It seems obvious, but having a well-organized closet can not only save you time—it can also bring you immense peace of mind. This isn’t an exaggeration: In one study, women living with home clutter were actually found to have higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol. But controlling the chaos is easier said than done; especially when you’re dealing with a small space or a wardrobe that’s especially out of control. While it might be tempting to start storing some of your extra items in strange places—like the oven, à la Carrie Bradshaw—there are far better ways to maximize your closet space.
It starts with having a game plan. According to Allison Finn of Reclaim Professional Organizing, there really are just three essential steps: “Edit your wardrobe, keep items you wear and feel good in, and, use bins wherever possible. This ensures the space stays tidy,” she says. It also helps to have a few handy tools at your disposal that’ll make your closet visually sleek.
How to Organize Your Closet, According to Replica Handbags Shop
To help make it all the easier, we’ve gathered tips from experts who specialize in turning once-unwieldy wardrobes into wow-worthy closets to rival any Pinterest feed. Read on to find out how to organize a closet once and for all—with the help of a few handy pieces, of course.
Step One: The Edit
A true deep clean means paring down everything—from shoes and purses to scarves and necklaces—and getting real about what you actually need. “First, take everything out of the closet—yes, everything,” advises Los Angeles-based professional organizer Meaghan Kessman. “Then, edit everything. And, be honest with yourself.” Make three piles: one for keeping, one for donating or selling, and one for any unwearable or damaged items that should be thrown away or (ideally) recycled.
Tina Priestly, founder of Virginia-based home decluttering company Ready, Set, Refresh!, recommends using the “Five Outfit Rule” to make hard cuts: “If you can make a minimum of five different looks with a piece and will wear it, then keep it,” she advises. She also asks her clients to reflect on their actual use with each item. “Ask yourself if you’ve worn the item in the last 90 days or expect to wear it in the next 90. Except in the case of seasonal items, if the answer is no, it’s time to let it go,” she says.
As for those pieces that you’re on the fence about? Shira Gill, organizing expert and author of Minimalista uses something she calls the “backwards hanger” trick. “Turn all hangers backwards at the start of the season,” she says. “Anything still backwards at the end hasn’t been word, and needs to be seriously reconsidered—no extensions.”
Step Two: The System
There is no one way to organize a closet—find the method that makes sense for you, and you’ll be more likely to stick to it.
Arrange your “keep” pile into categories. Put boots with boots, sandals with sandals, button-up shirts with button-up shirts, and so on. This will give you a nice dopamine hit—and, also, a sense of how much space you’ll need for each type of item. “It is much easier to find your favorite T-shirt if it is with all of your other T-shirts,” Courtney Cummings of The Stylish Organizer notes.
Gill is a fan of hanging items by category, and then by color within each category. “Light to dark within each group makes gaps and redundancies visible immediately and creates a boutique-like effect that makes you actually want to open your closet,” she explains. Try putting all patterns at one end to minimize visual chaos, too. “Your eye needs somewhere to rest.”
Or, try organizing by occasion and outfit groupings. “Items should be placed in zones for easy access,” Finn recommends. This has to do with how you operate while getting dressed—after all, Cummings says, you have to take into account the way you function best. “For example, if you always wear a cami with a blazer, put those items together. If you always wear a dress with a hat, put those items together,” she adds. “Everyone uses their space differently, it’s about finding what will work the best for you.”
It’s also a good idea to consider the frequency of use. “Things you use most often can be in the eye line; less regular items can go in top or bottom spaces that are more difficult to access,” Priestly says. Gill has a more specific view: Your most-worn 30% go at eye level and arm’s reach; everything else can be scattered. “Most people organize aesthetically instead of ergonomically — and then wonder why they always reach for the same things,” she says.
Step 3: The Practice
A good rule of thumb when it comes to determining what should be hung versus folded? Consider which method will keep clothes looking their best. “Items that tend to wrinkle easily should be hung,” Finn advises. “Sweaters should be folded so they don’t get damaged. Items such as bathing suits and winter accessories are best stored in bins on shelves.” To optimize hanging space, you should also swap out any bulky hangers for slim felt versions—not only will they not leave marks on clothes, but they also tend to prevent items from falling.
Placing like-items in matching bins and creating compartments in drawers with dividers can help to cut down on visual clutter and achieve a cohesive look. Plus, “pretty bins and baskets can bring you extra happiness,” Cummings muses.
Of course, these classic organizing containers are functional, too. “Use your vertical space by investing in bins or baskets that can be stacked,” Cummings says. “I also always recommend—regardless of the size—a closet that has adjustability so that it can adapt to your needs and change with your wardrobe.”
Speaking of small closets, Cummings advises doubling down on other space-saving solutions to optimize every inch. “For a small or odd-shaped closet, installing shelves higher or adding hanging rods above other items for shoes, bags, or even folded clothes can be great ways to maximize vertical space,” she says. The same thought process can be applied to the bottom of the closet, an often under-utilized space. “I’ve used adjustable hanging closet bars for the lower half of the closet. This doubles the capacity for storage and lets you hang items like pants or tops on the bottom row,” Houston-based interior designer Lauren Ashley explains, adding that organizing a small closet can often feel “like a game of Tetris.”
And don’t forget to consider less-obvious areas, either: “Hang an over-door organizer to store shoes or accessories,” Priestly says. “All these tricks would help create a functional, organized closet, regardless of lack of space.”
As for the one key tool you’ll need to live with this day-to-day? “Keep a step ladder within reach of your closet to access those higher shelves,” adds Ashley.
Step 4: The Extras
It may seem obvious, but tucking away items that you’re not currently using can also cut down on clutter. Under-bed storage bins and vacuum-sealed bags can work wonders, as can designating space in another, less frequently used part of the home. “Store special occasion clothing and seasonal items in another closet, if possible,” Finn says.
The unique problem of storing jewelry, hats, and any other non-foldable, potentially oddly shaped items often results in jumbled piles at the back of a closet or drawer—but no more. Prevent necklace and bracelet tangling by using velvet trays; rings can go in few pretty dishes on top of your dresser. “If you have the drawer space, that is a great way to keep things contained but accessible,” Cummings says.
Use your empty walls to your advantage, hanging scarves, belts, and even bags to keep each piece visible. For bulkier bags, like totes, Gill recommends storing them on a shelf carefully rather than hanging them by the strap to help the shape stay intact. “Store them upright, using small bag inserts or tissue paper, lined up like books so you can see your whole collectsion at a glance.”
As for your little group of personal favorites? Pick out a beautiful tray, put it on your nightstand or vanity, and fill it with the items in your daily rotation. “The watch you wear everyday, the earrings you always reach for… this creates a home for your essentials and eliminates the morning scramble,” continues Gill. And if an organization piece can
