Organizing Solution: Storing Dress-Up Clothes

Sometimes, I get more excited about quick makeovers and organizing projects than I do over big stuff. For a long time, I kept the girls' dress-up clothes on a coat rack in the back hallway. As their collection grew, the walkway got smaller and smaller. It was such a mess that they didn't even bother playing with their outfits anymore, so I knew it was time to come up with a simple organizing solution. It was such a "duh" moment (like our American Girl doll and toy storage idea). Here's how we store their things now:

Here is the sad "Before" shot:

What wasn't stuffed up on the coat rack was scattered about the play area. I can't tell you how many times I've stepped on a plastic diamond ring in the dark and said very bad words.

Before I explain how I rearranged all the dress-up stuff, I should tell you that this is not a sponsored post. I just like to tell you guys when I find stuff that works for me!

First, I designated a spot on the other side of the room; a place where the rest of the toys and accessories are. I picked up several packages of 3 MM Command Hooks from Target, stole borrowed T's level, and grabbed a pencil to make sure that my hooks were in some sort of straight line before I hung them. I am more of a messy perfectionist. I'm sure T would have lined those hooks up to the 0.000965th degree, but they looked straight enough to me, and my 6 and 4 year old haven't commented on it. Not at all perfect, but it does the job!

I made sure not to over-burden the hooks, and put chefs' aprons, doctor and nurse outfits, shoes, and accessories in an old trunk that my grandmother gave me years ago. Jewelry, gloves, and watches go in one spot, and headbands, crowns, and purses go in another. 

(I realize that it would look much nicer painted, with brightly colored and patterned drawer liners, but it's a very, very old piece, and I can't bring myself to mess with it)

So, this is definitely a quick fix, but it's so nice to have everything in the same "zone" now. The girls play dress-up more now that everything is in the same spot, and I can use the coat rack in the back hall for backpacks and dance bags.

Now I just need some cute artwork to hang above the hooks, and we are set!

What's the latest organizing solution you've discovered for your home?


Linking to Home Stories A to Z, Today's Creative Blog