Some one asked about using those chrome shelving units. I have two, a five foot tall one in the closet and a shorter one in the room itself. The closet one I use for all sorts of stuff, quilting magazines in those upright magazine files, wall hanging sized quilts and table runners that I switch out during the year, photo boxes that I store patterns in (they're just wide enough to stand the patterns up in so you can thumb through them. Freezer paper, the hard cover for my Bernina (now that thing is a space hog!) are on the shelves too. The shorter one my DH cut down to made about 35 inches tall. He made a table top for it with an egg-and-dart molding across the front and sides. It has a curtain on a tension rod accross the front. I keep most of my kitted up projects there. With the curtain it hides the clutter and I really need that. It could be used as a cutting table if it were a little taller, but I already have one I love so it's for storage and display. It also has really big wheels on it so I can move it if I need to. Theshelf units can handle a lot of weight which I like.
In addition I have those Closet Maid wire baskets on the runner frames. We topped them with laminate counter top from Home Depot. My biggest problem is I have 5 pounds of stuff for a 3 pound sack. The over flow goes in the translucent file boxes from Office Depot. I can see what's in there but it's contained. Next project is the over the closet cornice that will have a roll up design wall.