How To Organize Your Closet
Eight Simple Hacks To Help You Organize Your Closet Like A Pro
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There’s a reason why our homes always look so put-together and clean every time someone visits: the second we realize a guest is on the way, everything gets stuffed into the closet.
From clothes scattered around the bedroom that you didn’t feel like hanging up to a pile of shoes you haven’t worn in years, it’s all too easy to toss things in and never acknowledge them again. And when it comes to finding something, you practically have to go on an Indiana Jones-esque quest just to riffle through the madness.
While keeping your closet clean and organized might seem laughable, it’s actually not too hard once you have the right tools. When you’re working with a single rod and shelf, things tend to pile up before you even realize just how big of a mess is being made. Then soon enough, a dreaded closet avalanche occurs, completely burying you in forgotten hats and 10-year-old sweaters from grandma. But when you invest in trusty storage solutions, your closet will turn into a space with a place for everything, making it nearly impossible for even the messiest people to go back to their old ways.
Ready to get organized once and for all? These steps will have you admiring your new closet in no time.
Step 1: Take Everything Out
Before things get clean, they have to get messy. And unfortunately that means taking everything — and we mean everything — out of your closet. Lay out all the clothes on hangers on your bed where they won’t get wrinkled and dirty, then organize everything else in sections. Put your shoes in one corner of the room, your ties in another, and a separate pile for odds and ends you aren’t sure what to do with.
Step 2: Take Inventory
Now’s the hard part: You need to decide what to keep and what to get rid of. If you’ve heard of Marie Kondo’s book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, you know you’re only supposed to keep items that “spark joy” and say goodbye to the rest. Use this method to go through everything category by category — from your clothes to your shoes — and keep what makes you feel happy and confident and ditch what doesn’t. Toss the items you no longer want in a bag to donate, and take it into another room when you’re finished so you can start focusing on the ones you do.
Now that you’ve cut down your wardrobe into the items you actually love and wear, it’s time to take inventory on everything that’s going back into the closet. Do you have 15 pairs of shoes that need a home? Or a dozen shirts left without a hanger? Jot down anything you need to buy to make the organization process easier so you don’t order way more storage than you actually need.
Step 3: Dive Into the Odds and Ends
Don’t think we forgot about all those random objects that were floating around in your closet. Anything that’s not supposed to be in there should either be put back in its place or donated with your clothing items. If there are numerous items — like skincare products or a bunch of chargers — there’s no other space for in your home for (the agony of apartments with minimal drawers and shelves!), set those aside for now. If you don’t end up finding a place for them and they need to be stored in the closet, an easy option is getting a clear plastic over-the-door shoe rack. There’s a compartment for everything, and no one will even know it’s there.
Step 4: Give Your Closet a Deep Clean
While everything is out of your closet, you might as a well clean it, right? Get out your supplies and give the floor, shelves, and walls a nice scrub so everything feels and smells fresh. When you start putting everything back in, you’ll be confident knowing your wardrobe is going to be organized in a revitalized space.
Step 5: Add Your Clothing Back Into the Closet
Since your clothes will be taking up the majority of the closet, it’s best to put them back first. If your hangers have become broken or mismatched over the years, invest in a set of no-slip space-saving hangers that will organize your clothing without any bulk. The way you arrange your clothes is a personal preference, but keeping different types of clothing together is always helpful: hang suit jackets in one section, dress shirts in another, and so on. Then when you’re looking for something to wear, you can easily go straight to the proper category without tearing through the hangers.
If you have additional shelf space aside from the top closet shelf, use it for bulkier items like sweaters, hats, and other items that aren’t easily hangable. If you don’t have extra shelf space, invest in some under-the-bed storage compartments for those items, as well as anything seasonal.
Step 6: Find a Solid Shoe Organizer
This is crucial: Shoes are the easiest items to shove in the back of the closet and forget about, and they also take up a lot of space. By buying a nice organizer, you’ll keep your expensive kicks looking nice and fresh and will also ensure your closet doesn’t turn into a category 5 hurricane.
Depending on how much space you have, you can either buy a shoe organizer that sits on the floor or one that hangs, and there are plenty of options for both. Floor racks typically hold 10-20 pairs depending on what size you get, and over-the-door or shelf hangers can hold even more. Find an option that best fits your needs — and your level of shoe addiction.
Step 7: Organize Your Ties, Belts, and Accessories
There’s a proper place for everything — even your ties and cufflinks. Since you probably have more ties than anything else, a specialty hanger will make your life so much easier: There are simple plastic ones you can buy for super cheap, a futuristic motorized option complete with LED lights, and everything in between. Determine how many ties you’re keeping, then go with the best option for you.
Some men only have a couple belts while others have an entire collection. Like ties, there are similar options when it comes to storage, but a hanging option is your best bet. This highly-rated product holds up to 14 options and can fit right next to your tie holder.
When it comes to your accessories, you need to take special care: You don’t want anything to happen to your expensive watches and cufflinks. If you have a dresser in your closet, buy a nice velvet-covered tray and put it in your top shelf to store your expensive items safely. If you don’t have a drawer, get a jewelry box specifically designed for men that can sit on your top shelf for easy access.
Step 8: Use Your Shelf for Extra Storage
Now that the rest of your closet is organized, it’s time to focus on the top shelf most closets already have (or can be easily installed). For items of clothing or other odds and ends that don’t fit anywhere else, put them neatly into fabric storage containers that can sit overhead for easy access. They not only look great, but they hold more than you’d think. Just don’t turn them into a new place to store junk, or you’ll be restarting the closet organization process much sooner than you’d like to.
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