Coat Closet Makeover
By Kathryn Weber

I admit it. I m one of the “Momish.” This is a select group of women who insist their children eat breakfast and wear warm clothes. Well, one cool morning a week or so ago, I went to the coat closet in true Momish style to get out a sweat jacket for my son whose sniffles have a way of turning into pneumonia. As I opened the closet door, the sheer magnitude of mess sent me into a Momish meltdown. Something had to be done.

The problem with coat closets is that they re a necessary evil. All the peripheral stuff that comes with coats is also necessary. Things like gloves, umbrellas, scarves, sweat shirts and sweaters are all part of the coat closet repertoire. Because we travel a lot, mostly my husband to balmy Montreal and Europe, heavy wool coats and scarves also makes their home in our coat closet. Wire baskets save the day To organize a coat closet, the first order of priority is to make sure that only the coats you use and wear most are in the coat closet. Ski jackets and jumpers aren t used on a routine basis, so these should be moved to another closet in the house. The next order of priority is to find a way to contain all the hats, scarves, mittens, gloves, and folding umbrellas. This was answered with one of those wire metal drawer units. These can be put together in less than five minutes and they provide excellent storage for a variety of items.

Wire basket shelving is perfect for any closet or space where you need the storage of a dresser but don t have the room - or the budget. I bought one at the home center and put casters on the bottom. These wire shelving units have specially made casters just for rolling them in and out of closets. The small, shallow drawers held gloves and folding umbrellas. The second deeper drawers held scarves and caps. The two largest of the drawers held sweaters and sweatshirts that insist on falling on the floor no matter how many times you put them on a hanger.

Wooden hangers are a must
Because coats are very heavy, it pays to make a small investment into a pack of suit hangers or wooden hangers to hanging your coats and jackets. These hangers will make sure each garment has the necessary space and support to hang in the closet well and without falling. Wire coat hangers in a coat closet are like using twine to secure an elephant. It works, but just barely.

Plastic tubular hangers also don t work because they aren t substantial enough to hold up to a thick wool coat or heavy leather jacket. Break down and bust out the $8 for sturdy hangers and you will thank me every cold day you need to get a coat out of the closet and don t have to pick it up off the floor.

So, with some heavy-duty hangers, a new rolling wire basket drawer set, I had a organized closet with good storage in less than ten minutes and my sanity has been forever changed. The next time you re in your favorite home center buy your own rolling wire drawer unit and some heavy-duty wooden hangers. And you ll be able to get your coat closet together so when the cold weather comes you ll actually be able to find something quickly and it won t be a wrinkled mess when you do.

Kathryn Weber is a decorating and lifestyle columnist and the publisher of RealHOME E-zine, the e-zine with ideas and tips for today s real families. To subscribe, log on to Small Closet Organizers - Organizing Closet Space in a Small Place
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