Organizing Storage Closets

Have you ever gone to your storage closet to get something, only open the door and everything seems to fall out? While it may sound a little like a cliche, this is all too common an occurrence. Next to a garage, storage closets are the most easily over crowded and disorganized location in a home or business. It is simply to easy to throw something in there and think, "I'll get that later." Here are a few simple guidelines that you can use to help you organize your storage closet, and help keep it that way.

• Think. When you begin to set up your storage closet, think about what you will be doing with it. Are you going to be storing art supplies, clothes, cleaning supplies, or something else. Each of these will require different methods for storage, and actually different organizational methods. Unless you want to have a complete mess again in a relatively short amount of time, then you should have this in mind prior to beginning any organization task.
• Take time. Organizing a storage closet, or any closet for that matter, can take a lot of time. Be sure that you have enough time to do the job properly. You don't want to be half way through the job, only to find out that you have to leave everything on the floor to go take Aunt Ethel to the doctor. Take the time you need to tackle the job properly.
• Shelving. Make sure that you have selected the proper type of shelving for your storage job. You don't want to store cleaners, paint, and other hazardous or corrosive materials on a shelf that will decay quickly during its use. As always, pick the appropriate tool for the job.
• Labels. If you truly want to have an organized storage closet, then use labels. This way you will be able to create individual areas within the storage closet that are set out for specific items, and everyone will know it. After all, it is a lot easier to keep things organized if you have a specific spot for them, and the easiest way to do that is with labels.