Most closets bear a closer resemblance to Loehmann's on the last day of a sale than to a Metropolitan Home spread. Piles of crumpled sweaters, tangled belts, a few miscreant socks -- during the day, it's easy to ignore what's behind closed doors. But come morning, when you're running late and can't find anything to wear, frustration sets in. To get organized, Jeff Stone, co-author of the Chic Simple book series, recommends the elegant linen-storage boxes at Troy (138 Greene Street, 212-941-4777). Though the shop is better known for its unique furniture, such as made-to-order solid-wood tables and Danish leather armchairs, these practical, hypercool storage units, priced from $32 to $65, are an equally rare find. "They last forever," says Stone. "And they're deep enough to hold a few sweaters each." Your closet will be spic and span in minutes, and putting off cleaning the rest of the place till next spring will no longer seem like an option.

Related:

• Archive: “Smart City”
• Articles by Suzanne D'amato
• Table of Contents: Mar 6, 2000 issue of New York | Subscribe!