I am a huge fan of HGTV’s show “Bang for Your Buck,” where experts discuss the best and worst in remodeling and decide which homeowner got the most out of his investment. Last week the show highlighted master bedroom suites with renovation budgets of $35,000. Celebrity designer Vern Yip was on hand to determine which makeover choices had the most impact on increasing the homes’ value. In this particular episode it came down to the closets. Two of the three homes featured massive walk-in closets that were bigger than the average master bedroom.
In addition, to judging the pros and cons of the spaces, Vern provided some valuable cleaning tips for viewers in order for them to keep their closets in order. Vern made a great point about decluttering and organizing closet space. He pointed out that there is no “perfect” way to organize a closet; rather, personal needs trump all. For example, if you are a business woman, who wears suits several days a week, you will want to organize your closet to expedite your morning dress routine. Conversely, if you are a stay-at-home mom, who wears more casual attire, then you will want to arrange your closet to make optimal use of the clothes you wear on a daily basis.
Regardless of the end result, the first step to a clean closet is to eliminate items that you don’t wear. According to Vern, if you haven’t worn something in over a year, you are not likely to wear it again. Old clothes can be donated to charity, taken to a consignment shop or stored in the attic or garage if you really, really feel the need to keep them.
Another tip is to make use of all available space. For example, it doesn’t cost but a few dollars to place a hanging rack on the back of your closet door. You can choose from a variety of styles including ones that contain hooks or racks that can be used to hold hanging clothing items. Hooks can also be added to closet walls to hang accessories. Place scarves, purses, hats and other items on the hanging wall hooks. If you have more money in your budget, install a closet organizer as well.