Optimize Your Wardrobe for Access

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

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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Optimize Your Wardrobe for Access

— by Angie

on January 10, 2024

Access is important. Store and organize clothing, footwear and accessories so that they are easy to see, grab, put on, and put back. Items that are out of sight and out of reach are often forgotten. Visible items in easy reach are worn frequently.

If space is limited, display one season and store the rest. Remember shoes in the closet, instead of defaulting to what is close to the door. Fold items in drawers so that you can see everything instead of only grabbing what’s on top.

When your closet is tidy and organized, items will be more visible, and you can pack more efficiently into limited spaces. Your wardrobe will be more effective, the outfit possibilities will flow, and dressing at home will be a nicer experience.

Style Nuggets

34 comments · Add a comment

April

Veteran

All I have to say is Amen.

January 10, 2024 at 4:54 am

Jen

Active Member

I’ve long thought about this subject, and I am curious to hear how others handle it—especially others like me who have large wardrobes because of an insatiable love of variety. I have sometimes thought it would make sense to rotate what is most on view even during a season to make sure items don’t get forgotten about, but so far have been too lazy to do it (maybe because of the time it takes already just switching the seasonal stuff out). Has anyone done this? Or even just identifying some overlooked pieces and putting them in a place of prominence?

January 10, 2024 at 5:00 am

Dee

Veteran

Great practical advice Angie, I organize my closet by seasons, spring/summer and fall/winter. Clothes are then organized by type and colour allowing me to see just how many items I have in any particular colour. I also fold other items using the Marie Kondo filing method for my drawers so I can see all my options at once. Nothing is hidden below another.

January 10, 2024 at 5:01 am

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Absolutely! My wardrobe works so much better for me after our big closet redo years ago, which made this much easier. All in-season footwear is visible on shelves, all in-season clothing is either hung or folded and stacked so I can see it. I’m organized by default and can’t stand things left out and not put away, so this is second nature for me, but I bet some strong systems can help those who are less inclined to be motivated simply by the looks of a neat closet.

January 10, 2024 at 5:44 am

bella

(website)

Veteran

My closet is tiny, but I still switch places of items between the shelves, which still helps a lot. And, I don’t just do it twice a year. During fall and spring, I keep moving things around every 3-4 weeks so that as the weather changes items I need are always accessible. At the moment, winter jackets, dresses, long-sleeved blouses are on the hangers, whereas short-sleeves blouses, shorts, and summer skirts are folded in one of the bottom shelves. Ideally, I would want things to be a bit less cramped, but at least everything is visible and accessible.

January 10, 2024 at 6:21 am

Style Fan

Veteran

So true! I am always organizing my wardrobe to work better. Organizing is second nature for me. I put out of season clothes away and keep special occasion wear separate. I organize my clothes by colour and type.

January 10, 2024 at 6:25 am

suntiger

I repurposed a bookshelf so I can see all my shoes at once, but need to have all my bags out too.

I just reordered my closet by category, instead of just color, as I had had it for years. Unfortunately, my one little closet has to hold everything, as I have no coat closet- and it looked weird to have coats mixed in with thin clothes. Off season things are in my cedar chest, but easily accessible.

January 10, 2024 at 7:13 am

Eliza

Veteran

So true, Angie. After a year of limited mobility, my closet needs me! You have exactly described my mission. Onward!

January 10, 2024 at 7:20 am

Ginger

Veteran

This is vital! Especially with a large wardrobe.

The Kondo fold has been terrific for my t-shirts. Both nicer tees and graphic tees. I line them up by spectrum and can see at a glance all of the colors and patterns I have to choose from. I have lots of short hanging room in the closet, so I line up the type of garment (skirts, cardigans, blouses) each in their own section, and then by spectrum. This order works for me since I tend to play the most with color combinations.

Sweaters have been the trickiest to deal with. The Kondo fold doesn’t work since it makes the bulky ones huge and puts awful wrinkles in the thin ones. I’m now hanging most of the thinner ones, using velvet hangers, and the thick ones are folded in a couple of small drawers. It works ok, I just keep an eye on the hanging sweaters to make sure they’re not sagging.

January 10, 2024 at 7:24 am

cat2

Veteran

I tackle one shelf or drawer every weekend. Since I have been shrinking my wardrobe a bit, it’s been getting a bit easier to stay on top of everything.

January 10, 2024 at 7:37 am

merwoman

Veteran

Yes! I am very visual and need to be able to see everything. So no dresser drawers for me. Also I only store away extreme summer and winter clothes. I like dual purposing my clothing by layering ( or not) and with our weather swings I like having transitional items at the ready.
To help get more space in my tiny walk-in closet I use very thin hangers as well as hanger thingies that can hold multiple pairs of pants/jeans on swing out arms. I use the back door of the closet for a device that holds my belts and scarves.

January 10, 2024 at 7:47 am

Joy

Veteran

My wardrobe is organized by color and then by warmth. Sleeveless tops are first, then sort sleeves, then 3/4 sleeve. Long sleeve and then toppers in the same order. Bottoms are on a lower rack with the same idea of warmer to heavier and skirts are after pants. It makes finding things easier. We moved from a closet where I rotated seasons to a walk in closet where everything is displayed. Footwear is still rotated with off seasonal or seldom used items stored at the top of the closet. This will have to change now that I am older and shorter and cannot reach stored items without falling off small ladders. I need to bring down the high stuff. Coats are in a separate coat closet with their assessories hanging with them and gloves in the pockets.

January 10, 2024 at 8:05 am

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Love hearing how organized you are, and how creatively you are making your small storage spaces work!

I’ll be back….

January 10, 2024 at 8:11 am

rachylou

Veteran

This is true. I have old fashioned deep closets, so I rotate seasons. But I do need to rethink my off-season storage. Smaller bins that are easier to lift maybe. Best would be no lifting at all!

January 10, 2024 at 8:27 am

BlueJay

Veteran

I organize similar to Joy as getting dressed is often dictated by the season and weather. I would really love to have a rolling rail so I could have my own shop-my-closet “boutique” experience. Alas, not enough space for that. I also find that decluttering helps with easier access as I tend to focus on the item that isn’t working, removing it helps to clear the way (pun intended) for other items that *do* work!

January 10, 2024 at 8:45 am

Runcarla

Veteran

I’d like a better solution for the stuff that has been worn, but isn’t ready for the laundry room. I don’t like to reintegrate it with the ‘clean’ so hang it grouped at one end of the closet. However, seeing it all grouped together like that makes me feel like I should wear them before reaching for something new – so there is a high degree of repetition in my outfits. I might get 5 wears (maybe more!) from an item before it goes into the laundry pile.

DH uses a chair…

January 10, 2024 at 8:45 am

Bonnie

Veteran

We redid the closet when we moved here five years ago and I really like it. It has all the space I need but it has somehow gotten a bit overcrowded and messy. It’s time to reconsider what I’ve added and reorganize. For example, it has space for 24 pairs of shoes and is now full so something will have to go if I want another pair.

January 10, 2024 at 9:34 am

Ginger

Veteran

Carla, I struggle with that as well. I’ve started hanging shirts (it’s mostly only shirts) on the ladder to the attic hatch in my closet! It works…

January 10, 2024 at 9:41 am

Roberta

Veteran

1,000 percent agree! A few comments:

Like Bella, I shift things fairly often, as the months progress. Some things get put away for a full six months, like winter boots or linen tops, but mostly it is a gradual flow.

Ginger- sweaters are a CHALLENGE! Some are folded, some are hung, and I can never get them all visible at the same time. Which implies I have too many.

I bought a shoe cabinet a few years ago, and that is my limiter for acquisitions. So far, so good. I also bought a velvet bracelet display thingy for watches and bracelets and a Shaker rack for necklaces.

My closet is sorted by ROYGBIV, pants above, tops below. I have a small full length section for dresses and long jackets, tunics, etc. All of my scarves are on over the door hooks (on pretty much every door). It is my visual spreadsheet.

January 10, 2024 at 9:44 am

Roberta

Veteran

I forgot to add, I have a folding clothes rail – very handy and currently under the guest room bed!

January 10, 2024 at 9:45 am

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I just put the worn-but-not dirty items back with the others after a short airing. If they aren’t dirty, what’s the problem? If they need a wash, then put ’em in the laundry.

I like this thought of switching things out sometimes within sub-seasons. I don’t do that but some parts of my closet are difficult to see so that might be a solution.

In general, I group by type and I switch out main seasons and typicaly that has worked well. It is only a few sweaters that get lost in the dark place…

January 10, 2024 at 10:12 am

MsMary

Veteran

Yes, indeed! I have a great setup but my husband’s closet was super overstuffed. We did a big cleanout/reorganization about a month ago (it took a full week!), and I am noticing that he is looking remarkably more put-together and stylish now that he can see and easily access all his nice clothes!

January 10, 2024 at 10:27 am

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Roberta, I’m struggling to figure out ROYGBIV. Maybe not enough coffee for me yet.
I agree being able to see and access what I have is key, Angie. The other day, I was trying to recall whether I had donated a particular item, and when I looked in the drawer where it would be if I still had it, there it was. On the other hand, I “lost” a pair of pants for a few months, because I had put them in the wrong place. I had put them away with workout pants, where they blended in without notice. I didn’t find them until I had bought a replacement pair–thankfully, in a slightly different style, so now I have two pairs that I will wear.

January 10, 2024 at 11:17 am

Dana

(website)

Veteran

Ah, organization…or I should say staying organized is a constant struggle! I need to slow down a bit.

One thing that helps me is I have dividers in my closet–kinda like size rings only there’s a place to write on them at the top (with a Sharpie) It helps me keep my categories like pants, jeans, blouses, etc. organized.

Where I get messed up is when I plan to wear an outfit and hang it together, and then I change my mind or my plans change…need to discipline myself to put pieces back in their homes.

Oh, and I have enough room, but I still take out of season clothes out of my bedroom closet–makes it stuffed and I don’t like looking at sundresses when it’s snowing.

January 10, 2024 at 12:05 pm

Sal

Veteran

I agree and there are some good systems here.

I do three seasonal swaps a year – to allow my closet to work well. It’s a small walk in wardrobe I share with DH. I would ideally like a better solution for my bags but overall it works well.

January 10, 2024 at 12:10 pm

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thanks for your thoughts, everyone. Always interesting!

Carla and Ginger, my strategy for worn items that are not dirty is to hang or fold them right back. Sometimes I give them a quick press so that they look and feel fresh. If they are dirty, they go into the laundry. So just like Suz! High five

Mary, that’s awesome!

January 10, 2024 at 2:45 pm

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Roberta, what is that acronym short for?

Sharan, your story made me smile

January 10, 2024 at 2:47 pm

MsMary

Veteran

It’s the colors of the visible spectrum: Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Indigo Violet.

January 10, 2024 at 3:42 pm

Runcarla

Veteran

@ MsMary – I’ve seen that phenomenon! Helped DS#1 with a closet declutter and organization. Instantly he looked better put together, and it’s stuck!

January 10, 2024 at 4:57 pm

The Cat

Veteran

I totally agree with everything you wrote, Angie.

Lack of space (and of drawers and shelves) is a real challenge where I live now. However, I have purchased a few transparent boxes where I keep–and can easily see–pullovers, underwear, hosiery, etc. I sort all items by category and then by colour.

I have always preferred to display only items that are appropriate for the current season and store the rest. And I actually enjoy editing my wardrobe as the seasons change, and make notes about items that will need to be purchased for upcoming seasons.

January 10, 2024 at 6:13 pm

nuancedream

Veteran

I concur with every single word, Angie. Now if only the household gnomes would stay out of my dresser and not toss my socks and lingerie like salad greens.

January 10, 2024 at 6:19 pm

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Excellent points Angie, although sometimes challenging to carry out. For all of you with large wardrobes and limited closet space, what I like to do is rotate the things I am in the mood to wear to the front row (I have a large wall closet but even it has limits). Sweaters are tricky because I need to stack some behind the others and that means some are just out of sight. Same with shoes. I like to play in my closet so it works for me, but definitely is less than ideal.

January 10, 2024 at 6:28 pm

Debbie

Veteran

My sweater organization need help. Other than that I am in pretty good shape.

January 10, 2024 at 8:13 pm

Roberta

Veteran

ROYGBIV – shortcut for Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Indigo – the rainbow! I think I learned this in an art class somewhere and never forgot it.

I have Black Gray Brown and White after ROYGBIV.

January 11, 2024 at 10:31 am

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