Effectively organizing your wardrobe's top shelves involves utilizing the space for items that are less frequently accessed, using appropriate storage solutions like bins and boxes.
Top shelves, often located high above the main hanging rod, are valuable storage areas often overlooked. Making the most of this space can free up room in other parts of your closet, keeping your frequently used items easily accessible.
Why Use Wardrobe Top Shelves?
These high shelves are ideal for:
- Storing items that are seasonal or out of current rotation.
- Keeping bulky items that don't fit well on lower shelves or in drawers.
- Storing things you need but don't use daily or weekly.
How to Effectively Organize Top Shelves
Based on expert advice, here's how you can maximize the utility of these high spaces:
- Utilize Storage Containers: Placing items directly on the shelf can make them hard to retrieve and quickly become messy. Using storage solutions keeps items contained and makes them easier to pull down.
- Store Out-of-Season Items: If you have a shelf high above the rod where your clothes hang, make use of it by placing boxes of vacuum-sealed clothing, out-of-season shoes, or carefully stacked hats in plastic bins or cloth storage cubes. This is a primary use for top shelves, keeping seasonal wear out of the way until needed.
- Vacuum-sealed bags: Excellent for compressible items like winter coats, sweaters, or bulky bedding. They save significant space.
- Out-of-season shoes: Store these in shoe boxes or clear bins. Ensure they are clean before storing.
- Hats: Store structured hats carefully in bins or boxes to help them maintain their shape.
- Use Bins or Cubes: As the reference suggests, plastic bins or cloth storage cubes are perfect for keeping various items together neatly. Choose bins with handles for easy retrieval.
- Group Similar Items: Store like items together. All winter accessories in one bin, all seldom-used bags in another, etc.
- Label Everything: Since the shelves are high, you won't be able to easily see what's inside containers. Use clear labels on the front of each bin or box to quickly identify contents.
- Consider Accessibility: Store lighter items higher up if possible, or use a sturdy step stool to safely access items on the top shelf. Keep frequently accessed (but still seasonal/seldom-used) items towards the front.
By using bins, vacuum-sealed bags, and grouping seasonal or less-used items like clothing, shoes, and hats, you can turn your wardrobe's top shelves into efficient and organized storage spaces.
