Conquer the 'clothes chair' with these simple tips

The dreaded clothes chairs — we've all got one. While the furnishing might take different forms, ranging from stationary bikes to benches, its function remains the same — a zone for clean clothes before they're put away.

How can you take back this corner of the bedroom? Here are strategies to help tackle the clothes chair once and for all.

Only do one load of laundry at a time

While the trick to keeping laundry from becoming overwhelming is to stay on top of it, throwing load after load in the washer as the clean clothes pile up can be a recipe for disaster.

Instead, take it one load at a time, seeing each through from start to finish. That means an entire load is washed, dried and put away (not on the clothes chair) before starting the next. It might appear to take longer than consecutive loads, but it can be more effective and manageable in the long run.

Stick to one load per day, depending on the size of the household, or set aside a day every so often to tackle this chore from top to bottom. Either way, getting laundry under control is a great first step in solving the clothes chair problem.

Never go to sleep with clothes on the chair

Clutter-free rooms can help with rest. Having a designated time each day to put away any accumulated items can help prevent the overflowing clothes chair.

With this method, daily practice is key, so find a time that works. Add this item to the morning routine or kids' nap-time window. With daily attention, the clothes chair can still be a functional spot for dropping items quickly, but one that doesn't bog anything down.

Have a designated hook for wear-again items

One of the biggest draws of a clothes chair is its use as a wear-again destination. It provides quick access to items that we routinely use, but they often get mingled with piles of freshly laundered clothes or discarded items.

While tackling laundry efficiently and getting in the routine of regularly cleaning off the clothes chair can be helpful strategies, the fact remains that a place is needed to put those items daily worn items. Instead of fighting it, give them their own special place.

A hook or series of hooks mounted on the back of the bathroom door, in the closet, or simply in a discrete portion of the bedroom will ensure these pieces remain at the ready and in order. Endlessly stacking items one on top of the other won't be possible with this method, and instead you'll be forced to keep a small and tidy contingent of items.

Create a wear-again zone in closets

If there is space in the closet, creating a wear-again zone can be a similarly effective strategy with the bonus of staying out of sight (no more visual clutter!). Add a few hangers to a small portion of the closet to make utilizing it nearly effortless. Choose to hang the hangers in an opposite direction to set this area apart from the rest of the clothes, showing which items have already been worn and are ready for a second round.