Once you hire a custom closet company to remodel your closet, one of the biggest steps before installation day is emptying and preparing everything.
At Professional Organizer New Orleans, we’ve helped many clients prepare for closet renovations by decluttering, organizing, packing belongings, and getting their spaces ready before installation begins.
Preparing for a Closet Renovation in New Orleans
If you’re investing in a custom closet, whether you’re in New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner, or the surrounding Greater New Orleans area, it’s worth taking the time to prepare before installation.
Many New Orleans homes have closets that have been collecting years of clothing, shoes, decorations, and keepsakes.
Here are a few things to help you prepare for your new custom closet installation.
Give Yourself Enough Time
One mistake homeowners make is underestimating how long it takes to empty out a closet, especially a larger walk-in closet.
If your closet has years’ worth of clothing, shoes, accessories, paperwork, or storage bins inside, it’s important to start early rather than waiting until the last minute. Giving yourself enough time helps make the process feel much more manageable.
Start by Taking Everything Out
The first step is removing everything from the closet completely so the remodeling or closet installation company has a clean space to work in.
As you remove items, try to avoid piling everything together randomly. Instead, begin separating items into simple categories like:
- Hanging clothes
- Shoes
- Purses and accessories
- Undergarments and socks
- Seasonal clothing
- Keepsakes or storage items
If possible, use boxes, bins, or even a spare bedroom to temporarily store everything while the renovation is happening. Some homeowners also hire house-packing services to make the process faster and more organized, especially for larger walk-in closets.
If Your Closet Is Already Organized
If your closet was already somewhat organized before the renovation, the process will usually be much easier.
Keeping categories together while packing everything up makes unpacking into the new closet much simpler later on. You’ll already know where everything is, which saves a lot of time once the renovation is complete.
If Your Closet Is Cluttered or Overcrowded
If your closet wasn’t organized beforehand, this can actually be a great opportunity for a fresh start.
As you take items out, start going through everything piece by piece and decide what to:
- Keep
- Donate
- Toss
Many homeowners realize during this process that they have duplicate items, clothes they no longer wear, or things taking up valuable space unnecessarily.
Decluttering and downsizing before putting everything back into a newly renovated closet can absolutely help make the new space feel more functional.
Many homeowners also use this as an opportunity to create better long-term closet organization systems so the space stays easier to maintain after the renovation is complete.
Group Similar Items Together
Once you’ve gone through everything, try to keep similar items grouped together.
For example:
- All workout clothes together
- Shoes together
- Formal clothing together
- Handbags together
This makes unpacking into the new closet much easier because you already have clear categories established before everything goes back in. Many homeowners also choose to work with professional organizing services to create simple systems that are easier to maintain over the long term.
Create Organized Closet Systems That Will Work For You
Lastly, and arguably one of the most important parts of a closet renovation, is organizing everything once your new closet is complete.
A beautiful custom closet is only as functional as the systems you create inside of it. The goal isn’t just to make your closet look nice; it’s to organize it in a way that actually works for you and how you use your closet every day.
Think about what you reach for most often and keep those items within easy reach. Items you use less frequently can be stored on higher shelves or in less accessible areas. When choosing organizing products, don’t just pick bins or baskets because they’re pretty. Instead, choose products that fit the items you own, your closet layout, and your daily routine.
If your closet isn’t organized in a way that makes sense for your lifestyle, it’s much harder to maintain over time. If you’re investing in a custom closet renovation, you want that investment to last. Creating practical, personalized organizing systems is what helps keep your closet functional, organized, and easy to maintain long after the renovation is finished.
Consider Hiring a Professional Custom Closet Organizer
For larger closets or more overwhelming projects, some homeowners also hire a professional organizer before or after the renovation or custom closet installation.
A professional organizer can help with:
- Decluttering
- Sorting and organizing items into categories
- Packing up the closet neatly
- Creating custom closet systems that work for your new closet
- Making the unpacking process much easier
A professional organizer can also help homeowners settle back into the space afterward with unpacking services once the renovation is complete.
This can be especially helpful if the closet has become difficult to manage over the years or if you simply want the new closet to remain functional in the long term.
If you want inspiration for what’s possible, you can also view some of our recent before-and-after organizing projects from homes around New Orleans.
DIY vs. Hiring a Professional Closet Organizer for Your Closet Renovation
| DIY | Hiring a Professional Closet Organizer |
|---|---|
| You decide what to keep, donate, or throw away on your own. | We guide you through the decluttering process so you only put back the items you use, need, and love. |
| You make every decluttering decision yourself. | We provide professional guidance, advice, support, and accountability to make decision-making easier. |
| You purchase your own boxes and packing supplies. | We bring the packing supplies needed for the project. |
| You pack everything yourself before the renovation begins. | We carefully pack your clothing, shoes, accessories, and other belongings for you. |
| You organize and label everything on your own. | We organize and label your belongings, making unpacking much easier after the renovation. |
| You handle all of the lifting and physical work. | We take care of the packing, lifting, sorting, and other physical work from start to finish. |
| You drop off donations yourself. | We can remove your donations and take them to a local donation center for you. |
| You need to be home for every step of the project. | You can organize alongside us or leave while we handle everything. |
| After the renovation, you unpack every box yourself. | We unpack everything and put it away for you. |
| You decide where everything belongs in your new closet. | We create functional organizing systems that maximize your new closet and make the best use of your storage space. |
| You research organizing products yourself. | We recommend bins, drawer dividers, baskets, shelf organizers, and other storage products when they’ll improve your closet. |
| You break down boxes and clean up packing materials yourself. | We break down boxes and clean up packing materials as part of the project. |
| It may take days or weeks before your closet feels finished. | Get back to enjoying your new closet much sooner with everything unpacked, organized, and ready to use. |
| You invest your own time, energy, and effort. | Save time, reduce stress, and let experienced professional organizers handle the entire process. |
What a Professional Closet Organizer Can’t Help With
While professional closet organizers can help you declutter, organize, pack, and unpack your closet, there are some services we don’t provide.
- Designing custom closets or closet layouts
- Building or installing custom closet systems
- Installing closet shelving, rods, drawers, or cabinetry
- Carpentry or construction work
- Painting closets or walls
- Installing wallpaper or other wall finishes
- Interior design services or selecting décor
- Hanging pictures, mirrors, artwork, or shelving
- Electrical or lighting installation in closets
- Heavy furniture assembly or moving large furniture into closets
Our focus is on helping you declutter, organize, and create functional closet systems that make your closet easier to use and maintain. If you’re having a custom closet installed, we’re happy to help you pack everything beforehand and unpack and organize everything once the installation is complete.
Preparing Ahead Makes the Process Easier
A closet renovation is the perfect opportunity to not only upgrade the space itself, but also reset how your closet functions overall.
The more organized you are before the renovation starts, the easier the entire process usually becomes once it’s time to move everything back in.
If you’re still planning your closet project, you may also find these helpful:
- What to Do After Installing a Custom Closet in New Orleans
- What to Expect When Hiring a Professional Organizer in New Orleans
- How We Organized Our Client’s Closet in New Orleans (Before & After)
How Professional Organizer New Orleans Can Help
If you’re planning a custom closet installation, we can help before and after the project. We’ll organize and pack up your closet before the installation begins, then unpack and organize everything once your new custom closet is complete so it’s ready to use from day one.
If you’re looking for a custom closet organizer in New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner, or the surrounding Greater New Orleans areas, we’d love to help.
If you’d like to get a quote for our closet organizing services, give us a call at (504) 321-6792 or fill out an online contact form.
View Before & After Photos from Our Closet Organizing Projects
FAQ
Is a custom closet worth it?
Yes. In our opinion, a custom closet is definitely worth it if your current closet isn’t meeting your needs. A custom closet is designed specifically for you, your wardrobe, and the way you use your space. You’ll work with a closet designer to create a layout based on the types of clothing and accessories you own, how you prefer to store them, and what you want to access most often. The goal is to create a closet that’s both functional and easy to use every day.
A custom closet can be especially worthwhile if you’re constantly struggling to find what you need, your existing shelving isn’t working or is beginning to fail, or your closet simply doesn’t have enough storage for your belongings. It can also make it easier to keep your closet organized by providing dedicated spaces for hanging clothes, folded items, shoes, handbags, jewelry, and accessories.
While a custom closet is an investment, it can be well worth the cost, especially if you plan to stay in your home for many years. A well-designed closet can improve your daily routine, maximize your available storage space, and make your home feel more organized and functional. If your current closet is causing frustration every day, investing in a custom closet may provide long-term value and make your life a little easier.
Will a custom closet system keep my closet organized?
A custom closet system can definitely make it easier to keep your closet organized, but it isn’t a guarantee that your closet will stay organized forever. While a custom closet provides the right storage solutions and designated spaces for your clothing, shoes, and accessories, maintaining that organization ultimately comes down to your habits and how consistently you put items back where they belong.
That’s one of the reasons many homeowners hire a professional organizer after their custom closet is installed. While the closet designer creates the storage system, a professional organizer helps organize everything in a way that makes sense for your lifestyle.
We organize your closet based on what you wear most often, what you need easy access to, and how you naturally use the space every day. Our goal is to create organizing systems that are simple for you to maintain long after the project is complete.
When a custom closet and professional organizing are combined, they work hand in hand. The custom closet provides the structure, while professional organizing ensures everything has a logical, functional home. This makes it much easier to keep your closet tidy, find what you need quickly, and maintain an organized closet over time.
Do I need custom closet storage to have an organized closet?
No, you don’t need a custom closet system to have an organized closet. While custom closets can provide additional storage and make your space more functional, they aren’t required to stay organized. In fact, one of the biggest factors in keeping any closet organized is simply how much you own. The less clutter you have, the easier it is to maintain an organized space, regardless of the type of closet you have.
At Professional Organizer New Orleans, we’ve organized everything from basic wire-shelf closets to high-end walk-in custom closet systems. We’ve found that an organized closet depends far more on having the right organizing systems, regularly decluttering, and putting items back where they belong than it does on the type of shelving you have.
If a custom closet isn’t in your budget, there are plenty of affordable ways to improve your storage. Simple organizing products such as bins, baskets, shelf dividers, hanging organizers, clear storage containers, drawer organizers, and matching hangers can make a significant difference. In some cases, adding a dresser or other furniture for extra storage can also help maximize your space.
Ultimately, the best closet is one that works for your lifestyle, fits your budget, and is easy for you to maintain.
