How to arrange – hang- organize- your clothes in your closet
The allure of a clean and organized closet is not just about having a neat space; it taps into something deeper in the human psyche. For many gals, the dream closet resembles a boutique where you can shop in your own closet.
Having an organized closet is not just a luxury; it’s a necessity for us girls. Whether you have a walk-in closet, a small bedroom closet, or even just a tiny linen closet, this step-by-step guide will show you the best way to maximize your storage space and keep your clothing items in tip-top condition.
So how do you organize, arrange and hang your clothes in a closet to maximize the space? We have you covered here!
We will cover everything from choosing the hangers and shelf dividers. How to sort and arrange your closet space. Also, professional tips on purging clothes and creating an ideal wardrobe oasis.
We’ll cover everything from choosing the right hangers to utilizing shelf dividers and even some tips from professional organizers. Let’s dive in!
The Best Way to Organize Your Closet: A Step-by-Step Guide
My Favorite Clear Containers
These clear storage containers are perfect for deep drawers and shelves. Shop Here On Amazon.
1. Assess Your Closet Space:
- Measure Your Closet: The first step in achieving an organized closet is to assess your available space. Measure the dimensions of your closet, including height, width, and depth.
- Identify Dead Space: Take note of any unused or wasted space in your closet. This is where closet systems and custom shelving can come in handy.
- Consider Your Closet Type: Whether it’s a walk-in closet, a small bedroom closet, or a tiny linen closet, understanding your closet’s limitations is key.
2. Purge and Update:
Periodically review your clothing collection and remove items you no longer wear or need. This ensures that your closet doesn’t become cluttered over time.
Tips to Purging Your Closet
A. Assess Each Item:
- Remove all items out of your closet
- Take each piece of clothing in your hands and evaluate it.
- Ask yourself: Do I wear this regularly? Does it fit well? Is it in good condition? Does it make me feel confident and comfortable? Would someone else find more joy in this piece than me? Do you love it? When was the last time you wore it?
- Try on the clothes if you are unsure you want to keep them or not.
- After sorting some items out, try on the left over clothing pieces and purge again.
B. Now Create Piles
- Sort your clothing into the categories.
- Categories are love it, maybe, seasonal and donate or sell.
- Keep: Items that you love, wear regularly, and fit well.
- Donate: Gently worn clothing in good condition that you no longer want.
- Sell: Items you believe have value and can be sold online or at a consignment store.
- Discard: Items that are damaged, worn out, or beyond repair.
C. Hang Items You Love On A Rack
- Use a rolling rack to hang your dresses, jackets and long sleeve shirts so you can see the items hanging.Rolling garment racks come in handy when you are moving your clothes around in your closet.
- Don’t have a rack? Use you bed to lay out your items.
3. Now Sort and Categorize and Arrange Your Clothing:
For what is left, it’s time to now sort and organize your clothing to prepare how you will add items back into your closet.
- Group your clothing by type, such as shirts, dresses, pants, or skirts. You may also sort by season or occasion, depending on your preferences. You may want to group your work clothes together as well.
- Marie Kondo also recommends grouping similar materials within a category – so putting all wool sweaters together because they have a similar feel.
4. Prepare Your Closet Space:
- Clear out any clutter from your closet and give it a cleaning. Adequate lighting is essential for visibility.
- Maximize Vertical Space: Install Closet Rods: If you have enough space, install an additional hanging rod for hanging clothes. Doing this will take your closet organization to a new level. Consider using simple tension rods for a small space.
5. How to Properly Hang Clothes:
It makes a big difference in how to properly hang your clothes in a closet. It makes it so much easier to pick out your outfits and shop in your own closet space.
Maintain consistent heights for your clothing rods, ensuring they are level. Use the appropriate hanger hooks for your specific rod design.
Keep like items together for easy access and organization. Determine how you want to hang your clothes. Hang by season, color, by outfit.
My favorite hangers on Amazon
50 Pack – Non-Slip & Durable Clothes Hangers – Black Hangers with 360 Degree Rotatable Hook
Establish a Hanging Plan:
Create a plan for how you want to arrange your clothing. Ensure a tastefully pleasing arrangement..
- Hang Your Clothes In The Same Direction: Don’t know about you, but it bugs me when my hangers are facing the wrong way. It keeps the look of the closet organized.
- Take it a step further by using uniform hangers: Another tip hanger to identify which clothes you wear the most often is to turn the hanger the other way once you wear something. By the end of the season, you will be able to identify which items got worn and which didn’t.
- What Type Of Hangers? Finding the right hanger for your closet is key. If your closet is spacious, use wood hangers. Wooden hangers are sturdy. If you’re low on space, slim velvet hangers are a better bet. Avoid those pesky wire hangers from the dry cleaners. Ideally you want a non-slip hanger.
6. Organize Accessories and Essentials
Organizing accessories is tricky. It’s similar to organizing your bathroom. Tips to arrange and organize your accessories:
- Designate a specific area or shelf in your closet for accessories. Having a dedicated space will make it easier to keep your accessories organized.
- Label or Color-Code: If you have many accessories or want to ensure a high level of organization, consider labeling or color-coding storage containers or sections. This can help you quickly locate what you need.
- Hang Accessories: Use hooks or pegs inside the closet for hanging accessories like hats, belts, and necklaces. This keeps them visible and easily accessible.
- Incorporate specialty hooks for bags, scarves, or belts. Use belt and tie racks for these accessories.
- Install shelf dividers to keep stacks of clothing neat and separated.
- Roll Scarves: I roll my scarves and organize them in a drawer organizer.
Sock organization for drawers
Fabric Drawer Organizers for Clothing, 3 Pack Sock Underwear Organizer. 20+20.
Amazon: $19.99
7. Maximize Vertical and Horizontal Space:
Vertical Hanging Space:
- Double Hang Rods: Install double hang rods in sections of your closet. This allows you to hang shorter items like shirts and blouses in the upper rod and longer items like dresses and coats in the lower rod.
- Use Hooks: Install hooks or pegs on the inside of the closet door or on the walls for hanging items like bags, belts, scarves, or hats.
- Shoe Organizer: Consider using a hanging shoe organizer with multiple pockets. This can free up shelf space for other items and make efficient use of vertical space.
- Stacking Shelves: Use stacking shelves or hanging shelves that attach to the closet rod. These provide additional storage for folded clothes, shoes, or accessories.
- Shelf Dividers: Install shelf dividers to keep stacks of clothes neat and prevent them from toppling over.
Horizontal Hanging Space:
- Adjustable Shelving: If possible, install adjustable shelves to customize the spacing between shelves to accommodate different types of items.
- Drawer Units: Use drawer units or baskets on shelves to store smaller items like socks, underwear, and accessories. This makes efficient use of horizontal space and keeps things organized.
- Pull-Out Trays: Consider installing pull-out trays or baskets on some shelves. These can make it easier to access items and maximize the use of shelf space.
- Slim Hangers: Use slim, non-slip hangers to maximize hanging space. They take up less room than bulky hangers and allow you to fit more clothes on the rod.
- Under-Shelf Hooks: Install hooks or hangers underneath shelves to hang items like handbags, ties, or belts, utilizing otherwise unused space.
- Use the Top Shelf: Don’t forget to use the top shelf of your closet for items you don’t need to access frequently, such as seasonal clothing, extra bedding, or luggage.
- Fold Clothes Efficiently: Learn to fold clothes efficiently to make the most of shelf and drawer space. There are various techniques for folding different types of clothing.
Remember that the key to maximizing closet space is to keep it organized and decluttered. Regularly assess what you have and whether you need it, and then use these organizational tips to make the most of your closet’s vertical and horizontal space.
9. Storing Footwear:
- Dedicate space for your shoe collection. Use shoe shelves, over-the-door shoe organizers, or shoe storage containers to keep them tidy.
- Organize shoes by style, putting on boots, sandals, and sneakers together with similar items. Use stackable racks so that you can optimize the vertical space in your closet, and add more if your shoe collection grows..
- If your closet is big enough, use shoe boxes to store shoes when out of season.
More Closet Organizing Essentials
Here are some of the supplies that I used when making this project!
Handbag Organizer
Clear Handbag Storage Organizer for Closet, 3 Packs Acrylic Display Case for Purse/Handbag, Plastic Storage Containers with Magnetic Door, Acrylic Box Organizers
$37.00 Amazon
Velvet Jewelry Trays
Set of 9 Stackable Velvet Jewelry Trays Organizer, Jewelry Storage Box Display Trays. Showcase Holder Closet Dresser Drawer Organizer for Earring Necklace Bracelet Ring Accessary
$32.00 Amazon
Baseball Cap Organization
Hat Rack for Baseball Caps – 2 Pieces Adhesive Hat Organizer Wall Mount, Strong Hat Storage Organizer for Baseball Cap No Drilling Hat Holder for Door, Closet and Wall
$14.00 Amazon
10. Storing Hats:
Storing baseball caps and sun hats can be a challenge. I have so many hats and struggle with the best way to organize and store my hats. Here are some ideas for you to explore to display your hats so you can see them in a organized fashion.
Dedicate space for your shoe collection. Use shoe shelves, over-the-door shoe organizers, or shoe storage containers to keep them tidy.
Hat Racks: Hat racks are designed specifically for storing and displaying hats. They can be free-standing or wall-mounted, and they come in various styles and sizes to accommodate multiple hats.
Shelving To Arrange Hats: Install shelves in your closet to display and store hats. Use adjustable shelves to customize the spacing between them, allowing for different hat sizes and styles.
Cubbies or Cubby Bins: Cubbies or cubby bins are great for storing hats, especially if you have a collection of hats. Each hat can have its designated space, preventing them from getting squished or deformed.
Hat Bands or Rings: Hat bands or rings are designed to keep the shape of hats while they are stored. You can attach these bands to a closet rod or use them on a shelf to stack hats neatly.
Hanging Hat Organizer: Look for hanging hat organizers that have individual pockets or compartments designed for each hat. These organizers can hang from a closet rod or hook.
Hat Clips: Hat clips or hangers are designed to clip onto the edge of a shelf, allowing you to hang hats by their brims or crowns.
Clear Plastic Containers: Use clear plastic containers with lids to store hats. This protects them from dust and moisture while allowing you to see the contents inside.
12. Storing Chunky Sweaters
- Categorize: Divide your sweaters into categories. Organize big sweaters them by type (chunky, cardigans, pullovers), color, season (spring/summer vs. fall/winter), or any other criteria that make sense to you.
- For chunky sweaters, which will take up a lot of space, consider using storage bins or baskets. Fold your chunky sweaters neatly and place them in the bins. Label the bins or baskets with the type or color of sweaters inside for easy identification.
- Shelving and Hanging: Use closet shelves for your folded sweaters. Organize them in a tidy way on the shelves according to their categories or colors..
- Invest in Shelf Dividers: Shelf dividers will help keep your sweaters from toppling over. They’re especially useful if you stack your sweaters on shelves.
13. Organizing Your Clothes In Drawers:
Organizing Socks:
Drawer Dividers: Use drawer dividers or organizers within your dresser or closet drawers. These dividers keep socks separate and prevent them from becoming a jumbled mess.
Rolling Technique: Roll your socks instead of folding them. This saves space, keeps pairs together, and makes it easier to see and access each pair.
Sock Bins or Baskets: Place small bins or baskets inside your closet or on shelves to store rolled or folded socks. Label the bins or use clear bins so you can quickly find the socks you need.
Sock Clips: Consider using sock clips or hangers with clips to keep pairs of socks together. Hang them on a rod in your closet for easy access.
Color-Coding: If you have a large sock collection, consider color-coding them. This makes it easy to find the exact pair you want.
Organizing T-Shirts Ideas
Folding: Fold T-shirts neatly to save space and keep them looking organized. You can use the KonMari folding method or simply fold them in half horizontally and then in thirds vertically.
Vertical Storage: Store T-shirts vertically in drawers or bins. This allows you to see each shirt at a glance and prevents the need to disrupt the stack to access one at the bottom.
Drawer Dividers: Use drawer dividers or organizers in your dresser to keep T-shirts separate and prevent them from getting mixed up.
Shelf Dividers: If you have open shelves in your closet, consider using shelf dividers to create separate sections for different categories of T-shirts.
Hanging T-Shirts: Hang T-shirts on hangers if you prefer to keep them wrinkle-free and easily accessible. Use non-slip hangers to prevent them from sliding off.
Color or Style Organization: Organize T-shirts by color or style. This can make it easier to find the specific shirt you want, especially if you have a large collection.
Bras In Drawers
- Use Drawer Dividers or Organizers: Drawer dividers or organizers are key to keeping bras neatly separated. Consider using adjustable dividers or specially designed lingerie organizers with compartments. Arrange them in the drawer according to your grouping from step 4.
- Fold or Stack: Depending on the type of bras and the space available, you can either fold them or stack them vertically.
- Folding: Fold each bra in half by bringing one cup over the other. Stack folded bras side by side in the drawer, with the cups facing up. This method works well for bras with molded cups to help maintain their shape.
- Stacking: For soft-cup bras, you can stack them one on top of the other, with the bands aligned. This method saves space and allows for easy visibility.
- Keep Matching Sets Together: If you like to wear matching bra and underwear sets, store them together in the same section of the drawer. This way, you can easily grab a complete set when needed.
Storing Underwear Ideas
Fold or Roll Fold or roll your underwear to save space and keep them organized:
- Folding: Fold each pair of underwear in half lengthwise, and then fold it in half again. Place them vertically in the compartments so you can see each pair at a glance.
- Rolling: Rolling underwear can save space and make it easy to see what you have. Roll each pair tightly and place them in the compartments. This works particularly well for lightweight and stretchy fabrics.
Keep Sets Together If you wear matching bra and underwear sets, store them together in the same section of the drawer. This way, you can quickly find complete sets when you need them.
Label or Color-Code Consider using labels or color-coding to further categorize your underwear if you have a large collection or want to keep things ultra-organized.
14. Maintain Your Organized Closet:
Regularly purge clothing you no longer wear or need. Perform seasonal maintenance to rotate clothing as needed.- Keep a donation bin handy for items you plan to donate.
Additional Tips On Organizing Small Closets:
- In small closets, slimline hangers will help maximize space. Use cascading hangers for pants and neatly fold casual pants and shorts.
- Personalize Your Closet:– Add decorative touches, like color-coded organization or favorite pieces on display, to make your closet uniquely yours.
- Troubleshoot Common Closet Issues:Address limited space, uneven hanging, or closet odors as needed with solutions and storage accessories. Organizing your closet in this way not only makes it easy to find and maintain your clothing, but also helps you make the most of your available space. A well-organized closet can streamline your daily routine and ensure your wardrobe stays in great condition.
- Follow the KonMari Method– Marie Kondo’s KonMari Method: Take inspiration from organization experts like Marie Kondo to declutter and prioritize your favorite pieces. What pieces of clothing bring you joy? Keep those and purge the ones that dont.
Tips On Hanging Clothes In A Small Closet:
Hanging clothes in a tiny closet can be a challenge. Check out the different ways to maximize your space:
Double Up with Cascading Hangers: Cascading hangers are a great idea. It allows you to hang multiple garments vertically from a single hanger. This is especially useful for items like tank tops, camisoles, or scarves.
Install a Double Rod: If your closet has a single rod, consider installing a second rod below it. This provides extra hanging space for shorter items like shirts and blouses.
Adjustable Closet Rods: Use adjustable closet rods to make the most of your closet’s vertical space. Customize the height of these rods to accommodate different clothing, including dresses and long coats.
Use the Back of the Door: Over-the-door organizers, hooks, or shoe pockets. This is a great option and can be used to store shoes, accessories, or even small clothing items like scarves and belts.
Storage Boxes For Under The Bed
Use storage boxes and consider under-bed storage for out of season sweaters. Bed storage containers come in all shapes and sizes. Also, make sure you utilize the top shelf or your closet to store items you don’t use often.
Fold and Hang Pants Vertically: Fold pants in half and use hangers with clips to hang them vertically. This saves horizontal space and makes it easier to see and access your pants.
- Regularly review your clothing and consider selling, donating, or storing items that you no longer wear.. This keeps your closet from becoming overcrowded. During the warm weather season, move your sweaters and warm clothes into storage bins.
Keep It Neat: Regularly tidy up your closet by returning items to their designated spots. A clutter-free space is easier to maintain. - Formal Wear- Those fancy gowns and dresses you don’t wear often. Consider moving them to another closet in the house.
Sticky Labels To Help You Organize Your Closet.
From backpacks to bras, you have the labels here.
Label everything
Once you have sorted and categorized your items, label everything. Use labels to indicate what is in each container or jar. This will save you time when you are looking for something specific.
Use shelves and dividers
Shelves and dividers can help you make the most of your pantry space. Use shelves to store items that are taller or heavier, and dividers to separate items that may get mixed up, such as spices.
My Favorite Shelf Dividers
Write a little something here about why these are your favorite and how you use them
Rotate your items
Make sure to rotate your items to ensure that nothing goes to waste. Use the “first in, first out” method to ensure that you use the oldest items first.
Keep it clean
Finally, make sure to keep your closet stays clean is key. Keep clothes off the floor and get in the habit of arranging your clothes after you wash or wear them.
For more inspiration on home organization for your office, garage and bathroom keep reading.
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