Review of closet and garage organizing systems

NOTE: THIS IS AN ARCHIVED VERSION OF A STORY THAT APPEARED IN THE JULY 2006 ISSUE OF CONSUMER REPORTS. PRODUCTS MIGHT HAVE CHANGED SINCE WE REVIEWED THEM, SO USE THE RATINGS AS ONLY A GUIDE.

The dream of an orderly closet and a clutter-free home is very compelling. But reality intrudes: Our tests found many install-it-yourself systems are poorly designed, made of shoddy materials, and a nightmare to install. Others matched professionally installed systems for a fraction of the cost.

Home centers and box stores sell products that you can take home to organize your closet or garage. Or you can go to a store that offers design and installation services as well as products, for a price.

California Closets, the largest national brand, sells both options. But its do-it-yourself and pro-installed systems had little in common. The pro system looked and worked fine. But its DIY counterpart had parts that didn't line up and drawers that stuck or fell off their tracks.

To read the rest of the story, including information on how to choose an organizing system and installation tips, download this PDF.