Guide To Your Own Closet Makeover In Pittsburgh

By Sally Turkovich Wright

Ok, it's over a month into the New Year. Did you make a resolution to be more organized? To finally clean out your bedroom closet? Finally donate those suits and jeans you don't wear anymore?

Did you start working on any of those resolutions? If not, not to worry, it's never too late for a fresh start! Get moving on those 2012 resolutions and start with a freshly organized closet!

Here's your step by step how to guide:

Do All Of Your Laundry

If you're like me, you let your laundry overwhelm you. There is probably a basket of sweaters hidden away, out of sight that you never got around to taking to the dry cleaners. Take all of your dry clean only items to the cleaner. Next wash all of those workout clothes, coats, work clothes and jeans before you do anything else. With all of your clothes clean, you'll have a better idea of how much clothing you actually have and will have a better understanding of how to best utilize your closet space. Which brings us to point number two.

Separate your clothes into three categories: must keep, must donate, must toss

Salvation Army
44 South 9th Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
Phone: (412) 481-7900
Website: www.salvationarmyusa.org/

Must keep clothes include: clothes that FIT and FLATTER, not clothes that are too big or too small. Must donate clothes include: all of the clothes that don't fit or flatter but are still in good condition. Also included in this group are items that you can't remember if or when the last time was that they were worn. Take these to Goodwill, consignment shops or an organization like Dress For Success. These clothes do nothing but take up space in your closet, but might be able to find a good home in someone else's closet. Must toss clothes include items that are worn out, stained, ripped or otherwise in bad shape. Just like the clothes you're going to donate, these items do nothing but take up space. The Salvation Army in the South Side has a donation box outside for quick drop offs, and a shopping outpost for any donations and browsing.

Analyze Your Space

IKEA
Robinson Town Centre
2001 Park Manor Blvd
Pittsburgh, PA 15205
Phone: (412) 747-0747
Hours: Mon to Sat 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Sun 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Website: www.ikea.com

Odds are you have a traditional place for clothing on hangers and drawer space to put folded clothes. Figure out how many drawers you have and how much hanger space you have. Then, compile all clothes of one type. Sarah Sudar, style blogger recommends, "Start with one clothing type - like dresses - and determine how much space you need for each type of clothing item. When you know how much of one thing you have, you'll get a better idea of where all of that type of clothing can fit comfortably in one, specific spot. That way, you'll always know where to look when you need your little black dress. IKEA is chock full of home accessories. Stock up on new drawers, space-saving hangers, bins and wall hooks to maximize space for your clothing.

Folding Versus Hanging

McKee Closet Organizing
Phone: (412) 341-8754
Email: sandy@mckeeos.com
Website: pittsburghclosetorganizer.com

By this point, you should have only the clothes you want to keep and know how much work, dress and workout clothing you have. Now is the time to decide where to put everything. Items to fold and put in drawers include delicate clothes that would get misshapen by hangers (cashmere sweaters), heavy clothes that would stretch hangers (jeans), and workout clothes (because let's face it, yoga pants don't deserve hanger space.) Small or shallow drawers are great for thin items like slips, shapers, lingerie and hosiery. Items to hang include dresses, dress pants and blouses. Keeping each of these items grouped together will minimize the amount of time spent searching through you closet. McKee Closet Organizing delivers personalized closet organizers and accessories to your home. Whether you need a rod hung up for dresses or an entirely new closet, they'll provide it.

Give Yourself Time

All of the laundry, sorting and trips to donate clothes will take up the majority of a weekend. Don't get frustrated if it takes you a few more weekends to get your closets completely overhauled and organized. Ms. Sudar suggests, "Take your time and go at your own pace. Keep moving things around until you find out what works for you."

Sally Turkovich Wright lives in Pittsburgh with her husband, Jason and German Shepherd, Zeus. By day she works as an eyewear stylist for an independent eye doctor. By night, she writes a twice-weekly column for Twoday Magazine. Catch up with her there at twodaymag.com.