desk, it takes up less space than a stand-alone desk and can be designed with the exact style and features you’re looking for. Other helpful tips include:

Add storage such as bookshelves and cabinets with adjustable shelves to reduce visible clutter
Place furniture that creates an open and airy space to reduce stress, thereby increasing productivity
Set up filing systems for items such as junk mail, bills, school papers, and catalogs

Bonus Info Learn about our home office design do’s and don’ts!

MARCH: Bathroom

Start your spring cleaning with one of the hardest working rooms in your house! Bathroom organization is all about your linen closet and vanity. Arrange everything in your linen closet so that the items you use most are toward the front on shelves. For your vanity, free up counter space with organization trays, bins, and boxes. See our gallery of closet accessory options to learn what options you might incorporate.

APRIL: Guest Room

Guest rooms only see occasional use, which means organizing it once a year reaps long-term benefits. A closet supplied with fresh linens, toiletries, and ample hanging space is key to an organized guest room. When it comes to closet accessories, there are many great options, so be sure to work with a closet design professional who can provide you with a customized solution. And for all of those homeowners that had to convert their guest room into an office, install a Murphy Bed the ultimate multi-use space!

Bonus Info Haven’t heard of a Murphy Bed before? These fold-down beds are nothing to laugh at! Learn the three benefits of installing a Murphy Bed in your home.

MAY: Mud Room

The reality is, most homeowners rarely use their front door making the mudroom the place where the traffic begins and ends. Creating the following mudroom storage zones will keep your family’s belongings off the floor and looking good!

Hanging storage
Shoe & boot storage
Sporting equipment

Bonus Info Not sure where to start? See for yourself how we helped revamp the mudroom closet storage for a family of five in our blog, Mudroom Closet Makeover for a Busy Family.

JUNE: Kid’s Closet

June means school is out and the kids are home. Take advantage of this extra time by organizing your kids’ closets. Here are some ways to keep things off your floors and in their proper place!

Adjustable shelving at various heights
Pull-down rods for seasonal and other seldomly used items
Triple hanging rods are great for younger kid’s clothes or shorter items.
Drawers that are low enough for younger children to reach
Drawer inserts for smaller things such as undergarments, socks, and accessories
Open shelving for items that are needed at a moments notice
Maximize vertical space by storing things up high such as off-season and clothes that don’t fit

Bonus Info Get our summertime tips for getting your children’s closets organized!

JULY: Owner’s Suite Closet

One of the secrets to an organized master closet is having the right accessories that provide a designated place for everything in your closet. Here are the top 5 closet accessory essentials that our Minneapolis custom closet design team recommends for every closet:

Drawers, drawers, and more drawers
Shoe organizers
Hide-away hampers
Tie & belt racks
Accessories organizers

Bonus Info Ready to see closet accessories in action? See how we used custom storage and closet accessories to transform a spare bedroom into a swoon-worthy walk-in closet!

AUGUST: Laundry Room

Doing laundry will no longer be your least favorite household chore with these helpful tips. Maximize space in your laundry room by adding hanging storage with shelving and/or laundry room cabinetry above. Baskets, hampers, a built-in fold-out ironing board, and a folding station will also help you get the most of your laundry room space!

Bonus Info Get inspired! Visit our laundry room storage project portfolio for ideas and inspiration.

SEPTEMBER: Garage

Odds are that your garage had a lot of use over the summer. Get it prepared for the slush and mess of winter by organizing it by zones. This makes finding items faster and seeing them easier! The most common zones include home improvement, sports & recreation, lawn & garden, and seldom-used things. Check out our play-by-play guide to garage zone storage and organization for more detailed tips and suggestions.

Bonus Info Plus, don’t miss our list of items that you shouldn’t store in your garage and why.

Custom Garage Cabinets Minneapolis St. Paul MN

OCTOBER: Front Entry Closet

With the holidays right around the corner, why not welcome guests with an organized front entry closet. First, determine what takes up the most space, whether shoes, coats, purses, or backpacks. Next install cubbies, baskets, shelves, and hooks.

Bonus Info For inspiration and ideas, check out our project gallery, and when you are ready, download our closet inventory checklist.

NOVEMBER: Kitchen Pantry

It’s the cooking and entertaining time of year, which puts a strain on your pantry space. Start by purging, cleaning, and sorting the contents. Shelves that are adjustable and go to the ceiling maximize storage capacity, while deep pull-out shelves are perfect for bulkier items. Use drawers and cabinets for items you want out-of-sight.

Bonus Info Ensure you’re ready for the holidays with our time-saving kitchen pantry design ideas and organization tips!

DECEMBER: Kitchen

December is one of your kitchen’s busiest months of the year. Maximize your cabinet storage by using solutions that take advantage of vertical space and help you access items stored in those deep cabinets. Pull-out shelves provide that solution and also increase storage capacity and functionality.

Bonus Info Be the hostess of the season when you pull a bottle of wine from your home wine cellar! Don’t think you have room? Check out our list of 10 wine cellar ideas for your home.

CUSTOM STORAGE FOR HOMEOWNERS IN MAPLEWOOD, MN, AND BEYOND

Say goodbye to the chaotic, unorganized clutter and hello to a beautifully organized custom closet! At Closets for Life, we specialize in organization solutions for all areas of the home, including garages, kitchens, home offices, laundry rooms, pantries, wine cellars, and more. We approach every closet project with a fresh perspective tailored to you. From mixing finishes to finding the right layout to perfectly match your needs. We’ll come to your home (or meet virtually!) to measure your space and discuss your needs and wants. Contact us today to schedule a free in-home consultation.

Storage Ideas & Inspiration Minneapolis St. Paul Apple Valley MN

A Year in Review: Storage Ideas & Inspiration

We know getting your home organized is no easy task. Despite the challenges this last year presented, we managed to bring some amazing organization into many homes! If you’re looking for inspiration or ideas for an upcoming project, we thought it would be fun to recap the year by showcasing a month-by-month guide of just a few of the projects we completed in 2020. Oftentimes when we think of organization, we think of closets. As you’ll see in this ‘A Year in Storage’ review, there are many areas of the home that can benefit from organization. And, don’t miss our links to some of our most popular blogs throughout our highlights offering more in-depth tips for the ultimate organized space.

JANUARY: REACH-IN CLOSET NIRVANA

Who says walk-in closets have all the fun? We’ve created reach-in closets for our clients that provide the same amenities and functionality. Reach-in closet smart storage offers a wide variety of cabinetry finishes, shelving layouts, and door options that could make any walk-in closet green with envy!

FEBRUARY: COMMERCIAL PROJECTS, TOO

At Closets for Life, we don’t ‘just’ do residential projects. We’ve installed storage solutions for a dental office, retail store, and several schools. See how we turned chaos into calm at the YMCA after school program at Thomas Lake Elementary this past February, a project we’ve completed at many schools across the school district.

MARCH: WE LOVE ODD SPACES

How can I find additional storage space? It’s one of our most-asked questions! We know how to take tricky OR unusual layouts and transform them into creative storage solutions. With us, challenging spaces like sloped and curved walls and attics can become built-in masterpieces. We can even design around access issues as we did for this closet we completed in March in which the homeowners needed to maintain attic access. Want another great example? Just look at our curved closet wall blog to see first hand how we can take challenging spaces and create a closet system that blends perfectly with the room!

APRIL: CRAFT ROOM PARADISE

With the increase in home hobbies and entertainment, many homeowners are looking for a designated space to call their own. A craft room brings vast amounts of storage combined with creative workspaces. Whether it’s a large island with storage or a countertop for creating, having a space for both work and play goes a long way! The project featured below was such a stunner, we wrote a whole blog about it! Learn the story behind this beautiful custom craft room.

MAY: MIX-IT-UP CABINETRY FINISHES

Modern, traditional, rustic, or eclectic? Whatever your style, an instant way to update and personalize your home’s storage is with two-tone cabinetry and finishes. It adds interest, highlights what you want to see while hiding what you don’t. Want to see more photos of this red hot trend in storage? Check out our blog on using two-tone cabinetry to elevate the sophistication in any room.

JUNE: CAN YOUR PANTRY STAND THE HEAT?

If investing in your kitchen offers the biggest ROI, then your pantry is a potential money-maker! Say goodbye to those wire racks by installing custom shelves, pull-out baskets, and cabinets that bring instant organization. This project was just one of many kitchen pantries we helped transform in 2020. And, if you’re looking to save time in your kitchen, don’t miss our blog highlighting some time-saving tips organization for the kitchen pantry.

JULY: OFF-THE-WALL GARAGE STORAGE

Okay, we obviously had a bit of fun with this project back in July but seriously speaking, nothing makes a garage more organized than Gladiator’s GearWall Storage. Take seasonal items and tools from your garage floor that aren’t being used and hang them! Sturdy and offering the flexibility you need, Gladiator’s like of GearWall wall panels are perfect for freeing up valuable storage space and reducing the clutter garages continuously struggle with.

AUGUST: EXTEND YOUR ‘SHELF LIFE’

Whether we’re improving the storage capacity in a client’s bathroom, kitchen, or pantry, pull-out shelves are a difference-maker! Deep cabinets are great until you can’t reach, see, or find anything in the back of them. Pull-out shelves minimize reaching and make it so much easier to access items. Just look at this bathroom project from August-no dark depths of the cabinet to be found here!

SEPTEMBER: DROP BED GORGEOUS

What’s not to love about a 2-for-1? That’s what a Murphy bed offers. Whether it’s your office, basement, or den, a Murphy bed gives homeowners the flexibility in using a spare room. They are available in a variety of finishes, sizes, and functionalities to fit your lifestyle.

OCTOBER: LIFE OF A WALK-IN CLOSET

It’s easy to look at an empty walk-in closet system and be impressed, but it’s more helpful to see one filled up. That’s why we stopped to take a photo of this custom closet storage project we completed in October. It shows how the racks, shelves, and cabinets can be configured to accommodate everything you have and needs to be stored. No matter what your budget or square footage, custom walk-in closet systems can be tailored to fit your needs.

NOVEMBER: GARAGE INTERVENTION

Summer is over, the holidays are around the corner. You might now believe it but November, when summer activities are done and temps are still mild, is a great time consider tackling a garage cabinet & shelving upgrade. We completed several this past November including the one below. Don’t think the garage is a priority? Consider this….for most homeowners, their garage is the last thing they see before leaving and the first thing they see coming home. Need more convincing? Get inspired by these five garage storage examples.

DECEMBER: LAUNDRY STORAGE DONE RIGHT

If you’re thinking about (or trying not to think about) the dumping ground your laundry room has become and are ready for a change, here’s some inspiration! Laundry room storage is not like it used to be. With customized cabinets and shelving along with pull-down hanging rods and baskets, your laundry room can be “cool” enough for your kids to use!

YOUR STORAGE IDEAS & ORGANIZATION EXPERT IN MINNEAPOLIS & ST. PAUL

Are you ready to bring organization and inspiration back into your home? At Closets for Life, we specialize in organization solutions for all areas of your home including closets, garages, kitchens, home offices, laundry rooms, pantries, and more. Custom storage can triple the storage capacity of your space, increase your home’s value and provide support to help you stay organized. We’ll come to your home (or meet virtually!) to measure your space and discuss your needs and wants. Contact us today to schedule a free in-home consultation.

Your Guide To Getting Organized In The New Year

Would you love to start 2021 feeling organized and not having to ask “where is my……”? Let go of the chaos and clutter of last year, and go into the new year feeling organized and productive! Reclaim your home with these helpful strategies that reduce stress and add organization in a way that reflects your lifestyle.

KITCHEN

If you are like most of us, you likely spent more time in your kitchen in 2020 than any other year. After a year of intense use, your kitchen could use some TLC! Bring the ‘heart’ back into your home with these simple steps for an organized kitchen. As the famous chef, Julia Child once said, “The more you know, the more you can create. There’s no end to imagination in the kitchen.”

Start with your refrigerator and pantry by purging old and expired items.
Think zone defense. Don’t try tackling every cabinet at once – one at a time.
Get rid of excess plastic containers, cooking pans, and water bottles.
Shocked by what’s hiding in the back of your cabinets? Make that space usable by installing pull out shelves.

CLOSET

Do you cringe while bracing yourself for a landslide of who-knows-what when you open the closet door? If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. The new year is a perfect time to take back your closet. How? Take everything out of your closet and sort them into piles. Then decide what to keep and what to donate. Next, think about investing in some new storage for your walk-in or reach-in closet. But don’t just blindly pick your storage! Think of what items can be stored vertically, horizontally, and on shelves, and do your research by looking at closet system project galleries online. Consider closet accessories like pull-down rods, pant racks, and drawer dividers — they are guaranteed to be your favorite space-saving features! And, if it’s a bedroom closet you are organizing, try our helpful Closet Inventory Checklist to do a thorough inventory.

HOME OFFICE

Is the clutter in your home office making a commute to work look pretty good right now? A poll showed that 98% of people surveyed said they would like the option to work remotely for the rest of their careers. If this is the case with you, it may be time to start thinking about how to best optimize your home workspace. Bring focus and productivity back into your home office with these home office organization tips.

Maximize space by adding shelves, baskets, or even a Wall Bed to free up office space without sacrificing guest space when you need it.
Set up filing systems for items such as junk mail, bills, school papers, and catalogs.
To reduce visual clutter, consider installing custom cabinets to store things like books, copy paper, and bulky items like a printer.
Create labeled drawers for recycling and shredding to minimize paper clutter.

MUDROOM

Your mudroom is about to come out of hibernation! Between outdoor winter adventures and children’s activities starting back up, the clutter will return (that is, unless it never left). No matter how you organize it, you’ll never regret having an organized mudroom!

Remove everything and decide what items can stay and what can be stored in the garage or basement. You can find things faster when you rotate your gear seasonally.
Is there not enough room for everything? Maximize your storage capacity by adding baskets and hooks.
Add small cubbies to store shoes and other small items.
Or, take the plunge and hire a professional to create a custom mudroom or front entry closet storage.

YOUR HOME ORGANIZATION EXPERT IN APPLE VALLEY, MN & BEYOND

Have you tried organizing and still feel overwhelmed? Consider adding custom organization to your home. At Closets for Life, we specialize in organization solutions for all areas of your home including closets, garages, kitchens, home offices, laundry rooms, pantries, and more. Custom storage can triple the storage capacity of your space, increase your home’s value, and provide support to help you stay organized. We’ll come to your home (or meet virtually!) to measure your space and discuss your needs and wants. Contact us today to schedule a free in-home consultation.

Home Organization Tips For The Holidays

You know it’s coming every year. So why is it so difficult to get organized and prepared for the holidays? Having an organized home for the holidays is like giving yourself the gift of time! With everything is in its place, you know exactly where to get it and exactly where to put it away, freeing up your mind to focus on what truly matters – spending time with friends and family. How does that sound? Like you’ve hit the holiday jackpot, right?

Ready to get started? The right home organization and storage can ensure a home brings holiday joy for years to come! Secure your spot on the ‘nice’ list with these tips:

PANTRY

Baking this holiday season? Before you start, treat yourself to a pantry you can be proud of! Organize your pantry with shelving that meets your entertaining needs such as shelves of various heights and pull out baskets so nothing gets lost. Pro tip: Create zones for the main categories that comprise your pantry. For example, store all of your baking items in one area and pasta in another.

GIFT WRAPPING STATION

With the fun of gift-giving comes gift-wrapping. Are you constantly trying to find tape in one place and the wrapping paper in another? How does a custom craft closet or built-in gift wrapping station filled with wrapping paper and gift bags in one section, ribbons and bows in another, and plenty of name tags, tape, and scissors sound? Amazing, right? Convenient storage features like extra deep drawers, rods for wrapping paper, and a fold-down shelf make year around gift-giving a breeze.

HOLIDAY DECORATIONS

Broken ornaments and tangled lights sound familiar? Maybe it’s time to create some storage solutions to keep those holiday decorations around for years to come! Avoid your inner Grinch with a storage system specifically created for organizing your holiday decor. Ideally, you want a custom closet with extra deep shelves for bins and pull-out baskets and shelves. Pro tip: Avoid storing items in your attic and basement where temperatures fluctuate. Here are some clever and efficient ways to store your holiday decor:

Segmented boxes for ornaments (even empty egg containers)
Store lights in individual strands in either Ziploc bags or wrapped around sturdy cardboard.
Clear plastic storage bins for wreaths, Christmas tree, and garlands
Bubble wrap any breakable items and store in plastic or cardboard boxes
Create labels for each container and number each bin in the order in which you put it out

ORGANIZED FOR HOLIDAY GUESTS

Don’t let the stress of hosting overnight guests get you down. With a few simple tips, you and your guests will feel at home for the holidays! Nothing makes your guests feel more welcome than a comfortable bed and a Murphy bed is a great option. It can turn any room, big or small, into a guest bedroom without taking up excess floor space when not in use. Pro tip: Have extra bedding, pillows, and toiletries on hand for your guests. Little touches go a long way in helping your guests feel comfortable.

YOUR MINNEAPOLIS & ST. PAUL HOLIDAY HOME ORGANIZATION RESOURCE

Ready to take the stress out of the holidays and get organized? Contact Closets For Life to arrange a free in-home consultation! Our company specializes in organization solutions for all areas of the home including closets, kitchens, garages, home offices, laundry rooms, wine cellars and more. We’ll come to your home, measure your space, discuss your needs and wants, suggest ideas and, best of all, follow up in just a few days with a custom/ design specifically tailored to you – all free of charge. All of our designs are custom manufactured which gives us the flexibility to design a solution that meets your needs and your space. Go ahead – give us a call today!

What To Do With The Stuff You No Longer Want

Whether you’ve been bitten by the KonMari bug or simply try to do a bit of decluttering every spring, the hardest part of downsizing your belongings can be figuring out what to do with all of the stuff you no longer want! The internet is full of advice on getting rid of stuff, but there’s not a lot of sites that address what to do with the items you’ve decided must go.

As a custom organization company, we’re naturally big proponents of organization. We have numerous blog posts with advice on how to go about organizing your closet, garage, children’s’ bedrooms, and other areas of the home and strive to offer our customers and readers valuable information they can use. That’s why we’ve compiled this helpful list of options for what to do with your stuff here in the Twin Cities. From donation options that give back to our local community to places where you can list items for sale, we hope this information makes the process of discarding items that don’t ‘bring you joy’ just a little bit easier!

DONATION OPTIONS IN MINNEAPOLIS & ST. PAUL

Arc’s Value Village – arcsvaluevillage.org

Open 7 days and week and with 4 locations, this non-profit organization funnels money right back into our local community by helping those with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Another bonus – they accept a wide range of items (see list here) .

Leonardo’s Basement – leonardosbasement.org

Cleaning out your garage? This one is for you. Leonardo’s Basement offers classes to youth and adult that give kids and adults the opportunity to imagine, build, and be inspired. Classes offered are hands-on and involve everything from furniture making to building your own Hogwarts Castle. They accept a wide range of tools, fabric, building materials, art supplies and more. This is a great option for many items that might otherwise end up in the trash. Click here to see their list of accepted items.

Dress For Success – Dressforsuccess.org

Getting rid of some work clothes? Consider donating them to Ready For Success, a locally operated organization that supports low-income men and women by providing them with gently used and new professional clothing suitable for job interviews and the workplace.

Tech Dump – techdump.org

Looking for somewhere to donate electronics without paying a fee? TechDump is a non-profit that supports and provides practical experience for adults facing barriers to employment. They will accept many computer related items for free and charge a small fee for some bigger items like TVs and vacuum cleaners (see list here). Either way, you are keeping hazardous materials out of the landfills while supporting a good cause.

Looking to Have Your Items Picked Up?

We understand. Sometimes the process of going through the items is all we can handle! If you prefer to have your donated items picked up from your home, here are several local non-profits with whom you can schedule a pick-up

DAV of Minnesota & Vietnam Veterans of America – Both organizations accept clothing, shoes and small household items and offer pick up in many areas. Both are non-profit organizations that support veterans

Salvation Army – Accepts clothing, books, furniture, appliances, and other household items. Visit their website for a complete list and to schedule your pick-up.

WAYS TO SELL YOUR ITEMS

Hoping to make a bit of cash? Here are some options for selling your items.

Clothes Mentor, Turn Style and Plato’s Closet are all clothing resale shops with locations here in the Twin Cities. They will pay you in cash or store credit for clothing items that are in good condition. Many will only accept certain brands so make sure to review their website before bringing items to them

Once Upon a Child is a resale shop that buys and resells children’s items including clothing, furniture, strollers, toys, books and more. Click here to see their list of Minnesota locations.

Facebook – If you have a Facebook account, consider posting your items on one of the several online garage sale groups. There are likely several for your city alone. Just search on Facebook for ‘online garage sale’ + the name of your city to find and join a group. Each group may have its own guidelines to follow. Another option is Facebook Marketplace which is Facebook’s version of Craiglist, that allows you to post items for sale.

Craigslist -A great spot to list furniture and other household items.

MORE RESOURCES

Didn’t see what you were looking for? Time to Organize, a local provider of professional organization services, has a great list of places to donate just about anything you can think of.

Smartgivers.org also has a comprehensive list of places that accept various donations.

YOUR TWIN CITIES ‘GET ORGANIZED’ PARTNER

Decided your home needs a bit more help than just a declutter? Closets For Life can help! We design, manufacture and install custom organizations systems for all areas of the home Head on over to our project gallery for inspiration and when you are ready, reach out to us for a FREE in-home consultation! We’ll come out to your home to discuss your needs and measure your space and within two days of our visit, follow up with a 3D CAD design of our proposed layout. All free of charge! Once finalized, our custom closet systems are manufactured locally and typically installed in just two weeks. What do you have to lose? Contact us today!

Closets For Life, a custom organization company based in Minneapolis & St. Paul, specializes in organization solutions for all areas of the home including closets, garages, home offices, mud rooms, laundry rooms, kitchens, wine cellars and more.

4 home organization tips for a successful thanksgiving

4 Organization Tips for a Successful Thanksgiving

Hosting Thanksgiving? Coordinating can be a daunting task. But as with anything, good organization is the key to ensuring events go as smoothly as possible. While cooking isn’t our specialty, helping homeowners get organized is. Therefore, we’ve compiled 4 organization tips to help you host a successful and stress-free Thanksgiving.

Organize your food and cooking needs: Making multiple dishes? Review each recipe ingredient list ahead of time to ensure you have everything you need. You can even go as far as setting the ingredients out on the counter grouped by recipe. Don’t forget about having the right cookware and serving dishes as well. Having a hard time finding ingredients in the depths of your pantry? It’s too late for this Thanksgiving but consider installing pull out shelves in your cabinets. They’re reasonably priced and are a game changer in terms of making items in your cabinets easier to see and reach.

Have a plan for overnight guests: Out of town guests staying overnight? Have a plan for what you plan to do with them. What will they eat (outside of the big meal)? How can they help you prepare (everyone likes to feel useful!)? Where will they sleep? If you lack a guest room, consider a Murphy Bed. They can be beautifully integrated into a wall or office unit, providing your guests with a comfortable place to sleep without taking up valuable floor space when not in use.

Don’t forget the beverages: With so much focus on the food, it can be easy to gloss over beverage details. Serving wine? What about the kids? What about after the meal? Do you need beverages for watching the football game? If you happen to have a home wine cellar, this step is a bit easier in that all you need to do is pull wine bottles from your cellar!

Create reusable centerpieces: Host Thanksgiving every year? Love a beautiful Thanksgiving table? Consider investing in a timeless, reusable centerpiece and other Thanksgiving decorations that you love. You’ll thank yourself next year! Don’t have the storage space to store decorations? Consider adding custom organization to an existing storage closet to double or even triple your storage capacity.

YOUR MINNEAPOLIS & ST. PAUL KITCHEN, CLOSET, AND HOME OFFICE CUSTOM STORAGE EXPERT

Want to learn how custom home organization can transform not just the holidays but your life as well? Click on the button below to request a FREE in-home consultation with Closets For Life. Based in Minneapolis & St. Paul, we design, manufacture and install custom organization systems for closets, garages, home offices, mud rooms, laundry rooms, kitchens, wine cellars and more. We’ll come out to your home to discuss your needs, measure your space and within two days of our visit, follow up with a 3D CAD design of our proposed layout. All free of charge! Once finalized, our custom designs are manufactured locally and typically installed in just two weeks. What do you have to lose?

A Spring Organizing Checklist: From Your Garage to Your Closet, it’s Time For a Fresh Start!

As we write this, it is March in Minnesota and Mother Nature has recently delivered another 5” or so of snow. For those of you who don’t live in a winter climate and are blissfully unaware of the psyche required to ensure a long winter, let us enlighten you. It doesn’t matter how much snow is on the ground, come March, Minnesotans are getting spring fever! We possess an almost super-power like ability to move towards spring despite whatever is happening outside our windows. That is why, come March, you’ll see us Minnesotans blissfully walking around without jackets in 30 degree weather and gung-ho to organize and spring clean. After all, we want everything in order so that come warmer temps, we are ready to get outdoors and enjoy! So, for all you Minnesotans out there (and anyone else who just wants to get their house into shape), we’ve whipped up a Spring Organizing Checklist, designed to help you give your home a fresh start.

Garage Organization:

Toss out worn gardening gloves, opened or expired seed packets and other gardening or lawn supplies you haven’t touched in the past year. Note – make sure you dispose of any lawn chemicals safely.
Once the snow has melted, move seasonal items such as snow shovels, skis and snowboards into storage and bring out the garden shovels, rakes and other summer items. Lack storage for these items? Consider installing an overhead storage rack, tall garage cabinets or other garage storage to keep these items tucked away when not in use.
Put away any tools that may have been displaced over the long winter months. If you lack tool storage, consider adding a Gladiator GearTracks Garage Storage wall, which offers customized and flexible tool storage.

Closet Organization:

Go through your closet and donate items you no longer wear. The end of a season is the perfect time to do this. If you haven’t worn an item all winter, get rid of it. Trust us when we say you won’t miss it next winter. Is your closet still over-crowded? Consider a custom closet system to maximize the storage potential of your closet.
Move items off your floor and give your closet a good vacuum. Too often, a closet floor becomes a collecting ground for items like shoes and boots which most of us usually opt to vacuum around. Spring is a great time to move those items out and, while you are at it, assess whether or not you should keep them.
Re-sort your items. We tend to keep the items we wear most often in one area of our closet which can lead to the other items getting forgotten in the back. A great way to combat this is to mix up your wardrobe by sorting it a different way. Some ideas include sorting your clothing by color or by outfit or by type.

Kitchen Organization:

Clean out your utensils. Move your most often used tools front and center and consider getting rid of those utensils you haven’t touched in over a year.
Go through your spice rack and pantry. Wipe down shelves, get rid of any expired or old items and move often used items to the front.
Get rid of excess cooking pans, bowls and plastic containers. When we get a new baking sheet, pan or bowl, too many of us simply add the new one to the mix without getting rid of the item it is replacing. And don’t get us started on plastic containers! They seem to multiply like rabbits (although never the covers?). Get rid of any stained plastic containers or the ones without tops. Find it hard to reach the back of a cabinet? Consider installing pull out shelves to existing cabinets. They are a game-changer.

Mudroom or Front Entry Organization:

Pull everything out and give your mudroom or front entry storage space a good cleaning. Before you put everything back in, look at each item to determine whether you’ve used it in the last 12 months and, if not, get rid of it.
Re-assess your storage. Not enough room for all your items? Consider storing winter items in another location when not in use or consider adding baskets, hooks or custom mudroom or front entry closet storage to maximize the storage capacity of your space.
Add a fresh coat of paint. The mudroom or front entry is the buffer between the outdoors and the rest of the home. It’s a battle ground and it shows. If a simple wipe-down of the walls won’t suffice, putting on a fresh coat of paint can help revitalize the space.

Home Office Organization:

Go through your paperwork and mail. Collect all random sheets of paper and mail from around your home. File anything you need to keep and recycle or shred the rest.
Speaking of your files, spring is a great time to go through your files. Too often, drawers of files become overfilled with items we once thought important to keep but no longer need.
Multi-purpose your office space. For many, a home office is combined with another area of the home like a living area or guest room. Consider how you can better integrate the two spaces. It might be as simple as adding some shelving and baskets to better hide away office items or adding a Wall Bed to free up space when the room is not being used as a guest room.
Clean your computer or laptop. We love this tip we came across for cleaning your keyboard. Take a Post-it and fold it in half with the sticky side out. Run it between the keys of your keyboard to get rid of dust.

CUSTOM GARAGE, CLOSET AND HOME STORAGE IN MINNEAPOLIS & ST. PAUL

Gone through the steps of spring organizing and still feel overwhelmed? Consider adding custom organization to your home. Custom storage can triple the storage capacity of your space, increase your home’s value and provide support to help you stay organized. Closets For Life, a custom organization company serving Minneapolis & St. Paul and the surrounding communities, specializes in organization solutions for all areas of the home including closets, garages, home offices, laundry rooms, kitchens, wine cellars and more. We offer free in-home consultations and follow up the consultation with a 3D design. What do you have to lose? Contact us today!

Break out of the Gift Box this Christmas with Custom Organization

Do you have someone on your Christmas list who is notoriously hard to buy for? Perhaps a spouse or a parent or grown child? Or, are you looking for thoughtful Christmas gift ideas the recipeint will use and appreciate all year long? Break out of the gift box this Christmas with a unique and creative gift that is guaranteed to bring joy to the recipient for years to come! What magical gift are we speaking about? Custom organization, of course! Custom organization is a great gift idea for these reasons:

Custom organization is often something put on a homeowner’s wish list, a ‘that would be nice but…’ item that gets put off due to other more pressing home needs.
It’s something that will be used every day for years to come, rather than forgotten after a few weeks or months.
Built-in home organization can improve the value of a home, meaning it’s a gift that gives back!

So, what kind of organization projects make the perfect gift? We’ve highlighted just a few options below but really; the only limit is your imagination. If you like what you see or would like to talk with us about your ideas, contact us to schedule a free in-home consultation. And don’t worry, there’s still plenty of time. Whether you want to get the project done in time for Christmas, or want us to provide you with a certificate to present so you can plan together after the holidays, Closets For Life can make it happen!

Custom Closet System

Does you loved one’s closet overflowing with clothing? A custom closet system could be the perfect gift. With a variety of features available such as built in drawers, shelving, shoe racks and islands, we can create a design that specifically fits both the needs and space of the recipient. Whether designing for a reach-in or walk-in closet, a custom closet system can triple storage capacity. Imagine your loved one walking into their new closet each day and thinking how much they appreciate this gift. And, if you just happen to share a closet with the recipient, you’ll get to enjoy the gift as well! View our galleries of walk-in closet systems and reach-in closet systems closet projects for inspiration.

Mudroom Organization

Custom mudroom organization is something most moms dream of. If a home’s mudroom or entry is overwhelmed with coats, shoes, backpacks, sports equipment and more, we can absolutely guarantee that the mother of the house will be overjoyed to receive the gift of custom mudroom organization. Don’t have a mudroom? Even better! Without a designated area to ‘catch’ all these items, custom built-in open lockers or a front entry closet system will be even more appreciated! Visit our Mudroom storage project gallery for ideas and inspiration .

Garage Organization

If mudroom organization is the perfect mom gift, then the perfect dad gift is garage organization. With an amazing array of options including bike hoists, wall storage for rakes and shovels, ceiling racks, tool storage, custom cabinetry and so much more, you can turn any garage into the man cave most dads dream of. Thinking winter isn’t the right time to tackle this kind of project? It’s actually the perfect time. Tackling garage organization projects in the winter months means the garage will be ready to go by spring. Visit our garage storage project gallery to learn more.

Home Wine Cellar

Is the gift recipient an avid wine aficionado or love to entertain? Having a home wine cellar can save money and time by allowing wine to be purchased by the case and preserving the longevity of a bottle’s contents. Plus, let’s face it, it’s pretty awesome to be able to say, ‘Just let me run down to my wine cellar to select a bottle for dinner.’ Worry you need to dedicate a whole room to have a home wine cellar? This is not the case. View our wine cabinets and wine cellar photo gallery to see wine cellar projects both big and small, from wine cellars with 900+ bottle capacity to a small wine cellar built into the base of a staircase. How fun would it be to gift a bottle of wine with a note that says’ Wine Cellar Included’?

Closet Accessories

Love the idea of giving a gift of home organization but looking for something a bit smaller? Consider gifting a closet accessories or two. You would be surpised how accessories like valet rods, tie racks and pant racks can impact the storage potential and use of a space. Have a dark closet space? Give a gift of lighted closet rods. Or perhaps you have grandparents on your list? Closet accessories like a pull-down closet rod make reaching clothes easier, a gift that is sure to be used and appreciated. Visit our closet accessories and organizer systems photo gallery to see the many closet accessories we carry.

What’s Your Closet Type? Find the Best Closet System for You!

Adding custom organization to your closet is a great decision that will make getting dressed a less stressful and faster affair. However, did you know that no two closet system designs should be alike? It’s true! The beauty of choosing a custom closet system versus a pre-fabricated system is that we can custom design a solution that perfectly fits not only your space but also your needs! Now, don’t get overwhelmed. Helping you determine your needs is what we do! When you choose Closets For Life, we offer a complimentary in-home consultation. Our designer will come to your home, measure your space and talk to you about your storage needs prior to designing an organization solution tailored to you. However, we find that some of our customers like to approach their consultation having given some thought into the kinds of features they want to have. So, we’ve created a ‘Closet Type’ guide to help give you a great starting point for your conversation with us. Read on to figure out what your closet type is!

Closet Type #1: Priority on Hanging Space

Do you have a lot of dresses, slacks or dress shirts? Individuals with professional work clothing or many items that require hanging will want to consider a closet design that focuses on providing ample hanging space. Consider bars at multiple heights (shorter clearance for shirts and higher clearances to accommodate slacks and dresses). Also, look at closet accessories such as pants racks that will allow you to maximize your hanging space.

Closet Type #2: Priority on Shelves & Drawers

Do you love to wear sweaters or have many items you prefer to keep folded? Perhaps you have limited space within your bedroom for a large dresser? Then a closet system with ample shelving and drawer space may be just the thing to transform your closet into a truly functional space. This closet type is also perfect for children’s closets. Children’s room closets typically require storage of many little clothing items which do best in drawers. And shelving in children’s closets are perfect for items that need to be within easy reach such as diapers.

Closet Type #3: Priority on Specialty Items

Do you have a large collection of shoes, purses or hats? We sometimes have a client that comes to us wanting their closet system design to hold their collection of a particular item. Whether it’s a collection of shoes or something else, there are many creative storage design solutions that not only organize but also showcase your items. And you’ll still have ample storage for other clothing.

Let Us Help!

Don’t fit into one of these categories perfectly? Don’t despair! Whether your a classic Type #1 or a mix of two closet types, we can design a closet system perfectly tailored to you! That is the advantage of choosing Closets For Life, a Minneapolis & St. Paul custom closet system provider. You don’t need to compromise your goals when you choose to have a closet system custom designed for you. Contact us to have us out for a free in-home consultation. We can’t wait to show you what we can do for you!

Make an Impact with LED Closet Lighting

Closets are taking a decidedly brighter turn with the growing trend of built-in LED lighting. Going beyond the standard overhead lighting, these new LED closet lighting options, including the illuminated closet rods and accent LED light strips featured below, illuminate closet contents while also adding an up-scale boutique look to the space.

Advantages of built in LED lighting include:

Energy efficient and long lasting, LED lights translate to cost savings for homeowners.
LED lights produce no heat and are UV-free meaning they won’t fade closet contents.
Bringing light into the darkest areas of your closet, LED lighting makes it easier to distinguish colors and clothing items.
Beyond all the practical reasons, LED lighting adds an element of upscale design and visual impact to your space.

Closet systems are not the only area where LED lighting can have added benefits. Intelligently incorporated into a home office storage, kitchen pantry storage or a entry room storage, LED lighting enhances the design and the functionality of any space.

Let’s Start Today!

Want to learn more about LED lighting options? Schedule a free in-home consultation today with Closets For Life. We’ll come to your home to measure your space and discuss your needs and ideas. Within two days, you’ll have a free design and price quote. With the design finalized, all pieces are custom designed and generally installed within two weeks. Let us help you create a beautiful closet space to be enjoyed for years to come!

Closet Tips: What to Hang vs. What to Fold

It sounds basic but when trying to get the most from your closet space, determining which clothing items can be folded versus which should be hung can make a big difference. During our in-home consultations, we often find homeowners are focused on hanging space. However, a good closet designer (such as Closets For Life!) will take into account the type of clothing in your wardrobe. In many cases, drawer or shelving space designed for folded clothing is equally as important as hanging space in a closet design.

Not sure about the best ways to store and organize your clothing items? We’ve compiled tips from www.stylecaster.com, www.marthastewart.com, and www.shefinds.com on which items fair best when hung and which clothing items should be folded. Review these tips to find out whether you’ve been treating your clothes right.

What To Hang…

Jackets, Overcoats and Blazers: These items should be hung in a space with ample clearance underneath. For heavier coats, a curved suit hanger is recommended to better support the weight and help hold the shape.

Dress Pants or Trousers: Hang dress pants or trousers on hanger clips by their waist or hem, or fold them in half and fold them over a hanger. If you opt for the fold and hang option, make sure you use a thicker hanger to prevent creasing and slipping.

Dresses and Skirts: Dresses and skirts should be hung on a hanger. Use hangers with clips for skirts or padded hangers if a dress is made of delicate material. The only exception to this is if the dress or skirt is heavily embellished, in which case the items should be folded as the weight may lead to the items becoming misshapen if hung.

What To Fold…

Sweaters: Hanging sweaters made of any material will cause them to become misshapen. In addition, sweaters can be folded without causing creases or wrinkles.

T-shirts: Long and short sleeve t-shirts can get stretched out when hung so its best to fold them for storage.

Casual Pants: Casual pants made of heavy materials such as jeans, cords or cargo materials as well as most shorts can be folded without wrinkling.

Bras and Underwear: Other than silk nightgowns which fall under the dress category, undergarments such as bras and underwear should be folded and stored in a drawer.

Looking for More Help? We’re your Twin Cities Closet System Expert!

Feeling like your closet is in need of a bigger overhaul? Closets For Life is a custom organization company serving Minneapolis & St. Paul. We specialize in closet systems, garage storage solutions, home wine cellars and wine racking and more. Contact us for a free in-home consultation!

Powerful Questions To Ask Yourself When Organizing Your Closet

Even the best designed custom walk-in closet or reach-in closet can get overwhelmed if you pack too many clothes into it but parting with items of clothing can be difficult. Whether it’s because the item has sentimental value or because it cost a lot of money, letting go can be hard. However, a once or twice a year cleaning out of items in your closet has many benefits including making your clothes more accessible, shortening the time you spend getting ready each morning and creating a place of a calm instead of chaos.

Here are 6 questions to ask yourself when deciding whether or not you should keep an article of clothing (this includes everything down to your shoes, socks and underwear!).

Have you worn it in the last year?
If not, it’s time to let go of that item. Keeping an item for the small chance you might wear it sometime in the future is not worth the space. Sometimes we just tire of an item and sometimes a new item never transforms into the vision we had in the store. It is time to move on!

Is it ill-fitting?
Ill-fitting or too tight clothes don’t make anyone feel good or look good which leads us to our next question…

Does this item make me feel good about myself?
An item that doesn’t make you feel confident or happy when you put it on isn’t worth keeping. Clothes should make you feel great! If they don’t, it’s time to move on.

Is the item in poor condition?
Take a close look at each item. If it is stained, ripped or faded, let it go.

Is the item out-dated?
Fashion is always changing and it is fun to add new trendy pieces of clothing. Just make sure that when the trend has moved on, so have you.

If I was shopping today, would I buy this?
This is probably the most helpful question to ask yourself on those items you are just not sure about. If you answer truthfully, it will can be an eye opening factor on whether to keep an item. If you wouldn’t buy it now, it is time to go.