I ordered some cheaper closet organizer systems that work just as well from here:
http://www.spacesavers.com/Storage/Closet-storage-closet-organizers

I used coarse-weave burlap that I had left over from another project (oh, my fabric/yarn stash is a whole ‘nother organization issue) but you could use anything that won’t shred when you poke earring wires into it. Denim from old jeans would work nicely.

110% worth it in my book, but I am a homeowner with a short-term horizon (3-5 years) on my mind. And I am seeing it partly as something I wanted and partly (largely…) as an investment in home improvement that will give me a hopeful edge over the other dozens of condos that look similar to mine.

So we use them for EVERYTHING–electronics, tools, pantry items, clothes, etc. are all in our closets. Since the closets are so short and narrow, we use a ton of shelving, especially those shelves you buy to fit over top the back of your toilet–they fit perfectly in our tiny closets and still leave us a gap at the bottom for storing bigger/taller items. In general, I’ve found that shelving and storage meant for areas other than living rooms and clothes closets are substantially cheaper (look in the bathroom or garage sections), although they may not be as pretty. I also built a small “office” into one of the closets–I don’t use my computer a lot, mostly just for banking and such, so I just used a cabinet that sits at about waist level for me so I can stand there and type and have access to my files.

Also, this may be a bit, ahem, low-class for some folks, but because the recycling laws here are so crazy, we try to repurpose as much cardboard as we can. (I don’t know about the city as a whole, but in my ‘hood they are VERY picky–cardboard has to be cut into specific sizes and tied up a certain way, and if you screw it up, $150 fine. Oof.) So whenever we get shoeboxes or small boxes from Amazon or the grocery store, we cut the flaps off and use them to store smaller objects like medications or pantry items.

My SO is 6’4″ and I’m 4’11″, so we also divide based on that–things he frequently uses and I never use (like cookware, haha) can go on the freakishly high shelves, and things I use but he doesn’t (cleaning supplies *cough*) go on the bottom. It also allows both of us to organize “our” stuff based on how we like it to be rather than having to come up with one system.

Another option for clothing you are getting rid of is to attend a clothing swap. You can find communities online and my friends and I do one every year. It’s great because I am getting new clothing without spending a dime and I get to see something that I seldom used worn in new and interesting ways by my friends.

I put the clothes most recently worn on the right, so I can see what clothes really aren’t in circulation toward the left, and consider giving them away.

The best way to store earrings, of which I have many, is a plastic box in which marvelous, round, foil wrapped chocolates came. 24 little depressions into which I can toss each pair when I take them off, and see what I have when I dress.

I keep undies and bras in a vintage suitcase as well as my accessories. I have three on a shelf side by side.

I use those hanging drawer things for my tshirts and three for my shoes. There is a shelf along the top where I store my tights and winter scarves/hats/mitts in. It’s light and easy to grab, even though I’m much shorter than my ceilings.

I wear a lot of scarves. A lot. I keep my closet colour coordinated and hang the scarves on hangers in their colour group so it’s easy to match things. Tops are on one half, bottoms on the bottom half and dresses towards the side.

Also, as soon as something needs repairing or doesn’t fit, it’s out. It goes to a bag that once it’s full I either get rid of stuff or repair it.

I have had a second job (yay GRS recommendation) at The Container Store for a couple of years and definitely sympathize with hesitation around expense SO i just wanted to throw out there that right now is our annual Elfa sale which brings the closet cost and installation down 30%.

There are so many cheap (or FREE!!) ways to organize, but if you are thinking about taking the plunge now (before February 15, 2011) is the time to do it.

Also a bit of insider info – this sale happens every year at the same time. It starts Christmas Eve and goes through mid February. Always nice to know if an organized closet is to you as the Mini Cooper is to J.D.

I still use the cubes, but it’s not a total necessity now since I bought a house and have more room.

I love these containers because I can see through them, adjust the compartment sizes, stack them on top of one another, and close them securely. Once upon a time I had an old-fashioned jewelry box with drawers — one that fell over and spilled out in the parking lot of my apartment complex when I was moving in. What a mess that was to clean up.

For jewelry, you can buy stick-on ultrasuede type material at a craft store and convert any tray/box/plastic container into a jewelry holder.

I prefer the off-season shoes in the boxes cause I know right now I won’t be wearing sandals or flip flops. No need to know what’s in the box for a few more months. In the spring I’ll put leather shoes and loafers in those boxes and take out the summer shoes.

Our bed is a platform with four drawers. One drawer is devoted to sentimental paper clutter (letters mostly) and the other three hold stuff like leotards & tights & Spanx & yoga pants.

I have one shallow closet but it stretches all the way across one wall of the bedroom. (DH has THREE closets in the other bedroom!) Clothes are partitioned according to their use.

Foldables are in a 7-drawer chest shoved in under the rod. If a drawer starts to overflow, it gets purged.

Work shirts are grouped by color (and I love those slimline hangers). In SoCal, we don’t have seasons per se, so I choose shirts for comfort & style and have a (small) selection of sweaters/light jackets to coordinate.

I keep my (small) selection of work/leisure shoes mostly in their boxes, on a three-tier rack; and dance shoes on the shelf above the hanging rod.

I realized a few years back that nobody at work really notices what I wear, so I can get by with quite a small work wardrobe. Fortunately. On the flip side, my dancewear is too distinctive to wear any one piece too often, so I have a larger selection of that. It is also a lot more fun to shop for.

I confess my husband and I have the slight tendency to be hoarders. It’s difficult for us to part with things that are still perfectly good, particularly since we’re in money saving frame of mind. What I have found though, is that it pays to purge. The more we throw or give away, the easier it is to make use of what we keep and so we ultimately buy much less. From my own experience, the first and most important step in organization is purging.