Tackling your closet can be a daunting task, and one that we’ve all admittedly put off for seasons at a time, but we’re here to help you create a system so you can spend less time searching for what you need and more time on what matters most. Here are a few of our favorite tips and tricks to help you get started.
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Take a moment to evaluate the categories of items
Ideally, your bedroom closet only holds clothing, shoes, and accessories, but the reality is that there are often other categories that appear— wrapping paper, sports equipment, bedding. Take a moment to write down the different categories of items you're dealing with and evaluate whether any of the outliers could be relocated to free up some space.
Identify your favorites
As you're going through your clothing, it can be hard to figure out what to keep and what to let go of, so before you dive in, pull out your absolute favorite items. These should be the go-to pieces that you would be sad to lose. As you're going through the remaining items, compare them to what you've already pulled out. This doesn't mean that everything in your closet has to be perfect, but if you have a gold standard to compare your belongings to, you'll have a better sense of what you need and what can go in the donate pile.
Go through each category, one-by-one
Start small by going through one category at a time. If you have a massive collection of t-shirts, you could even start with just your long-sleeved ones. Generally, people recommend taking everything out of your closet all at once and then putting it back one-by-one. Although that approach may work for some, we've found that it can be overwhelming and a bit discouraging to look at a huge mess that always takes longer to go through than you expected.
Organize hanging clothes by type, length, and color
Now that you've identified the items you want to keep, sort your hanging clothes by type, length, and color. Organizing them by type will make it easier to find what you need when you need it. Organizing them by length will allow you to maximize the space under your hanging clothes. Organizing them by color is more of a visual trick to create space, but it looks nice and allows you to focus on finding what you need.
Create storage zones on open shelves using bins or baskets
If you have open shelves in your closet, pick up a set of Medium Bins or Baskets to keep things organized. Plus, if the shelves are above eye-level, it will be easier to grab a bin or basket to find what you need rather than sorting through a stacked pile.
Make the most of vertical space with a shoe rack
Unless your shoe collection is very minimal (5 pairs or less), storing them on the closet floor is not the best use of space. Pairs get easily separated, and it's challenging to keep things organized, especially if they're competing for space with other items. Our Entryway Rack is a beautiful way to make the most of your vertical space.
Flip your hangers
One technique we've found very helpful is to turn all your hangers around, so the hook goes around the back of the closet rod. Then, when you go to hang up an item you've worn, turn the hanger back the right way around. After a certain amount of time has passed (maybe three or six months), take a look at the items in your closet that you haven't worn and reevaluate whether you need them. This tip allows you to be objective and honest with yourself about what you're wearing.
Practice one-thing-in and one-thing-out
Once you've organized your closet, try to practice the one-thing-in and one-thing-out rule. Your closet has a finite amount of space, so for every new purchase you make, consider taking one item out and adding it to the donate pile. You can make a few exceptions to this rule, but if you stick to it, you're guaranteed to have a well-organized closet with some breathing room.
Use the essentials to define categories of items
Using bins , baskets , or a shoe rack to define categories of items will help you create boundaries. For example, if you keep your shoes on our Entryway Rack, you'll know that you have room for nine pairs, and once your collection extends beyond that, you'll know it's time to pare down or find another home.
Use Shelf Risers to create even more vertical space
The higher you stack your folded clothes on a shelf, the more likely they are to topple over. Try to minimize folded stacks to six or seven items. If you need more space, invest in a set of Shelf Risers to double the surface area of any closet shelf.
Use Underbed Storage Bins to relieve a cluttered closet
If your off-season clothing is still floating around, consider picking up a set of Underbed Storage Bins . These beautiful bins are the perfect solution for seasonal stowing away, so you utilize that key real estate for the items you're wearing every day.
