Few things aggravate me more than a closet piled with STUFF. I’m not a naturally organized person, and I’ll be honest, most days my house looks like I lost a game of Jumanji. One of the “hot spots” in our house is the master closet. If you can even call it a “master”. Sure it’s a walk-in closet, but the problem is that we have teeny, tiny bathrooms that have no storage, AND no linen closet. So our “master closet” has to work overtime and really hold a lot more than just our clothes.

Recently, I set out to organize this monster. I wanted to make it as functional as possible without spending a fortune on one of those fancy closet systems (because, let’s be real here…money is tight around these parts). I had to get clever and improvise. I wrangled up a few baskets we already had around the house and grabbed my shelf unit from the office which was just taking up space. Then I went to Lowe’s and picked up a few other containers as well as some of these Ziploc^® Space Bags^®.

You can see below that the shelf unit is what used to be a space for long hanging clothing items. I don’t own any dresses or other long items so this space was wasted by having shorter shirts hanging here. Instead, we used the double-hung racks on the long wall to maximize space.

I got the Ziploc^® Space Bags^® because since this closet is also our linen closet, this is where we keep extra blankets, comforters and guest sheets. I keep an everyday set of sheets on the guest bed (just so the bed isn’t naked) and I swap out for clean sheets when guests come. If I put them in the Ziploc^® Space Bags^®, I don’t have to worry about them getting dusty, or full of dog and cat fur between guest visits. Plus, they compress everything down so it takes up WAY less room. This, of course, is crucial when space is limited. Once your items are compressed, you can even store them under your bed to free up more room in the closet!

If your closet does double or triple duty like mine, you’re gonna want to grab a few of these.

You can use them to store your off-season clothing too. When summer comes, you can put your parkas and snow suits in one of these bad boys.

I also like to use baskets, totes and other stackable storage items. When it comes to a tiny closet, using vertical space and stackable storage containers/bags makes it easier to get everything in there in an organized fashion.

Some people prefer clear containers or bags vs opaque bins or baskets. For me personally, it depends on what I’m storing. Sometimes, it’s nice to know what is in the container at a glance, this way you don’t have to go digging to find what you’re looking for. (PS: that tote was on clearance at Lowe’s too!)

Here’s a few tips for organizing your multi-tasking closet:

• Divide into sections. Keep all like items together
• Utilize ALL the vertical space.
• Don’t be afraid to reconfigure – look at your wardrobe, and see what kind of storage will suit your closet best.
• Put seasonal or lesser-used items on higher shelves
• Put frequently used items within easy reach.

I know my closet will never grace the pages of a magazine. It’s not one of those grand, elaborate show pieces but it works for our home now that we have these organizational tools in place. I even have MORE space now since we’re using the Ziploc^® Space Bags^®. They are airtight and reusable, so I can take out the comforter and pillows for the guest bed and re-seal them after the guests have left (and they’ve been washed of course!).

Don’t forget these safety tips:

• Don’t fill the bag past the marked fill line
• Don’t let children or pets play with the bags
• Not for use with food

Have you used Ziploc^® Space Bags^® to organize your home?