19 Reader Space: A Closet to Covet

I get a lot of emails from renters looking for organizing and styling advice, mainly because much of the rented space cannot be tampered with.  Today's reader is a renter, and she gave her son's closet an incredible makeover using a mixture of big box store items and dollar store bins to create a closet that is boasting in storage now, but could be taken with her when she leaves.

 
Claudia wrote:

Hi Jen,

First of all, I want to thank you so much for always sharing all of your ideas and talents with us, you are truly inspirational. I am completely addicted to your blog, every time you post something new I am immediately notified and I get all giddy inside. Thanks for all of the useful information, ever since I came across your blog it inspired me to be more aware of organization.  Although I have always been a clean and neat freak, organization has become a new hobby and sense of life for me. I have always enjoyed organizing, it just never occurred to me that it could be considered a talent.

So we are renters, and we cannot make any renovations in our 800 square foot basement, nor paint or personalize in a huge way. Fortunately, we love to innovate in the spaces we live, so that our spaces reflect who we are as a family, and give it our personal touch. I have been working on my son's bedroom lately, well a lot, and his little but cute closet is completely done, finally! Here is what it used to look like. 

Everything was crowded, and un-organized, I had a hard time finding things, and all of those bags on the top shelf were all old clothes that Nolan had grown out of.

It just wasn't a pretty sight to see. I did a lot of research on how I could make the most out of this tiny little space. I already had the Expedit from IKEA, so it made sense to use it, notice how small the closet is, because the Expedit fits perfectly inside.   I found these super cool and amazing striped baskets I purchased from The Container Store, at $9.99 each. I fell in love with them when I first saw them on the 2012 HGTV Green Home Tour. 

I purchased the clear bins at IKEA for $3 a pop. I got the red containers at the $1 store, yay!

Thanks Jen!

Let's take a closer look at the final outcome of the deliciously organized closet:

I had to throw that last photo in there of the cute little shoes all lined up.  Sigh.  So sweet right?

• Nothing done in this closet is permanent.  Adding storage in the form of a bookcase or dresser is a great way for renters to maximize closet space.
• Renter or home owner, this storage rocks regardless!  Love that the clothes are now sorted by age and in simple bins.  Much easier than digging through bags!
• Since she can't paint the closet, she brought in color through fabulous bins!
• The labels weren't just done by a label maker, she went above and beyond to make them pretty!
• The storage is a mixture of more expensive higher end pieces from The Container Store, inexpensive options from the dollar store and using furniture she already had.  She really achieved a good balance when working on the project and maximizing storage on a budget!
• She implemented a system that will be easy to maintain, and also one that her son can grow with.

Let's take a look at the swoon worthy before and after shot:

Pretty special right? 

Thank you to Claudia for popping over today and sharing her sweet success story!  You can find all of the details here on her blog.

ATTENTION!!  Want to be featured in a Reader Space edition?  Have an awesome organizing story to share?  I am looking for projects that have made a positive impact to your life.  Please submit your story and photos here and I would heart to feature them right here, on the blog!!  Photos should be high resolution and unedited.  Please include a description of the project, including any costs, inspiration, and how it has changed your life and routine for the better!  Oh, and no worries my friends, we will NEVER judge "before" pictures because that just wouldn't be nice!  Only love goes on at this blog!