Organizing your closet is the ultimate low-hanging fruit. It’s easy to do, and it can make a world of difference in how you feel about your clothes and yourself.
If this sounds like something that might be up your alley, read on for my personal guide to conquering the chaos inside your closet door.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| – Decluttering your closet can help you better utilize valuable space and create a more functional environment. |
| – By sorting through your clothes and deciding what to keep and donate, you can free up space and make it easier to find what you need. |
| – Grouping clothes by category and organizing them by color or occasion can help you quickly access the items you’re looking for. |
| – To maximize space, use vertical organizers like shelves, shoe racks, and hangers. |
| – Regularly organizing your closet can help you keep your wardrobe up-to-date and prevent clutter from building up over time. |
Take It All Out
First things first: Take everything out of the closet. Put it on the bed or the floor, wherever you feel most comfortable sorting through it all.
This will be easier if you sort into categories like shirts, pants, skirts/dresses and so forth. If there are pieces that have been hanging in your closet for years without being worn (like those jeans from college you’re keeping just to remind yourself of your wilder days), consider donating them or tossing them into a giveaway pile for Goodwill pickup.
If any items have stains on them that won’t come out after washing—or if they’re just not cute anymore set aside those garments as well.
You can either donate these items right then and there or put them in bags labeled according to when they should be donated (for example: “Donate by March 15th” or “Giveaway by April 1st”).
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Wipe Down
The inside of your closet should be clean and free of dust, dirt and cobwebs. Use a damp cloth to wipe down the surfaces of the closet, including doors, shelves and drawers.
Don’t forget to vacuum underneath your clothes as well! If there is any mildew on the ceiling or walls, use a non-toxic cleaning solution to wipe it off.
Divide And Conquer
Conquer the closet in stages, starting with a few categories of clothing you wear most often (e.g., jeans, sweaters, pants). Once you’ve conquered those areas, move on to other categories of wardrobe items (e.g., dresses, jackets).
This is how I like to organize my closet it just makes sense for me! You can do it however you want: by color or style or whatever other method works best for your own needs and preferences.
| Clothing Categories | Description |
|---|---|
| Jeans | Start with your denim collection and assess what you want to keep, donate, or discard. |
| Sweaters | Next, move on to sweaters and decide which ones you’ll wear this season and which ones to store. |
| Pants | Review your pants collection and decide which styles you no longer need. |
| Dresses | Assess your dress collection and decide which ones to keep, donate, or discard. |
| Jackets | Finally, move on to jackets and outerwear, deciding which pieces you need and which ones you can donate. |
The divide and conquer method involves breaking down your wardrobe into categories and tackling them in stages. Use products from brands like Joy Mangano or The Container Store to keep categories organized and separate. By taking it step by step, you’ll minimize overwhelm and make the process more manageable.
Take Inventory
Organizing your closet is all about being able to see what you have. The first step is to inventory everything in it, so you know exactly what you are working with.
This will help ensure that as you organize, things end up where they should go and don’t get lost in the shuffle.
Start by taking stock of every item of clothing in your closet (or on hangers strewn around the room).
Make sure to take note of:
- What each piece is made from (e.g., cotton, wool) and its fabric weight (lightweight, mid-weight, heavy-weight). This information will help you decide how best to care for each item.
- How many items there are in total—and how many pieces come along with each one (for example: four pairs of pants that actually match each other).
- How often you wear each piece (not including seasonal items like coats), how often it’s worn out over time and if any repairs need doing before it can be worn again safely and comfortably without falling apart at the seams or bursting at the belt loops!
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Shop Your Closet
Shop your closet. Take a trip down memory lane and look at the clothes you haven’t worn in years. Now, take all the pieces that still fit (or could easily be altered to fit) and put them into a separate pile from everything else.
This process will give you an idea of what pieces are missing from your wardrobe, which will help guide your shopping decisions going forward.
Organize by color. This is an easy way to organize similar items together and create outfits quickly!
Organize by season. If you live somewhere with four distinct seasons or two very different ones (like summer/winter), consider organizing your closet by season instead of year-round.
That way, when it comes time to switch out wardrobes for warmer weather or cooler weather again, all the elements needed are right there waiting for you—no need for digging around looking for things buried beneath piles of other stuff!
Fold And Stack
When it comes to folding, stacking and storage, you have a lot of options. You can use boxes for shoes or even for shirts that are too large for your closet.
You can also hang them on the wall using an organizer from Ikea or similar stores. This way you can see all of the clothes at once without having to go through each one individually.
Dorm rooms can quickly become cluttered if not organized properly. Our guide on Organizing Your Dorm Room for Maximum Functionality offers tips on how to make the most of your space, including ideas on storage, decluttering, and layout.
Dress Up Your Hangers
A tip for making your closet easier to navigate: dress up your hangers. You can use any of the following methods to make your hangers stand out in the closet:
- Colored hangers
- Hooks and clips
- Ties and pockets (or even a combination of all four)
Before you start organizing, it’s important to figure out where everything goes. If you have a lot of clothes, try using an app like ClosetSpace or Clothesline to help map out what items go where.
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| Velvet hangers | Using slimline velvet hangers helps clothes stay on the hook and prevents slipping. |
| Wooden hangers | Wooden hangers add a touch of elegance to your closet and are ideal for heavy coats and suits. |
| Satin ribbon | Tie a satin ribbon around the neck of your hanger to add a pop of color and make it easy to identify specific items. |
| Paint or Decals | Customize your hangers with paint or decals to match your personal style and add a fun touch to your closet. |
| Add-ons | You can also add hooks or clips to hangers to easily store accessories like scarves, belts, and hats. |
Dressing up your hangers can make your closet more visually appealing, while also making it easier to navigate. Opt for velvet or wooden hangers from brands like Joy Mangano or Real Simple, or add a unique touch with customization from companies like Etsy or Zazzle.
Stick To A Color Scheme
When it comes to organizing your closet, a color scheme is key. It’s important to first choose the colors that you like best before starting on the actual organization process.
You can do this by looking through your favorite outfits and finding commonalities in those outfits’ colors—maybe they’re all black or white, or maybe they’re all warm tones.
The best way to get inspired is by looking at photos of people who dress well and seeing what colors they’re drawn to most often.
From there, you can start thinking about how you want each section of your closet to look: Do you want one side that is full of smoky neutrals? Or would an entire wall devoted entirely to neon make more sense?
Once you’ve decided on a color palette for your wardrobe’s new home base, it’s time for some organization!
Closets are an essential part of a functional home, but they can quickly become messy and cluttered. We’ve compiled some of our best tips and tricks for Maximizing Closet Space, including suggestions on how to organize clothes, store accessories, and declutter.
Create An Outbox
The next step is to create an outbox. You’ll want a box or bag that can store clothes you don’t wear, things you don’t need, and the clothes that are just not your style.
The outbox doesn’t have to be anything fancy; any container will work as long as it has a lid and can hold a few items comfortably without them falling over.
This could be a shoebox, an old gift box with tissue paper inside it (for extra padding), or even an empty plastic storage bin from under your sink!
Whatever item works best for you is fine just make sure it isn’t something that will end up being reused over and over again because then it defeats the purpose of creating this special space for yourself!
Pull Out Every Season
With the push-and-pull method, you will be able to see what you have in your closet. Pull every season out of your closet and put it on a bed or table in your bedroom or living room. This way, you can easily see what is there and how much space it takes up.
This will help you decide if you need more shelving and storage options for the upcoming season. If that’s the case, consider investing in a closet organizer or storage unit!
| Season | Description |
|---|---|
| Spring | Pull out all your spring clothing and assess what you want to keep, donate, or discard. |
| Summer | Move your summer clothing out of storage and decide what pieces you’ll want to wear. |
| Fall | Review your fall wardrobe and decide whether to keep, donate, or discard any items. |
| Winter | Pull out your winter clothes and decide which ones you’ll want to wear this season. |
The seasonal pull-out method involves taking out all the clothing for a specific season and assessing what you want to keep, donate, or discard. By doing this, you can easily see what is there and how much space it takes up.
Consider using organizers from brands like Marie Kondo or The Container Store to help keep your wardrobe organized throughout the year.
Create A System For Shoes
The next step is to create a system for your shoes. Shoes should be organized by color, size and brand. This can be accomplished by using boxes or baskets that are labeled with the appropriate information.
You can also use shelves as long as everything is clearly labeled so that you know which pair of black heels goes with which pair of brown loafers without having to look at them!
If you have more than one type of shoe (e.g., sneakers) it’s helpful to separate them into different sections on your closet floor or in dresser drawers so they don’t get mixed up during the morning rush out the door!
Decluttering your closet can be an overwhelming task. Our article on 10 Simple Steps to Declutter Your Closet breaks down the process into easy-to-follow steps, including suggestions on how to sort through clothes, decide what to keep and donate, and organize the remaining items efficiently.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to organize your closet, it’s time to get busy! Get started with some of these tips and tricks today.
Remember that the key is finding a system that works best for you, so don’t be afraid to try out different methods until they feel comfortable enough to stick with them long-term.
The most important thing is making sure that whatever system that you choose doesn’t make things more difficult than they already are closet organization can be challenging enough without adding stressors like overwhelming messes or piles of clothes scattered everywhere!
Further Reading
Here are some additional articles on how to organize your closet:
The Spruce: How to Organize Your Closet – This article offers tips on how to declutter and organize your closet effectively.
MyDomaine: How to Organize Your Closet in 7 Steps – This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to organize your closet in seven steps, including tips on decluttering, sorting, and arranging clothes.
MM.LaFleur: The Ultimate Guide to Organizing Your Closet – This guide provides detailed step-by-step instructions on how to organize your closet like a pro.
FAQs
Here are some commonly asked questions about organizing your closet:
What’s the best way to declutter my closet?
The best way to declutter your closet is to take everything out, sort through your clothes, and decide what to keep, donate, or discard. A good rule of thumb is to get rid of anything you haven’t worn in six months to a year.
How do I know what clothes to keep in my closet?
When deciding what clothes to keep in your closet, only keep items that you love and wear often. If you haven’t worn something in a while or it doesn’t fit properly, consider donating it to someone who can make better use of it.
What’s the best way to organize clothes in my closet?
The best way to organize clothes in your closet is to group them by category. For example, keep all your shirts together, all your pants together, and so on. Within each category, you can further organize clothes by color, fabric, or occasion, depending on your preference.
How can I maximize space in my closet?
To maximize space in your closet, use vertical space by installing hanging organizers, shoe racks, and shelves. You can also use hooks and hangers to store accessories like scarves, belts, and bags.
How often should I organize my closet?
It’s a good idea to organize your closet at least twice a year, ideally at the beginning of each spring and fall season. This will help you keep your wardrobe up-to-date and prevent clutter from building up over time.
Hi there! My name is Hellen James. I’m a professional decluttering expert who loves to help people get their homes in order. I’ve worked with people from all walks of life—from high school students to retirees and everything in between—to help them clear out clutter and make the most of their space so they can focus on what matters most to them.