Somehow, I can leave dishes in the sink (instead of loading the dishwasher that’s two feet away), and I’ll let random things pile up on the dining room table, but I am not someone that can shove a bunch of stuff behind closed doors and consider it “put away”. Yes, I DO that (I’m nowhere near perfect), but it bothers me and bothers me until I can go through and thoroughly clean and organize everything. So that’s what I did this weekend.
My closet is a freestanding wardrobe from IKEA. It’s nothing special from the outside, but everything fits inside. Clothes, shoes, hats, purses, jewelry… it’s all in there.
Here’s the overall layout:
I think I got rid of about half of my shoes when I cleaned everything out. I decided to only keep the shoes I really loved… the cute heels, the simple flats that go with everything. All the shoes I had been holding onto that hurt my feet or that I never wore just had to go. Now the shoes I have fit nicely in two drawers.
My boots go along the back, tucking behind my dresses.
And speaking of dresses, here they are:
My jewelry and perfume used to be over by the bathroom, but I thought it made more sense to keep everything together with my clothes.
Brandon was a bit shocked at how much I was getting rid of, but I feel so much better. My sister took some of it, and all the rest was donated to charity. And now I’m nicely organized.
270 comments
Patri
Hi! That looks great. Could you tell me the sizes of each pax frame? Thank you!
Making it Lovely
Sorry, I don’t live in that house anymore.
Patricia Burke
Hi! That looks great. Could you tell me the sizes of each pax frame? Thank you!
karen tolentino
Hey! I’m an OC person too! ;) Love your closet! So organized!!
Debbi
Your closet does look awesome! I have a lot of boots and one thing I noticed is your boots are standing up straight on the shelf behind your dresses. Don’t you have a problem with them tipping over when you move the dresses around? I kept mine on the floor and they were always falling over and looked messy so I bought these clips http://www.onlyhangers.com/Prod-31-1-173-9/Satin_Chrome_Clip_Hanger.htm and hang them from one of the lower hang rods so the stay straight and neat without flopping over. Plus mine were actually getting crease marks where they folded over so hanging has worked better for me.
m!
Do you know if Ikea still makes that accessory drawer? I’ve been hunting all over for it and can’t find it.
Making it Lovely
I don’t think they make it anymore, no.
Lise
I have the same question if anybody knows.
Yasmin
So simple and nicely done! When everything is organized like that, it makes it easier to keep clean. And it makes me happy :)
the domestic fringe
I have closet envy. And dress envy. ;-)
~FringGirl
Lauren
Love the closet!
Michelle
Love this! I added it to my organization linky on my Organization tab at the top of my blog. If you have any other organization posts that you think my readers would love, come link them!~
Michelle
http://www.heartfeltbalancehandmadelife.com/p/blogosphere-organization-posts.html
Patricia
this is all so beautifully arranged and presented, i am a complete fan! I love your color scheme too!
Dulci DAntas
Oh my… I love it! Nice ideas!
DanisohDani
Your closet its a dream!!! I’m in love with it so much!!
Its pitty I share a tiny room with my brother, but who knows when I get marry??? =D
Marisu
This is so gorgeous and inspirational, thanks Nicole! Can’t wait to go through my own wardrobe, it will probably never look even slightly like yours’ but it’s worth a try.
Megan
I realize that this is an old post, but I’m trying to figure out where your free standing closet is in your bedroom? How big is your bedroom? I’m trying desperately to make our little room in our 1950’s home work. I wonder, did people just not have many belongings back then? I love everything that you do!
Ana
I love the way everything is organized.
I love folded clothes, but to see them hanging all neat like this is a treat ^_^ .
And it’s so nice to hear that not only that you feel better, but that something went to charity, too :) .
Eva
I absolutely love your closet! I came across your blog when I was looking for ideas to build mine. Can you let me know what kind of vertical dividers are the ones you got? They are the ones on the first picture where you have your handbags and jewelry. Something like that would be the answer to all my headaches!
Thanks a lot for sharing your awesome closet.
Susan
Love the drawers. Where/who did you get them from? They’re exactly what I’m looking to install in my own closet makeover! Thanks for sharing your fab space!!
Well.........
The whole thing is from IKEA – did you not even read it?
Marryl
I must say this is absolutely amazing. I’ve been wanting to do some decluttering and organize my closet. I admire how you got rid of some of your stuff. I know how that feels. Thanks for the inspiration!
rani
WOW! this is awesome! It reminds me of the wardrobes closets they have in India. Everything has it’s place for my mom’s sari’s, bangles, salwars, shoes, tunics…you name it…it’s there…and lockable too! Now if I can just do it for my closet here!
Jasmine
Hi! Is there any way I can get the exact combination of this Pax wardrobe! I love it!. Is it 29 1/2″x 29 1/2″ x 19 5/8″?
Jane
Hello,
What size Pax Wardrobe did you purchase? I am about to purchase one for all of my clothes – uncertain what size to go with. I’d obviously opt for the biggest if I had the space but I don’t!
Ali
Love your organization! Feel like a shopping in a fancy store! Love all your dresses! I’d like to start wearing more dresses as I loose weight! They make me feel girly and put together and so comfortable for the southern heat of summer!
~ Ali
Amber
I am so envious of your organized closet. I want to be that organized, I just can’t seem to find the right things. Any places you recommend looking?
Joanne
Love how you organized your closet. It’s beautiful!! Perfection!
Found your blog through Anna of IHOD
tabitha
most amazing closet – ever! can i have all those shoes? :D
Melanie
Hi Nicole, I have been loving your site now for about a year and have become especially in love with your closet, as well as your style posts. I happened to notice a dress that I have had around forever in your closet, it is blue Merona wrap dress with a kind of chain link pattern. I had kinda forgotten I had it. My question is how to you accessorize it? I am trying to get better at that, but feel I am falling a bit short.
christine holmes
hello hello, i must say you have a beautiful closet! where do you shop? your clothes/shoes/everything look cute. :)
essay paper writing
Its so sweety! In my closet all the time some chaos!!! I need some person who will be organized my close!
Stephanie
Wow I’m totally jealous. How much would you charge for me to hire you as a closet consultant? I’m heading to Ikea this weekend and I’m totally buying the wardrobe.
ashleyD
i drooled on myself! hah!
Charlene
This is EXACTLY what I want my closet to look like! I have the ikea wardrobe as well, but it looks nothing like yours. Perhaps its because I share it with my husband? I think it’s time to kick his clothes out and make it all mine so I too can have a pretty closet ;)
Aliya
I absolutely LOVE your closet! I am currently working on turning my extra bedroom into a walk-in and have been looking around for ideas. I have to say, I am going to steal some of yours :-) It is amazing; you did such a wonderful job. I can’t wait to see what else you do.
Jennifer
Hi Nicole,
first, your closet is just… deeeelish :) Before pregnancy I too, wore NOTHING but dresses.. and could NOT understand why everyone was constantly harassing me about it! What gives?? The only reason I now wear mostly yoga/running/pajama pants is that it’s difficult to keep my bottom covered when down on all fours crawling around after our newborn ; ) At any rate, your style is divine, and I’m printing this out for inspiration. Hubby and I just turned a spare bedroom into a walk in closet, lining the walls with Pax units. Now we need to install all the drawers, shelves, etc..
In your photo, the gorgeous drawer with all your accessories has a wooden divider in it to keep all your goodies corralled – was this also from Ikea? I’m searching their site like a madwoman and not seeing anything.
Thank you for any help you can give!
Making it Lovely
Yes, the divided drawer was part of the IKEA wardrobe system.
Kobe
Hi,
I love your closet! so organised. Just wondering if you installed it yourself and what size drawers you used?
Thanks
Kobe
Courtney
I love how organized this is! My bedroom is very similar in size, and looking through your slideshow we even have a similar built-in closet. I have an unresolved problem with storage and organizing our clothing. My question is where is that previous closet (in your “before” pictures) if you have this freestanding one? If you have enough space to have both, I am very jealous!
college papers
i really commend your for a very inspiring article. i can only say “wow” after seeing your closet. i mean it is not easy to keep someone’s closet really nice and tidy. and i am in awe of you because of what you have achieved :)
Ayelet
Still in awe. What are the top boxses made from? are they at Ikea? I recognize the other stuff. love the shelf and decoration.
Makeda
Any ideas on how to organize headbands?
Valentina
i see you love stella mccartney perfume also!!
crusty baguette
Wow, I’m jealous! Not only of the new closet, but of your clothes and shoes! You have so many nice things! The pink hat is adorable. And so many cute prints on the dresses!
You did a lovely job organizing everything :)
boston
This is an amazing job, thanks for sharing and you have certainly inspired me to go ahead and start organizing my stuff!
Sarah
Wow – you have very beautiful things! It is so nice to have such visuals – great job!
We bought a closet organizer, and I need to get it installed and purge. You are my inspiration!
Crafty Mermaid
Just found your site today and working my way through the previous posts – I love the wardrobe – amazing!
Lisa
Oh.my.GAWD. I just love it! Makes me uber jealous! :P
jenna
omg! you totally inpired me, my dads a capenter and hes building me one(: its cheaper like that! i checked out ikea.com and that most have cost a fortune! well i love it and conrats on your baby!(:
Jenni
this is so great! I want this!
Carrie
this is beautiful
Monica P.
Your closet is to-die-for!!! I love your shoes. and all the organization is just perfect!
I just came across your blog today and I love it too!!
Wiggle
I’ve seen pictures of closet organization where they organize their 5 shirts and 3 pairs of pants. But wow, you have craploads of stuff and mangage to pull it off with flying colours.. hmm, there goes that excuse. I’m impressed!
cchump
Gorgeous, but come on! You live in Illinois? Where are your sweaters?
Closet Design Boston
That does look very nice and so much closet envy is hard to come by. It’s the power of pictures in action.
Ney
Trackback: http://naomirichendollar.blogspot.com/2009/02/closet-envy.html
Becca
Seriously amazing! I am really wanting to organize my closet too and this is such a great set up
Lou
Gorgeous. Adorable. To IKEA!
lovie
thank you.
Amanda
(I’m playing catch-up!) This is SO inspiring. Also, I think I spot a dress I own among your pretty dresses! It’s blue and white and from Target and looks sorta like a DVF wrap dress and I love mine except when I wear it I have to be careful because if a good gust gets it, it tends to expose me! So I keep a hand down on the skirt if I’m walking outside.
Anywho, lovely wardrobe/closet! I need to clean mine out something awful.
tara lee
OMG, this is amazing! Can I please ask where you got your jewellery holder from? I am DYING to know!
Dondrea
This is exactly the inspiration that I needed to organize my closet. I’ve lived in a new home for almost a year, and my closets looks a hot mess to say the least. You’ve got awesome closets! How about we just switch? Lol!
Closet Therapist
I just did a blog post about your post! I love it and can’t wait to read more of your site.
Jennifer
kayla
oooh I wish I had a closet that looked like that and such pretty clothes :)
Could you tell me though where you got that branch necklace holder. I have been searching high and low for one!!
kristi
your closet is amazing! I’d love to get the same IKEA organizer. Which one is it? You Rock!
Jessica
I am SO jealous. Book marking you for when my husband and I build our dream house :) Years away but hey I still like the idea. :D
Bridget
Absolutely lovely :)
I wear nothing but dresses in the summer, and in the winter things work just fine with tights and a long sleeve tshirt underneath.
Dylan
Holy moly! Wow. I really want of those wardrobes now, haha. I tried to think of what the layout for my closet is, and it’s mostly just an explosion. You have a great taste in clothes, by the way.
Megs
I am fawning over this. Seriously fawning. I love the cup idea to organize earrings. And the green glass tray? Gorgeous! I consider myself very organized but your display makes everything look so appealing and visually interesting.
Verao
I am going to try and mimic you. Love it :)
V Morsse
You have such a colorful palette (*great minds*) — I’m so jealous of your gorgeous dresses, and I want to raid your shoe collection. :-)
Kristina
I think I love that it looks like a Barbie Dream Closet: saturated colors, lovely patterns and funky designs. Mine is all black and gray … boo for me, but yay for you!
jesse
Gorgeous! I would love to have something like this! Maybe some day!
koria
Amazing!!! I almost cannot believe this is real :) I’m speechless. And certainly inspired.
fonz
beautiful closet! i am dying to know, where did you get that white hand!?
Colleen
this looks beautiful!!! if only I could copy and paste your closet to mine.
April
I love love love your closet!! You have inspired me…to do a massive cleanout! My fiance turned an entire bedroom into a closet for me, but I need some… “design = pretty”! Plus, you are right….I need to go through the SHOES and purses…I have more than 150 pair of shoes..and I wear maybe 7 pairs!!! Thanks soo much for the inspiration!!
Crystal
This comment will probably get lost in the pile but I just HAD to comment because I thought I was the only one who thought like this: “Somehow, I can leave dishes in the sink (instead of loading the dishwasher that’s two feet away), and I’ll let random things pile up on the dining room table, but I am not someone that can shove a bunch of stuff behind closed doors and consider it “put away”.”
The table and counters in my house are always cluttered with little piles, but I never just shove things into a closet. If it’s going to be put away, it’s going to be put away right. I’ve never run into anyone else who thought the same thing.
Fortunekitty
Wow, you are really neat!
And I love IKEA too!
=O
That’s it. I’m moving in!
Me? A Mom?
I’m pretty sure your blog could be just about your closet and you’d never run out of topic ideas.
now if you’ll excuse me, i need to whip up my drool…
ADG
i think its funny so many people are STILL asking. where do your pants go when you have answered it so many times and if they were avid readers [like me] and just look at almost all of your post with pictures you have on a dress/skirt
Mintie
This is lovely… but where are all your bags and shoes?
sunny
PS: I’m with you on the “where are the pants?” thing. I own one pair of jeans (capri length) and one pair of black pants. I always wear flats. And I prefer dresses and skirts pretty much daily. My friends have tired of asking me if I own anything more casual than skirts and dresses.
sunny
How on EARTH did I miss this blog post in my google reader last week? I saw it today through Holly’s blog (decor8).
I wouldn’t even know how to approach organizing a closet to the detail you did. I look at what I’m starting with (piles of clothes on the closet floor, non-clothing-related items in boxes on the floor of the walk-in closet… and get overwhelmed. My brain would explode before I could bring some order to the closet in my mind.
I love your organization skills, yes, but even more so, I love the way you always add just the right touches to make even the smallest of cubbies quite homey and downright pretty. I quite admire your talents!!
kandice
where are your pants?
Lisa Sonora Beam
Wow! I am so inspired! Thanks for sharing this. I’ve found the secret to getting organized (in whatever area) is to first eliminate everything that really shouldn’t be there.
It’s challenging to let go of good stuff that for whatever reason has gone unworn. But I find it really helps me ultimately spend less shopping — gotta be ruthless.
My fashion decision rule when in the dressing room: If it’s not a YES!, it’s a no. That leaves no room for “maybe” which is how those wrong purchases end up in the closet in the first place.
I also own 2 pair of jeans and do the tights, dress thing. Confession: have many pair of yoga pants, which I like wearing underneath as much as tights.
Now please spill: You favorite dress shopping and shoe shopping haunts.
thanks!
Danette
It’s all really lovely and organized and you have quite the wardrobe……love those shoes, dresses and boots…..but, please, do tell about the wig!! Must be some special story behind that beauty.
Yarro
OK! How long does it take until You make it a mess again? :-)
Rachel
This is so gorgeous – but at the same time depressingly pretty/organized/fun compared to my junky mess of a closet. I’ll be hanging onto this post as inspiration for when I finally get around to the big overhaul my closet needs!
Erin
I love your closet! How long ago did you buy this from IKEA? Do you remember the name of it? Thanks
teerish
LOVE your closet! This is so inspiring! I need to clean out mine a bit more.
I especially love the head for the wig. Must get. =)
Also, I love all of your dresses!
dvlcis
photoshopped!
xin
I like when you say “keeping things for your little girl”. That’s so sweet. But seriously, how neat are you? You can have a side business just organizing people’s closet! Great, now I have to go to Ikea again!
Dewi
Your dresses are the most enviable thing about your closet. I’m gaga over all those nice looking fabrics.
I know that wardrobe from Ikea, we had been thinking of getting one for my husband , it really does an excellent job of keeping you organized.
Melissa de la Fuente
oh my….oh my! This is just absolutely glorious! So lovely and inspiring!
All of your dresses are so pretty and I just love how everything is so sweetly displayed and organized. It makes everything so much easier and delightful doesn’t it? Wonderful!
xo
Melissa
McG
I was wondering how to organize my closet as well and I love your set up! I definitely need to do a winter clean-up… get rid of all of the old stuff and send them to GoodWill.
euni
Ok, not that you need another comment, but your closet is just freaking amazing!!!!!!
Adrienne
This puts my closet to shame!! This is definitely the motivation I needed to organize!
Gem
This is wonderful…I wonder if I can do something like this. I live in an apartment with the built in racks to hang clothes on…I wonder if I can get around that.
the sassy kathy
oh. my. goodness. this is closet heaven. GORGEOUS! please come fix my closet? and make it look like this? please? PLEASE!?
Jesse
What about pants?
Paula
I wish I had such colorful shoes. They’re screaming, “Wear me in Paris!”
And the organization of your closet – it’s basically art.
Michelle
Hi Nicole, I’ve just started reading your blog and love what you do. Even your blog colours are so lovely!
Echoing the 124 before me – it looks amazing.
We are moving house and I will have half the closet space (if that)!!! I am going to try and live up to your gorgeous example. =) Not sure how good it will look though. Husband has kindly offered to use our free standing cupboard (which is actually more of a small buffet) so I can have most of the built in closet.
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