Colour Coding My Wardrobe

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Angie is co-founder of YLF and its resident fashion stylist.

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Colour Coding My Wardrobe

— by Angie

on May 24, 2011

I hang my garments per category in my walk-in wardrobe. So all my tops hang together. All my jackets hang together. All my dresses hang together, and so on. Then within each category, I hang the colours together, as you can see in the photo below. This is for aesthetic reasons only, but it makes me happy. And it actually makes Greg happy too (we share a small wardrobe AND an eye for visual harmony).

To take things completely over the top, I keep all my clothing on one type of hanger so that the neat, colourful effect is maximized. I can’t help it. A pretty and organized closet makes me feel in control of my day. And I am quite the control freak.

Does anyone else colour code their wardrobe organization?

Closet Organization

61 comments · Add a comment

(website)

Veteran

Angie, this makes me laugh, because I have always organized my closet this same way. I think my mom does, too, come to think of it!

May 24, 2011 at 1:36 pm

Julia

(website)

My first job was with a local tv hostess, who had a daily show at noon. She had a lot of clothes of her own and work related (with a crazy discount or totally for free), and a flair for glamor – interesting her being rather plump. So far she’s the only person I’ve known to organize clothes by color.

Ah, what was my job about? I was her personal librarian, and she loved bringing it up whenever she spoke about books and things. Such a funny person!

May 24, 2011 at 1:50 pm

Sihaya

Veteran

I sort my closet by category too and then roughly by color – in other words, whites are in chunk, most of the other colors in another chunk. I don’t keep up as much with sorting each color. I mostly have reds, yellows, and some pink, blue, green. I also have a variety of hangers.

May 24, 2011 at 1:50 pm

Inge

I try to do it like that as far as possible too, it’s easier that way to see exactly what I have in each colour and to come up with outfits. Unfortunately I don’t have enough space to hang my sweaters, only blouses, button-downs, jackets and cardis, so the system isn’t working seamlessly:-)

May 24, 2011 at 1:58 pm

MsMary

Veteran

Yes! Sorted by color and with matching hangers! I have separate closet sections for each type of garments, but each section is organized by color. And it makes me happy to see the rainbow when I open my closet!

May 24, 2011 at 2:17 pm

MsMary

Veteran

By the way, my favorite part of your photo, Angie, is purple/purple-and-yellow-print/yellow, all in a row! Big fun!!

May 24, 2011 at 2:18 pm

Meg

Yep. I have stackable hangers. Each stack is a certain color or color group. Though I have separate areas for dresses, skirts, and tops.

May 24, 2011 at 2:23 pm

julijuli

I am in no way extra organized but I do organize my closet this way and prefer to have all my clothing on the same kind of hangars. I think it just makes the clothes lay better if you have the same spacing in between. Maybe I am a little OCD.

May 24, 2011 at 2:33 pm

Joy

Veteran

I think I must have picked up this idea here and like to organize my closet as you have done. It is so easy to find what I’m looking for and to see when I’m duplicating too much. I have a small not-a-walk-in closet, so am using matching Real Simple hangers that can stack for more space. Now three white shirts (of different styles) hang together in a stack, as do pencil skirts, black jackets, etc . I’m almost to my goal of getting everything into that small closet so that I don’t have to switch out as much seasonally. A place still needs to be found for bags. Where you have yours, I have stacked clear plastic shoe boxes.

May 24, 2011 at 2:38 pm

Antje

Veteran

I love your closet, Angie. And I truly wish I was as neat and organized! I do organize my closet by category, but not by color. And I will really, really clean up the messy pile on the floor of the closet tonite
I like the idea of using all same hangers. That one should be doable and make me feel a little neater!

May 24, 2011 at 3:06 pm

Angela

I thought I was organized, sorted into categories, all pants, all long sleeve blouses, all short sleeve, etc…but Angie yours is almost beautiful, :). I think I might spend next weekend sorting my categories further by colour!!!

May 24, 2011 at 3:07 pm

Joanne

I’m not nearly so organized, and don’t have nearly so many articles of clothing. I will say, however, that since I subscribed to your blog, I’ve rekindled my interest in fashion, tried some new looks, and acquired some much needed confidence in my style. Because of my newfound confidence, I’ve started on a long-overdue weight loss program and have lost nearly 10 lbs. in the past three weeks. I’m already shopping a size smaller. Thank you for the help and inspiration you provide to those of us who are not naturally fashion-savvy.

May 24, 2011 at 3:09 pm

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

Hanging the hangars in those individual little squares was revolutionary for me. Huge thanks!
Keeping my closet organized and tidy is the only way I can really “shop” my closet day to day. Thanks for the reminder….I’m overdue for a good clean.
PS: It’s fun to see our matching printed bag in your closet.

May 24, 2011 at 3:28 pm

Lisa

Veteran

What a treat to get a peek into your closet. I always wonder how others store and organize their clothes and accessories. Visuals help the most too. I’ve tried a few different methods over time: only by colors, only by item types, only by outfits. Currently I have items grouped by item types and then by colors within. It is helpful to have items sorted this way to dress by item, ie, “today I want to wear a blazer” go to the blazer section, then a shirt, then some bottoms.

However, I did find when I was organized by outfits, it made getting dressed very easy because I could grab an entire outfit, without having to figure out which pieces goes with which topper. The flaw there for me, was I would loose creativity with new combinations because I would grab the sam eone’s over and over again.

I’ve also found by colors alone helpful, if I wore a lot of blue one day I could grab from another section the next day. Apparently I haven’t found one closet organization style that 100% works for me yet. And I am still working on all matching hangers. I do have hangers that let you stack, but have not found that feature helpful, when items are stacked it’s too easy to miss what is hanging below eye level.

I like how the bags are arranged on top near the colors. All my bags are in the dustcovers and in one corner when not in use. I also have out of season shoes stored above the closet. My tall boots, take up precious room for sandals if I leave them on the shoe rack so they are stored in the original boxes for the warmer months. I rotate the shoe rack twice a year: once for spring/summer and once for fall/winter. I’ve found if I don’t my unworn shoes get really dusty.

May 24, 2011 at 3:40 pm

Laura

(website)

Veteran

I can only pray for this level of organization in my closet … and my life Are your closet walls lavendar, by the way?

May 24, 2011 at 3:49 pm

LoP

Veteran

I love this picture of your closet, Angie! I try to keep everything organized by type and color as well. And I also will use a single type of hanger. I made a rule couple of years ago that if I have more clothes then my hangers can hold, some of them need to be donated. So far it is working. I also like to hang everything so nothing gets folded and forgotten somewhere.

May 24, 2011 at 3:51 pm

Aziraphale

Veteran

My goodness, yes! It’s good to see that I’m not the only one with the colour-coding compulsion. (Is it a compulsion? I get twitchy if the colours in my wardrobe are all mixed up…that’s got to be a sign of something). I see you also have all matching hangers, as I do.

May 24, 2011 at 4:21 pm

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I do the exact same thing My sister says it makes my closet look like Value Village!

May 24, 2011 at 4:24 pm

Queen Mum

Veteran

oh yes! Doesn’t everybody! LOL.. I wish I had that type of shelving to keep everything so nicely spaced.

May 24, 2011 at 4:32 pm

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thanks, Antje and LOP!

Clearly, I am not the only colour coder

May 24, 2011 at 4:49 pm

slythwolf

Active Member

I’d swear that when I was in high school, my mother read or heard of some kind of study showing that using the same kind and color of hangers actually saves time because your eye is not distracted by the different hangers and so you can pick out your clothes more quickly.

May 24, 2011 at 5:37 pm

Maya

Veteran

Wow, what a beautiful closet. Mine would probably give you an apoplexy. I guess it’s not that bad given what I have to work with, but it’s nothing quite like this. Something to aspire to I guess. I am a control freak as well and this situation makes me uncomfortable!

I organize by “type” but not by color. I do have a lot fewer clothes though.

May 24, 2011 at 5:50 pm

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

Hee, I do mine that way too. I love my colors! That said, I have been toying with the idea of going color first, item type second. So all my yellows would be together for blouses and cardigans, the blues, etc. I think it might get me to re-think color combos for outfits…

Lovely closet! I have fabulous wooden hangers from F&T, but I wish I had the type of rod with squares like you do!

May 24, 2011 at 6:45 pm

Lena

Wow, I can’t stop staring. I really like how the hangers each have their own little slot – brilliant. I’m sure you have a terrific looking wardrobe, Angie.

I organize by type mostly. And I’m lucky I have a second wardrobe for off-season clothes. No walk-in, though – my wardrobe dream.

I have to find a better system for bag and shoe storage. I’m paranoid about dust bags, for example, but it’s a chore to keep everything covered up, and I can’t instantly see what I have. Heh, at least it keeps my memory well-trained I started to reorganize some things recently, and it’s making a difference.

May 24, 2011 at 6:57 pm

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I organize mine the same way, and yes, the color sequence goes: neutrals (white, tan, gray, black) and then the old ROYGBIV color wheel method! How’s that for an OCD artist?

May 24, 2011 at 7:12 pm

Diana

Veteran

Wow, I wish I could do this but I am SO not organized enough. I am a bit of a control freak sometimes, but I am also Lazy with a capital L, and unfortunately Lazy wins. I do organize roughly by type, mostly because I kind of have to given my closet situation-two very small built in closets, one for tops and one for bottoms, and one freestanding wardrobe, which has coats. They are all bursting, and at any given time, there is also likely to be a random pile or two of clothing elsewhere in the bedroom as well.

May 24, 2011 at 7:30 pm

Debora

Veteran

Your closet is a work of art! I organize my closet roughly by category and then by color within the category. I like your idea of using only one type of hanger. Several years ago I replaced all the plastic hangers in my husband’s side of the closet with wood ones. My clothes are all hanging on a hodgepodge of different colored plastic ones. I love the aesthetics of your all-white hangers. Thanks for the inspiration, Angie!

May 24, 2011 at 7:39 pm

greenglove

(website)

Veteran

I do something very similar but boy do our closets look different!

Your closet is like a Picasso or Matisse painting and mine is like an impressionist landscape on an autumn day!!!

Beautiful!!

May 24, 2011 at 7:45 pm

Gretchen

Yes, I absolutely colour-code my closet, and also according to type of clothing. Starting left to right in the colour spectrum, ROY G BIV. Within each colour in shirts, I further organize by sleeve length: sleeveless, short, 3/4, and long. Super anal, I know, but like you said, it makes me happy. Oh! And I also use only one kind of hangar: Huggable Hangers. Every item of clothing stays on the hanger, and hangs straight.

May 24, 2011 at 8:00 pm

Nadya

Veteran

I arrange mostly just by type (jackets and cardigans together, then dresses, skirts, slacks). But all my tops are color coded in the same order as the electrical resistor code because I am an electrical engineer and a huge geek! Plus it helps me realize that half my tops are either black or white.

May 24, 2011 at 8:05 pm

Brooke

LOVE! Please share…where can I buy hanger separators? Thanks!

May 24, 2011 at 8:22 pm

cloud9

Veteran

I organize my closet by category, then color as well! I’ve done that for a few years now and I find it really helps me… especially I am a color lover and really like a lot of variety of colors & patterns. I don’ t have those evenly spaced rack space though, or hangers of all same colors. Angie your closet is a piece of art!

May 24, 2011 at 8:27 pm

Veteran

I’m better about keeping my items by category than by color, but I aspire to have a color coded closet. Wow! Your closet is lovely to look at! Will we get to see the other sections? I’m also curious to see what Greg’s half looks like. Hee-hee!

Angie, what kind of closet system do you have that uses the little sections instead of a rod?

May 24, 2011 at 8:31 pm

marianna

Veteran

Heh… I am the most UNorganized person in the world. Your closet looks delightful but there is no way I could maintain such order in my own. *Maybe* if I had a walk-in, but I still doubt it. My closet would give you an apoplexy.

May 24, 2011 at 10:10 pm

Teri

Absolutely! (I am a control freak, too)

May 24, 2011 at 10:36 pm

Aunty

Veteran

Oh yes!! I do the same. When things are not put back in the right place my inner neat freak comes out. I can not bear it

May 25, 2011 at 12:10 am

Deborah

Veteran

Angie, I love how your closet looks. I too organize my walk in wardrobe this way, even down to the hangers all being the same. I have a lot of black in my wardrobe but after seeing your colorful wardrobe, and following your blogs etc for some weeks now I am endeavoring to add more colour to my wardrobe.

May 25, 2011 at 1:09 am

Deborah

Veteran

Angie, I have to ask (hope you don’t mind) do all your clothes fit into your walk in robe? I keep the current season along with what I call my ‘transeasonal’ pieces in my walk in and store everything else in my guest room wardrobe! Then as the season changes, I do a swap. Oh and when I say seasons, I really mean I make a distinction between Summer and Winter.

May 25, 2011 at 1:18 am

ButterflyLady

(website)

Veteran

I love how it looks, Angie!

I have a standard UK built in wardrobe, so I don’t have a neat way of keeping all the hangers precisely separated like that – I so wish I did! But I do organise my clothes in ROYGIBV order, with grey/black/neutral at the end. I don’t have too many clothes, so there isn’t much separation into category though. (There are photos of my wardrobe on my blog – I fear it wasn’t looking that great the day I took the photos! – Still a work in progress).

May 25, 2011 at 2:52 am

Lynne

Veteran

Janet, and Jean, I love your comments!

Janet, I cannot resist the ROYGBIV – and I notice if rainbows are depicted the wrong way round (Red goes on the outside :D).

Jean, I love your description! My closet is sorted by type and within that, colour, but it looks like a Monet or Renoir summer scene – lots of muted and soft blues, pinks, greens, and neutrals!

May 25, 2011 at 3:47 am

RoseandJoan

Veteran

It is so funny how familiar I have become with your wardrobe, I’m looking at how organised your closet is and at the same time thinking ‘aha there is the lovely Club Monaco blouse, and the Talbot’s stripe tee ….’

May 25, 2011 at 4:41 am

Linda

(website)

Back before I worked from home, I had many more clothes and needed to do this, too. Now that I own far less, it is pretty easy to see what I have without color coding, or even doing much organization. If only I had a shoe strategy. I’ve got no room for them (not even the back of a door, and can never find what I need.

May 25, 2011 at 6:43 am

mary b

My closet is color coded, too. I also do that with my folded knit tops (on shelving) and have my sock and lingerie drawers color coded.
Since my DH wears black (and a tiny bit of charcoal grey) his side always looks color coded with no effort!

May 25, 2011 at 8:11 am

Veteran

My 7 yr old daughter just walked by and asked, “Where’s Angie’s Valentino?” Hee-hee!

May 25, 2011 at 8:12 am

Dana

(website)

Veteran

I have to admit…your closet looks beautiful, Angie, like a boutique. Organizing by color doesn’t work for me. I like to hang by garment type and hang by color within the garment type. The reason hanging by color doesn’t work for me is that I find it hard to find things. For example, if I have a section of black, I tend to think everything is always there, but to my surprise some of those black items are in the laundry or dry cleaning!

I’m dying to switch out my closet and get it organized, but I’ve been working a lot of weekends. Our weather in Colorado has been a bit of everything, and I have too much winter and summer mixed. And I’ve realized I really need a new shoe storage solution!! Perhaps a shoe closet:).

May 25, 2011 at 8:37 am

Lisette

(website)

Active Member

I have my closet sorted and “colorized” even if it isn’t nearly as colorful as yours is! I do all the same hangers too but I like wood better than the plastic ones. My husband couldn’t care less about what the closet looks like though I wish he did -it might stay neater!

May 25, 2011 at 8:47 am

Stacy Jo McDermott Armijo

A couple of weeks ago I posted in the closet organizing article that I, too, colour code & sort by type. It does keep things more organized! One twist in my closet is that I keep my neutrals together preceeding the colour items, which are ordered by red, orange, yellow, green, blue and indigo. Additionally, my work clothes preceed my casual clothes. I do like the idea of using the same hangers and will incorporate that into my closet. Most of my hangers are of the same type, but different colours and different weights (heavier hangers for the pants & coats).

I love having an organized closet.

May 25, 2011 at 8:50 am

Carole

Veteran

You are sellling me on the idea of a “smaller” wardrobe. Well chosen pieces, organized so beautifully-makes me envious!

May 25, 2011 at 8:51 am

josiegirl77

Active Member

I absolutely do this! I could not function without it. In fact, I start to hyperventilate a little at the idea of an unorganized closet!

May 25, 2011 at 9:32 am

Lisa

I do mine the exact same way as Angie. I love my wood hangers and will not use anything else. The color coding lets me see what I may have too much of and what color I might want more of. Plus, I think my closet looks very pretty that way. I have even custom made shoe shelves, so that all my shoes can be on display. One day I dream of having a larger closet so that I can do a full scale closet remodel. In the meantime I will settle for my current closet.

May 25, 2011 at 9:50 am

Scarlet

Veteran

This is how I like to organize my closet as well (minus the matching and evenly spaced hangers). I find it is the best way for me to find my things quickly because I often think in terms of color.

May 25, 2011 at 12:22 pm

Patience

Veteran

I just started organizing by color recently. I too love the way it looks. I also organize by type although for some reason, I like to separate my breezy and casual blouses from my button downs and long sleeve tops. Actually, the section with my buttons downs is blue, white and black which makes me extra happy. (There is the one odd red)

May 25, 2011 at 12:55 pm

Darla

(website)

Active Member

I categorize and sort the exact same way you do. Funny.

May 25, 2011 at 1:23 pm

nancylee

I do! I do! My closet is organized by item type and color. We redid our bedroom and expanded and outfitted our closets three years ago, and I still get excited when I open the doors. Sometimes I just look at it for the visual pleasure. Is that strange?

May 25, 2011 at 1:31 pm

Polly (thunalata)

Veteran

SO beautiful. I think this is a post to return to when life is feeling stressful, because one can’t but feel calm and relaxed when you look at that picture!

My DH colour codes his button downs – his closet has something of your level of order, except that I often put away his ironed shirts and, try as I do, I just can’t quite always get them back in the right places…

Less said about my closet the better, but perhaps one day…

May 25, 2011 at 2:09 pm

Eva

Hm, I organize by category, then by last worn item. That way I have a general idea of what I wore last. Otherwise my memory isn’t as good as it use to be.

May 25, 2011 at 7:48 pm

LuAnn

Active Member

I also color code starting with colors then back and whites going from light to dark in a certain color. Shirts go first then trousers and dresses. I have the hanging stackers and do the same. My shoes are also color coded but tend to get out of order the quickest. I also use the same style hangers to give it a neater look (:

May 26, 2011 at 5:18 am

Rachel

I definitely organize by type of clothing and then by colour (in a sort of rainbow order). I’d never find anything if I didn’t. In fact, my closet is quite small and dark, so I often find myself pulling things out by feel – I know that once I’ve felt my brown wooly hoodie, my grey cardigan is next. Definitely makes it easier to dress in the dark winter mornings.

May 26, 2011 at 10:03 am

Bianca

Veteran

Yes indeed. Best way to stay organized!

May 27, 2011 at 12:00 am

Fathenry

I do! By type and by color. I also share a closet with my spouse and it’s a tiny area. I get one small four foot hanging area, that is it. I have to make the most of it!

May 30, 2011 at 3:39 pm

Becci

I do!! I do!! First by category. Then by length–sleeve length for bouses, hem length for skirts. Patterns behind solids. White plastic hangers for (pullover) shirts. Dress hangers for button-down blouses and suit jackets. Black for something I’ve worn briefly and can wear again before washing. And on and on….

Looking at your beautiful arrangement, I may shake things up a bit!!

How I would love a walkin closet!!!!

June 2, 2011 at 7:30 am

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