Is It Possible to Share a Reach-in Custom Closet?

Purge, Purge, and Purge Some More

Especially if the two of you are downsizing to a reach-in closet from a walk-in or combining your clothes for the first time, you’re both going to have to compromise. Customization can create more usable space in your closet, but having a smaller wardrobe can only help. Both of you need to be ready to make some sacrifices.

Start by taking everything out of your closets so you can divide it into items you’re keeping, items you’re donating or handing down, and items you’re throwing away. Simple Lionheart Life suggests some tips for decluttering your closet ruthlessly, such as limiting yourself to only a certain number of hangers – more clothes than those hangers can hold means something has to go. You can also try a capsule wardrobe, in which you have a smaller amount of clothes that all go together, so you can create different looks by mixing and matching. 

A “maybe box” is also a great idea. If you have things you’re not sure about, throw them in the maybe box. Schedule a reminder for yourself to check on it in one to three months. If that much time has gone by without you thinking about those clothes or hunting them down yourself, you probably don’t need them. 

Know What to Hang and What to Fold

Not everything goes on hangers, and your closet will be easier to organize for two people if you’re using folding and hanging space correctly. Blouses, dress shirts, linen items, and anything likely to wrinkle need to be hung. Shorts and athletic wear should be folded. So should heavy sweaters, and if you have more than a few of those, they’re better off stacked on shelves than in drawers where they can monopolize space that you need for other things.

If one person is trying to hang more things than they should on their side of the hanging rod, that can limit the space that the other person has available to use. Therefore, both people need an understanding of what goes where so that when they return their newly purged wardrobes to the closet, they’re not taking up more space than they need to.

Get the Most Out of Closet Accessories

This is where closet accessories can really come in handy. Instead of draping belts on hangers that they’re likely to slide off of or letting them take up space on shelves or the top of a dresser, get a belt rack so they’re stored neatly and don’t take up unnecessary space. The same goes for scarves. 

Hats and robes can go on wall hooks, keeping them out of the way but still visible and accessible. Baskets are handy accessories for all kinds of accessories, from hair clips and ponytail holders to tie tacks and cufflinks. Don’t forget your shoes. Shoe organizers or boxes can sit on the floor of the closet and keep shoes for both people paired and neat. An over-the-door organizer could be used for flats, sandals, and flip-flops.

Give Each Person Their Own Zone

Each person should have their own space within the closet. Combining two people’s clothes just makes it harder for both to find what they need. A reach-in closet could be divided down the middle for things like hanging rods and shelf space, but when it comes to dresser drawers it makes more sense to assign each person their own drawers. 

Each person’s accessories should go in their own zone. For example, the tie rack goes on his side, but a jewelry organizer goes on hers, and so on. You may be able to share some accessories – for example, if there’s room for a mirror in the closet or on the back of the closet door, that should be for the both of you; there’s no need to add another.

Conclusion

For a shared reach-in closet to work, each person needs their own space. Couples should start by minimizing their wardrobes as much as possible so they’re easier to organize and understand when to fold and when to hang clothes. Then they can work on adding closet organizers and creating zones to make the sharing process easier.

Source

• https://simplelionheartlife.com/decluttering-your-wardrobe/