By Nitya Alwani-Satyani | Opening Doorz Editorial | January 17, 2018
Are you confused as to where to place your white formal shirt with the Hawaiian bikini in the wardrobe? Nitya Alwani-Satyani suggests you to read on…
All your life, you waited for Mr. Right, but now he’s the one doing the waiting as you frantically rummage through your closet looking for that dress you planned to wear on your first date! If this sounds familiar, then your closet probably qualifies as the backdrop of the latest sci-fi, ‘War of the Wardrobes’, where your world is being attacked by a giant ball of flying clothes. Work, workouts, lunches, movies, parties, weddings, funerals—your myriad roles require you to fit all these into a single day, and more. But that’s the easy part. The real challenge is fitting in all the different clothes that are needed for these diverse events into a single cupboard. But before you buckle under pressure and seriously consider curtailing your shopping (heaven forbid!), try these tips on closet management that will help maximise your storage space.
Upper body: Tops, tanks and shirts
- Fold and stack tops on shelves. The more shelves you add in your cupboard, the more you can store. Fortunately, our tops aren’t bulky so the space required between the shelves can be minimal. This helps us store more in the same amount of space.
- Divide and rule—your tops, that is. Segregate them in a manner that’s most convenient to locate. Such as, according to occasions—formal tops in one pile, casuals in another and work clothes in the third stack. Or you could also colour coordinate your wardrobe so that it’s easier to locate a particular black shirt when you’re looking for it, without having to overturn the entire closet.
- Store frequently worn tops, such as work shirts, gym wear, formal tops, etc. at eye level, while clothes that are seasonal such as sweaters can be stored on the upper and lower shelves.
Lower body: Trousers, tracks and skirts
- Store your jeans, trousers, dresses and skirts vertically by hanging them on rods. This not only is a space saver, but also maintains the ironing. Once again segregate, so that trousers are hung together and dresses and skirts are separate.
Make sure that reorganising your wardrobe becomes a regular feature and not a ‘once in a blue moon’ event!
Indian wear: sarees, salwars and lehengas
- Hang your Indian outfits such as sarees and salwar kameez, but ensure your hangars aren’t rusted or broken as the sharp end might poke through and ruin your expensive outfits.
- Expensive, Indian outfits can also be stored in saree-boxes that are easily available. These are zippered cloth cases that hold up to five-six apparels and can be placed flat on a shelf. The clothes remain protected and since they are worn occasionally, they can be removed and ironed as and when needed.
Lingerie: bras, slips and panties
- Utilise the drawers to store under-garments, night suits and small accessories. Place inexpensive plastic shelves or boxes in the drawers, so as to store small items without misplacing them or mixing them. So socks go in one tray, undergarments in another, etc.
Accessories: bags, belts and jewellery
- Take advantage of the inner door of your cupboard by adding hooks to it, so you can hang your bags, scarves and belts.
- Shoes can be stored in the bottom drawers of your closet so they aren’t visible every time you open your closet.
- Take stock of the contents of your wardrobe and throw away, or donate anything you haven’t worn in two years, because you probably never will.
- Make use of all the space available, from floor to ceiling, by adding shelves or lofts. Fill suitcases with clothes you don’t wear too often, and store them there.
(Nitya Alwani-Satyani is a reader, dreamer, traveller and a shopa-choco-holic beyond repair. She is best described as a teacher by qualification, writer by passion and a mother by profession!)
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