Seasonal Closet Organization Ideas for All 4 Seasons

woman doing seasonal closet organization

Doing some seasonal closet organization in your bedrooms and front entryway is sensible, but it’s one of those home tasks that many of us push aside.

It’s understandable to be less than motivated to take the time to switch out your off-season clothes for more seasonally appropriate attire.

After all, that off-season clothing isn’t needed at the moment and, well, it’s just extra work, right? And eventually, those out-of-season clothes will become part of your daily wardrobe again anyway.

There are plenty of good reasons to invest time in reorganizing your closets when a new season arrives, however. Find out about the benefits of doing so and get some tips that will lead to success with your seasonal closet organization efforts.

Seasonal closet organization saves you valuable time

Not reorganizing the front entryway and bedroom closets when the seasons change makes it harder to maintain those storage spaces. The closets can get so overstuffed and untidy that things get buried in the chaos and get misplaced.

That results in hours of time being wasted over the course of a year looking for items. The amount of time spent making decisions about what to wear goes up, too. Don’t believe us? Consider these statistics:

  • The average woman spends 17 minutes each morning deciding on a work outfit and getting dressed. (Marks & Spencer study)
  • 61% of men and women with closets full of clothes regularly struggle with choosing items to wear. (Nordstrom Trunk Club study)

An upfront investment of your time to get your closets in order is a smart way to ensure your daily dressing routine runs smoothly.

Seasonal closet organization is one of those home tasks that require the most amount of work the first time you do it. Provided that a thorough job is done and you’re supporting your efforts with capable storage systems and smart organizing strategies, maintaining everything when a new season arrives should be a breeze.

A seasonal closet organization guide

There’s a little more to seasonal closet organization than simply clearing out one group of clothes for another based on what season it is.

We’ve compiled various seasonal closet organization tips and ideas that will show you:

  • the benefits of an occasional closet purge
  • the most effective ways to get the job done
  • why regularly curating your wardrobe is important
  • clothes storage tips for specific seasons
  • general storage best practices for clothes in any season

Benefits of a seasonal closet purge

Sorting through a full closet is time-consuming…and usually time-wasting. “Choice fatigue” (also known as “decision fatigue”) is real and occurs when we open an overstuffed closet to find things to wear. 

The average person makes thousands of decisions in a day, which can overwhelm our brains and hinder our decision-making skills. Deciding which three or four items to wear from a wardrobe with 100+ pieces to choose from can end up becoming a 15-minute task if you’re the indecisive type.

Here are a few statistics that show the effects of owning too many clothes:

  • 61% of women who have a hard time finding anything in their closets end up buying new clothes. (OnePoll survey)
  • Over half of British adults had the majority of their clothes go unworn because they got lost among their clutter. (Stitch Fix UK poll)
  • It’s estimated that 80% of your clothes are only worn 20% of the time. (National Association of Professional Organizers study)
clothes being sorted for seasonal closet organization

The frustrating experience of staring at a full closet and not being able to pick something to wear is very common. It might sound counterintuitive, but downsizing can help.

Some call it a closet purge, edit, curation, clear-out, or cull. However you refer to it, taking inventory and re-evaluating everything that’s in your closets, wardrobe, and dresser once or twice a year is smart and proactive. 

You’ll find clothing that no longer fits, is out of style, is too well-worn to continue wearing, is no longer reflective of your style, or things that are rarely or have never been worn. The latter is quite common. A survey by 10 Yetis (a UK public relations agency) found that a woman’s closet has an average of $550 worth of unworn clothing.

And right there is another benefit of reorganizing your closets – you might rediscover a misplaced or forgotten piece of clothing that can, to quote Marie Kondo, spark some joy for you, just as you intended when it was bought!

Another huge benefit of slimming down your wardrobe and getting your closets organized is reclaiming much of that aforementioned time that was being wasted daily. Items will be easier to find and you won’t be overloaded with too many choices. 

A thorough seasonal closet purge also lets you swap out the stress and frustration from dealing with an untidy closet with more positive feelings. Shedding some of that closet clutter will be liberating and fulfilling. Dealing with a more functional closet helps set a good tone for the rest of your day as well.

Curate, then donate, recycle, or toss

Seasonal closet organization is a great chance to hit the reset button on your closet spaces. The standard curation process for a wardrobe overhaul is to separate things into toss, donate, and keep piles. Deciding what stays and what goes can admittedly be tough.

The keys to keeping wardrobes at a manageable size are to:

  • only keep what you value
  • get rid of anything that hasn’t been worn in the last two years
  • cut the sentimental ties to clothing from your past
  • be realistic about fitting into old clothes that are now a size or two too small

Charities and thrift stores that don’t have a textile recycling program typically won’t take worn-out, damaged, and dirty clothes.

For clothes that can’t be resold, make an effort to repurpose what you can as rags for home cleaning work. Have the remaining clothes recycled instead of simply throwing them out. The Recycling Council of Ontario says that 95% of the 37 kilograms of textiles thrown out by the average person every year could have been recycled or reused.

Before dropping off your donated clothes, check with the intended recipient to make sure they can take them. Charities and thrift stores have had a surge of donations during the pandemic and some may not be taking any more donated items right now.

And avoid leaving clothes at donation boxes that aren’t operated by reputable charities. The Toronto Star reports that there are many illegally placed donation bins in the GTA that are operated by some pretty shady people.

jeans being put in box

Call ahead to ensure a thrift store or charity can take your clothing donations. The pandemic resulted in many thrift stores and charities getting more clothing donations than they can handle.

Spring closet organization tips

Make sure closets are included on your spring cleaning checklist. During the curation and inventory-taking process, many people like to take everything out of their closets to get a better idea of what they’re working with. This step is virtually essential if you have a lot of clothes to look over.

Your clothing collection is being refreshed by paring down its size, so why not follow suit with the interior of your closets?

A full bedroom closet doesn’t allow for a thorough cleaning, so take the opportunity of them being empty to clean the interiors from top to bottom. Wipe down the shelves, walls, and ceiling and give the floor a good vacuum. Don’t forget to clear out the cobwebs and check for mould!

Make use of a good closet organizer and utilize every inch of the space for storage. Consider hiring a closet designer to create a custom design that maximizes a closet’s storage space and is tailored to your lifestyle.

Tips for organizing summer clothing

Luckily, there is usually a little more space available in closets and bedroom drawers during the warm months of the year. Summer clothing fabrics like cotton, linen, and synthetic blends are lighter and thinner than a lot of the textile materials you wear during the rest of the year.

That’s a good thing because most of us wear more types of clothing during the summer than in any other season. The warmer weather inspires us to be more active and the right clothing has to be easily accessible, whether you’re going to the beach, a backyard barbecue, an outdoor concert, or camping with the family.

Summer clothing staples like shorts, t-shirts, tank tops, swimsuits, and ankle socks can be kept organized in drawers with drawer dividers. A closet with open shelving and cubbies works well, too. Mid-height closet shelves and the top of a drawer tower are also handy for storing sunglasses and summer hats.

Canadians usually exercise more in the spring and summer since the weather is more suitable for walking, jogging, and other outdoor activities. Check out our tips for storing your workout clothes.

Fall closet organization tips

As summer winds down, it will be time to start thinking about digging out your fall clothing so they’re all ready when the first autumn chill arrives.

Just like the transitional period between winter and spring, you’ll need to make a little more room in the bedroom closet for lighter clothing to wear during those warm fall days. For chillier days you’ll want to have space for thicker PJs and light jackets.

A front entryway closet can get messy in the fall as the frequency of rain increases toward the end of the year. The potential for an unexpected cold snap in late summer and early fall is always there in Canada. An entryway closet is another area where two types of seasonal outerwear will need to share space for a few weeks.

Maximize a front entryway closet’s storage space by using hooks, cubbies, shoe racks and trays, and built-in storage like a storage bench to keep things organized. Make optimal use of the closet’s vertical space by adding an extra shelf or two. Organized Interiors offers entryway closet and mudroom designs that can be customized for your home’s needs.

folded clothes in organized closet

More closet storage space means more room for different types of seasonal clothing that get used during transitional times of the year, such as between the summer and fall.

Tips for keeping winter clothes organized

Winter clothing presents the biggest challenge when it comes to closet organization because of the extra bulk they have, especially things like winter jackets. You’ll never appreciate having enough closet and drawer storage space more than during the winter.

A closet design with open shelving for sweaters (which you shouldn’t hang) and a drawer tower for everything from your thick socks to your coziest sweatshirts helps.

A shoe rack or boot tray in a front entryway closet is essential for this time of year when snow, ice, rainwater, and mud get brought inside regularly.

To minimize the amount of wet stuff that’s entering your home, have a good doormat set down outside, which also adds a nice decorative accent to your home. And encourage your family members to stomp and wipe their footwear off before coming inside!

7 clothing and closet organization tips for any season

Many clothing organization strategies and tips are useful and applicable year-round. Here are some time-tested and effective tips for taking care of your wardrobe and keeping your closets functioning at peak performance levels:

  1. Aim to have everything stored in your closets and drawers visible to prevent items from getting neglected.
  2. Group like items together by outfit, colour, or the size of the clothing.
  3. Leave some space between your clothes to prevent wrinkling.
  4. Always wash worn clothes before they’re stored away. Untreated stains will set in over time and things like sweat and the smells of perfumes and colognes can attract pests.
  5. Repair things like broken zippers and missing buttons and make any needed alternations to your clothes before storing them away for several months.
  6. Make sure off-season clothing is dry before being stored away.
  7. If you need to store seasonal clothing in plastic storage bins, buy smaller container sizes that are easier to move around.
seasonal closet organization in walk-in closet

A spare room can be transformed into the ultimate closet space – a walk-in closet with more than enough room for all your seasonal clothing.

Reboot your closet spaces, one room at a time

Use these seasonal closet organization ideas and tips to get the most out of your clothing storage spaces year-round.

The convenience and satisfaction of using a well-designed closet every day cannot be overstated. Organized Interiors can transform any closet in your home so they provide better functionality and look nicer with our stylish closet designs.

We also design clothing storage solutions like standalone and built-in wardrobes, closet spaces that can be added anywhere in your home, and more great custom cabinetry products. Adding a closet to a house may add value, but how much will it cost? Find out how much building a closet costs and the value it might add.

Schedule a free design consultation with us to get started making more space for living in your living space.

Please share this post if you found it useful.

See also:

Home Library and Reading Space Ideas Any Booklover Would Love

home library dark wood built-in cabinetry

In this increasingly tech-driven world, it may surprise you to learn that physical books still far outsell e-books.

50% of Canadian adults read or listened to at least one book in 2021, according to a BookNet Canada survey. Physical books were the format of choice for the vast majority of those readers.

Clearly, good ol’ fashioned paper books still have a place in the digital age.

Create a home library with form and function

Avid readers tend to own a large collection of already-read books that they hold onto for sentimental reasons and to loan to friends, as well as an ever-growing backlog of books they plan to read.  

Without a proper home library, it can be a challenge keeping large book collections organized. Most homeowners use storage systems like shelving and bookcases that are bought separately over the years as their book collection grows. Often, this variety of storage systems has a cobbled-together look that lacks any decorative cohesion and is more spread out in a room, instead of keeping the books in one place.

woman on ladder grabbing book off custom bookcase

The best solution to keep a large book collection more organized and also give your home a decorative boost is to create a home library featuring a custom built-in bookcase. And if you have the space, including a comfortable reading area where your books are kept is ultra-practical, too.

Do you envision a space where your books can be stored more efficiently and in stylish surroundings? And does having a cozy, quiet home space that lets you transport yourself to wherever the imaginations of your favourite authors takes you sound appealing? Then find out why you won’t regret your investment in a home library and reading space.

Aren’t home libraries outdated? No, and here’s why.

The concept of a home library nowadays may seem outdated to some, but lots of people don’t subscribe to the idea that their entire book collection should be stored on an iPad. Plenty of readers want their favourite books to occupy square footage in their home, not gigabytes of memory space on a tablet.

In fact, most readers prefer the tactile, more personal experience of holding a book, appreciating the cover art, turning the pages, placing and removing a bookmark, and that satisfying feeling when a completed book is closed for the final time. And no charging is required!

This Statista infographic, which unfortunately doesn’t include figures for Canada, shows how physical books continue to have enduring appeal around the world:

Research and infographic from Statista.

Another reason physical books still matter to people is the experience of book shopping at a brick-and-mortar store. Many music lovers (including myself) miss the unique anticipatory experience of visiting an HMV or Sam The Record Man store and leisurely browsing through the racks for the newest amazing CDs or records to add to our music libraries. Digitally shopping at the iTunes Store just ain’t the same in comparison.

The book shopping experience is very similar. For many bookworms, shopping in-person at an Indigo store or a favourite small bookstore and browsing their selection of titles is still an enjoyable, satisfying part of the book owning and reading experience.

And all of those physical books still being sold end up somewhere in people’s homes. So why not keep them somewhere that’s a cut above a cheap, self-assembled bookcase or in boxes or storage bins?

Avid readers and book collectors take their hobby seriously. It’s usually one of their main passions and a fundamental part of their daily life, so it only makes sense to store the things that give them so much joy with care.

The satisfying in-person book shopping experience is one of many reasons why physical books remain the medium’s dominant format.

Six more reasons to consider adding a home library

In addition to bookcases keeping a collection of books tidier, here are six more practical reasons to consider creating a home library:

  1. A custom-made built-in bookcase revamps the architecture of a room and transforms it into vastly different space.
  2. Bookcases allow your most cherished books to be displayed in an artful manner.
  3. A book-filled, personalized home library makes a room feel more lived-in.
  4. The books you own and display reflect your personality (as Walter Mosely wrote in his book The Long Fall, “A man’s bookcase will tell you everything you’ll ever need to know about him.”)
  5. An attractive bookcase can be a great conversation starter.
  6. Giving books a proper home is the best long-term storage solution to preserve them (as opposed to moving them around occasionally or storing them in less-than-deal conditions in a basement).

The benefits of keeping books in the home

It’s an age-old debate about whether or not it makes any sense to keep a book you’ve already read. Just like the e-book vs. physical book discussion, it’s all about someone’s preferences and taste.

book at bedside table

Ask anyone who chooses to hold onto most of the books they’ve read about why they do so and you’ll get a lot of different answers. Here are some of the reasons they might give:

  • Memorable books have deep, sentimental value.
  • Book collections add a sophisticated touch to a room and instantly make a statement that you’re literally a well-read person!
  • You can share an enjoyable literary experience with someone by gifting or loaning them books.
  • Just like paintings, drawings, and photographs, books are works of art that are equally worthy of displaying and being appreciated more than once.
  • Scientific research shows that book-filled homes have a positive impact on the academic development of kids.
  • The distinct smell of old books (which is caused by a book’s chemical compounds breaking down as it ages) provides a satisfying sensory experience.
  • The sight of rows of neatly organized books simply appeals to some people’s visual taste.

Some reading benefits you might not know

We’ve already listed a number of reasons reading and keeping books gives so many people pleasure. Reading has numerous positive health benefits you may be unaware of, too. Research has shown that reading regularly can:

  • reduce stress
  • help you sleep better
  • slow down age-related cognitive decline by keeping your brain more active and sharp
  • lessen the effects of depression
  • improve your ability to empathize with others
  • increase the likelihood of your kids adopting reading as one of their leisure activities

Invest in a custom bookcase for your home library

A new bookcase from Ikea or Amazon is where most people will turn when they’re looking for a home book storage solution. If you’re really serious about creating the perfect home library design, however, it’s worth it to spend a little more for a custom-made bookcase with a higher-end look.

It’s the bookcase, after all, that will define a home library space and commonly become the room’s focal point. No mass-produced, assemble-it-yourself bookcase product can match the quality of a customized cabinetry piece that is precisely designed, crafted, and professionally installed to fit your living space, storage needs, and design taste.

With a custom bookcase design, you’ll have infinitely more layout, finish, and style options to choose from to complement your décor. You’re not limited to just a few basic design options chosen by a large furniture manufacturer’s design team that are aimed at mass consumer appeal.

A bespoke home library bookcase can be designed to virtually any dimensions you want, whether it’s a large, wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling size or something smaller. Customize the heights, widths, and depths of the shelving. Get creative and have your designer incorporate open spaces in specific areas so you can decorate with things like plants and candles. Add upper and/or lower cabinets if you desire.

Because a bookcase is holding a significant amount of weight, the quality of the materials and craftsmanship matters if you want the furniture piece to last a long time. Once again, a custom-built bookcase will be superior to the mass-produced products you’ll find from a big-box or online retailer.

home library bookcase

A custom-made bookcase is more attractive than a low-quality bookcase you assemble yourself. Built-in bookcases also look more like a part of a room’s architecture.

A built-in bookcase optimizes a room’s space

Built-in custom cabinetry is designed to make optimal use of a room’s space, which helps make the room feel bigger and provides a visually appealing architectural element.

Unlike a freestanding bookcase, a well-designed built-in bookcase looks more like a carefully considered part of a room’s architecture, not an afterthought.

By taking the existing architecture of a room into consideration in the design process, built-in cabinetry eliminates or reduces the amount of wasted space, particularly in awkward corners and nooks.

Compared to a freestanding, off-the-shelf bookcase product, this leaves you with more storage space for books and decorative items.

Choosing the right location for a home library

A home library can take on many different forms. If your book collection is large enough and you have the room, a home library can take up an entire room (typically a spare room).

Ideally, you’ll want to situate a library on the main or upper floor. Although the basement likely provides more privacy in your home (which is a significant consideration if you’re combining a home library with a reading space), its cooler temperatures and lack of natural light may feel too inhospitable.

Many home libraries work in tandem with a room’s other functions. Home offices are a natural fit for a paired library space. A home office bookcase can share space between your work-related books and the leisure reading books you own.

home office book library white built-in cabinetry

Maybe you have a home office, guest room, or hobby room that isn’t used regularly. Get more use out of them by adding a bookcase to maximize the room’s functionality. A wide hallway or a large stairway landing area are other areas you could potentially have a built-in bookcase or bookshelves installed. 

Limited home space? Create a book nook!

You don’t need an entire room or half of a room to create space to store books and even room to read. A book nook can be added in many areas of the home that are underutilized, specifically a small corner, recess, or alcove.

The corner of a large bedroom, home office, or any other room can be used. You could set up a small book storage and reading space around a window and have a comfortable built-in window seat added so you can enjoy your books in a cozy sunny setting.

Another option is to make better use of the space underneath a staircase, which is loaded with organizational and storage possibilities. Most staircases are near the front entryway, so remodelling this area with a book and reading nook is a great way to give the space a decorative upgrade.

home window seat and bookshelves

This built-in window seat provides a cozy home reading space. The flanking built-in bookshelves can be used for book storage and displaying decorative items.

Set up a cozy home reading space

According to a recent Indigo survey, Canadian adults spend an average of six hours per week reading as a leisure activity. If you’re in your happy place when you’re reading every day or just a few times per month, why not create a home space that is dedicated to one of your passions?

A home library and reading space that is set up for maximum comfort and minimal distractions will enhance your reading experience and inspire you to read more often. If possible, locate your reading area in a more secluded area of the home that is relatively quiet and private. 

You don’t need much space to set up a cozy reading area. It only requires room for a chair that is comfortable enough for those extended reading sessions, a lamp, a side table, and perhaps an ottoman if you like to stretch out while reading. If you enjoy mixing in listening to audiobooks or podcasts with your book reading, consider choosing a chair that can be reclined for more comfort.

Augment the room’s ambient and task lighting (which should be warm and soft) with accent lighting on the bookcase that showcases the beautiful cabinetry. Consider giving the room even more of a true library look by installing a rolling ladder for the bookcase. The ladder adds a sophisticated decorative touch and helpful functionality for accessing the upper bookshelves.

Decorate by styling your bookshelves

There are many ways to display a book collection. Sorting them by genre, author, or alphabetically makes the most sense from an organizational point of view.

Lots of people, however, like to get creative and prioritize giving their home library some extra visual appeal by storing their books in a variety of artful, interesting ways. Here are a few examples of how books can be playfully arranged to add visual interest to a room:

  • organize them by colour to create a rainbow look
  • arrange the books by height
  • display your favourite books by turning the covers outwards
  • mix in stacks of horizontally arranged books with your vertically stored books
  • display books with the spines turned inward (we don’t get it, but this understandably divisive trend is apparently a thing)

A home library’s bookcase shelves have more uses than just storing books. Bookshelf styling is an art all by itself and has become more popular in recent years. It allows you to create an infinite number of interesting looks by using decorative items like photos, plants, vases, candles, and other knick-knacks to express your decorating style.

home library bookcase

Bookshelf styling has become a popular way to decorate.

Create your bespoke home library and reading space

If that vision of having your own home library and reading space just won’t go away, there’s no time like the present to turn that dream into reality.

Organized Interiors specializes in providing beautifully designed custom cabinetry solutions for your home. Let’s collaborate on a bookcase design that is fully customized just for your home.

Schedule a free design consultation with one of our designers today.

Please share this post if you found it useful.

See also:

7 Reach-in Closet Ideas for Better Home Organization

open reach-in closet

Reach-in closets are some of the most compact spaces in our homes. Is it any wonder they are often one of the untidiest areas in our living spaces?

Most closets are the reach-in type that is found in bedrooms, hallways, the front entryway, and throughout the rest of a house, condo, and apartment.

The two other types of closets, walk-ins and wardrobes (built-in or freestanding), are rarer, but no less practical than reach-ins. It all depends on your storage needs and available space. Some people put linen and utility closets in their own closet categories, but they’re reach-ins as far as we’re concerned.

The longer a closet gets used, the more likely you are to eventually encounter organization challenges. Sometimes the best solution to an organization challenge is to hit the reset button on how a space is set up.

That’s what these reach-in closet ideas are for.

Reach-in closet ideas for better home organization

A reach-in closet is commonly 24 inches in depth and anywhere from three to eight feet wide. That space can fill up in a hurry. Look no further than a large family’s overstuffed front entryway closet or a shared closet in the bedroom of siblings or a couple for proof.

Old homes and small condos are more likely to have smaller closets. Newly built homes typically come with bare-bones builder closets with just a hanging rod, a shelf…and a whole lot of wasted storage space.

Any reach-in closet design should consist of much more than a single rod and shelf, however. That’s where closet organization systems and some closet design expertise come in.

Let’s look at some reach-in closet ideas to get some of your home’s most vital storage spaces operating at peak functionality.

1. Let a pro custom-design your reach-in closet

Builder closets and the majority of DIY closet organizers only provide the basics for what a closet needs. They don’t exactly rate very highly in the looks department, either.

The quality, design, and appearance of most home closets simply can’t compare to what a closet design pro can create.

One-size-fits-all closet setups don’t work for most people. Of course, they don’t! After all, everyone’s wardrobe storage needs and design tastes vary widely.

Most of the closets in your home are used every day. Why not make these integral home spaces look and function their very best?

Having your closets custom-designed transforms them from generic-looking spaces that are endlessly challenging to keep tidy into aesthetically pleasing, highly organized spaces.

Skilled closet designers know that every inch of space matters. They’re not just capable of modifying a closet, they can completely transform it by crafting a stylish, modern design that utilizes a closet’s storage space for maximum efficiency.

2. Customize closets for their space in the home

Closet designs need to be tailored according to where they’re located in the home. A front entryway closet, for example, shouldn’t have a similar setup to a bedroom closet, which has more specific storage requirements.

Once again, that’s why mass-produced, all-purpose closet organizer systems only get you so far. Below are some reach-in closet ideas for specific areas of your home.

Kids bedroom

Making a kid’s closet that is easy to keep tidy saves parents from having to get involved to help them organize it every few weeks. An organized closet helps kids get ready in the morning faster and generally just makes a parent’s life a little easier.

Have their closet(s) designed to accommodate both the wardrobe they have and the way they like to store their clothes. A drawer tower is ideal for a kid’s closet, especially for children who prefer to fold their clothes instead of hanging them.

Wasted space in any closet can be turned into useful storage space by utilizing the space better with shelving or double hanging rods. Because kids will grow, a closet organizer system that allows for shelving height adjustments is recommended.

Adults bedroom

Your wardrobe should largely dictate how your closet will be set up. If you own a lot of formal wear, dresses, or prefer the long-hanging method for your pants, more closet hanging space will be in order.

If you’re more the casual wear type with a lot of t-shirts, sweaters, and jeans, a closet configuration with more drawers and open shelf space is better for your needs.

The beauty of a custom closet design is that the space can be tailored precisely for your storage requirements. That’s extra-convenient for anyone who shares a closet with someone. Each person can have their own storage needs addressed in their share of the closet space.

double bedroom closet

A master bedroom reach-in closet can be designed precisely for your storage needs and décor preferences.

Front entryway

Because the front entryway closet is located in one of the home’s high-traffic areas, it tends to become a “high-clutter” area as well.

Have the closet designed to maximize your storage space, but not become so overstuffed that it becomes an organizational mess. Utilize hooks and hangers for accessories and shoe racks to keep footwear tidy.

If the reach-in closet is large enough, consider adding a multi-purpose storage bench so anyone in your family can sit down to put on or take off their shoes or boots. The lift-up storage space beneath the seat provides useful extra storage space that helps keep the rest of the closet

Remember that a home’s front entrance is the first thing visitors will see. According to one study, guests judge your home within 38 seconds of entering it.

Reach-in linen and utility closets

Most people don’t give any thought to upgrading a reach-in linen or utility closet. There’s no reason to ignore them just because they’ve traditionally been considered utilitarian storage spaces.

Both types of closets can be redesigned for better functionality and a more attractive appearance. Linen and utility closets are typically very small and require a fairly simple layout. Therefore, it’s more affordable to have them upgraded. The project can be completed faster compared to a more elaborate bedroom closet remodel, too.

linen closet

A linen or utility closet can still look nice. This linen closet has adjustable shelving, which comes in handy if you’re storing bulky items like comforters.

3. Add closet drawers for dresser-like functionality

One of our reach-in closet ideas can actually benefit the entire bedroom –  incorporate drawers into your closet’s design. Here are the benefits of using drawers in a closet:

  • closet drawers eliminate the need for a dresser and free up extra bedroom floor space
  • helps keep all of your clothes in one area
  • more of your wardrobe is kept out of sight, which reduces visual clutter
  • drawer inserts and dividers help keep small items like jewellery, underwear, socks, and lingerie organized
  • save storage space by folding more of your wardrobe, including using the efficient Marie Kondo method of folding and vertically storing clothes

4. Have pullouts and other closet accessories installed

Having a bunch of your clothes stored closely together can make it harder to locate specific wardrobe items. Closet pullouts are a convenient way to make it easier to find your things quickly.

Closet pullouts come in various forms: shoe racks, pant racks, tie racks, scarf racks, and belt racks. A shallow, stationary shoe rack on the closet’s floor and beneath hanging clothes may not get enough adequate light. Being able to pull out your shoes to choose your footwear for the day is very handy.

Alternatively, a closet with better lighting can be designed with stationary, angled shelving (with guards to keep the shoes from sliding off) that allows a shoe collection to be showcased and kept organized.

Pullouts and additional closet accessories like a valet rod and moveable hanging bar provide a proper storage place to keep all of your wardrobe accessories organized. In addition to augmenting a closet’s functionality, they also add a touch of style to a closet.

pant rack

Keep your pants organized with a pullout pant rack.

5. Incorporate extra shelves

Too much closet space is wasted because the vertical space is underutilized. Incorporating more shelving into a closet’s design provides better storage efficiency, especially at the top and bottom of a closet, which is commonly underused.

Shelves are versatile as well. They can be used to store everything from shoes to pants to sweaters. The space can additionally be used to display personal items, hold small storage bins and baskets, or simply be a temporary spot to put things like keys, wallets, or watches.

6. Brighten up your closet spaces

No matter how tidy it is, any closet will be harder to use if it has poor lighting. Some closets don’t even have a light and the user has to rely on the main bedroom light to illuminate the closet interior. Needless to say, that’s less than ideal.

Brightening up the enclosed space to reduce the number of shadows and provide more uniform lighting coverage will improve anyone’s closet functionality.

If any of your reach-in closets are still relying on a single overhead bulb to illuminate the space or lack any lighting at all, it doesn’t require much effort or cost to make upgrades.

Most modern closet lighting designs use LED lighting. LED lights stay cooler than incandescent and halogen bulbs, are more energy-efficient, and last much longer.

An overhead light fixture or recessed lighting are popular closet lighting solutions. Other options available are motion-activated lights and wireless puck lights. The latter is very practical since they can be mounted virtually anywhere in a closet. They’re powered either by a rechargeable battery or disposable batteries.

7. Ditch the laundry baskets for built-in closet hampers

Many of the reach-in closet ideas we’ve covered improve the functionality of closets. Another practical use of a closet’s space is to have one or more pullout laundry hampers installed.

Closet laundry hampers allow you to ditch those plastic laundry baskets. They have a removable cloth bag with handles that make it easy to transport your dirty clothes when it’s laundry time.

You can put all of your dirty clothes in one easy-to-access place, which conveniently just happens to be where the rest of your clothes are kept.

reach-in closet with open laundry hamper

A reach-in closet laundry hamper is super-convenient.

Peak functionality for your reach-in closets awaits!

These reach-in closet ideas will improve your daily routine and give your closets a modern update with attractive finishes and stylish decorative hardware.

Make your closets into everything you want them to be, whether they’re reach-in closets or walk-in closets.

Partner with a closet design professional like Organized Interiors to transform your closets. Get started by scheduling a free design consultation with us.

Please share this post if you found it useful.

See also:

On-demand Storage Services: 9 Reasons You Shouldn’t Use Them

on-demand storage hero

Numerous on-demand storage companies have sprung up in recent years. They all promise an easy solution to solve the problem of not having enough home storage space.

The business model of these companies is a creative evolution of the traditional self-storage concept. Instead of someone taking all of their extra stuff to another location for storage, these companies come right to the customer to pick it up.

On-demand storage is also known as “pickup storage” and “valet storage”. 

One of the common selling points of these companies is how convenient their services are for people to use. The longer you look at how these businesses work, however, it becomes quite evident that it just doesn’t make any practical or financial sense to use on-demand storage companies.

Why is there more demand for on-demand storage?

It’s not surprising that this type of service has gained traction in the home storage marketplace. A lot of us simply have too much stuff and don’t spend enough time paring down the number of things we own.

That makes what storage companies offer look a lot more attractive in desperate times when clutter has overwhelmed a household.

These eye-opening statistics shed some light on how our homes are organized:

  • Having a lack of storage space was the number one pet peeve of homeowners. (HSH.com survey)
  • Disorganization (not lack of space) causes 80% of household clutter. (Soap and Detergent Association study)
  • Having an untidy home was the fifth most common stress trigger for homeowners. (Huffington Post survey)
  • 25% of people with 2-car garages don’t park in them at all due to clutter. (U.S. Dept. of Energy study)
  • 61% of women who have a hard time finding anything in their closet end up buying new clothes. (OnePoll survey)
  • Only 20% of the things we own are actually used. (LexisNexis study)
  • 9% of Americans rent storage space, even though 65% of those homeowners have a garage. (Self Storage Association survey)

The very fact that on-demand storage companies exist and that people are using them is a reflection of the consumer culture we live in. The rise of e-commerce over the past 20 years has only added to the problem of our homes being more overstuffed than ever.

How does on-demand storage work?

Here’s how on-demand storage companies work:

  1. The customer contacts the company and tells them how much of their stuff needs to be stored at the company’s warehouse.
  2. A time is scheduled for the company’s empty lockable storage containers to be dropped off at the customer’s home. Some pickup storage services will allow customers to use their own storage boxes or bins and may offer packing help as well (the latter costs extra, naturally).
  3. When the storage containers are filled, a pickup time is arranged.
  4. All items being stored are inventoried and photographed before being shipped to the storage warehouse. Monthly fees are charged to the customer based on the amount of storage space they use.
  5. Whenever the customer needs anything from their stored inventory, the company delivers it to them upon request for a fee.

Most customers will use a self-service phone app or web portal to check and manage their stored inventory and arrange pickup and drop-off times.

If all of that extra time, work, and expense just to store your own belongings seems impractical and, quite frankly, downright silly, you’re beginning to see why hiring one of these companies is usually a bad idea.

Using a storage company on a short-term basis could be practical if you found yourself in one of the following difficult situations:

  • if you’re in a bind with a sudden job relocation to another city or country
  • a job loss that forces you to downsize
  • if your home is undergoing a major long-term remodel
  • a change in your living situation (like a separation, divorce, or end of a live-in relationship) that requires you to move

Otherwise, there’s no reason anyone should be wasting their hard-earned money on this type of service. Let’s take a closer look at why you shouldn’t use on-demand storage services.

1. “Out of sight, out of mind” isn’t a storage solution

If a home can’t fit everything a family owns, the home is too small or the occupants own more things than they need (or both). In most cases, it’s the latter.

The “kicking the can down the road” approach to dealing with clutter by just storing it remotely doesn’t solve anyone’s organization problems. “Out of sight, out of mind” simply isn’t a storage solution.

The biggest reason people avoid getting organized is the time it will require to get the job done. Somehow, they conveniently forget just how much time we waste from being disorganized. It makes no sense.

The only way to solve a storage problem is to address the root cause of the issue and put in some time and effort to declutter occasionally. Hiring a storage company to house the stuff their home should be storing only encourages someone to keep buying more than they need.

One day, all of that stored stuff will need to be dealt with anyway.

man taping storage box

Instead of shipping things you can’t find room for in your home to another location, just take the time to declutter.

2. On-demand storage drains your finances

That “one day” when someone finally gets around to dealing with their stored items is what these companies count on to make their money. It’s in these companies’ best financial interests for their customers to forget about their belongings or procrastinate on getting rid of them.

Derek Naylor, a former president of Storage Marketing Solutions (a self-storage industry marketing and advertising agency) told The New York Times, “Human laziness has always been a big friend of self-storage operators.”

This extra monthly expense naturally adds up if you have things stored for a long time. You’ll find plenty of cautionary tales online like this one from people filled with regret about using storage companies. In many cases, their story is the same: a plan to store some things on a temporary basis turns into a long-term period of using remote storage, which results in thousands of wasted dollars.

The pickup storage service model only adds another expense on top of the monthly storage fee when someone needs to have things delivered occasionally from their storage warehouse. Delivery fees varied anywhere from $15 to $35 for the various on-demand storage companies we looked at.

Read the fine print

Then there are the extra charges you need to pay close attention to in the service contract you sign. They may not exactly be hidden, but they’re certainly not easily identified in all of that fine print, either. Here are some examples of extra fees you can face:

  • heavy item charges for delivering bulky items that require more than one person to handle
  • mandatory insurance fees
  • penalty surcharges if you store less than the company’s minimum storage requirement
  • a one-time administrative fee when you open an account
  • hefty late fees if a monthly payment is missed or late

3. Why pay someone to store your junk?

Junk is defined as “something of little meaning, worth, or significance”. If something is so inconsequential in your life that you don’t even need to keep it under your own roof, chances are that it’s junk. If you’ve ever watched an episode of Storage Wars, you know that most of the contents kept in storage units is junk.

Feelings of nostalgia make it difficult for many people to part with their belongings. Others are reluctant to throw things away because it feels wasteful.

But as Ann Gambrell (founder of the National Association of Professional Organizers) explained to Consumer Reports about why people waste money on storage fees, “It’s typically all about procrastination. People end up spending money because they can’t make a decision.”

Holding onto junk and letting it take up space in a home limits the functionality of a living space. That’s not cost-effective. And it’s even less cost-effective for someone to ship away their junk and pay someone to store it.

Don’t waste your money on fees to store things you’ll end up selling or throwing away eventually anyway. There are two huge upsides of downsizing the number of things you own: you’ll save a lot of money and feel great after liberating yourself from the clutter that’s caused you stress for years.

4. Investing in home storage upgrades is a lot smarter

It’s ironic that the excess clutter that prompts someone to try and create more storage space in their home also makes it harder to identify where those potential storage spaces are. It’s like trying to find a parking spot in a crowded parking lot – finding that open space is much harder when everything is so congested.

The average homeowner who looks around their house or condo for more space to store their belongings also doesn’t have the experience of a home organization design pro. Companies like Organized Interiors, who specialize in storage and organization solutions, can leverage a home’s underutilized spaces for improved functionality.

Instead of falling into the bottomless pit of monthly storage fee expenses, it’s a lot smarter to invest your money in home storage upgrades that also add value to your home.

Skilled design professionals can improve existing home storage areas and find new storage spaces that most people wouldn’t have considered. Here are some examples:

  • a closet makeover that maximizes the storage space for clothing and accessories
  • converting an unused attic space into additional storage or living space
  • making better use of a spare room and converting it into a guest room, home office, walk-in closet, or hobby room
  • optimizing the storage capabilities of the garage
  • using dual-purpose furniture like storage beds, built-in wall units, and seating with hidden storage
Bed storage with bedroom cabinetry

Instead of wasting money every month on storage fees, invest in home storage upgrades. This custom cabinetry featuring a storage bed maximizes a bedroom’s storage space.

5. On-demand storage isn’t as convenient as it may seem

The “convenience” these valet storage companies promote makes rather selective use of that word. Is it more convenient for someone to have all of their extra stuff picked up and shipped off somewhere else so they don’t have to declutter and make more storage room in their home? Sure, that saves them time now.

It’s not so convenient, however, on a long-term basis when they need access to anything that is stored remotely. Then they’re dealing with the busywork of arranging a delivery time and waiting for the delivery to happen.

There’s nothing convenient about anyone having less access to their own belongings and getting charged a fee to have them delivered to their home. All of the on-demand storage companies we looked at don’t even have an option that allows customers to pick up their items from the storage facility when needed, even for a lower fee.

Even in a cluttered home, someone can probably find anything (even a misplaced item) in less time than it would take to arrange and wait for a valet storage company delivery.

6. Not all storage warehouses are safe and secure

All storage companies promote the fact that customers can enjoy the peace of mind of knowing that their belongings are being stored in a safe, secure storage facility.

However, we all know that there are plenty of shady companies out there who will promise one thing and actually cut corners with how they operate.

Anyone entrusting a company to store their belongings should be asking a number of questions about the storage warehouse where their things are being kept. This includes asking:

  • does the storage facility have 24/7 security personnel and monitored video surveillance?
  • how safe is the neighbourhood the facility is located in?
  • are strict pest control measures being used?
  • how carefully monitored is the warehouse’s climate control?

7. Storage companies avoid taking responsibility for lost and damaged items

Anyone considering using a storage company doesn’t only need to do their homework on how secure their stored belongings will be, they also need to get detailed information about how liable the company is in the event of damage or theft of their property.

Traditionally, storage companies will do everything they can to avoid having to pay you the full amount to replace damaged or stolen items.

Look at the terms and conditions page on the site of any storage company. They’re guaranteed to be the longest page on the site and filled with legalese that seems to absolve the company of virtually any responsibility for items that are stored with them…unless you have a protection plan. And even if you do have a protection plan, the level of coverage you get isn’t very impressive.

Here is a sampling from a couple of storage companies about what they won’t cover unless you have a protection plan:

  • loss or damage incurred in transit or during loading or unloading
  • loss or damage resulting from unknown or mysterious causes
  • damage caused by moths, vermin or other insects, rust, fire, water, changes in temperature, fumigation, or deterioration
  • loss or damage resulting from theft

And that’s only a fraction of what they list. Some companies protect themselves from any liability to such a high degree that they even list acts of war and nuclear accidents as events for which they’re not responsible for damage to property stored on their premises. Talk about covering all of your bases!

8. On-demand storage is bad for the planet

Using on-demand storage companies isn’t eco-friendly in a couple of different ways.

There are thousands of storage warehouses occupying billions of square footage across Canada and the U.S. That massive amount of space needs to be lit and climate-controlled, which leaves a large carbon footprint.

Valet storage companies are also part of the growing business movement that provides on-demand services to consumers who crave convenience. Nowadays, everything from Amazon packages to fast food to groceries to pet grooming services can come right to our front doors.

The trade-off for all of this convenience, unfortunately, is more traffic on the roads (including on-demand storage vehicles) and therefore more vehicle emissions.

on-demand storage companies increase traffic

Traffic congestion in the GTA is already bad enough. More on-demand storage company vehicles on the roads only adds to the problem and increases vehicle emissions.

9. There are restrictions on what you can store

It makes sense that storage companies would have some restrictions on what you can store in their facilities, including things like illegal items, perishable goods, and materials that are combustible, hazardous, and toxic.

Once again, you need to really read the fine print in their terms and conditions to ensure you’re complying with their storage guidelines and not breaking any rules that could result in a hefty fine. A number of things on the restricted items lists from a few different companies surprised us. Here are some examples of what can’t be stored:

  • heavy items like a piano, pool table, or large grill
  • vehicle tires
  • boxes weighing more than 70 pounds
  • some types of exercise equipment

Most storage companies will only store fragile goods under certain conditions, if at all. For example, furniture that incorporates glass and furniture made from particleboard needs to be disassembled. Electronics like a TV or computer need to be packed in their original boxes or in one of the company’s special boxes.

Even after complying with these rules, customers typically still have to sign a fragile items waiver that takes the storage company off the hook for any responsibility if the items are damaged, even if the customer bought the protection plan.

Make more space for your belongings at home, not a storage facility

By now it should be quite clear that hiring on-demand storage companies isn’t worth the hassle and expense.

Talk to Organized Interiors about how we can improve the storage functionality in your home. We offer more practical and cost-effective ways to solve your home organization challenges than storing your belongings in a remote location.

Schedule a free design consultation with us today.

Please share this post if you found it useful.

See also:

Supply Chain Challenges and How They’re Affecting Everyone

supply chain challenges hero

Photo by Tom Fisk from Pexels

You’ve probably noticed stories about supply chain challenges appearing regularly anywhere you get your news nowadays. That’s because the pandemic has tested the stability and functionality of our supply chains like never before.

What is a supply chain? In short, a supply chain is the system that allows products to get from where they’re made to where they’re sold.

You’ve surely heard the saying that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Well, that proverb has proven true over the past couple of years, on an epic scale.

Multiple weaknesses in the system of global supply chains we rely on for almost everything in our lives, along with other factors, have led to massive shortages of many products and manufacturing materials.

Organized Interiors knows you don’t need a reminder of how stressful things are in the world these days. However, we wanted to address the very important and relevant issue of supply chain challenges because they affect everyone, including you – our valued customers.

How does a supply chain work?

The supply chain is one of those things that consumers have never had to pay much attention to…until now, when it starts impacting our shopping habits in a major way.

How important are supply chains? The infamous failure of Target Canada is a perfect example of how essential it is for businesses to have a reliable, resilient inventory procurement system. All of those empty shelves in Target’s stores were largely the result of poor supply chain infrastructure, which was one of the key reasons for the company’s swift demise here.

Supply chains involve a complex network of resources, technologies, individuals, companies, and activities that are dependent on one another. They consist of five main components:

  1. Planning and purchasing: buyers like retailers determine their supply and demand needs and place orders for products and materials.
  2. Warehousing and inventory management: enough inventory is stored so orders can be quickly filled. A reliable inventory management system is used to maintain sufficient inventory levels.
  3. Manufacturing: goods are made to replenish depleted supplier inventories after their orders have been filled.
  4. Transportation: goods are shipped to the customer.
  5. Return of goods: products that the seller has an excess quantity of or don’t meet the satisfaction needs of a customer because they’re defective or low-quality are returned to the supplier via a “reverse logistics” system.

Canada relies heavily on overseas countries for our goods and manufacturing materials, which are shipped by sea, air, truck, and train.

When there is one disruption to any branch of a supply chain, it impacts the rest of the system. And there has been no shortage of disruptions and other issues impacting the global supply chains in 2020 and 2021 that are both pandemic and non-pandemic related.

supply chain quote

Thomas Friedman is a three-time Pulitzer Prize winner and New York Times columnist who writes about foreign affairs, global trade, and globalization.

9 reasons there are supply chain problems

The pandemic exposed the fragility and shortcomings of our supply chains. Additional unforeseen factors only helped to push the entire system to the breaking point and create one big logistical nightmare.

These are the main issues (in no specific order) that helped create “the perfect storm” of current problems for supply chains:

1. Unpredictable consumer spending

When the pandemic began, panic buying quickly eliminated all of the inventories of retailers and their suppliers for many products. Online shopping purchases skyrocketed when lockdowns were put in place.

As lockdowns lifted, consumers were eager to make up for lost shopping time at brick and mortar stores and spend liberally. This out-of-the-ordinary spending behaviour has made it much more difficult to gauge supply and demand needs.

2. The just-in-time manufacturing philosophy

“Just-in-time” manufacturing is a process used by most businesses, including the biggest companies in the world like Apple, Amazon, Walmart, and McDonald’s.

It relies on companies forecasting demand for their products so they can make “just enough” of them and not have to carry a lot of extra inventory. That philosophy made it harder for supply chains to adapt when the world’s economies contrasted quickly during the early part of the pandemic and then expanded rapidly again in 2021.

3. Labour shortages and efficiency slowdowns

Things aren’t getting manufactured or sold to consumers as quickly as they normally would because workplaces have dealt with lockdowns, COVID-19 outbreaks, quarantines, and burnout by workers. Even when workers can perform their jobs, extra workplace safety measures are also slowing down efficiency.

4. Shipping delays

The shipping industry has been hit especially hard by labour shortages, which contributed to the unprecedented congestion occurring at shipping ports and train yards around the world. So did other factors like economies around the world reopening and the demand for goods increasing.

Shipping companies simply haven’t been able to keep up with that demand, which is a problem considering 85-90% of the world’s goods are transported by sea. The New York Times reports that Georgia’s Port of Savannah, for example, recently had 40,000 more shipping containers on-site than usual (which is twice as much as normal).

5. Shipping container shortages and higher shipping costs

Shipping containers have become scarce as manufacturers are producing more goods than they normally would to fill backorders. Naturally, that has driven up the cost to buy, rent, and lease the containers.

Many retailers have reported that their shipping costs to acquire inventory have tripled during the pandemic and even quadrupled in some cases.

6. Border restrictions and slowdowns

Goods being shipped across borders haven’t been moving as quickly as normal because of border restrictions, mandatory quarantines, transport workers having to wait on coronavirus test results, and general labour shortages.

Governments around the world have also had to implement more regulation and oversight measures to combat an increase in import and export fraud.

7. Inconsistent virus testing and vaccine standards

The lack of a global standard for COVID-19 testing and vaccines has been an ongoing issue. Vaccines that have been approved for use in some countries aren’t approved for use in other countries. Some companies have had mandatory vaccine requirements, while others haven’t. And many countries haven’t had as much access to reliable vaccines as Canada and the U.S. have.

All of these issues are magnified during a pandemic when they apply to workers who make a living by being constantly on the move from one country to another.

8. Shortages and rising costs of raw materials

Manufacturers have been hampered by ongoing shortages of raw materials like metal, glass, polymers (which are used to make plastic), lumber and cardboard, wheat, and coffee, just to name a few things.

China, the world’s manufacturing hub, is experiencing a coal shortage right now. Because coal is China’s main source of electricity, some manufacturing facilities are unable to operate around the clock as they typically would.

9. Non-pandemic factors

Geopolitical turbulence like the U.S.-China trade war and Brexit have contributed to our supply chain problems. So have severe weather events like last winter’s storm in Texas that affected production for the fuel and chemical industries (among many others).

And that container ship that got stuck in the Suez Canal (which handles 12% of the world’s maritime trade) for six days in March didn’t help matters, either.

This video does a great job of explaining the issues supply chains are dealing with:

How supply chain issues are affecting consumers

The three ways all of these supply chain issues are affecting consumers most is:

  • products aren’t as available as they normally are
  • it’s taking longer to get items shipped to stores
  • some products will cost more

At this point, you’ve probably dealt in one way or another with the effects of strained supply chain systems. We won’t soon forget the toilet paper-buying frenzy of early 2020 and shortages early on in the pandemic of products like PPE and other medical equipment, cleaning products, baking ingredients, and dry and canned food.

As we spent most of our time at home, products like home office furniture, gym and exercise equipment, and grills and patio heaters became almost impossible to find (and still are in some cases).

Worldwide shortages of microchips have impacted the production of virtually all types of electronic products. Everything from cars to appliances to electronic devices aren’t as readily available as normal.

Apple just announced that they were being forced to reduce the production of the new iPhone 13 by up to 10 million units. The CBC reports of one case where a customer has been waiting almost a year to get the new fridge she bought on Boxing Day in 2020.

A few more examples of shortages of essential items that are affecting consumers and businesses are aluminum cans, plastic bags, car tires, and building materials like lumber, roofing products, and drywall.

Some products have naturally seen price increases because of more expensive shipping costs. However, increased sales volumes have allowed retailers to absorb the higher costs they’re paying to their suppliers and keep prices on some of their products the same.

When will things return to normal?

As frustrating and difficult as things have been and continue to be with how our supply chains are functioning, normalcy will return. Not as quickly as we all would like, mind you, but it will happen.

They say that “you learn from your mistakes” and “every struggle makes you stronger”. These current challenges will lead to positive changes that will make our supply chains and quality of life better in the long run.

For example, countries like Canada will be better equipped to deal with a public health crisis in the future. And governments and businesses have begun to rethink how our supply chains run and already started to make some improvements. Some of these changes include:

  • more “supply chain diversification” (where companies rely less on sourcing their goods from one country)
  • an increase in domestic manufacturing
  • sourcing products closer to home
  • better contingency planning to make supply chains less vulnerable when events like health crises, extreme weather, natural disasters, and political instability occur

As you can imagine, there’s no blueprint for fixing something as complex and massive as our global supply chain system. These supply chain issues will continue well into 2022 and beyond, unfortunately.

For example, companies that make semiconductors (which are the main component in microchips) expect they’ll be able to fill the majority of their backorders by approximately next summer. Many of them have recently invested heavily to boost their manufacturing capabilities.

stacked shipping containers

Surging shipping costs, increased prices for shipping containers, and labour shortages are among the many reasons it’s taking longer for freight to move around the world.

How we’re dealing with supply chain challenges

Like most other companies, Organized Interiors continues to adjust to the strains on the supply chain systems we rely on.

While we construct our custom cabinetry in-house at our production shop, Organized Interiors does rely on outside suppliers for materials like melamine board, crown moulding, glass, mirror, and hardware. Another example of a product we get from suppliers is electric fireplaces, which are taking far longer to get than ever before, especially as the cold weather arrives.

Typically with just-in-time manufacturing, materials arrive shortly before a project’s installation date. Our suppliers have been reliable and efficient with deliveries in pre-pandemic times. Recently, however, we’ve seen a surge in shipment delays from them that have been above and beyond anything previously experienced.

Because these issues have had an impact on some of our projects, we have proactively introduced new procedures to adapt to these challenges. This includes:

  • on rare occasions, the installation schedule for projects may need to be adjusted and/or the estimated timeframe for some projects may require an extension
  • ensuring all production shop team members meet and exceed COVID-19 safety protocols

We remain committed to serving you

During this challenging period, Organized Interiors continues to work to the best of our ability to provide our valued customers with the highest-quality customer service. We thank you for your patience and understanding as we all do our best to navigate through this trying time.

Even with these ongoing global supply chain issues, Organized Interiors remains committed to helping you get the most out of your homes with the best organization and storage solutions available.

To find out more about how we can upgrade any part of your living space, schedule a free design consultation with us.

Please share this post if you found it useful.