Staging your closets.
Do you know how many people wandering through your open house look in your closets? All of them. Yes. All.
The quality of the primary bedroom's closet is one of the most important elements that a homebuyer looks for, so they’re going to peek. Like the rest of your house, closets deserve a deep clean before listing. Think of this as closet staging. Taking great care of your closet indicates that you put great care into the upkeep of the rest of your home. This can be one of the reasons your house sells faster, and it might increase the value. Even if you are not selling or moving, uncluttered closets decrease stress.
It may seem daunting, but you can clean a closet in a short period of time. Let's go!
Start with a mindset of ruthlessness. You are the boss of this closet, and you're going to get it into shape.
First, take everything out and clean the walls and floor, shelves and drawers thoroughly.
Sort out any items you haven't worn in the past year or two, or items that you don't see yourself wearing in the future. Donate these or sell them with a service like ThredUp.com.
Remove out of season items and place them in storage under the bed, in a separate closet, or in the garage. The remaining hanging clothes should have a good 1/2 inch between hangers, and folded items should not be stacked more than 3 high.
Get some nice hangers. It's more expensive but this will give your closet a more cohesive look. Choose wooden, chrome or black velvet, (those are great because clothes don't slip off them easily).
Remove all of the dry-cleaning bags when you are re-hanging clothes on your new hangers. The plastic looks messy.
Arrange your closet by color. Grouping like-colors together to creates a more cohesive look that is easy on the eyes.
Put your nicest clothes on display. Think of your closet as a shop--the nicest things are on show. With that in mind, remove or hide personal items in drawers.
Want to take it a step farther? Let's do it.
Like all walls, a fresh coat a paint is a great way to update your closet. Choose a clean, light shade like white or cream that is very neutral. Clean the floor well and consider adding some carpet. Small closets don't require more than a remnant or choose some carpet tile that is easy to install.
If you do not have built-in shelves, get some closet organizers, even the canvas hanging ones will do. They are perfect for sweaters, shoes, and scarves.
Use pretty hooks for accessories. Handbags and jewelry need a dedicated space, and hanging them on the back of the door or a dedicated wall is the perfect place.
Make sure it smells good! Use some unused dryer sheets tucked into shoes to keep them fresh, or a sachet in each drawer
Don't want to clean your own closets? There are many professionals who will do this for you.
Consider exactly what you need to have done. Do you just need a professional/virtual consultant for your DIY? Do you need someone to install room or closet organizers? Do you need a discreet professional to deal with a hoarding situation?
We really love a few companies in Los Angeles:
A Clear Path. Regina Lark has a wonderful, full-service organizing service and a book: Emotional Labor: Why a Woman’s Work is Never Done and What to Do About It. aclearpath.net
Tidy Haus does packing and unpacking, organizing, electronics installation, and so much more. tidy.haus
Handy Girl transforms dysfunctional, cluttered spaces into functional, beautiful spaces. handygirl.com
m.a.i. organization mindfully aligns inventory, bringing you peace of mind. maiorganization.com
There are plenty of franchises out there that you can use as well. Neat Method, Merry Maids, and The Container Store are all very well worthy. If you want to splurge, The Home Edit is going to be your go-to. If you have a hoarding situation, Upkeep Angels is the company to call.