Tips in Organizing Handbags in Your Reach-In Closet

Assess Your Collection

Before you can organize your handbags, it’s important to take a look at your entire collection to see what you have, what you need, and what you might want to remove from the closet. Once you have a good inventory of your purses, you’ll be able to decide exactly what to do with each piece.

Benefits of assessing your collection:

• Knowledge of what you have: You’ll have a clear understanding of the purses and totes that you have, which can prevent you from keeping duplicate items that you don’t need.
• More space: Once you know what you no longer need, you’ll be able to free up valuable storage space in your reach-in closet by letting go of some of the unused handbags.
• Better maintenance and care: Regularly taking a look at your bags will ensure you know which bags need cleaning, repair, or polishing, which can extend the lifespan of each purse.
  

Tips for implementation:

• Take all of your purses out of your closet: Place them on your bed or a table, so you have plenty of room to work.
• Identify what you want to keep: Think about which purses you really love and use regularly. Which ones go with the outfits you tend to wear? Which are easy to open and close? These are the handbags you should keep.
• Discard or donate what you’re not using: I know, it can be hard to let go of a purse you once loved. If you aren’t using it now, though, keeping it is just taking up extra space in your small closet. If unused purses are in good condition, donate them or pass them along to a friend. If they’re broken or otherwise not functional, discard them.
• Think about what you’re missing: Do you need a small white purse or another beach tote? If you don’t have a handbag you have a use for, put it on your list of items to purchase -- after you are done organizing what you currently have!

Utilize Shelving and Cubbies

Shelves and cubbies are quite versatile when you’re thinking about handbag storage. They maximize space and also keep your bags accessible. It’s simple to reach in and grab one off of a shelf. Since both shelves and cubbies can be customized in your reach-in closet, you’ll be able to have these tailored to your specific purse collection.

Benefits of using shelving and cubbies:

• Easy access: When purses are stored neatly on a shelf or in individual cubbies, there are no piles to go through and no tangled straps. They’re just sitting there ready for you to access when you need them.
• Enhanced visibility: Displaying your handbags on shelves ensures each bag is visible. You’ll also see them out in the open, where you can match them to your outfit.
• Protection: Storing handbags sitting on their bottoms will keep them from getting squished by other items. They also won’t have stress points on their handles or straps.
• Appealing appearance: You can display your bags creatively and in a stylish way to make your closet look more sophisticated and upscale.

Tips for implementation:

• Measure your purses and your space: Before having your shelves or cubbies installed, know how much space you have and how much space you need. This is something that my team will do for you.
• Consider adjustable shelving: Since your collection will likely change over time, having adjustable shelves will let you move them around to accommodate the purses you currently have.
• Think about where to put each handbag: Frequently used handbags should be placed on the most accessible shelves, while those you use only on special occasions can be stored higher or lower.
• Add clear bins: If you have purses you only use occasionally, you may want to place them in clear bins within their cubbies. This will help keep them dust-free until their next use.

Use Hooks and Hangers

Hooks and hangers offer a great solution for storing your handbags, especially if you don’t have the room for shelves or cubbies. They use vertical space rather than taking up surface space, so your bags will be both organized and accessible.

Benefits of using hooks and hangers:

• Space-saving: Hooks and hangers maximize the vertical space in your reach-in closet – keeping the shelves, floor, and other surfaces open for other items.
• Flexible placement: You’ll be able to use hooks and hangers in a variety of locations, including on the walls, on the inside of the doors, and on a hanging rod.
• Prevents damage: Purses that are hanging aren’t going to get damaged by anything being dropped on them. There is one caveat – don’t hang a heavy purse or a purse filled with heavy items. This could put too much stress on the strap or handle it’s being hung from.

Tips for implementation:

• Choose the right hooks: My team has a variety of sturdy, high-quality hooks for you to choose from. We install these at the same time we will install the rest of your custom closet components.
• Consider specialized hangers: Use hangers that are designed to hold handbags. They will have hooks or clips to hold more than one bag at a time. This saves space and is more effective than trying to hang purses on typical coathangers.
• Be creative with placement: We can install your hooks in various locations within your small closet, including the back of the closet door, the walls, or even elsewhere in the bedroom.
• Protect the straps: Don’t place too much stress on the handles or straps. Keep the purses empty (or close to empty), and use wide hooks or padded hangers to help prevent damage.
  

Store Bags by Size and Frequency of Use

Knowing how to organize your handbags will go a long way toward keeping them accessible and organized. By storing them by both size and by how often you use them, you’ll be able to quickly find the right bag for any occasion. You’ll also make the best use of the space you have available.

Benefits of storing bags by size and use frequency:

• More functionality: When you know where each bag is, you’ll be able to select the bag you need for the outfit you’re planning. This will streamline your daily routine and make your mornings run more smoothly.
• Ease of finding bags: Because large and small bags will be kept in their respective categories, it will take you less time to find the precise purse you’re looking for.
• Reduced wear and tear: By storing larger bags with other larger bags, it will prevent them from leaning or toppling into smaller purses. The handbags of similar sizes will prop each other up – reducing the chance of damage over time.
• Enhanced organization: Your collection will look neater and tidier, which keeps it visually appealing.

Tips for implementation:

• Start with size: Sort your handbags into two or three sizes. You can use “small” and “large” categories or “small,” “medium,” and “large,” depending on the size of your purse collection.
• Categorize by frequency of use: Identify which bags you are using the most frequently and which are only for special occasions. The everyday bags should be more accessible and easier to grab than the low-frequency bags.
• Designate storage zones: Frequently used bags should be front and center, where you can see and access them on a daily basis. You’ll also need to look at the shelving, hooks, or cubbies you have available; some will have more space than others, and those should be reserved for the larger bags. If you have adjustable components, you’ll have more wiggle room here.

Protect and Preserve Handbags

Naturally, you want your handbags to last for as long as possible. Storing them properly in your reach-in closet will go a long way toward preserving them, but there are additional steps you can take to ensure they’re well-maintained, so they stay in great condition.

Benefits of protecting your handbags:

• Maintains appearance: Your bags will look newer for longer if they’re taken care of. You’ll be able to preserve their original color, texture, and shape.
• Extends their lifespan: You’ll be able to enjoy your purses for many years to come if you take a few steps to keep them looking and functioning their best.
• Retained value: If the time comes that you no longer want a certain bag, you’ll be able to sell it for closer to its original value if it’s in very good or excellent condition. This is particularly true if you have invested in a designer bag.
• Avoids repairs: Protecting your handbags from common types of damage can help you avoid costly repairs.

Tips for implementation:

• Protect your purses from dust: Use dust bags or clear bins with tops to keep your purses dust-free. Designer bags often come with their own dust bags, but you can also purchase them relatively inexpensively on your own.
• Don’t crowd them: Make sure your bags have enough space, so they’re not scratching or squeezing each other. Be mindful of where the zippers and snaps are to make sure they’re not rubbing against another purse.
• Stuff unused bags with tissue paper: Use white tissue paper or, if you prefer, bubble wrap, to keep your purses in their original shape. You can hang purses with these lightweight materials.
• Rotate your bags: While you may have a few favorites, it’s best to try to evenly rotate your purses to prevent your most-used bags from experiencing a lot of wear and tear before their time.
• Clean and protect your bags’ material: Depending on what your purses are made out of, you may need to apply protective sprays or have them professionally deep cleaned or conditioned. Buffalo Jackson has tips on caring for leather handbags in particular.

Conclusion

Organizing and maintaining your purses in a small reach-in closet might seem like a challenge, but Harmony Home Closets has got you covered. We offer a wide variety of organizers that will help, including shelving, cubbies, hooks, and hanging rods. I invite you to give my team a call to schedule a free in-home consultation. We’d be happy to schedule you to work with a professional designer, who can give you lots of tips on organizing your specific handbag collection to make the most of your space.

Source

• https://buffalojackson.com/blogs/insight/leather-bag-care