With busy schedules and an ever-growing wardrobe, closets can quickly turn into a chaotic clothing situation. Upgrade your closet system and take advantage of storage tools to keep your space neat and accessible. Not sure where to start? We’ll show you how to organize your closet with this comprehensive guide.

How to Organize Your Closet

We’ve thought about everything you should consider when creating your custom organization system. These steps are the action plan you need to create the closet of your dreams.

1. Keep, Donate, or Toss

Before you tackle closet organization, make some room by sorting through your current wardrobe. Donate any clothes that no longer fit or that you don’t see yourself wearing again, and toss any clothes that are stained, worn out, or torn. This will free-up space and make it easier to find the pieces you need.

2. Choose a Closet System

Start by choosing a closet system based on whether you have a walk-in or reach-in closet. When choosing a system, first think about what types of clothing and accessories you have the most of – you may want more hanging space, more drawers, or more shoe storage. A storage system will give you a good base to work with and you can add in more organizational tools to store certain accessories. You can also opt for a freestanding or wall-mounted closet system if that better suits your space.

Tip!

Need help choosing the right closet system? Check out our helpful guides:
How to Choose the Right Closet System
The Best Closet Systems to Calm Down the Clutter

3. Pick Out Organization Essentials

Once you have a closet system installed, you can add in hangers, baskets, boxes, and bins to organize different pieces of clothing and accessories to keep closet chaos at bay.

• Hangers: Essential for storing your favorite pieces (and keeping them wrinkle-free) hangers allow you to hang up dresses, suits, and tops. Choose one style of hanger to maximize the space in your closet – they will fit closer together than mismatched styles (and they’ll look nice too!). Cedar hangers are an attractive option that will give your closet a clean smell and are naturally moth-repellant.

• Hanging Closet Organizers: If you’ve been looking for closet shelving ideas, look no further! Hanging closet organizers are ideal for folded items like jeans or sweaters and you can use them as shelves, cubbies, or add little drawers, making them a super-customizable option.

• Shoe Storage: If you have the tendency to throw shoes in a pile on the floor of your closet or stuff them under your bed, shoe storage is going to be a must for you in order to keep your closet tidy. Choose from options like shoe cubbies, over-the-door hanging shoe organizers, or shoe storage boxes, which can help you keep them ordered on a shelf.

• Baskets & Bins: Storage baskets and bins are fantastic for storing just about anything. Whether you are looking to store accessories or bulky winter sweaters, a basket or a bin could be the answer. Whether you want to put them on a shelf or place them on the closet floor, it will help cut clutter and look great doing it.

• Shelf Dividers & Racks: Install accessory racks on the wall in your closet to neatly store belts and scarves so they don’t get tucked away and lost somewhere. Shelf dividers are useful for keeping clothes or accessories like purses, hats, or shoes separate on the same shelf. You’ll hardly notice clear plastic ones, and they’ll still do the job.

4. Boost Storage With Furniture

Prevent closet overflow and keep things neat by adding storage furniture to your closet or right outside of it.

• Dressers & Chests: If you have extra room in your walk-in closet and want more clothing storage aside from your closet system consider adding a dresser or chest right in your closet. If there’s not enough room, no worries! Add even more clothes storage by placing a dresser in your bedroom.

• Storage Benches Storage benches can be placed in your walk-in closet for extra storage space, as well as to act as a cushioned seat for putting on your shoes in the morning or taking them off at the end of the day. If you don’t have a walk-in, you can place a storage bench in your room near your closet opening to serve as an extension that’s still perfect for storing and sitting.

• Coat Racks: A freestanding or wall-mounted coat rack is a brilliant addition to your walk-in closet or nearby. Hang frequently worn jackets, sweaters, or even your bathrobe on this rack so you can easily grab them and hang them back up without having to find a spot among your other clothes.

• Jewelry Armoires: If you like to keep your jewelery with your other accessories and clothing, invest in a jewelery armoire to keep your precious pieces safe. Jewelry armoires make great additions to walk-in closets and can be matched to your wardrobe furniture or closet systems.

• Makeup Vanities: Do most of your morning routine in your walk-in closet to avoid cluttering up your bathroom. Adding a makeup vanity to your closet is the best way to neatly store all of your makeup and skincare products, while adding extra light and a mirror to your space as well.

Tips for Keeping Your Closet Organized

Getting organized is half the battle, and keeping it that way takes consistency and regular recalibration. Take note of these tips to help keep your closet setup streamlined!

1. Stick to Your System: Make sure you keep things in their designated areas when you’re putting them away. If you start throwing jeans in your shirt drawer, or underwear in your socks basket, all your hard work and planning will quickly unravel. We know it can be tempting to put things wherever they will fit when you're in a rush, but you’ll thank yourself in the long run!

2. Perfect Your Laundry Routine: Keep up with laundry to avoid things piling up on your closet floor. USe multiple laundry baskets so you can sort clothes as you take them off, and wash them as soon as you have enough for a load of laundry. Folding clothes and putting them away as soon as they’re out of the dryer is the best way to keep things tidy.

3. Include Your Closet in Your Cleaning Schedule: Make sure to include your closet on your cleaning to-do list. Closet systems should be dusted regularly to help keep your clothes fresh. Vacuuming your closet floor regularly will help you hold yourself accountable since you’ll have to keep things off the floor and in their appropriate places.

4. Rotate Clothing Seasonally: Instead of keeping your entire spring/summer and fall/winter wardrobes in your closet year-round, only keep the current season’s clothing and accessories out. Store out-of-season stuff in a container with a lid so it’s protected, and store it in your basement, attic, or storage closet until you need it again! This will also make it easier to sort through clothing when you’re looking for something specific. Throw some scented sachets in each container before you put them away, so your clothes smell good when you’re ready for them again!

5. Conduct Regular Clean-Outs: Your seasonal clothing rotation is the perfect time to evaluate your wardrobe, try things on, and donate or ditch whatever no longer serves you. This will keep closet clutter down and will allow you to keep your wardrobe updated without running out of space!

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