Tired of digging through your closet to find an outfit? Cleaning out your closet may not be the most glamorous of tasks, but having a clean and organized wardrobe is worth the effort. We’ve distilled how to organize your closet into three easy steps–so you can find the clothes you need easily, every time.
How to Organize Your Closet
Figuring out how to organize your closet can be overwhelming. We’ve broken the process down into three easy steps: Declutter, Clean, and Organize.
Declutter
The first step to organizing your closet? Make sure you love (and wear) every item in it! Separate everything in your closet into three piles.
1. Keep
You know what this pile is. Keep clothes that you love and wear often!
2. Give Away
If you never wear it, it doesn’t fit, or it’s not your style anymore, it’s time to give it away. Give Away encompasses a few different options. You can give these items to a friend or loved one, donate them to a local organization, list them on a local Buy Nothing group, or sell them to a consignment shop.
3. Recycle
If an item is stained or ripped beyond repair, it’s time to recycle it. Look for your local textile recycling drop off location. Recycling your textiles helps keep them out of landfills.
The general rule about whether or not to keep something is this: get rid of anything you haven’t worn in over a year. If you can’t remember how long it’s been since you wore it, then you know the answer. It’s time for that item to find a new home! Remember: in an ideal world, opening your closet feels like going to a store where you love every item. If you wouldn’t pick it up off the rack in a store, you probably won’t take it out of your closet.
Clean
The closet is an area of the house that rarely gets a good cleaning. So while it’s empty, use a damp Swedish Dish Cloth and an Oxi Booster solution to wipe down those dusty walls, shelves and drawers. Spritz some Revitalizing Mist to add a nice scent to your closet and clothes!
Organize
Sort through your “Keep” pile and bring order back to your closet. After all of that sorting, purging, hanging and organizing, if you’re still lacking space or necessary shelving to keep your closet tidy and organized, then consider investing in storage solutions like added shelves, bins, or boxes to help keep things organized.
What is the Most Efficient Way to Organize a Closet?
This may sound like a cop out, but the best way to organize your closet is in a way that works and makes sense for you! There are a number of ways to do this, such as:
- Group similar items together
- Use colored hangers for each clothing type
- Designate “zones” in the closet so putting away clothes is simple every time
- Organize by color of clothing
- Purchase hanging accessory bags and storage compartments to make the most of the vertical space in your closet
The secret to an organized closet is to find a system that makes sense for you and is easy to uphold. The easier you can make your organizational system, the more likely you are to stick to it–so you don’t need to repeat this process every few months!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have more questions about how to organize your closet? Looking for additional closet organization tips? We have answers!
How do I Arrange My Closet Space?
In an ideal world, opening your closet feels like going to a store where you love every item! Arrange your closet in a way that makes sense to you. If you have limited storage space and a lot of clothes, look into additional storage solutions and accessories like hanging organizers, drawers, and bins.
How Should I Categorize My Closet?
When deciding how to categorize your closet, take a moment to think about how you put together an outfit. What do you look for when you’re planning your look? You can sort by season, occasion, or even color. The most important thing is that the categories make sense to you and are easy to keep track of and maintain.
How Do I Declutter My Clothes Closet?
Decluttering your clothes closet can be emotional–but you can do it! If the item doesn’t fit, doesn’t match your style, or doesn’t get worn, it’s time for it to find a new home.