Easy Steps to Organize Closets

Get the Easy Steps to Organize Closets so you can find the best solution for these important areas in your home. Get our top picks on what organizers work best for clothes, shoes, and accessories, along with a few layout hacks for the entire setup.

Learn how to organize what you wear so you can start each day in a more organized and stress-free way.

When you look at your home, you might find it surprising that three very important areas, the pantry, bathroom, and closet, also happen to be the smallest.

That is why finding a plan for organizing each is so important to keeping a streamlined home.

Keeping Things Streamlined

I love the term “streamlined” when it comes to organizing because it can really change how we live. Streamlined is all about creating an efficient, simple way of doing things by cutting out unnecessary stuff.

In organizing, it means getting rid of the clutter and making the most of our space to keep things neat and easy to keep that way. Not only does this make everything look nicer, but it also makes our daily routines run smoothly and keeps stress down.

By adopting streamlined habits, we can turn chaotic rooms into orderly spaces, making life a little easier and more enjoyable.

Easy Steps to Organize Closets

Closets are an important part of our daily routine, yet they often get overlooked when we are organizing. The biggest reason might be the amount of items in such a small enclosed area.

When you are greeted with loads of hanging clothes, piles of shoes on the floor, and hooks that are holding heaven knows what, it can be easier to shut the door.

The good news is there are easy steps you can use to jump-start your closet’s organization.

Closet Tip: If you have a large closet, you can break this list down into sections to help make the job easier. Divide the area into four sections and work on one section each week. At the end of the month, you will have a completely organized space without any of the exhaustion or overwhelm.

#1. Start With a Clean Slate

The first step in organizing any space is to completely clear it out. You can use your bed as a work area or set up a folding table nearby.

1. Take everything out of your closet so you can see what you have.
2. Put things into categories for easier organizing. Hanging clothes, folded clothes, shoes, accessories, and misc.

#2. Sort Through Your Items

1. Set up a few laundry baskets to help make sorting easier: Donate, Toss, Give Away.
2. Start sorting through one pile at a time. each item.
3. As you find an item you are going to keep, set it aside.
4. When you have gone through all of your piles, go back and organize the “Keep” pile into sections that make sense for your lifestyle.

#3. Clean the Space

Before you start putting things back into your closet, take a few minutes to clean out the space. Wipe down shelves and vacuum or sweep the floor. This will ensure that everything is fresh before you start organizing.

#4. Choose the Best Storage Solutions

There are many storage solutions available on the market to help make the most of your closet.

1. Hanging shoe organizers for shoes, scarves, hats, and other accessories.
2. Shelf dividers to keep folded clothes neat and organized.
3. Baskets or bins for storing smaller items like socks, belts, or undergarments.
4. Cascading hangers to save space and keep clothes organized.
5. Use labels to help identify the contents of bins or baskets.

#5. Hanging Solutions

When it comes to hanging clothes, there are a few tricks to make the most of your space.

1. Invest in velvet-covered hangers to help clothes stay in their best shape.
2. Group similar items together and hang them on the same hanger, such as tank tops, camisoles, or scarves.
3. If you are a visual person, you can organize your hanging clothes by grouping them by color.
4. Add more space by using double hang rods or adding an extra rod below the main one. Be sure to keep a section of a single rod for longer items such as dresses or suits.
5. Hang clothes that you wear frequently at eye level for easy access.

#6. Fold Strategically

Use these tips to help keep folded clothes neater on an open shelf.

1. Fold clothes into a rectangle, allowing them to stand up on their own. This not only looks neater but also helps save space.
2. Use dividers or create them with cardboard pieces to keep stacks of folded clothes from toppling over.
3. Place heavier items like sweaters or jeans at the bottom of the stack and lighter items like t-shirts or tank tops on top.

#7. Utilize Vertical Space

An often overlooked area in a closet is hidden space along the walls and in the corners.

1. The Walls: You can use hooks, pegboards, or hanging organizers to give you more room and to help keep items off the floor.
2. The Door: Consider using an over-the-door shoe organizer to hold shoes, a metal shelf system to hold purses or a series of hooks to hold bathrobes or workout clothes.
3. The Corners: Use corner shelves to hold jewelry or lotions.

MISSLO Over the Door Organizer Hanging Storage with 6 Large Pockets 12 Side Pockets Closet Door Organizer Heavy Duty Baby Organization for Bathroom, Pantry, Bedroom, Nursery, Clothes, Toys, DiapersOver the Door Organizer 5 Tiers, Extra Large Behind Door Storage of 10 Compartments, 50 lbs Weight Capacity Over the Door Storage, Door Hanging Organizer for Closet, Diaper Organizer, Room storageGorilla Grip Over the Door Shoe Organizer, 24 Large Breathable Mesh Pockets, Space Saving Hanging Storage Holder, Closet Rack Hanger Holds Up to 40 lbs, Hangs on Closets for Shoes, Accessories, Gray

 

#8. The Floor

It is easy to let the floor become a catch-all for items that don’t have a designated spot. But keeping the floor clean and clutter-free can make a huge difference in the overall appearance of your closet.

1. Use zipper storage bags to store out-of-season shoes, bulky sweaters, or travel essentials.
2. Use deep baskets to hold shoes, workout wear, or dirty items.
3. Put a low shelf on the floor to hold shoes you wear often.

Breaking a closet down into areas, such as walls, shelves, hanging, and floors, can help you choose the best organizing solution for that space.

Creating an Organized Setup

No matter what size closet you have, where you locate things matters. Use these tips to make a layout that is easy to keep put away.

#1. Prime Real Estate

Prime real estate is any area in a closet that is easy for you to reach and use. To keep your closet efficient, you will want to store clothes you routinely wear in this area.

Closet Tip: Consider installing a shelf to hold accessories or commonly worn items that are better folded than hung.

#2. The Floor

Keep shoes on the floor using organizers that fit the space. You can put it on a shoe shelf, use plastic bins with labels, or a shoe organizer specifically made for a closet.

Closet Tip: Add shelving with vertical lean-out drawers. These organizers are a great way to store shoes without wasting your space.

#3. Upper Shelves

Top shelves are not convenient for daily use but are perfect for seasonal clothes. Think sweaters, jackets, and other items you only wear a few times a year.

Closet Tip: Use bins or labeled boxes to keep everything organized and easily accessible. You can use zipper bags with a clear window in the front to help you more easily see what is stored inside.

#4. Hidden Corners

Hidden corners are hard to utilize but are perfect for storing things you only use a few times a year. Things like travel gear, luggage, or misc items.

Closet Tip: You can use stacking shelves, plastic bins, or hanging shelves to make the most of this space.

#5. Door Storage

Door storage is a great place to hang items like ties, scarves, and belts. You can also install hooks or over-the-door organizers to hold hats or other small accessories.

Closet Tip: Use a shoe organizer on the back of the door to store smaller shoes such as sandals or flats.

When changing the layout, look at your closet as a room and choose an area for each activity in this space. This tip will help you to lay things out in a way that makes sense to your morning routine.

Tips for an Organized Space

Using organizers that work for you is the best way to keep a streamlined closet, but what can you do to ensure the clothes you have do not get out of hand again?

#1. Regular Maintenance

Set aside time every month to freshen up your closet.

1. Do a quick sort through your clothes and look for 5-10 items you can donate.
2. Put away clean laundry and take any dirty to the laundry room.
3. Look for areas in your closet that are messy and find an organizing solution to keep it neater going forward.

#2. One In, One Out Rule

For every new item you bring into your closet, donate or get rid of one old item. This will prevent your closet from becoming overcrowded.

#3. Use the Hanger Trick

This tip is the easiest way to keep your closet from becoming over-stuffed.

1. Turn all of the hangers in your closet backward.
2. As you wear an item, hang it back up with the hanger facing the correct way.
3. After a set amount of time (1-2 months), any hangers that are still facing the wrong way are things you haven’t worn.
4. Go through those clothes and donate what you no longer want.
5. Repeat this tip every three months.

#4. Keep a Donation Box in Your Closet

Having a bag or box for donations in your closet makes it easy to quickly get rid of items you no longer want or need. When the box is full, put it into the back of your car. The next time you run errands, take it to a donation center.

#5. Stay on Top of Laundry

One pile of laundry can quickly turn into multiple piles if not taken care of regularly. Stay on top of laundry by doing one load a day or every other day. This will prevent a backlog of clothes from building up in your closet.

#6. Assess and Correct Your Storage Solutions

Every month or so, look at your space and see if your setup still works for you. If not, try different organizers, use more prominent labels, or rearrange your setup.

The only rule in organizing is to set things up in a way that is easy for you to keep up with.

#7. Rotate Seasonal Clothing

If you have limited closet space, consider rotating your seasonal clothing. Pack away items that aren’t currently in season to free up more space for the clothes you need right now. This also allows for a fresh change of wardrobe every few months.

A clean and organized closet is the secret to a stress-free morning routine and creating habits that can spill over into a clutter-free home.

By utilizing wall space, shelves, hanging solutions, and regular maintenance routines, your closet can become organized instead of a crammed and chaotic mess.

More Solutions for Your Clothes:

• Clothes Drawer Organization Ideas
• Best Way to Organize the Closet
• Bulky Sweater Storage Ideas