The Little Hall Closet that Could

This is the first time that I've actually lived in a house that has an extra hall closet. When I lived at home, the only closet in the small hall that we had was our linen and movie closet. Coats and jackets were hung on the hooks by the door. Shoes were lined up along the base board just so that we wouldn't trip over them. So, when we moved into our new house in South Carolina, I just shoved a whole lotta coats and mess in there and closed the door.

However, I feel as if it's time for me to figure this particular area of my house out and do something useful with he space that I have.

Introducing the hall closet...

The view of the top section. Diaper boxes holding who knows what...hats, scarfs, I don't know?

 And here's the bottom view. What a mess! I hate opening the closet because it makes me mad that it looks like this. I know it only my fault that I let it get this way, but...it still makes me mad. Bella doesn't seem to mind. I'm sure if I let her, she'd crawl in there and make herself a little bed.

 Why do I say that? Oh, only because when we lived in our apartment she mad a bed in our bedroom closet on the same jacket that you see on the floor here.

Back to the closet. I took everything out. Piled up the sweatshirts and coats that we don't wear anymore to take to Goodwill. I dumped the boxes out and figured out what was in there. I was right by the way. Lot's of Mike's hat and beanies. I sorted them and put them all in one box. Now he can take his hat off and put it directly back in the closet (and he has been too thanks to our little challenge).

I picked up some of those removable hooks, I think they're Scotch Command hooks? I put two on the door so I would have creating spot to place my purse and my church bag. Thus keeping me from dangling them off of a dining room chair. *smile*

 I plan on taking the boxes out and painting them. Fabric would be my first choice, but I don't have a lot right now and I have plenty of paint. So...paint it is!

The boxes go like this from left to right:
1- Random Stuff: things that I put away at the end of the day.
2- Grocery bags: self explanatory
3- Hats: Mike's hat, our beanies, scarfs, etc.

The jackets are one's that we are using now because it's fa-reeeeeeezing outside!!!!

 I don't have shelf to put in the closet so I stacked my crates that I got at Wal-Mart for $3 a piece. The only shoes that are meant to be kept in the closet are ones that are worn almost everyday. Therefore, our boots and slippers have a permanent home here.

 I have two diaper bags:
1- Blue: I take this one when we go somewhere for a good while. All day trips where I need to pack lunch for the girls and plenty of snacks.
2- Green damask: I use this one every day. It usually hangs out in the car, but in the case it comes inside, it'll sit under the blue one.

The girls have their own little blue box for their shoes. Only because they get lost so easily.

A tip to any new mother: keep your child's belongings such as shoes in a common place so that when you ask your husband to put the child's shows on he doesn't ask you "WHERE are THEY!?!?" It brings a little bit of peace to the whole "getting ready process"...especially when you have two babies to get ready.

BEFORE:

 AFTER:

So it's all done. I didn't go out and spend a ton of money on beautimous closet boxes even though I would've liked to. I honestly didn't spend ANY money during this whole process. It took me about 15 minutes to complete and do you have any idea how much better I feel about that little hall closet that could?

On a different subject, it's 1:30 and my girlie's are still snoozing...woo hoo! No, not really. I have this motherly instinct that tells me a mean little bug is soon to make it's home here. The sleet and rain isn't helping I'm sure. Time to go wake them up, sadly enough. Sweet luvins to all you amazing readers out there! You're the best!

Have a great day!