Almost everyone suffers from an overflowing closet at one time or another. However, with these 15 closet organizing tips, you’ll discover how to de-clutter, make the most of your closet space, and find your clothing faster.
15. De-clutter
The first step in getting your closet organized is decluttering. Go through your clothing, accessories, and shoes and determine what you no longer wear or need. Donate or sell items. Removing these items first will make more room in your closet. From there, it’s easier to figure out how to create more space in your closet.
14. Slim or Space-Saver Hangers
Slim hangers take up less space than bulkier ones. There are also many types of space-saving hangers. Do a search on Amazon for “space saver hangers” and you’ll find various options, such as those that hold 6-7 hangers on a single hook. There are also clip varieties for holding multiple skirts or those designed to hold multiple strap tops.
13. Use a Shoe Organizer
There are numerous varieties of shoe organizers to suit your needs and space. There are tall racks with closing, transparent lids, or those with up to 25 compartments. Some are open and others are closed off to prevent dust buildup. Racks can hang from your closet pole. You can also store them in their original boxes on a shoe shelf.
12. Use Clear Containers
For certain types of accessories or items – such as belts, scarves, or hats – clear containers are a perfect way to store them. Their see-through nature helps you to remember what’s inside and access items as needed. Clear containers are also good for storing and rotating between clothing you only need in the summer or winter.
11. Rotate Your Wardrobe Seasonally
You can save a lot of space in your closet by putting away clothing you only wear in a specific season, i.e. winter or summer. You can either pack the clothes in clear containers or vacuum-sealed bags to keep them in good condition and dust-free. Store containers in the closet if there’s room, or store elsewhere.
10. Use Closet Organizers
Closet organizers come in many varieties that will provide shelves, hanging organizers, drawers, racks, additional hanging poles, and more. They can have open spaces or covers or doors. You can buy premade organizers or the parts to assemble them yourself. You can also hire a company specializing in designing custom closet organizers to create something to fit your space.
9. Keep Laundry Baskets in Your Closet
Keeping at least one laundry basket in your closet can help you avoid clutter and prevent clothing from piling up on the floor. You may want to consider using multiple baskets for separating clothing that has different cleaning requirements. For example, delicates vs. wash-and-wear, lights vs. darks, or for dry clean items. Separating them saves sorting time later.
8. Use Door Organizers
Take advantage of all available space by using a door organizer. These hang on the inside of your closet and take advantage of the unused space when the door is closed. You can find premade shoe hanging organizers. You can also repurpose over-the-door pantry storage units that feature shelves. Some also have additional side pockets.
7. Fold Your Clothes Strategically
You’ll be surprised how much extra space you can save by strategically folding your clothing. Do this with clothing that doesn’t wrinkle easily, such as jeans and T-shirts. Not hanging your jeans will save a lot of space. If you’re not sure how to fold efficiently, there are plenty of YouTube videos to show you how.
6. Categorize Your Clothes
Categorizing your clothes will not only make your closet space look more visually pleasing, but it will make it easier to find what you’re looking for – saving time. Group your clothes by category, such as shirts, pants, dresses, and jackets. A benefit of this organization is that it also helps you spot any gaps in your wardrobe.
5. Hang Your Clothes by Color
You may want to organize your clothes according to their color. In the most basic sense, you could do this by separating dark and light clothing. However, if most of your clothing is dark, then you might want to separate them by hue, such as browns, grays, blues, and blacks. The idea is to help you match color combinations quickly.
4. Organize Accessories by Type
You can use boxes (clear or otherwise) to organize your clothing accessories by their types. For example, keeping all your scarves in one box, belts in another, hats in another, jewelry in another, and so on. This can save you a lot of time when searching for a particular type of accessory.
3. Label Containers and Shelves
This is a must if you are storing items in boxes or containers that aren’t clear. This prevents a lot of hunting and digging, and saves time, especially when you’re in a hurry. Labeling helps quickly identify what items are stored in which container. Labeling shelves helps you remember what goes where instead of sticking something wherever.
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2. Keep a Small Step Stool Handy
If you have a tall closet or high shelves, it’s a good idea to keep a small step stool either inside your closet or somewhere nearby. This is a must for accessing items that are hard to reach. Depending on your age and height, consider a folding stepstool that has a safety rail or handle to help keep your balance.
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1. Consider a Capsule Wardrobe
A capsule wardrobe is a collection of essential items. These are items that can be mixed and matched to create a variety of outfits. In other words, you can create multiple variations from fewer clothes. These are usually built around a coordinating color palette. This smaller, simpler wardrobe saves space and speeds up getting dressed in the morning.
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