Making sense of how to organize a closet can be intimidating—especially when you’re dealing with a small space or a wardrobe that has somehow become an out-of-control mess. While it might be tempting to start storing some of your extra items in strange places—like the oven, à la Carrie Bradshaw—there are far better ways to maximize your closet space.
To help make it all the easier, we’ve gathered tips from experts who specialize in turning once-unwieldy wardrobes into wow-worthy closets to rival any Pinterest feed. Read on to find out how to organize a closet, whether the space you have is micro or walk-in.
The benefits of a well-organized closet
It seems obvious, but having a well-organized closet can not only save you time—it can also bring you immense peace of mind. This isn’t an exaggeration: In one study, women living with home clutter were actually found to have higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
Keeping our closets neat is one small but helpful way we can mitigate the anxiety of our otherwise hectic lives. “A well-organized closet is easily accessible, clutter-free, neatly categorized by type and color, and visually calming,” notes Los Angeles-based professional organizer Meaghan Kessman. “The layout should feel orderly and make selecting clothes a smooth, stress-free experience.”
How to organize a closet
To that end, there are simple steps you can take to organize your closet without wanting to pull all your hair out. However, before you flinging clothes around, it helps to have a game plan. According to Allison Finn of Reclaim Professional Organizing, there really are just three essential steps: “Edit your wardrobe, keep items you wear and feel good in, and, use bins wherever possible. This ensures the space stays tidy,” she says.
Declutter
Embracing minimalism is often the best organizing “system” in itself. After all, the best closets are often the simplest.
This means paring down everything from shoes and purses to scarves and necklaces and getting real about what you actually need. “First, take everything out of the closet—yes, everything,” advises Kessman. “Then, edit everything. And, be honest with yourself.” Make three piles: one for keeping, one for donating or selling, and one for any unwearable or damaged items that should be thrown away or (ideally) recycled.
Tina Priestly, founder of Virginia-based home decluttering company Ready, Set, Refresh!, recommends using the “Five Outfit Rule” to make hard cuts: “If you can make a minimum of five different looks with a piece and will wear it, then keep it,” she advises.
She also says you can reflect on the last time you wore the item. “Ask yourself if you’ve worn the item in the last 90 days or expect to wear it in the next 90. Except in the case of seasonal items, if the answer is no, it’s time to let it go,” she says.
If you still have a mental block around decluttering, the available space should help dictate the amount of stuff you should realistically keep. “If you have a small closet, you have to live a small closet lifestyle,” Julie Purpura, owner and design director of Avenir, a Chicago-based design firm, notes.
Categorize by type and color
Once you’ve finalized your “keep” pile, you can arrange the items into categories. Put boots with boots, sandals with sandals, button-up shirts with button-up shirts, and so on. This will give you a nice dopamine hit—and, also, a sense of how much space you’ll need for each type of item. “It is much easier to find your favorite T-shirt if it is with all of your other T-shirts,” Courtney Cummings of The Stylish Organizer in Dayton, Ohio, notes.
You can also take it a step further and organize each category by color. “When it comes to figuring out the best system for your closet, you need to be aware of the way you function best. Many of us are visual creatures,” Cumming says.
Determine your zones
With everything sorted, you can now begin putting things back into your closet and, if applicable, into drawers. “Items should be placed in zones for each access,” Finn recommends.
To create zones, hang items by style: shirts by sleeve length and skirts by hem length. “When like-items are organized together it makes it easier to put an outfit together,” she says.
You may also want to consider the way you prepare to operate while getting dressed. “When it comes to figuring out the best system for your closet, you need to be aware of the way you function best,” Cummings says. “For example, if you always wear a cami with a blazer, put those items together. If you always wear a dress with a hat, put those items together. Everyone uses their space differently, it’s about finding what will work the best for you.”
It’s also a good idea to consider the frequency of use. “Things you use most often can be in the eye line; less regular items can go in top or bottom spaces that are more difficult to access,” Priestly says.
Hanging versus folding
A good rule of thumb when it comes to determining what should be hung versus folded? Consider which method will keep clothes looking their best. “Items that tend to wrinkle easily should be hung,” Finn advises. “Sweaters should be folded so they don’t get damaged. Items such as bathing suits and winter accessories are best stored in bins on shelves.”
To optimize hanging space, you should also swap out any bulky hangers for slim, felt hangers—not only will they not leave marks on clothes, but they also tend to prevent items from falling.
How to fold clothes
Most people like to fold their clothes as if they were displayed in a store. But more often than not, that perfect stack falls into a crumpled pile. You may want to try rolling your clothes instead—much like you would when packing a suitcase. Then, “file” them alongside each other instead of stacking them atop each other. “This ensures the space stays tidy,” Finn says.
Closet bins and drawer separators
Placing like-items in matching bins and creating compartments in drawers with dividers can help to cut down on visual clutter and achieve a cohesive look. Plus, “pretty bins and baskets can bring you extra happiness,” Cummings muses.
Of course, these classic organizing containers are functional, too. “Use your vertical space by investing in bins or baskets that can be stacked,” Cummings says. “I also always recommend—regardless of the size—a closet that has adjustability so that it can adapt to your needs and change with your wardrobe.”
Use every available inch
Speaking of small closets, Cummings says that doubling-down on other space-saving solutions is the key to optimizing every inch. “For a small or odd-shaped closet, installing shelves higher or adding hanging rods above other items for shoes, bags or even folded clothes can be great ways to maximize vertical space,” she says.
And don’t forget to consider less-obvious areas, either: “Hang an over-door organizer to store shoes or accessories,” Priestly says. “All these tricks would help create a functional, organized closet, regardless of lack of space.”
The same thought process can be applied to the bottom of the closet, an often under-utilized space. “I’ve used adjustable hanging closet bars for the lower half of the closet. This doubles the capacity for storage and lets you hang items like pants or tops on the bottom row,” Houston-based interior designer Lauren Ashley explains, adding that organizing a small closet can often feel “like a game of Tetris.”
With that in mind, Ashley also recommends investing in another key item: “Keep a step ladder within reach of your closet to access those higher shelves.”
Store seasonal items
Storing items that you’re not currently using can also cut down on clutter. Here, under-bed storage bins and vacuum-seal bags can work wonders, as can designating space in another, less-frequently-used part of the home. “Store special occasion clothing and seasonal items in another closet, if possible,” Finn says.
How to organize accessories
Small items like jewelry and bulky items like hats each present unique storage problems that are nevertheless confusing. Still, “accessories and other impossible-to-categorize items should be stored in a manner that keeps them handy and visible,” Finn notes.
For jewelry, that means preventing tangling by using velvet and clear trays, or, even a few pretty dishes on top of your dresser. “If you have the drawer space, that is a great way to keep things contained but accessible,” Cumming adds.
Walls are a great place to hang hats, scarves, or bags on hooks. Belts and scarves can also be twirled and placed inside drawers or acrylic organizers, or, hung on closet rods with multi-tier hangers.
For shoes, stackable storage bins or a hanging shoe rack can also save space. For purses, Finn likes acrylic organizers versus simply lining them up on a shelf: “They’re not only accessible but give a boutique-feel to any closet,” she says.
Ultimately, you just want it to be easy to find what you need. “Using storage solutions you can view at a glance will help you stay organized and will also prevent items from being buried in the clutter,” says Priestly
To that end, it’s also helpful to remember that closet organizing is never one-and-done. “Keep the closet up by constantly reassessing its substance and confirming everything has a designated area,” Priestly says. It will be worth the mental clarity, promise.
