NEAT Method Closet Makeover

Picking out my clothes everyday is now like shopping in a store where the employees walk around at the end of the day and refold and reorganize everything for the next morning's shoppers. That is a great feeling.

Raelynn and Catherine totally rethought my small space and used every inch to maximize not only storage but function. I can see my clothes and accessories again!

I asked the ladies of NEAT Method DC to give us a couple of tips to rethink our own messy closets and get them in tip-top shape. I think this time of year is a great purging opportunity as you start to really bring out the winter wear.

Step 1) Take inventory of your space.
This is your chance to assess what you have and purge the items that you no longer love and don't need.

They let Ana Claire help with the jewelry sorting.

Step 2) Sort like with like.
This involves grouping your wardrobe and accessories into categories and assessing the volume of each category to determine appropriate placement of the items. 

  
Step 3) Color-code.
We always hang clothing by item and color. We hang and fold from white to black, and itemize the colors with ROYGBIV (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet... pink goes before red, brown and grey go before black).  Not only is this visually pleasing, but it will give you a better idea of what colors you need to start and stop purchasing.

Step 4) Product implementation is key.
Be sure to measure all of your drawers and shelving to make your trip to The Container Store more effective.  Always use the same hangers in a neutral color and hide odds and ends with chic bins.  Label anything and everything.

Step 5) Maintain
The simple adage we learned as kids, "put it back where you got it from" is essential to maintaining an organized space.  Also, be mindful of the items you use most frequently, and display them in a proper home that's at eye level or within reach.  This will ensure you're not digging around and making a mess while hunting for your favorite clutch. 

REALLY great, right????  It makes SUCH a difference to have an organized closet. Seriously. Has cut down on my morning stress AND I feel like I'm rediscovering items I totally forgot I had which is nipping the unneccessary shopping in the bud (for now).

I also realized that making a small investment in some bins/organizers/boxes really pays off. It has helped calm some of the madness with the bonus of helping me take better care of some of my stuff.

And let's talk about the color coordination...such a small little trick but it has helped me SO much in planning what to where with what. I used to sort (if you would call my previous closet sorted) by shirts, skirts, pants, etc....no, no, no. Totally wrong way to do it. Sort by color, y'all. It's the bees knees.

A huge thank you to Raelynn and Catherine of NEAT Method. They swooped in one morning while I was at work and by the time I was home, this was all done. They were like little closet-organizing fairy elves...really nice, pretty ones. Thanks ladies!!!

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Closet Woes

I told you the house tour was over, but I do have one more space to show you that recently got a facelift. From time to time, an email will hit my AO inbox that catches my eye. Such a thing happened a couple of months ago when I got a note from Raelynn Johnson of NEAT Method DC introducing herself and describing her new business venture in the DC area.

Raelynn and her business partner Catherine Zinn have a passion/obsession for organization. Closets, kitchens, offices, playrooms - you name it. They essentially show up at your house and help you get your sh*t together. As I read her email and checked out their website, I thought - I NEED THAT FOR MY CLOSET. Y'all, I may be good with the decorating but I'm about as messy as they come. Just ask Carter...actually, don't.

The closet in question (from my master bedroom):

Yikes.

So I've heard of professional organizers before, but something about Raelynn - the fact that she was a local gal, starting her business, and reaching out to me - made me want to actually do something about my closet woes this time.

So I invited Raelynn and Catherine to stop by my house and give my closet an assessment. Here are the stylish ladies (not in my house obvi...at a swanky DC party):

 Raelynn on the left and Catherine on the right

After a tour of the house and my mess of a closet, Raelynn and Catherine diagnosed it as completely workable. I was a little worried they were going to tell me that I needed to put about half of my things in storage but they seemed pretty calm that by just rethinking the configuration, I could keep all of my clothes and accessories out and accessible.

Here's what they were working with:

Oh hey messy.

Can you identify with me? Tell me your closet is a mess too? Or are you like Raelynn and Catherine and totally organized to the core? Because I am not. Obvi.

Sooooo the NEAT Method ladies completely worked their magic on my closet...check back tomorrow for the organizational makeover!

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OKL Alert: Waverly Storage

Now through January 14th One Kings Lane is offering a nice little assortment of beautiful storage solutions from Waverly. How perfect to go along with my post yesterday about Tyler's Dressing Room!

These boxes and hangers are a fab way to spice up your closet without redoing a whole room like lucky Tyler gets to do. And you don't even have to stuff them in your closet...these are wonderful to leave it out in a bedroom for all to see (and that way whatever you put in them is handy when you need it!).

But if you DO stuff them in a closet, why not paint the closet to match the boxes and hangers? Wouldn't that be divine? For about $100, you could have a whole closet makeover!

(On that note, did you catch Pure Style Home's post about painting the inside of your closet? I love how it turned out and can give you some inspiration to go with these boxes)

Here are my picks: