Bedroom My Life Organization Style

My Organized Closet

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.

My Closet

My Closet

Here’s the overall layout:

My Closet Plan

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.

Shoes in My Closet

My boots go along the back, tucking behind my dresses.

Boots in My Closet

And speaking of dresses, here they are:

Dresses in My Closet

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.

Jewelry

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.

My Closet

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  • Costume Diva
    December 16, 2008 at 1:11 pm

    Wow! Looks great!

  • Jen
    December 16, 2008 at 1:14 pm

    This is amazing. I want you to come and do this at my house.

  • Emily
    December 16, 2008 at 1:17 pm

    I just died of envy.

  • Carm
    December 16, 2008 at 1:24 pm

    Oh my Gosh!!! I am truly impressed!

  • Katie
    December 16, 2008 at 1:31 pm

    I am so impressed by the number of dresses that you have. I have the Ikea wardrobes too and three rods are filled with tops. Maybe I could replace a few with a wrap dress or two! Thanks for the inspiration!

  • jen
    December 16, 2008 at 1:37 pm

    it must feels so nice to have this done. i LOVE getting an area organized and beautiful, just how i had envisioned. congrats! it looks great.

  • Tatyana
    December 16, 2008 at 1:37 pm

    I always think closets like yours are just stylized unrealistic closets shot for magazines… but no, you really live with your clothes organized so nicely.
    I wish I had as much closet space… but my hubby has more clothes then I do and we share one closet the size of yours… :(
    P.S. I’m loving your matching wood hangers.

  • Brandi H.
    December 16, 2008 at 1:39 pm

    Absolutely lovely! I am sure this makes getting up and around a pleasure. It’s amazing what minimizing and organization can do to brighten your day. I love all of the colors.

  • tm
    December 16, 2008 at 1:50 pm

    very inspiring. i love organized closets! nesting is a wonderful thing! :) before i had my kids, i organized every nook and cranny of our house.

  • Bryn
    December 16, 2008 at 1:54 pm

    Oh my gosh, best post ever!! I hope to someday have a closet like this.

  • Taylor
    December 16, 2008 at 1:57 pm

    I try to keep my closet organized but it’s hard because it’s small and has to be shared with my husband. My half is separated by a sweater divider and I color-coordinate my items by style. Tank tops, short-sleeved, long-sleeved and dresses. At least my side looks pretty!

  • Jessica
    December 16, 2008 at 1:59 pm

    This looks amazing! It is like an art installation. Oh, and where did you get that little tree for your necklaces?

  • Making it Lovely
    December 16, 2008 at 2:07 pm

    That was from Urban Outfitters.

  • Farrell
    December 16, 2008 at 2:09 pm

    I’m drooling.

  • Molly
    December 16, 2008 at 2:12 pm

    I am insanely jealous of all your dresses. All of the patterns are so wonderful!

  • Megan
    December 16, 2008 at 3:02 pm

    i am in love with your shoe collection. sigh.

  • Patti
    December 16, 2008 at 3:06 pm

    Lovely…but no slacks or jeans?

  • Jenny
    December 16, 2008 at 3:06 pm

    This is glorious.

  • Making it Lovely
    December 16, 2008 at 3:08 pm

    I have one pair of black pants, two brown, and two pairs of jeans… and I hardly ever wear any of them.

  • Benita
    December 16, 2008 at 3:09 pm

    Gorgeous! I’m just boring black, white, grey heather and jeans…

  • jami
    December 16, 2008 at 3:21 pm

    I want to know where you’re going in all those fabulous high heeled shoes? WOW. Can’t wait to see what your little girly makes of it when she opens that magical wardrobe.

  • Kelly
    December 16, 2008 at 3:28 pm

    Speaking of dresses…where do you do your shopping for them?

  • Amy@OldSweetSong
    December 16, 2008 at 3:36 pm

    Can I live in your closet please? It sounds creepier than it will actually be.

  • Janine
    December 16, 2008 at 3:43 pm

    I absolutely adore your closet. And don’t worry I think that all of us have something in our lives that we are obsessive compulsive about.

  • Chelsey
    December 16, 2008 at 3:48 pm

    It looks fantastic! I especially love your little jewelry tree and all your cute shoes! If only I were so organized. One day, all my clothes will finally find a home, instead of living in the cardboard boxes I moved with… !

  • Melissa M.
    December 16, 2008 at 3:50 pm

    I have a wig just like that! I really need to cleanse my closet and narrow it down to the items I might actually wear. That’s always such a difficult process.

  • charmcitygirl
    December 16, 2008 at 3:51 pm

    um, i think you have my *perfect* boots… i need to know more info about the brown boots next to the wellies. please?

  • evy
    December 16, 2008 at 3:53 pm

    You have taken nesting to a whole new and beautiful level.

  • elizabeth
    December 16, 2008 at 4:00 pm

    Oh man! I wish I could shop in your closet. You have great taste and display it all so well.

  • Making it Lovely
    December 16, 2008 at 4:13 pm

    Charmcitygirl, I love those boots! They were from Banana Republic… last year or the year before, I don’t remember.

  • Donna
    December 16, 2008 at 4:21 pm

    Nicole, what’s the footprint of your closet (w x depth)?

  • Making it Lovely
    December 16, 2008 at 4:22 pm

    It’s about 8.5′ wide, 6.5′ tall, and 2′ deep.

  • amy purple
    December 16, 2008 at 4:45 pm

    Please come organize our closet, we can’t even walk in there anymore!

  • Making it Lovely
    December 16, 2008 at 4:50 pm

    Amy, I would happily come over and help (it’s been too long anyway)! I like doing that sort of thing. You need to provide pizza though. ;)

  • Sarah
    December 16, 2008 at 4:55 pm

    Lovely, indeed! My goodness, I need more cute dresses. :)

  • Jill
    December 16, 2008 at 5:07 pm

    When can I move in? Ha – I’m just drooling all over the place here. At the shoes! the jewelry! the organization! the clothes! Truly inspiring!

  • Lindsey
    December 16, 2008 at 5:12 pm

    Wow it is so lovely to look at, and not just for organizational reasons. The way you displayed things and the colors of your items. I love it!

    { Lindsey }
    http://www.coveiter.com

  • Megan
    December 16, 2008 at 5:18 pm

    Wow! I wish I could shop in your closet! :)

  • ann
    December 16, 2008 at 5:22 pm

    Wow. I have a serious case of closet envy.

  • sarajessica
    December 16, 2008 at 5:30 pm

    I absolutely adore your wardrobe…I really must get busy with mine and my clothes. But the sorting is soooo booooring. ^_^

  • Piper
    December 16, 2008 at 5:38 pm

    So lovely! I adore your organizational skills & your shoe collection. It must be great to open this up every day! Oh – love the rain boots.

  • Bethany
    December 16, 2008 at 6:24 pm

    ok, i’m in love with everything from the clothes to the shoes to the wardrobe to the photos. Your shoes have got to be the cutest selection ever.

  • Becca
    December 16, 2008 at 6:35 pm

    Oh my! It’s gorgeous! I la-la-la-love it!

  • Brandie
    December 16, 2008 at 6:57 pm

    I’m totally jealous. It’s gorgeous and so organized!

  • Danielle Melnyczenko
    December 16, 2008 at 7:10 pm

    wrap dress heaven. Our dress collections seem rather similar. I’m still lusting after the pink honeycomb print, the yellow and white and the small red print. sigh. All probably out of season and unattainable…. right?

    Your wardrobe looks fantastic and I love that you’re working the IKEA. Thumbs up girlie.

  • Kira
    December 16, 2008 at 7:17 pm

    I have that same tree from Urban! I love it.

  • Katy
    December 16, 2008 at 7:19 pm

    I love all the colours and patterns, i would love a post of all the fabrics of your clothes, i love them!

  • jenny
    December 16, 2008 at 7:54 pm

    I have a huge closet boner..I wish this could be mine..but I have a 3 foot wide closet from the 1800’s(literally)..

  • M@Circa1972
    December 16, 2008 at 7:56 pm

    Wow! Great work. It looks like a shop. Such lovely dresses. What is funny about your closet is that we have the single version of this wardrobe and my husband and I share it! I kind of went nuts with the paring down the clothing possessions this year. But, it felt good!

  • LeeAnn
    December 16, 2008 at 8:00 pm

    Oh, man. I wish I could have come over to cleanse your closet. It’s been a long time since I’ve helped clean out someones closet. It’s tradition that the helper always gets paid in hand-me-downs! If I could wear hats I’d wear the red one with the covered buttons!

  • lsaspacey
    December 16, 2008 at 8:36 pm

    DROOL!!!

  • Ann Marie
    December 16, 2008 at 8:43 pm

    Your closet is to die for!!! So inspiring. Wish I could be that organized. I think I need to cut back on purchases and streamline everything. Love the black boots. Where’d you get them?

  • Terrah
    December 16, 2008 at 9:07 pm

    wow, stunning. I’m a tad jealous. Just a tad. :)

  • tracie
    December 16, 2008 at 9:20 pm

    beautiful!! are you nesting? :)

  • lucy
    December 16, 2008 at 9:45 pm

    holy shit. i haven’t been so jealous since i saw carrie’s new closet in the sex and the city movie…but this is real. and i love it.

  • Susan
    December 16, 2008 at 9:49 pm

    Very, VERY impressive.

  • dv
    December 16, 2008 at 10:23 pm

    you put us all to shame! i’m various shades of green right now, haha. not only am i envious of your organization skills, but also envious of the clothes in your wardrobe!

  • Amber McBride
    December 16, 2008 at 10:33 pm

    Your closet is absolutely inspiring — visually and organizationally. I have one burning question: where are your jeans and kick-around shoes (e.g. tennis shoes) stored? Surely you don’t wear dresses all the time, do you?!

  • CR
    December 16, 2008 at 10:33 pm

    LOVE that you have so many dresses!!! My husband loves when I wear a skirt/dress… I’m inspired to buy a few and wear them more often. He’ll love it!!

  • Making it Lovely
    December 16, 2008 at 10:49 pm

    I wear a dress nearly every day. I think they’re far more comfortable than jeans! And I just wear flats. I do have a pair of Chuck Taylors that I’ve had since my high school days, but I can’t remember the last time I’ve worn them. I just keep them so that I have at least one pair of gym shoes.

    Danielle, yes all of the dresses are from seasons past. I’ve hardly bought any new clothes since I’m pregnant (except for a handful of maternity dresses).

  • Desiree Fawn
    December 16, 2008 at 11:12 pm

    I am absolutely swooning over your wardrobe!

  • Lonnie
    December 16, 2008 at 11:13 pm

    Which wardrobe from Ikea is this?

    I’m searching my room to figure out if I have space for it!

    And I agree with everyone else- your closet is so inspiring!

  • puglyfeet
    December 16, 2008 at 11:17 pm

    Your closet is IMMENSELY inspiring.

  • jen
    December 16, 2008 at 11:45 pm

    Do you EVER wear pants? I wish I was more comfortable in dresses–you always look so cute, but the old thunder thighs of mine rub together in a really uncomfortable way so I can’t get comfortable. Too much information?? Oh well…

  • jen
    December 16, 2008 at 11:47 pm

    Oops. Read your comments and saw that you do own pants. Now I talked about my thigh-rub for so reason.

    Note to self: read other comments before “sharing!”

  • autumn
    December 17, 2008 at 12:04 am

    im drooling. please come and do my closet. or i can just come and steal yours. i LOVE it!! and i love all your clothes and shoes and jewelry. im getting depressed now!!

  • Ashley S.
    December 17, 2008 at 2:24 am

    After reading Tatyanas comment, I felt I had to respond. I am Nicoles sister and I’m at their house once a week, at least, all the pictures she shows everyone on here are REAL! She doesn’t just move things to one side of the room so she can take a picture of the other! I am so impressed and amazed at all the organization. Oh, and it’s not so bad getting all the “hand me downs” either! As I write this I am wearing the blue long sleeved shirt from Old Navy she gave me (THANKS!) I am still waiting for the day you tire of that purse though…

    xoxo

  • The Chatty Housewife
    December 17, 2008 at 2:42 am

    Your closet is amazing. Your clothes, accessories and shoes are so nice!

    Envious!

  • alivicwil
    December 17, 2008 at 3:51 am

    I’ve been saying to History Boy that we have to get matching hangers! We use dry cleaning hangers to dry our work shirts on the clothesline. He then puts them straight into our wardrobe. :(

    Reorganising our wardrobe will be one of my jobs for summer!

    I’m a jeans and T-shirt girl. I’d like to wear more dresses, esp. to work, but I find it hard to find things that are suitable and affordable.

  • teresa
    December 17, 2008 at 8:23 am

    A girl after my own heart – a fellow dress girl! Dontcha love a nice organized closet? I’m the weirdo that will open the door to a freshly cleaned out closet every time I walk past just to admire my work. I love the tree from urban (I have one too as well as the silver jewelry box from PB). Painting it was a great idea!

  • megan
    December 17, 2008 at 9:28 am

    so awesome!!! I love it!

  • Kim
    December 17, 2008 at 9:47 am

    Thank you so much!!! My husband and I have been needing to redo our closet for 2 years, and this is the perfect inspiration! Great job :)

  • coral
    December 17, 2008 at 10:29 am

    I’m impressed with how much color there is! My closet is arranged by color, and it is pretty much black, gray, brown, and white, with a teeny little section for actual color. This looks so bright and happy.

  • Breakfast for Dinner
    December 17, 2008 at 10:52 am

    Wow. Wow. Wow. I’m terribly impressed by not only the organization of it all but by the discipline it must have taken to pare down what you have. I’m quite certain I fall into the 80%/20% category, but am plagued by the “what if’s” about so many pieces that I can’t get rid of them. I told my super stylish girlfriend that one day while I’m at work, she needs to get rid of whatever doesn’t work. At least that way I’ll probably never miss it! Again, great great work!

  • Nadine
    December 17, 2008 at 11:33 am

    I have a crush on your closet.

    Thanks for the inspiration. Now I want to purge, organize and beautify my closet space.

    (Brilliant idea displaying the wig. I have a couple wigs under my bed, not being appreciated. I think it’s time they resurfaced.)

  • jenna
    December 17, 2008 at 11:53 am

    Drooling over the incredible organization! And your cute shoes!! I am absolutely inspired! And I have the same aqua Mary Janes from Target. :)

  • Kate
    December 17, 2008 at 12:19 pm

    Lovely but ummm where are your pants?

  • Making it Lovely
    December 17, 2008 at 12:27 pm

    Why is it so unbelievable that I have hardly any pants? I’m going to start asking where all of your dresses are. ;)

  • Kate
    December 17, 2008 at 12:34 pm

    TOUCHE! I think it is just envy that someone can exist without the enormous pile of sweats and jeans I have!

  • Krysta
    December 17, 2008 at 1:05 pm

    Theses photos gave me heart palpitations!

  • Envidia (no sé si sana) « Pitinis
    December 17, 2008 at 2:09 pm

    […] 17 Diciembre, 2008 at 8:08 pm (Decoración, Páginas personales) (apliques, armario, Decoración, dormitorio, iluminación, john, luz, making it lovely, nicole balch, ropero, sherry, this young house) Ayer, viendo el blog de Nicole Balch (Making it lovely), me dio un ataque de envidia increíble. A Nicole se le ocurrió poner fotos de su armario ropero y por poco me dio un infarto, por lo grande, lo organizado y lo ordenadito. Podéis verlo aquí.  […]

  • Cindy
    December 17, 2008 at 2:31 pm

    Well not only is your closet lovely, but you’ve filled it with an envious amount of beautiful things. Congrats on making a whole lotta ladies green with envy once again :)

  • Tanya
    December 17, 2008 at 2:54 pm

    I am utterly jealous. Your home is so lovely!

  • Vanessa
    December 17, 2008 at 3:41 pm

    You are so in “nesting” mode. I did the same thing when I was pregnant with my daughter. Now I could care less what my closet looks like….

  • Tatyana
    December 17, 2008 at 6:01 pm

    Ashley S. (hope you read this)– sorry, my comments always come across as smart-ass-y… and I don’t mean them to be. I meant to say that I was impressed with how nice and organized everything looks like, like in magazines. I thought people could not live like that but Nicole is proof that you can if you are organized.
    And I guessed she was organized and lived like that, that she didn’t stage anything just for the frame of the picture… I just have a long way to go to be like that.

  • Anna
    December 17, 2008 at 8:00 pm

    There are no words…no really…just fabulous!

  • Kendall
    December 17, 2008 at 8:09 pm

    Amazing! I think you should do a post on home organization for all the slobs (like me) who can’t organize a thing! It seems like you fill your home and closet only with things that you *really* love. I should try that!

  • Erin
    December 17, 2008 at 10:20 pm

    How great does this look?! I love the diagram, it really does help you plan out what you are using the space for. My closet is a mess!

  • MK
    December 17, 2008 at 11:11 pm

    How can I get this same look without spending alot? Any suggestions?

    This blew me away.

  • Michele
    December 18, 2008 at 1:02 am

    I swoon!

  • with.much.love
    December 18, 2008 at 10:37 am

    I have a gigantic closet in our new house but I am still totally jealous of this one! I want to buy it and put it IN my closet. Oh to be able to organize so well! I am green with envy.

  • Link Love: 12.18.08 | Nubbytwiglet.com
    December 18, 2008 at 11:11 am

    […] This is perhaps the best organized closet I’ve ever […]

  • Freya
    December 18, 2008 at 11:51 am

    I had a plan to clean my room tonight, and you have left my very inspired now. I love your shoe and jewelry space especially.

    So gorgeous!

  • Monica A
    December 18, 2008 at 2:42 pm

    This is a perfectly organized closet. And I love your shoes collection!!

  • Collette
    December 18, 2008 at 5:03 pm

    OMG! I absolutely LOVE your closet! Seriously! I’m super jealous! =(

    Happy HOlidays though!

  • Laura B.
    December 18, 2008 at 5:11 pm

    WOW. I SO NEED this closet. Thanks for sharing. I need to totally revisit mine now.

  • Katy
    December 18, 2008 at 7:29 pm

    WOW this is an amazing closet!

  • Hodero
    December 18, 2008 at 8:26 pm

    you must be a nurse !!

  • Cat Osbourne
    December 18, 2008 at 8:47 pm

    That much stuff requires organization. It’s well put together, but I’m still baffled by the need for so many things.

  • Isa
    December 18, 2008 at 11:06 pm

    That is an awe-inspiring closet.

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