Do you open your closet and see a pile of crumpled t-shirts, lost socks and bags that make it difficult to find anything?
Professional space organizers from New York and Milan have revealed the secret to turning chaos into structure—and you don't need expensive accessories to do it.
Architectural Digest magazine called shoe boxes "an underrated organizing tool," and minimalism guru Marie Kondo said in an interview, "If you use boxes correctly, even a small closet can be functional."
The principle of operation is zoning.
As psychologist and ergonomist Daria Morozova explains in her blog Space&Mind , dividing space into sections reduces anxiety and saves time.
A study in the Journal of Environmental Psychology found that people spent 40% fewer minutes searching for things in a structured closet.
How to proceed? TikTok user @organizergirl shares a life hack: “Wallpaper or fabric over boxes for a stylish look.”
Put belts and sashes in one box, scarves in another, and sports bras in a third. Label them with a marker or glue a photo of the contents.
For underwear, blogger ClosetQueen recommends making “dividers” out of cardboard: “ Cut the box into strips – and no lumps in the drawers.”
The results are impressive. Karina from Yekaterinburg writes: "Moved into a 20 m² studio. I thought there wouldn't be room for my things. 10 sneaker boxes + vacuum bags - now the closet looks like a catalog!"
The mistake everyone makes is storing heavy items (like books) in boxes.
As the Wirecutter test showed, the bottom can break. Reinforce with tape or insert a plastic container inside.
Author: Elena Shimanovskaya