When Two Wardrobes Meet

Tips on creating order in your newly joined closet space. By Alison McGill

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Compromise, Compromise, Compromise
The secret to eliminating clutter is to be ruthless—but also respectful of your partner’s feelings. Determine what’s important to you, respect each other’s opinions, and then weed out the excess. When surveying the scene, divide clothes into four piles: to keep, to toss, to dry clean or to mend, and to review. When it comes to the ‘maybe’ pile, forget trying to be objective about items—you bought it, you still love it, but does it love you? This is when it’s time to call in the troops. Invite one of your closest girlfriends over for a fashion show. She will tell you straight what stays and what goes. Meantime, while you’re busy arranging your stuff, your partner should be doing the same.

Storage Solutions
When you’re both excess-free, consider how you want to store your things. The experts at California Closets, a North America-wide franchise offering organizational solutions for all aspects of the home, stress that this is a point of key importance. Their suggestions for effective storage:
• Sweaters, sweatshirts and casual shirts should be folded and displayed on a shelf in the closet—for two reasons. First, if you bury them, they’re out of sight and you won’t be as likely to wear them; second, a hanger can distort or destroy a sweater’s shape.
• Jewellery and accessories should be kept in a dedicated drawer built right into your closet system. This will enable you to co-ordinate accessories with outfits as you get dressed.
• Ties and belts should be hung on space-saving racks placed near the shirts or pants with which they will be worn.
• Shoes should be displayed at eye level, or in a rack hung on the door. Never relegate them to the floor of the closet, or kicked under your bed, couch or chairs!

Once you’ve decided on storage, it’s time to invest in organizational tools (hangers, storage bins, shoe bags, belt racks, etc.) and put them to use in your new, shared space. When you’ve done the deed and systematized a pristine closet, keep it up. Don’t let chaos invade your wardrobe doors again!