Experts say having a tidy closet can make you feel better and help you save time and money, but often our closets get filled with things like old clothes, sheets, tax records, and other items we don’t want to see. It’s often noted that we usually wear only a small portion of our clothes most of the time. When too many clothes accumulate, you might not even want to open your closet door. When people can’t manage their closet clutter, they start leaving clothes on chairs, which can lead to clutter in other parts of the home. Here are some useful tips to organize your closet before it starts to spill over into other areas of your home.

How to Organize your Closet

Clear Out the Closet: Essential Steps for Effective Organization

Begin by removing everything from the closet. This makes it easier to dust, clean, or paint the inside.

Categorize and Purge: Deciding What Stays and Goes in Your Closet

Sort your clothes into groups, making separate piles for different types like pants, skirts, blouses, shirts, shoes, and boots.Look through your clothes carefully and be honest with yourself. If you haven’t worn an item in a year, if it’s damaged, or if it doesn’t fit, it’s time to let it go. There’s no use keeping clothes you won’t wear again.When deciding what to do with clothes you no longer need, think about whether someone else could use them. If they’re still in good shape, consider donating them to a local charity or Goodwill. If they’re too worn out, throw them away.

The Hanger Experiment: A Simple Trick to Identify Unused Clothes

If you have trouble getting rid of clothes, try the hanger experiment. Hang all your clothes with the hangers facing backwards. After you wear and wash an item, hang it back facing the right way. If any hangers are still backwards after six months, consider donating those clothes.

Storing Seasonal Clothing: Best Practices for Closet Space Optimization

Think about storage solutions for clothes you won’t wear for a while. Depending on the space you have, you can use garment bags in the attic or plastic storage bins under the bed.

Matching Hangers for a Neater Closet Appearance

Most closets contain a mix of wooden, plastic, colored, and dry cleaner hangers. Using matching hangers can greatly improve the appearance and functionality of your closet. Hangers are a useful tool that can really benefit you.

Choosing Quality Over Quantity: How Selective Buying Improves Closet Management

Think about buying fewer, but higher quality clothes. This approach will not only give you more space in your closet but also save you from dealing with issues like missing buttons on multiple shirts.

Optimize Your Closet Configuration for Maximum Efficiency

Does your closet have just one shelf and a rod underneath it? If so, does this setup meet your needs?

Consider installing a second rod to double your hanging space. Mahan suggests hanging pants on the top rod to see their colors more clearly. Shirts, especially those with patterns and bright colors, are easier to spot on the bottom rod.

Enhancing Closet Visibility: The Importance of Good Lighting

Invest in a bright, quality light for your closet. If the closet is too dark, you might avoid using it effectively.

Space-Saving Solutions for Efficient Closet Organization

Adding shelves or cubbies can help you make the most of your closet space. There are many products available to help organize your closet more efficiently. Find the options that best suit your needs. However, it’s important to clean out your closet before buying any organizers. This ensures you only add what you truly need.

Strategic Placement: Grouping Similar Items for a Streamlined Closet

This might sound simple, but it’s very effective. Organize your clothing by category, and within each category, sort items by color. This method makes it easier to find what you’re looking for.

When you organize your shirts, skirts, pants, and shoes together, you get a clear view of what’s in your wardrobe. Organizing items by category helps you see what you have, making a big difference in managing your clothes. Proper organization can also save you money; if you can easily find what you own, you’re less likely to buy duplicates, reducing clutter.