A Small Closet Make Over

This week I finally dealt with a BIG MESS. my closet. Some may call me crazy for sharing my {not - so - elegant French} side with all of you. I view it as "just keeping it real" we all have messes and areas in our home that aren't the greatest, right?

While I am sad that I didn't take "before" pictures, it's probably just as well. It would have made you think less of me. Truly. It would have.

As it is, I'm probably still not impressing you with my closet. Our house does have a walk in closet, but it's tiny. two steps. and you are done. I can't tell you how many times I've cleaned out, donated, and pretty much refolded, rewashed, and vacuumed this closet over the years. This week, I have new hope for it, and my ability to get in, get dressed in a reasonable time and a reasonably fashionable manner! {yes, I secretly dream of a huge walk in closet, with a chair, a center island and all that, but this is my real life}

As you can see, these are not magazine worthy photos, nor will they make any brochure for closet remodeling. These are me, squeezing in a few snaps. One day we might redo the whole inside, for now, it's not on my priority list. Our closet came with the built ins shown, they are not great. Each side has two {yes, two!} drawers, a few shelves, and two sides for clothes, one with two bars, one with one for longer items. That's it! Other than an over-the-door shoe holder that hangs behind the door, what you see is what there is, on both sides. {only fair to give Mr. FgH his own side, although he shares his side with my longer gowns and antique tablecloths that need hanging space}

I went to The Container Store online, and figured out what I wanted to buy for my mini make over.

1. First I fell in love with the Shoe Organizers. I bought two. Stacked them sideways. Threw out some shoes, and left a few spaces for some new Fall shoes....{totally not sure about the pointy toes!} So excited to be able to roll my belts in the very top cubby holes, as well as an over flow of pashimas rolled up.

2. Bought these great Linen Covered Drop Front Storage Boxes. The see through front is great, and they close with a magnet. Stacked my tank tops in those, I love that they are contained, and also dust free. Also bought a sweater size, although in mine I store my wool scarves. {On the his side, they store cashmere sweaters.}

3. Plunked down the money for the Acrylic Jewelry Box. Some people have said my jewelry collection is out of control, so I controlled it! Practically the whole top drawer of the two I have for clothes is filled with little bags of jewelry, but this Acrylic Jewelry Box holds the big, special pieces. The drawers slide out, I can see what's in there. =LOVE IT.

4. Already changed out all my hangers to those skinny, velvety black hangers. Before that, all my hangers were white, but the round plastic ones. I can't believe how much less space those skinny hangers take up...made a world of difference. Now my clothes are free to breathe, and things aren't crushed together.

5. Probably left over from my years of managing a clothing boutique years ago: YES! I arrange my hanging clothes in colors from light to dark. Solids first, patterns in that color next. Sleeveless, short sleeved, and long sleeved. Pants, same thing. All the light colors first, then on down to black. A simple system that helps me find what I want quickly.

Of all the things in my closet, I actually love this one best. I have a few pins, but most of these are my Mom's. She loved pins. After she passed away early this year, I just couldn't bear the thought of getting rid of them, so I came up with this way to display them. An old vintage millinery head wearing one of my vintage Chanel silk scarves now proudly displays most of Mom's pins, and a few of my own.

1.Linen Drop Front Box2.Linen Drop Front Sweater Box3. Acrylic Jewelry Chest4.Shoe Organizer