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Ta-Da

February 12th, 2012

I mentioned earlier this week that we were putting new shelves in our bedroom closet. The previous one wasn’t installed properly by the previous owners and was not very sturdy. We considered taking it out and putting back in with new hardware, but it was not set up for efficient use of space. After purchasing a system at the hardware store, we got home to realize that it was too deep for our small closet. We then settled on this wooden closet shelving system which was very similar and 12 inches deep and thankfully half the price of the other system.

Originally we were going to build our own system with wood but decided to purchase one to save time. I really wanted to use wood because I have a deep dislike for all things plastic, especially for those white closet organization systems for some reason.

We were a bit nervous about this system since sometimes these kinds of items are a nightmare to install. We had no problems, the system seems to be of great quality, the directions are easy, all the parts are included (and extras) and they provide you with a variety of layout options. If you’re looking for something like this I’d highly recommend it.

As usual here at Chiot’s Run, the project can’t be done right without the help and supervision of one or more of the furry residents. This day Samson kept a close eye on the hardware.

Our bedroom closet went from this:

To this:

Changing the layout to maximize the space doubled the storage capacity of the closet. Having everything off of the floor (except for the laundry basket that’s in the back corner) makes it so much easier to clean the floors. We removed the closet doors for this project and I’m thinking I may leave them off. It makes the room look so much bigger and then I can admire my handiwork.

I’m a neatnik when it comes to my closet, keeping my clothes in a very specific order and having all my hangers the same color. Nothing annoys me more than my shirts hanging with buttons facing opposite directions, different colored hangers and shirts mixed with other articles of clothing. This came in very handy when I was in college because I always knew when someone borrowed my clothes. I love that my closet is now even more tidy than it used to be!

When it comes to your closets do you keep them neat & tidy or are they a happy mess?

24 Comments to “Ta-Da”
  1. Jennifer Fisk on February 12, 2012 at 7:38 am

    Mine are an unhappy mess. Every fall I say this winter when I have more time, I’m going to clean this up. It’s winter sliding towards spring and they aren’t done yet. Don’t have time as I have to get Income Tax information together.

    Reply to Jennifer Fisk's comment

  2. Jaye Whitney on February 12, 2012 at 8:32 am

    Neat! But your closet cabinets ROCK! You did an awesome job :)

    Reply to Jaye Whitney's comment

  3. Heather on February 12, 2012 at 9:59 am

    Wow! That looks fantastic! Talk about sweat equity. I have the ugly plastic and coated wire in mine (put in by the previous home owner).

    Reply to Heather's comment

  4. daisy on February 12, 2012 at 10:05 am

    Wonderful job! This system looks just like the one we installed in my sistah’s closet. You can find wooden hangers at any big box store too, if you want to replace the ones you have since you prefer wood to plastic!

    Reply to daisy's comment

    • Susy on February 12, 2012 at 11:03 am

      Yes, I’ve been eyeing wooden hangers and found some nice Made in USA cedar ones I’m considering. I’ll probably start replacing mine here soon little by little since it can be quite an investment. The good thing is they’ll last for the rest of my life and since I don’t have many clothes I won’t need to buy too many!

      Reply to Susy's comment

  5. kristin @ going country on February 12, 2012 at 10:19 am

    Old houses don’t have closets. Period. We have an enormous wardrobe thing (a piece of furniture–don’t know the actual name of it) in our bedroom that holds about a quarter of our clothing. The rest is in dressers or packed away seasonally in suitcases. Or, in the case of my husband’s large collection of awful clothing for manual labor, in a big box on the floor.

    I dream of turning the small former-dressing-room-current-nursery that adjoins our bedroom into a walk-in closet with a bathroom including a big tub. Unfortunately, unless I come into some large, unexpected windfall, that will never happen.

    Reply to kristin @ going country's comment

  6. Nebraska Dave on February 12, 2012 at 10:43 am

    Susy, a happy mess would exactly describe my closet. I would never leave my closet doors off. I would describe myself as a stuffer. When I clean everything gets stuffed some where in a drawer, behind a closed door, in a box stowed away, or the storage room. The area looks great most of the time but just don’t open a door or things just might fall on you like Fibber McGee and Molly’s closet. That famous someday out there in the future to clean up, throw out, and give away just never seems to get to the present day. Ah, well, someday, when I have the time, I’ll get around to it.

    Reply to Nebraska Dave's comment

  7. Allison on February 12, 2012 at 11:05 am

    We need to do this. I had a closet organizer at my old house and i miss it dearly! Our new house had no closet doors in the bedrooms when we moved in and I never got around to getting ones. I like it that way actually – like you say, it makes the room look bigger!

    Reply to Allison's comment

  8. Liz J on February 12, 2012 at 12:33 pm

    Having had some time off recently the closet is one of the things I organized. It looks wonderful now and I plan on keeping it that way. Love what you got for yours. Amazing how shelving can transform a closet so much ~ it’s beautiful.

    Reply to Liz J's comment

  9. tj on February 12, 2012 at 1:02 pm

    …Your closet looks awesome! Is Mr. Chiot’s good at organizing too or are you constantly reorganizing after him? I try and try to keep our home and closets and barns organized only to have my dear husband undo everything. It’s a viscous circle, one I know one day in my old age I won’t be able to keep up with but I will certainly die trying. *giggle* ;o)

    …I too have an aversion to plastic. In my handmade items I stuff ’em with raw seed cotton or kapok because my hands can’t stand the feel of the poly fill stuffing. Nasty. And don’t even get me started on vinyl sided houses. :o\

    …Great job you two!

    …Enjoy your Sunday!

    …Blessings :o)

    Reply to tj's comment

  10. Rick on February 12, 2012 at 2:50 pm

    Don’t you love a simple project like this that can make such a big impact on the way a room looks! The closet looks very sharp and should add value to your house if you decide to sell.

    We usually clear out and straighten our closet shortly after Christmas each year (we hide all the kids Christmas presents there so it is a natural time to do it once they are cleared out). So we start the year very organized, but as the year progresses it all ways seems to turn into a “happy mess” despite our best intentions.

    Reply to Rick's comment

    • Susy on February 12, 2012 at 4:56 pm

      Great idea to have a set time each to go through things so they don’t pile up too much. I try to go through the whole house in winter to get rid of things we don’t need. It certainly is easier to keep the house clean when there’t not too much stuff around!

      Reply to Susy's comment

  11. Mich on February 12, 2012 at 3:58 pm

    Love the new improved wardrobe :) I’m afraid mine is a disaster zone…no matter how many times I tidy up, it always end up in chaos! aghh.
    So need to have a recycle and edit session.

    Reply to Mich's comment

  12. Victoria on February 12, 2012 at 5:18 pm

    Fantastic job. How long did it take?

    Thankfully our current home came with closet systems…I’d be lost without them. I love organization, but it doesn’t take much for me to let go and let the laundry take over :)

    Reply to Victoria's comment

    • Susy on February 12, 2012 at 5:27 pm

      It took an afternoon into the evening to get it finished. Mr Chiots did a lot himself and I helped occasionally when needed. It will definitely be quicker when we install the one upstairs since we know how everything fits together now.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  13. Songbirdtiff on February 12, 2012 at 5:19 pm

    Are those really all of your clothes?! I thought I was a minimalist but you have me beat! My only rule in regards to closet organization is that we can’t have more clothes than we have room for.

    Reply to Songbirdtiff's comment

    • Susy on February 12, 2012 at 5:26 pm

      Yes, both of our hanging clothes are in here. I do have a dresser with t-shirts, jeans and other clothing that doesn’t need hanging. The funny thing is that I could probably get rid of about half of these as well since I don’t wear them that often. I’m more of a t-shirt kind of gal.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  14. Deairdre Miller on February 12, 2012 at 8:44 pm

    Beautiful! I don’t have the space currently for a closet organization system, but you have me sold on one when I do. Had no idea they could look so good!

    Reply to Deairdre Miller's comment

  15. KimH on February 12, 2012 at 9:03 pm

    Gorgeous.. My closet is stuffed.. Definitely not a minimalist here..

    Reply to KimH's comment

  16. Jodiana on February 12, 2012 at 11:16 pm

    That looks amazing! I have so many things stuffed in my closet, most of which doesn’t fit or things i never wear. I really need to get in there and take a HUGE box to the rescue mission….

    Reply to Jodiana's comment

  17. Miranda on February 12, 2012 at 11:48 pm

    Nice! Looks awesome! I’m getting to be a stickler after working at a thrift store, facing all the clothes the same way, etc…. but i mus tadmit i love to organize my closet, and then cringe as it unorganizes itself immediately.

    Reply to Miranda's comment

  18. Donna B. on February 13, 2012 at 11:19 am

    This is inspiring me to actually do something NICE with my closet!
    I ran into a situation where the parts that attached to the walls came undone, and my whole closet rod fell to the ground! Was not a pleasant sound at 2AM… So now I’m in need of a closet re-haul!
    At first I was going to just pick up one of those plastic “Closetmaid” systems… now I’m going to consider the wood option. It just LOOKS so much nicer! And painting the inside of the closet! One would never think to do so… I believe I still have some paint leftover…
    Always an endless supply of inspiration Susy! ♥

    Reply to Donna B.'s comment

  19. itchbay on February 13, 2012 at 6:51 pm

    I love this system! It’s so elegant and simple. Our tiny closet needs lots of help.

    It must be so nice to open the doors and see all your clothes so nicely arranged on a such a beautiful piece. A little bit of happiness every morning.

    Reply to itchbay's comment

  20. deedee on February 16, 2012 at 10:19 pm

    love it!

    Reply to deedee's comment

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This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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