Closet Organization for Spring
* Some tips from my itsy bitsy teeny tiny closet with some visuals below!
HANGING ITEMS:
Use sturdy hangers – When your clothing hangs from a sturdy hanger, there’s no chance of a MESS when hangers break, etc. I purchased my black “velvet” hangers from Target. They’re inexpensive and there’s something so pleasing about having everything on the same type of hanger! I keep my clothing on black hangers and my partner’s are on grey hangers. OCD? Maybe. ;) (My outerwear hangs on heavy duty wooden hangers for absolutely no chance of breaking.)
Organize both by type & color – This is SO IMPORTANT and is the *key* to an aesthetically-pleasing closet that’s simple to navigate! The easier you can find things, the less time you need to spend getting ready. In my little closet, I
Weed out anything you don't need – This step can be a challenge for some (believe me…I spend A LOT of time with clients on this step), but it helps to eliminate clutter within the closet space. Why hold onto things you don’t need? Let. That. Shit. Go! If you’re not wearing it, it is CLUTTER. Consign designer pieces locally or online. Donate clothing, shoes, and accessories to a local nonprofit. Save fun, nice, and useful pieces for a clothing swap with friends!
Fold chunky knits – Folding chunkier sweaters and cardigans will prolong their lives…they’ll look better for longer! These thicker pieces also take up much more space, so folding them nicely will give you more “real estate” in the hanging section for thinner pieces.
Utilize vertical space – Going up with your goods creates so much more space! Shoes can be stacked in vertical hangers or if you have the space, those nice shoe boxes / cubbies from The Container Store. For my super small space, I got creative with shoe storage because I have a variety of heights with my footwear. For my regularly-worn booties, I laid down large paper on the high shelf in my closet (next to my folded knits) so that I could access them there. Down below (under my hanging items), I have a low shelf where I have shorter footwear that set on the floor, as well as on top of the low shelf. For smaller shoes (ballet flats, heels, sneakers), they’re hanging in the vertical “cubbies” that hang from my hanger bar. Phew!
Hang lighter knits – These can be hung or folded. A personal preference of mine is to have most clothing items hung (even denim), so I do prefer my lighter knits to be hung, but it’s up to you and the space you have available.
Use the same pant hangers – Not only is it pleasing on the eye, but the hangers fit wayyyy better than having a variety of hanger types. This creates more room and less struggles when trying to remove something from the closet. I hang pants, denim, shorts, and skirts! (I can’t remember where I purchased my pant hangers, but these from Target look nice!
Be creative with space use – I have a variety of bags that I used to not know what to do with until I had the aha idea (!) of installing nice, strong hooks on my closet door. Look at your closet situation and see where you can use hooks or other innovative ways to display / access items. On the bottom hook, I hung less-used bulky bags….beach bag and hiking backpack (gotta have one of those living in Colorado!). The upper hook is amazing as it has three hooks in one! So, I put the smaller crossbody bags on the bottom hook, medium totes on the middle hook, and my big ol’ gym bag and little black back pack on the top hook.
Hooks, hooks & more hooks – I loooove hooks! (It’s one of the things that I notice hotels and Airbnb / Vrbo homes don’t have enough of….ever!) The hook that I used to hang my nice, lightweight scarves and hat is beautiful (same “trio” hook that I hung my bags on in my closet), but unfortunately you can’t see it! ;) Here are some cute multi-item hooks I found online: Leggy Crossed Wall Hook by SIN, Amigo Cactus Hook from West Elm, and Brass 3-Prong Swivel Hook by CB2.
FOLDED ITEMS:
Fold *neatly* – Yes, take the time and fold your things nicely! You’re not eight. This will help you to find the things you need sooo EASILY!
Use dividers for smaller items – I don’t use anything fancy….up-cycled boxes that are sturdy and in great condition, small organization “catch alls” that I impulse buy every time I go to Target, and The Container Store has quite a variety too! Many of their styles are stackable, which can work in a variety of spaces (closet, inside drawers, linen closets, etc.
Keep like items together – Again, this will help you to locate items with ease. Undies with the undies, socks with socks, athletic pieces together, and so on.
Make use of the space by folding different ways – I tend to fold laundry in my bedroom so that I can see the space in which something is going to be stored. This way I can fold appropriately vs folding and then refolding when I’m putting something away. Not genius, just working smartly! ;)
I have a million more tips, but these make for a great foundation. I tend to review my closet (and other belongings that may have accumulated) quarterly – so 4x a year. I recommend this to all of my clients too! It’s quite refreshing to be able to go through, declutter, organize, and make some donations (or sell some pieces).
If you’re local to the Denver Metro area and need a closet organizational guide, please don’t hesitate to reach out! I’m for hire and actually, closet / wardrobe organization is one of my favorite in-person projects! #nerdalert
But…I nerd out for YOU! :)
xo
~Rachel
