How to Organize Your Closet in 5 Simple Steps
Now that the weather is finally starting to get warmer, it’s time for spring cleaning and organizing your closet is a great place to start. You may be wondering, “what is the best way to organize my closet?” The answer is simple: whatever works best for you. It’s easy to let your closet get cluttered and messy, and the key to preventing it is by creating a functional space that’s easy for you to keep organized over time. Start by getting rid of items you no longer need, organize the space by adding compartments or shelving if possible, and make sure everything has a designated place. Follow the steps below to clean out your closet and keep it organized all year round!
1. Empty & Deep Clean Your Closet
Start by taking everything out of your closet: clothes, jewelry, shoes and anything else stored there. This way you can get a good look at all the items you own and the space you are working with. Once it’s empty, take the time to deep clean the area- vacuum or mop the floor and dust off any shelves or racks. This is a simple but important step to really see a difference in your closet and make sure your items are stored in a clean place!
2. Decide: Donate or Keep?
Now that all your clothing items are out, spend some time going through the pile and deciding which things to keep. Ask yourself, “when was the the last time I wore this?” If you haven’t worn it in a few months it might be time to get rid of it. Alternatively, you may have some pieces that are your favorite but worn thin. Have you bought something recently that could replace it? Try to get rid of duplicate items that you don’t need in order to declutter your space. After you’ve made your decisions, take a trip to your nearest thrift store or donation center to let your old items be used by someone else!
3. Add Organizational Items
Next, turn your attention back to your closet space. It’s time to brainstorm the best ways to utilize the area and organize your items.
- Is there extra space above your hanging items where you could fit some shelves?
- Can you fit storage below your hanging items such as a dresser or storage bins?
- Is there enough room to add an extra rack to hang more clothes from?
If you are working with a small space, these may not be an option, so instead you can also try adding organization items such as dividers between your hanging items or bins to better arrange your clothes in your drawers or on your shelves. This can create different zones for your clothing to divide by types- such as jeans, shirts, dresses or professional clothing.
4. Pick an Organization Method
Once you’ve figured out the base structure of your closet, it’s time to decide how you want to organize your items. The most popular methods are by season, clothing type, color, or a combination of those options. Organizing by season is an ideal method, especially if you have the storage available to rotate seasonal clothing. If that’s not an option, you could group winter and fall in one area and spring and summer in another. This way you know exactly where the type of outfit you are looking for is located. If you’re looking for a more aesthetic option, you could try color coordinating your clothing that is hanging up (in rainbow order, of course!)
As mentioned before, evaluate if you can take advantage of storage. Can you rotate seasonal clothing? Are there old items you don’t wear anymore such as a wedding dress that you don’t need everyday access to? Decluttering your closet is the best way to keep it organized long term.
5. Adopt New Folding and Hanging Techniques
In order to take advantage of as much valuable space as possible, make sure you are using optimal folding and hanging methods.
- Use hangers specifically designed to hold scarves, belts and ties. This will allow you to put multiple items on each hanger.
- Stack your folded items on shelves, but not in drawers.
- For drawers and other small spaces, try using the vertical folding method (also known as file folding or the KonMari method).
- Hang clothes with the hangers all facing the same direction in order to keep things looking neat and organized.
- Group your hanging items by size, that way you can place shelves or other storage below the short items. For example, hang up maxi dresses, long skirts, and pants on one end of the closet with shirts and jackets on the other.
More Tips to Stay Neat All Year Round
- Try tidying up on laundry days. When putting away your clean clothes, pick dirty ones off the floor or put away anything that’s fallen onto the floor.
- When you buy something new, get rid of something old.
- Most importantly: stick to your new organization system! Try your best to put stuff away in the correct place everyday- whether you’re putting away a batch of laundry or new items from a shopping haul.
We hope this post has inspired you to organize your closet! Having a clean space to store all your items is such a relief and will allow you to easily access all your clothing. If you still have a few hangers left afterwards, check out BeltOutlet.com to add a couple new pieces to your wardrobe!