Better Than Sliced Bread: Closet Rod Light

A great and inexpensive solution for those who don't have lighting in the closet. A closet rod with battery-operated lights integrated along the bottom. 

 via LA Closet Design

 
It attaches to a shelf above, similarly to a standard closet rod - no wiring required. The light portion uses an energy-efficient LED light instead of fluorescent bulbs and also has a motion sensor to turn the light off for you, further conserving the battery. Comes in 22” and 34” lengths. 

Not the right sizes to fit your needs? Rite Lite offers less sleek but just as convenient products like LED puck lights and LED strips that can be affixed inside your closet. Also wireless and energy-efficient. They use LED bulbs and have motion sensor or remote control options.

Spring Swishing

With spring around the corner, I know many of you are getting ready for spring cleaning. There's an amazing way to clean away clutter, organize your closet, go shopping and hang out with your friends at the same time: Host a clothing swap party!

photo via the-budgetista.com

  
The premise is simple: Each guest brings a few articles of clothing or accessories that they no longer have use for, and other guests can choose from among them. One person's unworn, ill-fitting or regretted purchase is another one's treasure. And it happens to be really fun.

Display as Storage

I often find myself thinking about the 80/20 closet rule. The rule says that you wear 20% of your clothing 80% of the time. On the one hand, that means you are really getting your money’s worth out of a few essential pieces (my rationale for investing in good basics). On the other hand, it also means that 80% of your clothing goes unworn 80% of the time. This part drives me a little crazy, because just thinking that the 80% is hanging there, being useless, makes me want to chuck it out the window. 

Before we go chucking things out the window and regretting it, let’s consider the possibility that at least some of that 80% goes unworn because we don’t SEE it. Out of sight, out of regular circulation. And if that’s the case, then these display as storage options are ingenious. Not only does displaying clothing or accessories let you see what you’re not wearing, but it provides additional storage outside of the closet (much needed for those of us with little closet space). I'm working on a way to incorporate my own based on these inspiring closets:

via Mia Linnman