I’ve written a number of posts on how to store wardrobe items, which you can check out in the Closet Organization section of our archives. There is no one way to store wardrobe items because there are so many variables involved. Closet space, the size of your wardrobe, the climate, and your personal dressing habits all drive the way you organize your closet.
But there are two tips that trump all the other closet organization advice. Both are about keeping items visible and easily accessible. As the saying goes, “out of sight, out of mind”. You can’t wear something when you’ve forgotten that you have it. Having your wardrobe items close at hand prevents unnecessary shopping duplications, provides a range of outfit options at a glance, and stimulates the outfit creation process. It ultimately saves time and money, and I can’t stress that enough.
1. Keep your wardrobe items in one place
Granted, some of us don’t have the luxury of spacious walk-in closets that hold everything, and have to make do with the space that is available to us. Some also have to swap out their closets seasonally to save space, and because what they wear in Winter and Summer is vastly different. In that case it can be easier to organize your wardrobe seasonally, as long as you keep everything that you wear for your current season visible and easily accessible.
Footwear storage and lack of visibility is a common issue with many of my clients. They store footwear in their closets AND closer to the door. They invariably wear what is closest to the door and forget what they have packed away in their closets. This is especially bad when footwear is kept in boxes and out of sight.
2. Keep your closet as TIDY as possible
When your closet is tidy your items will be more visible and you will be able to pack more efficiently in limited spaces. Your closet will be more effective, and dressing in the most important dressing room of all will be a nicer experience. Also, keeping your closet spaces tidy keeps wardrobe items clean, wrinkle-free and pristine.
I’ve seen it all when it comes to closet organization because I edit and review closets for a living. From gigantic to very small closet storage areas across all levels of tidiness. Generally, those who struggle to keep their closets neat and tidy lack space and practical storage solutions. It does take time to find the best way to store what you have within the confines of the space that is available to you.
Once you have everything organized, it takes discipline to keep it that way. A little extra effort can go a long way. For example, putting clothes away after wearing them, when they come out of the laundry, or when you unpack after a trip. It is much easier to make this a small daily chore instead of an overwhelming one that you tackle once a season.
But the time you spend sorting out wardrobe storage solutions IS worth it, and so is the time you take to make sure it stays that way.
I’m lucky because in our current home, I share a modern, small walk-in closet with hubby, Greg. It’s compact, very tidy because I’m a neat freak, colour-coded because that looks pretty, and has lots of hanging space. I do not swap out my seasons so EVERYTHING is in our closet apart from outerwear that I keep in the coat closet, and basics like undies, socks and yoga wear that I keep in a chest of drawers in our bedroom. I don’t wear much jewellery, but keep all my pearl necklaces on hooks in our walk-in closet too. I like looking at them as I enter our closet! Of course, items that I store in a holding zone are deliberately out of sight, and sentimental items that I do not wear are boxed and put away too.
Over to you. How visible are your wardrobe items? Are most of the items in one place, and how tidy is your closet?
