Organizing your closet can be a game changer in your day to day life. It can streamline your daily routine and reduce stress. However, actually organizing your closet is often easier said than done.
Most people think they have an organized closet but then when they actually go to find things, they realize that lots of items are stuffed haphazardly into shelves and drawers and they can’t actually find anything. This isn’t helpful to your daily routine at all!
I’m going to help you transform your closet with 6 expert tips. These will help you with organizing your closet and transforming it from a mess to a functional and aesthetically pleasing space!
The 6 Steps for Organizing Your Closet
Step 1. Declutter!
Before you start your dive into organizing your closet, it’s absolutely crucial that you declutter your closet first! Otherwise you are just trying to organize clutter and you won’t get anywhere. I go more in depth on decluttering your closet in my other articles, but here are the basics.
You’re going to want to sort your items into 3 categories. Keep, Donate/Sell, and Trash. Everything will go into one of these 3 categories.
When you are doing your sorting, you should be ruthless in your decision making process. You should only keep the items that you love, that you wear frequently, or serve a practical purpose.
Anything that no longer fits, is damaged beyond repair, or hasn’t been worn in over a year you should discard in either the donation or the trash.
By decluttering your closet, you are clearing up valuable space and also laying a foundation for organizing your closet in an effective manner.
Step 2. Utilize Vertical Space
If you aren’t utilizing your space effectively, then you will struggle to organize your closet effectively. I’ve had walk-in closets and I’ve had tiny closets that quite frankly I don’t know how I managed to put anything in there.
When it comes to organizing your closet, you need to maximize the space you have effectively. That means using that vertical space. Don’t be afraid to install shelves or cubbies above your hanging rods to store folded items like sweaters, jeans, handbags, or even hats.
You can also consider adding hooks or pegs to the walls or the back of your closet door to hang scarves, belts, shoes, or other accessories.
By making use of that vertical space, you can create additional storage space to organize your closet without overcrowding the rest of your closet space and making it look messy.
Step 3. Invest in Quality Hangers
OK, this one sounds silly, but this makes a huge difference. I always thought a hanger is a hanger right? So I just reused the ones I got from various shirts I bought over the years. You know, the cheap plastic ones that come with shirts you buy at Walmart.
Then my wife handed me some high quality hangers and oh man, it made a huge difference in maintaining the closet.
Slim, non-slip hangers help to maximize the hanging space in your closet. It also prevents your clothing from slipping off the hanger while ensuring that it hangs correctly rather than looking misshapen.
Additionally, having the same type of hangers helps keep a cohesive look in your closet, making it look visually more appealing while making it easier to organize clothing by type or color.
If you really want to get fancy, you can even invest in different colors of hangers for different seasons or different types of clothing.
One important thing to do is invest in specialty hangers for items like pants, skirts, or other delicate garments. This will help them maintain their shape and appearance.
Step 4. Organize by Category
When you organizing your closet, make sure you organize by category. You’d be amazed at how many people don’t do this. When you organize your closet by category, you make it easier to locate items and plan outfits.
You should organize your clothing into categories such as tops, bottoms, dresses, outerwear, and special occasion attire. Within each category, further organize your your items by color or season to create a visually appealing display.
Make use of labeled bins or baskets for corralling smaller items like socks, underwear, or accessories.
By adopting a systematic approach to organizing your closet, you and simplify the process and help maintain order over time.
I know it sounds like a lot of work to do, but it isn’t. When I fold my laundry, I just sort it on the spot and then put it away in its proper home. While it seems daunting, in practice it really takes no time at all.
Step 5. Implement Storage Solutions
Storage solutions can make a huge difference when organizing your closet. In many cases, a one size fits all solution does not work. By implementing specific storage solutions to fit your individual needs, you can improve the aesthetics and efficiency of your closet space.
Utilize drawer dividers or organizers to separate and contain smaller items like socks, underwear, or jewelry. Shoe racks or shelving units can be used to keep shoes neatly organized and accessible. Garment bags can be utilized to keep whole outfits together.
Also, keep in mind that you don’t always have to store everything in your closet. Under the bed storage containers can be great for off-season or rarely worn items and can free up valuable closet space.
You can also implement custom storage solutions that can be tailored to fit your space. By customizing the solutions to fit your closets dimensions and layout, you can ensure that your space is utilized effectively.
Step 6. Maintain Regular Maintenance
Maintaining closet organization requires and ongoing effort and commitment. Set aside time on a regular basis to assess your closet’s contents, purge items as needed, and reorganize as your wardrobe evolves.
Adopt a “one in, one out” policy for new clothing purchases to prevent clutter from accumulating over time.
Remember, when organizing your closet, just because you start with an organizational system you don’t have to keep it. Make adjustments to your organization system as necessary to accommodate changes in your lifestyle or seasonal wardrobe rotation.
By incorporating regular maintenance into your routine, you can ensure that your closet remains organized and functional for the long term.
Final Thoughts
Transforming your closet from a chaotic space to an organized oasis is within reach with these expert tips. By decluttering, maximizing vertical space, investing in quality hangers, organizing by category, implementing storage solutions, and maintaining regular maintenance, you can create a closet that not only looks great but also makes getting dressed a breeze. Take the first step towards closet organization today and reap the benefits of a well-organized wardrobe for years to come.