4. USE CLOSET ORGANIZERS

Let this be your new personal mantra: closet organizers are the gifts of the Gods. These simple and inexpensive items will make organizing your closet a snap. There are three main types of organizers that can fit any closet, no matter its size: shelves, specialty clothes hangers and shoe racks.

  • Shelves: Shelves serve one major purpose: they provide you with a place to put all the things that would otherwise go on the floor. People who break out into hives at the mere mention of Bob Villa should look into using pre-assembled stackable shelves-they come in a variety of sizes and bend to fit the dimensions of your closet. Installed shelves, however, tend to be able to hold more weight. They can be found at most home improvement stores.

  • Specialty Clothes Hangers: You'll also want to purchase a variety of clothes hangers. Before you decide which type of hangers would be best for you, do us a favor and get rid of all the bent-out-of-shape metal hangers lurking in your closet. Look for collapsible, multi-tiered hangers, which save space by allowing you to hang to multiple garments at once.

  • Shoe Racks: You'll also want to invest in a sturdy shoe rack, which come in all shapes and sizes. If you're dealing with a small closet, get a hanging shoe rack that you can attach to the back of the door. Most stores also sell shoe bags (with pouches) that can be fixed to the wall. In addition to shoes, these pouches are good for storing scarves or belts. Make sure the pouches are transparent, though, or else they'll become a breeding ground for all your odds and ends. Another way to organize your shoes is to keep the original shoebox and paste a picture of the shoes on each box so that you know what's inside. Granted, the film processor will look at you strangely, but at least you'll be organized. If you're hell bent on keeping your shoes on the floor, however, then at least point each pair of shoes in a different direction. We swear this will give you extra room.

Well that's it. You should now be perfectly organized. Now if only you could find somewhere to put your life size cardboard cutout of Spock…