Organizer Spotlight: Kat Pettey
When professional organizer Kat Pettey first stepped into this Santa Barbara family's costume closet, she discovered an entire room dedicated to creativity and imagination. The space was overflowing with feathers, fringe, and faux fur that had become a fun creative outlet for this family of five.
"The collection was impressive, but finding specific pieces had become a bit like a treasure hunt," Pettey explains. "Our mission was clear: streamline the collection while creating a system that would make every superhero cape and magical wand easily accessible."
The transformation took the NEAT Method Santa Barbara team about 16 hours to work their organizational magic. Their approach? Start fresh by removing everything (yes, everything!) from the space. This allowed the team to work with the family to thoughtfully edit their collection and group items by themes.
But with limited space and an abundance of items to store, the organizing duo had to think vertically. They tackled this challenge by installing shelving for shoes and accessories, while clever hook systems transformed bare walls into a display for hats and jewelry.
One of the project's surprise stars turned out to be something seemingly simple: acrylic necklace racks. "Moving the necklaces from a drawer to wall displays was a game-changer," Pettey notes. "Not only did it free up drawer space, but it turned the accessories into actual wall art."
Storage totes became the unsung heroes for larger accessories and foldable items, tucked neatly under hanging costumes. Everything found its perfect spot through careful categorization by theme – think superhero section, fantasy realm, and sci-fi zone.
What made this project particularly smooth was the family's trust in the process. They gave Pettey and her team free rein to work their organizational magic, resulting in a space that's both functional and fun.
The outcome? A costume closet that would make any cosplay enthusiast jealous. Now, whether it's time for Comic-Con or just a regular day of dress-up fun, every piece has its place.
Want to bring some of this organizational magic to your own costume collection? Start by grouping similar items together and think about using your wall space – it's prime real estate that often goes overlooked. And remember, sometimes the smallest solutions (like those necklace racks!) can make the biggest difference.
GET THE LOOK
Perforated Basket
Label Holder Set
Necklace Rack
Everyday Hanger
xx,
the NEAT team
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