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Organize Your Closet in 3 Easy Steps

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Have you ever gone into your closet looking for that special something you haven’t worn in a while?

You know, that sweater that goes with those particular shoes. But you just can’t seem to find it. It’s in there, you know it is, but where?

It’s times like this that you wish your closet was more organized.

So, let’s look at how to straighten out your closet in 3 effective steps.

Before we look at each step in detail, here are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Schedule the time to straighten out your closet.
  • Depending on the size of your closet, consider working on one side first and scheduling another day to complete the other side, to reduce overwhelm.
  • Keep trash bags handy, to categorize between trash and donations as you sort through your clothing and accessories (as described in the Declutter Guide).
  • Have a couple of totes nearby for out-of-season items and items you intend to sell.
  • Use shoeboxes and/or hanging shoe organizers to arrange your footwear. Hanging organizers can also be used to store some of your accessories.
  • Consider wooden hangers as a great way to lengthen the life of your clothing, keep clothes symmetrical, and add some elegance to the overall look of your closet.
  • A step stool is a great way to easily reach the top shelf; this way, you’re not just throwing your items up there.

Now, let’s delve into the steps of how to straighten out your closet.

1. Empty and Clean

Cleaning out your closet is essential. This will give you a chance to clear out all your clothes and start with a clean slate.

So, take everything out, and I mean everything. You’ll probably find a few surprises when doing this.  Like a forgotten skirt, or perhaps several single socks that went missing some time ago.

When taking the clothes out, don’t just throw them all into one big pile. Make sure to divide them into nice, organized groups and piles as you remove them. Separate your winter and summer clothing and store the out-of-season items in a tote. This will immediately give you more closet space.

Divide your in-season items into piles such as sweaters, pants, blouses, and so on.

Once everything is out, give the closet a thorough clean. Wipe the shelving, the hanging bars, clean the flooring.

This will give your closet that clean, fresh smell. And, get rid of any dust bunnies hiding in the corners.  So, when it’s time to put everything back, you have a clean and clear canvas to work with.

2. Declutter

Once you have all your piles organized, it’s time to go through them. This is where some big decisions have to be made, such as what to keep, sell, donate, and trash.

Now is the time to get rid of the clothing that you truly don’t need. 

I know this will be hard, but it has to be done. Take out the clothes that don’t fit anymore (because the diet worked).

Get rid of old, worn out stuff that you are, and let’s be honest, never going to patch, hem, or stitch.  

Purge the clothing that no longer fits.

Anything that’s not in style anymore, you can get rid of.  You may think that the 80’s are coming back – they’re not.

If you are still unsure about what to keep and what to get rid of, ask yourself a couple of questions:

  • “How often do I wear this?” If it’s something you wear a lot, then yes, it’s a keeper. If, however, you have not worn an item in over a year, it’s probably something you can do without.
  • “Do I really love this?” I know we can fall in love with a particular item we don’t wear very often.  Is this something you foresee wearing again? No, you can’t predict the future, however, there’s likely not much chance you’ll wear the bridesmaid dress you wore for your friend’s wedding 10 years ago.  Unless it’s a timeless classic. In which case, it’s probably a keeper. At the end of the day, making these decisions can be challenging.

As you sort through your items, keep your trash bags handy to categorize between clothes that you’ll throw away and clothing that will be donated.  

Although you may no longer have any use for certain items, there might be someone out there who can make good use of what you do not intend to keep. Think about donating the clothes you no longer wear to a thrift store or a charity.

You might even be able to make some money off the clothes you no longer want or need. Some second-hand stores will accept your items, and you’ll get a percentage of their sales.

Or, consider selling your items online.  The writer of 17 Best Places to Sell Clothes Online for Cash, provides helpful tips, in addition to the pros and cons of each site.

3. Organize

Once you have everything cleaned and separated, it’s time to put it all back.

When it comes to putting your clothes back in an organized manner, do what makes sense for you. But there are few basic tips that can help you out if you are having trouble getting started.

  1. Put the least used items to the back or up top. Things that you might only wear once or twice a year, like your expensive items and your formal wear.
  2. Make favorite clothes more easily accessible. Skirts, pants, or whatever you wear the most, place them more in the middle, so you are not searching for them.
  3. Double hang. This works well for clothes you don’t wear as often as others.
  4. Put like items with like items. Long sleeve shirts, dresses, skirts, pants, etc. This tip seems pretty obvious, but you would be surprised how often things get mixed up.

So, when you are putting things away, make sure you put them back in the right spot. This will help keep that clutter down and give you peace of mind. And you will know exactly where your favorite sweater is on those days you just need a little comfort.

Now that you know how to straighten out your closet, all you have to do is maintain it. Keeping your closet organized with a little monthly maintenance is the best way to avoid having to do another big overhaul.