How to Properly Arrange The Clothes in Your Closet

Start With a Clean Slate Before Storing Your Clothing

Before organizing your closet, it's essential to pull everything out and decide what to keep, donate, or throw away. Although this can be challenging (attachment to clothing is a real thing!), The Spruce offers three questions that can make the job easier:

• "Do you love it?"
• "Do you wear it?"
• "Does it project the image you want to portray?"

Objectively scoring your clothes and shoes against these three questions will give you clarity and help you detach from certain items. If you can answer "yes" to these  questions, place the items in your keeper pile. If the answer is "no," donate or consign items in good condition. Throw away any items that are worn out, stained, or have holes.

If you're unsure or having trouble getting rid of something, put it in the "maybe" pile. Store this pile out of sight and come back to it a few months later. If you haven't used anything, you can be confident in donating these items.

Next, take inventory of the items you have. This serves two purposes. First, you might find more belongings to get rid of (do you really need seven oversized cardigans?), and second, you'll know how much storage space you need for each clothing category.

Finally, before organizing, take advantage of the empty closet and give it a good cleaning! Dust, wipe down surfaces, and even consider repainting if you'd like. When it's empty is the perfect time for accomplishing these tasks.

Decide on a System

It's time to decide what organizational system works best for your closet size, shape, and space! There are many ways to organize your closet, but here are a few tried-and-true methods:

Category Vs. Color

This method arranges your clothes either by category (pants, sweaters, etc.) regardless of color, or by color regardless of category. Each method has its own pros and cons, but the most important factor is what fits your personality and closet space.

Arranging by category allows you to go to each section and grab exactly what you need, but the scattered colors can give a disorganized appearance. However, while arranging by color gives a highly organized finish, your closet may not accommodate for clothing of various lengths to fit next to each other.

Seasonal Rotation

Rotating based on the seasons is beneficial for smaller closets. It also allows you to keep more pieces in your collective wardrobe. This method is fairly straightforward: every three to six months, update your wardrobe to the current season.

The downside to this method is you need additional storage space elsewhere in your house. While bins usually suffice, this can be particularly tricky for hanging garments that wrinkle easily. However, the frequent rotation allows you to donate items you didn't use that season, which saves storage space (and makes room for newer items!). 

Custom Closet 

Organizing your closet can be a daunting task. If you need assistance, consider bringing in a professional to provide advice on whether or not to invest in a custom closet system. Not only does this give you a beautiful and organized space, but a custom closet also adds value to your home, as explained by DASI Innovations. It's a win-win situation.

Keep It Tidy

You want to ensure your organizational method is sustainable; otherwise, your system will fall apart and your closet will once again be a jumbled mess. Here are some tips to keep in mind while you're organizing:

• Folding Vs. Hanging - Which items should be folded, and which should be hung? MarthaStewart.com suggests flowy fabrics, linen, pants, blouses, jackets, and dresses should be hung, while thick sweaters, activewear, and shorts should be folded. T-shirts, jeans, and scarves can either be hung or folded.
• The Right Hangers - Over time, wire hangers can become warped and plastic hangers break. Not to mention, sweaters become overstretched if hung on cheap hangers. Use wooden or velvet-topped hangers to keep your clothing in excellent condition and give a finishing touch to your closet. Hangers with clips are suitable for pants and skirts.
• Accessibility - Place your most-used items at eye level and within easy reach. Store items you don't use as often up high. Use belt and scarf organizers to save space.
• Shoe Storage - Placing shoes on a shelf or shoe rack instead of the floor will give your closet an extra-organized touch. If you have lots of shoes, consider rotating your pairs for the appropriate season.
• Stick With It - A new storage system can be hard to get used to. It's easy to dump things where they used to go. But being intentional about putting everything away correctly will ensure your new organizational method sticks and all of your hard work pays off.

Conclusion

Before organizing your closet, make sure to take everything out and take inventory of your pieces. There are several ways to properly arrange the clothes in your closet; choose the method that fits your personality and space. Remember to prioritize your most frequently-used items, use the right hangers, and stick with your new system. This will help you store your clothing in a way that makes sense for you!

Sources

• https://www.dasiinnovations.com/homes-market-value
• https://www.marthastewart.com/268737/hanging-vs-folding-clothing
• https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-organize-your-closet-2648411