AboutJan Hayner Expertise I can answer any questions on Home organizing, file and paper management, organizing for parents, kids, senior citizens and on housekeeping and cleaning solutions.
Experience I have been a Professional Organizer for 9 years, I am considered an expert in my field on the internet and have written several informational books on organizing.
Organizations I am an active member of Faithful Organizers (An International Association of Christian based Professional Organizers, a past member of NAPO (the National Association of Professional Organizers)a member of an association called Women in Management, a member of Money Smart Wisconsin-Sheboygan and was a business owner for over 25 years.
Education/Credentials A high school graduated a the rest of my learning capablilities came from making a lot of mistakes in my lifetime and learning from all of them.
Question QUESTION: Hi there! Our first baby is on the way and we are trying to organize the nursery. The closet seems to be our biggest challenge. Since the room is upstairs we have slanted ceilings/walls which also runs into the closet area. We are looking for ideas on how to get the best out of our small closet regarding organizing so it makes the most space. Thanks! IMAGE: Closet
ANSWER: hi Sonia;
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! I love babies!!!
There are losts of closet organizers that you can purchase, or you can build your own. My suggestion, from years of raising kids, is to have shelf space when the baby is little and one small area for hanging clothes.
I would add a 2 long shelves (one with a clothes hanging bar) on the top and small shelves going down one side.
On the top shelf I would add cavas boxes to hold things like shoes, hats, mittens, extra diaper powder etc.
On the second long shelf, I would add small see thru boxes about the size of a shoe box. You will find out that you can never have too many small containers.
Use the side shelves for things like sweatshirts, pants, extra diapers etc.
Then, hang shirts, dresses, jackets and snow suit etc.
As the child grows older, most of the clothes that they have are folding clothes, you won't need very much 'hanging' space until the age of 4 or 5, so this will be useful to you.
Also, a child size shoe holder on the inside of the closet door comes in handy for the baby powder, hair accessories, brushes, nail clippers etc.
Everything that you need for baby is right in the closet!
I hope this gives you some ideas.Aren't you getting excited?????
Jan Hayner
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QUESTION: Thanks for your help!
Would you move the clothes hanging bar down? or keep it at the level it's at? Just wondering where abouts the two long shelves should go?
Answer Hi Sonia;
Thank you so much for sending the picture. It helps so much! I don't know if I missed it the first time, or if you just added it, but it helps a lot.
I just did a house that had a closet--just like this one!!!
We took out the bar that was in there and the shelf. I then added two shelves at the top that go all the way across (from wall to wall). The top shelf is up pretty high, but is perfect for winter/summer storage and you can't see it when the door is open. The second shelf down, has pretty canvas totes on, that we got at the dollar store. Her room is pink and lavender, so we picked out the colors to match the room. Baskets would look cute on there too!
We then added wood shelves (but they could be wire shelves)going down the inside of the closet, which would be on the wall to the right of the blanket. This was in a teens room and she is storing her sweats and sweaters on the shelves.
If the shelves are achored real good into studs, they hold a lot of weight and the pole extension can easily hang off of the shelf wires. Making it wasy for a child to reach as they are growing. Then they can learn to hang clothes up too!
The only thing that I would change with your closet, is that I would add a 'third' shelf at the top (right under the other two). Mainly because you will have tons of room and the extra space will come in handy for you. The clothes pole is actually larger than you will need to begin with, but will come in handy at age three.
I hope that I gave you a clear enough explanation and that you can picture what I mean.
I am not sure if you can get four shelves in there (on the side)or only three, but it would still give you room under the clothes pole for a hamper or whatever, for a little while anyway.
Don't laugh at my crazy drawing, i can't draw a straight line even if I use a ruler :)
I hope you get the idea though. Good Luck!
Jan Hayner
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