Expanding Your Home Closet Options

Homeowners and renters may have several reasons to need to hang up clothes due to lack of a closet. Not all residences offer closet space. Large families and those living with roommates may find their closet space insufficient for all members of the household. Homeowners may want to store less-frequently used garments out of the way to create more space in their main closet. Remodeling, property damage and certain home treatments may require the temporary removal of clothes from closet spaces.

Over-the-door brackets are available to hang individual clothing items such as bathrobes and coats, but heavy-duty over-the-door brackets can also hold several hangers’ worth of clothing. Bracket systems complete with a rod suspended between the brackets can hold clothes in the same manner as a closet rod. The brackets suspend garments far enough from the door that they hang normally without rubbing or the need to be canted at an angle. On the downside, such systems may affect how far homeowners can open the door holding the brackets, making this solution unsuitable for doors with a limited amount of space available for swing.

Several forms of stand alone closets exist, from single-bar to shelf-and-bar combinations with a simple drop cloth-style cover or plastic cover. These can be used to augment existing closet space, provide temporary storage or serve in spaces where no closets are available. Rolling garment racks usually offer a long, bare metal bar to hold hangers. The uprights at each end and attached wheels make these racks easier to move. The racks do not usually come with covers, but users can make an impromptu cover from a sheet or tarp.

To store a few pieces of clothing, simply hang them inside the garment bag that comes as a part of many luggage sets. Zip the bag closed to protect special items or everyday clothing from sun or fluorescent light damage and dust. Garment bags usually offer a heavy-duty hanger hook that will allow them to be suspended over a door, or on any hook that can support the combined weight of the bag and clothing.

Homeowners with a wall-mounted shower curtain rod can line clothes on hangers along the rod. Unless the need for such storage is temporary, this method necessitates use of a second bathroom for hygiene purposes in order to avoid exposing the clothing to moisture and steam from running water. This method will not work with spring-supported shower curtain rods, as they cannot bear much greater weight than that of the shower curtain.

Resources and References:

Kills Bugs Dead: Raid Max Concentrated Deep Reach Fogger: Precautions
http://www.killsbugsdead.com/fop_mc_dr_f_pre.asp

Slate: Why Do Clothes Wrinkle?
http://www.slate.com/id/2159363/

Organize.com: Closet Organizers -- Over the Door Clothes Hanger
http://www.organize.com/overdoorcloset.html

Caraselle: Over Door Hanger
http://www.caraselledirect.com/_/clothes_hangers/over_door_hanger/

Esquire: The Esquire How-to Style Guide -- How to Organize Your Closet
http://www.esquire.com/style/tips/hang-your-clothes-0208