OK so a year or so back, I was putting a stack of tshirts temporarily on my bookshelf, and I liked it so much I started moving more of my clothes out of the drawers and onto the shelf. So now I have 3 shelves for books, two and a half for clothes, one for rocks, seashells, and other pretty things, and 1/2 for random items.
I really like being able to see all my clothes at a glance, and it is way easier to get dressed in the morning and put away laundry. I just make sure to put newly cleaned clothes at the bottom of the stacks whenever I do laundry. Is there a computer science term for a type of stack where you read off the top and write to the bottom?
Anyway my real question for this community is, “Am I missing out by not using drawer technology?” Some part of me thinks that there must be some advantage to using drawers for clothes that I just. don’t. get. (Besides the fact that it might not be normal lol - or is it? Are your clothes on the shelf? What do you think? Byeeeee!)
I’m pretty sure the major reason people use closed storage is to hide it aesthetically. I do the same and keep my regular items out and accessible.
If you use the clothes regularly then there’s no concern of dust buildup.
Smells in clothes left in storage too long can be from off-gassing of the materials the cabinet is made of. For example, the glue that holds MDF/particle board together, paints, wood stains, plastics, or plain wood all produce gases that build up in stagnant air. They’re harmless but your clothes can absorb the smell.
An armoire is basically a bookshelf with doors that close, and they’re a very popular way to store clothes.
Aesthetics, for a lot of people. Keeps clutter out of everyday sight. Especially keeps clutter out of guest’s vision
Dust, strong smells like smoke, food, deodorant, pollen if you have allergies. Insects and other animals can also get into your clothes easier, including those that eat fiber.
Ohh that makes sense.
Dust is a major problem, I can say for sure the top of my clothes cupboard is covered in dust and im pretty confident the inside isn’t.
Yeah this is true about my shelf too, there’s lots of dust on the very top.
I’ve never noticed dust on the clothes, but maybe the cotton absorbs the dust? 😬 It is weird to think about it.
One thing I haven’t mentioned is when I kept the clothes in the drawers, they sometimes would start smelling weird after a long time if I didn’t wear them – I suspect maybe they still had some humidity content when I put them away, and they couldn’t evaporate properly in the drawer.
It depends on the sock, but if you’re rolling the tops of each pair together they’re easier to stack if you alternate between folded end away and folded end towards you. Then swap the pattern for additional layers.
Or just skip folding, throw them all into a small basket and cast off the shackles of social norms! Embrace mismatching your socks!
I have a pile of the ankle socks that I wear mismatched, (the pile sits on a shelf in the cabinet) and the long socks I fold and stack!
A wardrobe/closet is just a bookshelf with door, so maybe get that?
Yeah! I do have one cabinet that sits on top of the dresser, for socks and underwear; I forgot to mention it.
A stack read (popped) off the top and written (pushed) to the bottom is called a queue.
Edit: Just wanted to clarify that reading from a stack is not synonymous with popping. I just wanted to add that push and pop are the terms usually used for adding or removing elements from a stack or queue.
Oh cool! Just like with music players. I wonder which came first.
probably people lining up came first
I could see that being true
I also have an open shelf for t-shirts. I find that unless they are rotated regularly there is a chance of dust, which is a lot less likely in a closed drawer.
There are also some clothing items that I want hidden from guests, so those are kept in drawers.
The answer is: do whatever makes you happy.
I have most clothes in a shelf but with one drawer for T-shirts and one for underwear and socks built in.
If the shirt stack gets to high there is a chance of falling over and socks obviously can’t be stacked properly.Yeah this is true about socks especially, I have a cabinet thing (with a swinging door and shelves inside) that I keep socks and underwear, and they do fall over sometimes if not properly supported.
All of my clothes are in a closed closet with shelves. There are some hanging on a rod, and some clothes (socks, underwear) in small bins, on a shelf. I will never own or move a dresser again. My shelves can be adjusted to fit my needs and disassembled to move or reconfigure. They are Wire Shelving, like Metro brand, but not that expensive. I used to live in a place that had a very small closet, but large bedroom and I just had the shelves in the bedroom, with a cotton cover over them that kept dust out. Drawers in a bedroom (my opinion) are for side tables, or under bed storage for bed linens, blankets, and sex toys.
Because then you have less space for books!
I actually did downsize my old textbooks lol
ADHD sign!!!
Being a bit weak at the whole object permanence thing is a common trait of people with ADHD, and other similar neurodivergences too presumably. Being unable to see your things makes them hard to find. Doorless shelves, or those with windowed doors are a good option.
I think the idea is that clothes, especially gasps underwear are personal items that should be stored out of view. Hence the common clothes drawer, or closet door. Don’t follow those norms blindly. If having your things visible helps you find them do that. Not just for clothes.
My ideal closet would have everything hung up or on open front shelves, clearly visible. But with big folding doors so when open everything can be seen, but the closet mess can be hidden for the 3 times each year I have guests.
I think it’s less about privacy and more about dust setting on top of the clothes. Transparent door would work well, but as you mention, classic door also has advantages. I have book shelves with transparent door, it’s great.
This!! I also took the doors off the cabinets in my closet because they just got in the way. I don’t notice dust in the closet for whatever reason.
You’re right about underwear and socks, I feel like even I don’t want to see them that much, except maybe for the tie dye socks, so I have them in the cabinet.
Also I read that some Europeans keep their bedroom as a private space and don’t really entertain friends in there, and ever since I learned that I was like, hell yeah, introvert sanctuary!
My closet has folding doors <3 when they’re closed it does look pretty nice. I usually have them permanently open though, and I hang clothes over the top of them, and on command hooks I put on the front. Also it’s a metal door so I can put all kinds of magnets :)
Your guests know, or at least hope you have underwear.
Just ball out of control and keep your shit where you want unless they’re gonna pitch in on rent
so, now i wanna know. after all the answers, did you decide to put your clothes back in drawers or do the benefits outweight the downsides?
I will be more vigilant of dust, but keep them on the shelf for now.
