Q&A: Are closet and garage organizers a good deal?

Friends and family tell me I live in fantasyland because I’m obsessed with turning my pigsty into a model of order. I’ve seen some closet- and garage-organizing systems that cost up to $2,000. Are they worth it?—Sloppy in Seattle

The dream of orderly closets and a clutter-free home is compelling. But in our tests of install-it-yourself systems, we found that many are poorly designed, made of shoddy materials, and a nightmare to install. The good news is, others matched professionally installed systems for a small fraction of the cost. Before you invest your time, money, and patience, consider these tips:

Look online first. After checking our closet and garage organizer Ratings (available to subscribers) for the best systems, visit manufacturers’ Web sites to see the accessories that are available—the offerings change over time. Add-ons such as shoe storage and extra drawers might make the difference in what you buy.

Decide how handy you are. If the sight of a screwdriver makes your head spin, you might want one of the highly rated professionally installed units we tested. But be prepared for a sales pitch, subtle or otherwise. If you’re comfortable using a drill, screwdriver, and level, you can do the work yourself. The three closet organizers and three garage organizers with top scores typically fit together well, had clear assembly instructions, and required little or no cutting.

Match the material to the use. Avoid garage products that use cardboard or unsealed particleboard where exposure to the elements or normal use can weaken or damage the material. Wire shelves let air circulate but can leave lines in sweaters and delicate fabrics. So look for closet systems with solid shelves or thin boards you can put over the wire.

Consider Einstein’s Three Rules of Work. “Out of clutter find simplicity. From discord find harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” I’m not sure what that means, but an expensive and perhaps difficult-to-install closet system isn’t the only way to achieve the dream of an organized home. Maybe you just have too much stuff.—Helen A.S. Popkin

Comments

[Jonathan]

I was looking for ideas and products to help solve some of my garage organizing problems. Then I stumbled on a website www.1stchoicegarage.com and was happy to see they have lots of solutions for your garage. Car lifts, overhead storage, wall organizing products, and the list goes on, and on. I recommend you take a look at this site, and see how they can help you.

Jonathan

[Jen (organized RN)]

We recently had overhead storage (racks suspended from ceiling) installed through a company called storage overhead (their website is www.storageovehead.com). We now have much more room and it is such a pleasure to come home to clutter free garage! There are also other products such as shelving and wall hanging systems. We could have installed it on our own but the one we got was of industrial strength material and the installer was very professional. I realize that your posting dates back to 2007. I hope this comment helps others who are thinking of getting organized and having more space in their homes.

J

[sherri]

I would REALLY like to read the reviews and ratings of the closet systems, but the links are not working. Is there any way to access this information?

Thanks

[Rosalind McIntsoh]

Same comment as Sherri on July 14. How can i access the ratings for garage storage systems.

[Mark Nehring]

Looking for a garage system, but can't read the reviews and ratings to this category. Please help.

[Martha]

I would also like to read CR reviews of closet organizing systems, but try as I might, can't find a link that works. Can Consumer Reports fix this problem? Thanks

[katie]

I cannot find the link for closet and garage organizer ratings. Can you please send the link to me or the actual ratings asap?

Thank you! Katie