Wednesday, September 5, 2012

45 Reader Space: A Lovely Multi-Purpose Closet

We don't always have the luxury to have oodles of closets, specialized for specific needs.  There are times when those linen closets, craft closets and utility closets, all need to be combined into one closet.  That is the case for today's reader, and I just adore how she tackled it so smartly!


Reader, Chloe, has a high traffic closet in the main area of her home, and she wasn't exactly thrilled with how it was organized or functioning.


"We have a hall closet that gets A LOT of use. It's where we store towels, bed linens, diapers, cleaning supplies, craft supplies, and much much more.  Even though I worked hard to keep it organized, it was always an eyesore when left open. I wanted it to look nice but most of all I didn't want to have to constantly be reorganizing it to keep it from getting out of control.

I decided I needed containers. I would have liked baskets {because they are cute} but let me tell you, baskets are not cheap {especially when you need 14 of them like I did}. I searched stores and online for something that would work and eventually went with Snalis boxes from IKEA. Just a simple, white translucent container for $1.99 each. I am really happy with these. I realize now that wicker baskets wouldn't be best for holding cleaning supplies because unlike wicker baskets, the Snalis boxes are easily wiped clean if something spills.


I also got one larger size version of the Snalis box for $4.99 to hold diapers and wipes {I have 2 kids in diapers so of course I needed something giant!}.  I made labels for each box which may be more for aesthetics than practicality but love them!  They are just blue and white card stock for now {which has held up surprisingly well} but a laminator is on my wish list, so hopefully I can make them a little more sturdy. 



For all the linens {towels, bedding, table cloths, etc.} I chose the Antonius wire basket also from IKEA. They are a shallow, white wire basket at $2.50 a piece. So far they are working out very well.


Here is the result!





I love my hall closet so much I kind of like leaving the door open! which I am thrilled about because the closet is in a very high traffic area and is seen constantly!  I still don't quite understand why but seeing that pretty, neat closet everyday always puts a smile on my face.

With a specific box for everything, nothing is misplaced and everything is easy to find!"
 

Let's celebrate with a lovely before and after!!


I know why she finds herself smiling and staring.... Because it is AWESOME!

  • Everything is nice and uniform.  This makes is extremely easy on the eyes and reduces the "cluttered" feeling.
  • The updates are so incredible, she can leave the closet door open {by accident or on purpose}, and never worry.  It's lovely!
  • Everything has a home!
  • The closet functions for so many items.  Craft supplies, cleaning supplies and linens, oh my!  Anything multifunctional rocks my world.
  • Those labels.  Practical to help her quickly find what she is looking for, lovely because she took the time to go the extra mile and make them pretty!  Doing so was the key to the overall after effect of the closet.
  • She mixed and matched storage so that it made sense for her and the closet.  The baskets on the top shelf make more sense for linens that the translucent bins do.
  • Using bins in a closet is actually a huge time saver.  You can quickly pull/slide out a bin to find what you are looking for, vs. digging deep into a closet.  Same goes when putting items away. 
  • She knew her budget and was savvy when searching for storage.  Wicker would have looked lovely, but would also have been expensive and not all that practical.  Her final choice was soooo much more effective and budget friendly.

A special THANK YOU goes out to Chloe for sharing her closet makeover with us, you can find all of the details on her blog here.
Anyone else been tackling multifunctional closets or spaces lately?

ATTENTION!!  Want to be featured in a Reader Space edition?  Have an awesome organizing story to share?  I am looking for projects that have made a positive impact to your life.  Please submit your story and photos here and I would heart to feature them right here, on the blog!!  Photos should be high resolution and unedited.  Please include a description of the project, including any costs, inspiration, and how it has changed your life and routine for the better!  Oh, and no worries my friends, we will NEVER judge "before" pictures because that just wouldn't be nice!  Only love goes on at this blog!

45 comments:

  1. That looks awesome. I like that the containers aren't completely see through. Makes it look very neat and organized. :)

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    1. Anytime someone says my house looks "neat and organized" I want to be their best friend! Thanks Erin!

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  2. I love it!! The wire baskets are so perfect!! Great job!!

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    1. Thank you!! The wire baskets really have been a life saver, especially for a stack of towels!

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  3. We need to do this in our laundry room and bathroom closet.

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  4. I LOVE YOUR BLOG....and all of your contributors. Loving this closet too. We recently moved from Dallas to Calgary, AB and we are leasing our home because our stay is short term. I am trying to tackle each room by organizing and using the space wisely without spending alot of money. I recently made over the laundry room with a multi-purpose...hope you have a second to check it out. Thanks for all of your inspiration....http://lookiewhatidid.blogspot.ca/2012/09/my-laundry-room-makeover.html

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  5. I really enjoy your blog. I think you're full of fantastic ideas, great pictures and follow through. But sometimes the systems seem more complicated and require a bit more effort. I find my family reluctant to tidying up if my systems change often or require too much sorting. Do you ever have trouble getting them to put away their things? Thanks!

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    1. Hi Jasi!

      I have always heard that the return of investment is huge when organizing. A little time upfront, can provide oodles of time savings down the line {since we typically have so many things and piles, it causes us to spend hours searching for things}. Once you go through the basic steps of getting organized {sort, purge, assess}, how much time you put in to creating the storage and making it both effective and attractive, is really a personal preference. Since I am also a believer in loving my home and surroundings, I take extra time to make my organizing solutions blend with my home and go the extra mile to make nice labels and give things a cohesive look. It's not necessary to do those things to be organized, but it's how I personally prefer to do it and what keeps me excited to maintain it. Spending the time to label ensures things quickly can be found and put away, not just for myself since I typically understand my own systems, but for everyone else in my abode as well. My family {myself included} isn't always the cleanest or tidiest, but when it comes time to pull together, the systems we have created make it so easy to clean up. And other systems we use just keep our daily lives flowing more smoothly. Sorry for the long answer, hopefully that helps. :)

      xo!
      Jen

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  6. Looks FANTASTIC. But I am now even more irrationally aggravated that St. Louis is STILL lacking an Ikea.

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    1. I live in ND and our nearest IKEA is 500 miles away! :O(

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  7. What an improvement! I love Ikea so much that my husband and I have gone there on date nights a few times! I will have to look for those wire baskets.

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  8. What a great improvement - I so love ikea for organizational type projects.

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  9. Looks great. love the idea if using those bins. Thank you for sharing!

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  10. Chloe - The Scotch laminator that they sell at Walmart/Target is wonderful and the price is right, it's only in the $30 range. A few weeks ago they had a $10 rebate on the boxes in Target. I highly recommend one!

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    1. Great news! Thank you, I will definitely check that out!

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  11. look's great! i have a closet that is used for everything too.
    does ikea ship or deliver?

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    1. Sadly, Ikea does not offer shipping on any of the items I mentioned in the post. I guess I am spoiled thinking that it's hard to drive 45 minutes to get to an Ikea!

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  12. Ahh! You've inspired me to organise the closet in our laundry! It too gets used for a range of things; linen, cleaning products, tools, paint and paint brushes, even a gas cylinder... Every time I use it I always look at it and know it could be organised better... now I think I will! Thanks! Did a fantastic job, and gave me some great ideas... if only Ikea wasn't 2 hours away... :(
    Kim @ www.happymummyinspired.blogspot.com

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    1. I love hearing that this project has inspired someone! Thank you and good luck with your closet!

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  13. This looks great! I love translucent boxes... makes me wonder what's inside! You've done a great job reorganising your space!

    But I want to see more of your little girls room!! Looks gorgeous and pink! ;)

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    1. Thanks Alanna! Subscribe to my blog I will definitely be sharing more of her room and the projects I am working on in there!

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    2. Hey chloe- looks great! you mentioned a laminator.Do you have a costco near you? I got one from there for Christmas and it was less than $25, and it comes with alot of the laminating sheets. Its called Purple cow. Its like in the office supply area. i love mine!

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    3. I have heard that Costco is a good place to look for a laminator! Thanks for the reminder, it sounds like a good option!

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  14. I totally wish I had seen this post last week before our seven hour round trip drive to the closest IKEA! Sigh! Now I have ideas for our next trip.

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  15. I love this! I have a similar closet and I always feel like the bed sheets and pillowcases are never neat enough. I love the idea of the wire baskets. And what bargains the baskets and buckets are. Gotta love Ikea! Thanks for the great ideas.

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  16. This looks amazing! I just redid our laundry closet and now I make everyone who comes over look at it. Is that weird? :)

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    1. Haha! It's not weird at all. I mean hey, I put pictures of my closet online so strangers can look at it! So I think you are just fine!

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  17. Wow! Thanks for sharing Chloe & Jen! This is fabulous. Amazing. And so pretty to look at. Who'd say that about a hallway closet? Dang, I want to rush to Ikea now! Great job!!

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  18. I love the family rules sign.

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  19. Very cleverly done, Chloe, and definitely a reason to smile! Thanks for sharing this one, Jen.

    Keep writing...

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  20. One of those signs would be great in my office at work!

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  21. Hi well I can no longer bury my head in the sand , the cupboard under the stairs needs a makeover. I havebeen so inspired by makeovers on here that it is my turn . I will share the before during and after on my blog

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  22. Beautiful and efficient!!! Way to go!!!

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  23. Those Antonius baskets are the perfect solution for linens! Thank you for sharing, I will be picking up a couple on my next trip to Ikea. I just love how calm the after feels - it's so clean and inviting, it makes things like cleaning supplies and linens far less stressful.

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  24. Hi Chloe and Jen, so excited to see this post last night. I have a hall closet that is almost exactly the same size and setup. It has been a disaster since the beginning and I had no idea what to do about it.
    It also has wire shelves and reaching in to get one thing would knock everything else over in a domino effect ;). I ran to IKEA this AM like a bandit. No Snalis in stock :( BUT I was able to get the black Pluggis boxes on a SUPER discount and mixed in a couple of Motorp boxes. Looks awesome!!!! MANY THANKS!!!!

    PS- Easy solution for labels... I buy name badges at Target. They have some with pretty nice designs.

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  25. Love it! Looks fantastic. We are in a closet-less house right now (the horror!) but I'm filing this away for future inspiration. Thanks!

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  26. I love this so much, so cute! I wonder if bins like this would work in a pantry too. I have a ridiculously deep, dark pantry & I love the idea of putting like items in labelled bins to make things easier to find. Anyone else tried it in a pantry before?

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  27. So awesome! I need to reorganize my downstairs closet - it's a catch-all as well. This would be perfect!

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  28. This gives me hope that our hall closet won't always be a disheveled mess! Thanks for the great inspiration as always!

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  29. Love this! a fresh, clean and well organized linen closet.

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  30. Love it! Clean, serene and organized, instead of cluttered and chaotic.

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  31. Until you get your laminator, you can get a package of self adhesive laminating paper at staples by the paper section. You can laminate without a machine.

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