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Closet org question

nemosmom

Veteran

I realize HOW you organize your closet is as personal and varied as WHAT you put in it. That said, I wonder if there is a more effective way for ME to organize my own.

I currently have everything except loungewear, special occasion, and gym clothes in my “everyday” closet. I hang tops by sleeve length, then by color. Then pants, then toppers. Sweaters, graphic tees, and jeans are on shelves.

I am in the process of my end of season changeover, where I bring out the sweaters and pack away the sandals. This seems like a good time to shuffle things, if it will help. I read (somewhere) about keeping ONLY the core or most-worn items in your closet and putting everything else in a different space - similar to a holding zone, but instead of the zone holding only items you are on the fence about, it holds the things that aren’t in your daily rotation. You can “shop” that zone for fresh pieces.

Has anyone tried organizing this way? Did it work for you? What did you learn from it (if anything)?

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24 replies

Latest reply was from Sal

Susie

Veteran

I do keep out of season clothes in another closet, mainly because I don't want to see cashmere sweaters in July or shorts in December. Bringing them back in at the change of seasons helps them feel new again.

And I keep work and "non work" clothes in separate sections of my main closet. There are some pieces that do double duty of course and I am "allowed" to wear work clothes off duty! It just makes weekday dressing a little easier to divide it this way.

Other than that, I don't feel a need to not have everything in my closet. Even if I don't wear something often, I definitely won't wear it if it's out of sight. I'm not sure I understand the purpose of putting things in a different space?

Anonymous

Hmmmm. I love all posts related to organization. This was a good one.

Let me start by saying I organize my closet exactly as you describe. It makes sense to me and "feels" right. My closet is organized seasonally as described by Susie. Only the seasonally appropriate items are in my working closet. All out-of-season clothing items are cleaned, ironed, folded, and put away for the season.

Your idea is seductive. However, logistics come into play. Do we have the room to organize this way? I could make it work, but I worry that it will be less intuitive and things will get lost or forgotten. As my closet is currently organized, I can see every single item immediately upon opening the closet door. Nothing is lost or forgotten.

Helena

Veteran

Hiya, I organize similarly to how you describe. I do put my most worn items closer to the front (e.g. jeans and sweaters) and the more dressier things that I wear less frequently towards the back, but because I have space, I don't really put things in storage for the seasons. I tried that in the past but because our weather is so crazy (as I'm sure you can relate) and the transitions between seasons are so unpredictable, it was giving me stress as to when to change things over, etc.

I will say that it's worth a try to do something different if you're feeling it and have the time! I've gone through spells in the past where I do a tight capsule wardrobe and put the rest away. I always learn something and it's fun (for me at least!). I find sometimes changing things around makes everything feel fresh, and the time I spend doing it, I'm not shopping or browsing or whatever. So if you enjoy changing things around, organizing, etc. why not give it a go and see what happens? I'm considering this for the fall; if I don't like it, I'll just switch it back

Sal

Veteran

My system is similar to yours except I have a few more things in a dresser (sweaters and tees as well as lounge wear, gear and underwear). My special occasion gear is in the same closet.

I would prefer to have all my seasonally appropriate wardrobe in one place so I wear it all - I would not want to limit myself. If I was trying to change my style I might consider this system or if I wanted to streamline things for a particular reason or if my wardrobe numbers were higher and hence things were more cluttered.

I do about four swaps a year, I have just done one. (aside - it is probably three weeks too early but I wanted to do it) This would include wool coats, thick sweaters and anything I am sick of and know I won't wear again this season. I have brought in sandals and spring blouses and a few dresses.

Come November I will do another one and remove all the boots and bring in the high summer stuff like sunfrocks and beach clothes.

Julie

Interesting!

I've been packing away out-of season clothes into bins for a few years (we have very hot summers and very cold winters). But, this year I reduced my wardrobe size enough that everything can fit easily on my hangers or in my dresser, so now everything is available. I like it this way so far- I like having a smaller number of things and feeling like everything is there to admire even if it's not appropriate to wear that day.

Also since I shop second-hand a lot, I buy stuff out-of season- it's nice to easily see what will go with what, even if I'm not planning to wear the new sweater for a few months. Having everything neatly put away was not really working for that.

But a second closet where you can go and admire your alternative capsules or shop for a refresh without lugging out carefully packed up boxes? That sounds fun.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

Like most above I swap seasonally,once in autumn and once in Spring.l don’t have the room to have everything in my wardrobe all at once and if I see things all year round I get fed up with them,whereas bringing them out seasonally makes them seem more exciting.Timing of the swap is always tricky as our Welsh weather is very variable but I have sufficient cross over pieces in each season to cope.

LaPed

Veteran

Hmm, "organization" is probably not the right term for how I store my clothes. T-shirts/layering tops and basics go in a chest of drawers that I share with DH. Gear, bulky sweaters, and loungewear bottoms are in a large rolling under-bed drawer because they take up too much space in the chest of drawers. Everything else hangs in a pretty standard sized reach-in closet, also split halfsies with DH. I also keep an old decommissioned suitcase in the crawlspace for off-season clothes, which I switch out twice a year (roughly May and October).

I have some coat hooks on the wall behind the bedroom door and have been experimenting with using them for a few "wear these now!" pieces -- the stuff with very short wear windows, or that feels to fancy for everyday life but really isn't, or that needs alterations/repairs. I've only been doing it for a few months, so I can't really say yet how effective a strategy it is. It did coax me into wearing my floral cami a couple times this summer, rather than opting for a cotton tank top -- so there's that!

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Joy

Veteran

My clothes are arranged in a similar way to yours except that they are first hung my color, then by type. A few things for very dressy occasions and extremely hot or cold times are mo Ed to the basement closet. I do but current season pieces front and center and move off season things back.
I have tried a small capsule for about a month, adding to it from my wardrobe only when I feel the need. What I have learned is that I can get by with very few items if I choose carefully and consider variety in silhouette, color, pattern, etc. but miss my full wardrobe and feel guilty for not wearing more items. I could live with a small closet but would need to curate very carefully. If you are a uniform dresser or do not deal with big changes in seasons this is probably easier.

nemosmom

Veteran

Thanks everyone! Although it’s enticing to have a chunk of items I can “shop from”, my biggest concern is forgetting what I have if I can’t see it. I am likely overthinking it all.

Anonymous

That is my concern. Out of sight, out of mind.

I don't think you are overthinking this though. It seems to me you are open to new ideas and willing to give them a shot. How could that ever be bad. Worst case scenario you wasted one afternoon.

Anonymous

I think you'd likely forget the pieces too. My solution is to wear the "on the fence things"-then I figure out quickly why they're unworn and they get passed on.

I'm with Joy on organization-hung by color then type. Closet looks nice and peaceful that way

Helena

Veteran

Nm, I totally forget what I have in storage when I've done these spells ... I'm torn between, "I bought it so may as well wear it" and "If I don't even miss it, why did I buy it??" ... *overthinker high-five*

Runcarla

Veteran

Seasonal coats get rotated through a basement storage closet along with a box or two of hats, scarves, gloves, and mitts. All my regular clothes are 'out' - either hung in my closet or in a dresser. About a year into YLF I changed my closet strategy from 'likes with like' to grouping colours. I can't remember what motivated the change, but I really like how my closet looks and find it conducive to outfit creation. I'll,change up the arrangement of the colours from time to time - usually putting whites to the front in S/S and darks to the front for F/W.

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cjh

(website)

Veteran

Having everything in one closet would be possible if I had a big closet to myself, or if I had fewer clothes! Ha! As it is, I’ve divided up my categories into one closet and two halves, two dressers and a half. I just go to the closet which contains the category I need to select from that day.

When the kids were here, we did a huge seasonal switch to and from basement storage, and try on session twice a year, or more! So this is the solution for having too many clothes for one closet, but extra closets because my kids are grown and gone.

It’s easy to see what I have because things are spread out enough. I think it works because I rarely put an item in the wrong category space. I only seasonally switch out a few categories, hubby’s shirts, some jeans, and pjs and knit tops. Here is my scheme:
Closet 1 in extra bedroom:
Purses and totes
Shoes
Skirts
Long sleeve button shirts
3/4 sleeve tops
Vests, fleece toppers (but not for running), jacket-toppers
“Arty-party” capsule (dressy pants, boho tops, white jeans, kimono toppers, velvet lace jacket, lace pants etc.)
Dresser 1:
Shorts and knit tank tops
Off season pjs
Cardigans, split into two drawers by solids and prints
Scarves
Rarely worn but needed such as zip off leg hiking pants, long johns, bathing suit, hiking hat
Hubby’s sweaters
Closet 2 (in second extra bedroom):
Running jackets, short and long sleeve tech shirts
Sleeveless and short sleeve dressier tops
Off season pants
Hubby’s off season shirts, dress pants, sport coats and suits
All the towels, first aid and extra toiletry products also
Dresser 2 (smallish):
All my sports bras, socks, running tights, shorts and sleeveless tops, warm up pants, and race T-shirts
Closet 3 (in my bedroom)
Current season pants, jeans
Lounge cardigan/robe/sweatshirt
Most often, a few outfits or parts that have been worn but not ready for laundry
Dresses - I only have about 5 right now
Current season knit tops/T-shirts - I switch these out to have either short sleeves, about May through October, or long sleeves, November through April. The alternate season is stored in a small bin.
Hubby’s current season shirts, pants, jeans, shorts, work out wear, working-in-shop-or-yard shirts, belts, ties, pj pants, and some piles of who knows what else.
Dresser 3:
Undergarments, two drawers
Socks, two drawers
Jewelry
Pjs for current season
Hubby’s socks, one small drawer

Good luck deciding on how to organize. And especially, have fun!

Lucy

Veteran

How I organise my closet has really come down to the different storage spaces - in my last home, I had everything in one big closet, other than winter coats, which went in a separate coat closet.
In my current house, I have lots of overall storage, but not a lot in my bedroom. There is a reasonable amount of storage for folded items, but not a lot of hanging space. As I wear a lot of dresses for work, I need more. I have a second closet in my study.
So in my current house, all my folded clothes stay in my main closet all year, bar a handful of warmer knits and jumpers. I don't wear jumpers a lot here, as my winter is very mild. These are mainly for travel, and the 2-3 weeks a year when a warmer knit might be ok.
I put these jumpers, and all hanging stuff that is not in season, into the study closet. I do plan to move stuff in and out o the main closet when the seasons change, but sometimes as when the weather changes, I just end up using the study closet, and when I wash the item, I put it back in the main bedroom! Depends on how busy I am and if I have time to do a big move or not
While I think I did prefer my huge closet in my last home, I don't feel like it is worth remodelling - it would be disruptive - and this rotating of closets has served me pretty well, with no irritations...

Gretchen

Veteran

I organize similar to your plan. Everything goes in 1 closet except for:
- occasion dresses
- super seasonal activity clothes (ski gear, resort wear)
- Items on the bench - holding zone to decide if I"m ready to donate

I'm lucky enough to have a larger closet so everything fits. I do keep 2 storage boxes in the top for out of season clothes and shoes. They typically get moved over in late spring or late fall.

I don't think I could do the capsule approach - if I don't see it, I won't remember to wear it. I have done the experiments where clothes that I've worn in the last month are grouped at the front of the closet to see if I"m overlooking clothes, or ready to retire.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I organize my closet similarly -- items are hung grouped by item, then tops are grouped by sleeve length, knit vs. woven, and then by color. Sweaters, jeans, pants and shorts are folded on shelves. Workout gear is "filed" in baskets that fit in the shelving at floor level.

In our basement closet, there are two substantial hanging garment bags that create my out of season storage zone and a holding zone. There are also a couple of smaller garment bags that hold fancy and infrequently worn occasion wear -- formal gown, cocktail dresses, etc.

Many things stay in my main closet year-round, but I switch out dresses for long and bulky jackets in the fall (dresses are almost exclusively summer items for me), and switch out the shorts and cropped pants for sweaters in the shelves.

I've thought about doing an experiment in which I put a LOT more items in the holding zone, just to give me a break from seeing them in the closet, to see if they feel new to me again after a break. I'm thinking of doing this especially with items that I like but don't wear anymore for some reason or other. The idea is that maybe when I feel bored with my closet I can try shopping my holding zone to see if there's something there I can have renewed appreciation for. Trends seem to move so rapidly now, sometimes I see an item or a styling idea here or elsewhere that makes me think "oh, I think I have X item that would make that work." Plus, the whole DYOT thing Angie mentions in the blog makes me think that it may not be a good idea to immediately purge something from my wardrobe just because it isn't the latest trend. Right now it seems so popular to edit the heck out of everything, I sometimes wonder if it might be a good idea to hang onto some of my question-mark items to revisit later, as long as they fit well, are in good condition, and I like them. Sometimes it's just that I don't have a good styling idea for it, or I haven't figured out how to make it work for my casual life. But saving and revisiting items with fresh eyes may save me from doing more shopping than I need to. Maybe!

Also, it would be interesting to see how my wardrobe looks and feels with a bit more space to breathe. I don't know, it may not accomplish anything, but it's something I've considered. I don't mind "out of sight, out of mind" in this case. I think sometimes I get a bit of orphan fatigue -- I feel weary of seeing an unworn item in my closet, even though I like it. Putting it away may spark appreciation.

nemosmom

Veteran

Thank you everyone for your responses. I truly appreciate you taking time to explain how YOU sort it all out, and find it so fascinating to see how you store and organize your clothes. It's nice to see I'm not too far in left field when it comes to my closet.

Janet - yes! "Orphan fatigue" is what I am feeling, exactly. You nailed it: "Sometimes it's just that I don't have a good styling idea for it, or I
haven't figured out how to make it work for my casual life." I get frustrated sifting through orphans and end up grabbing the same go-tos. I know I love the piece, it fits, I feel amazing in it, but it still sits unworn.

I am going to have to force myself to block out some time for outfit creation session(s). Ugh, I loathe trying on clothes when I buy them, how am I going to force myself to do multiple put-on/take-offs to make outfits?? This requires more coffee...

Anonymous

Do you have many statements and not enough essentials? Or maybe there's one or two things that would deorphan many pieces-like a skirt or pants in a certain color?

nemosmom

Veteran

suntiger - that is entirely possible... Maybe if I pull out all the orphans I'll have a better idea of where to start.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

My closet is organized much the way yours is. Most things stay all year, though I just took a stack of shorts to the cellar and moved the winter things from the hallway-waiting-to-go-to-the-cellar back into the closet. I tried grouping by color for a while, but it really didn't work for me. Standing there with the skirt on, I didn't need a particular color; I needed a top. Within the tops, it's easy to look for a certain color, because it's color. I usually have hanging things in this order: shirts (short-and long-sleeved separated), dresses, skirts, pants. That way, it flows from tops to bottoms. Folded tops are in stacks--cardis, T-shirts, pullovers. If there are enough items for more than one stack, they're divided by sleeve length (or absence of sleeves). Knit dresses and skirts are folded too.

I'm not sure how much difference there really is between your original idea and ST's proposal, but her explanation of it makes more sense to me. You could keep those orphans/special items requiring attention towards the front of your closet. Even if you don't leap right into try-on sessions, at least seeing them daily will put them in your mind. Maybe approach them one item at a time, and let yourself come up with 3-4 different ideas before you start actually trying things on.

I can't remember how much of your wardrobe you have in collections where we could see it. Could you let us see one or two items and make suggestions from your finds/collections?

nemosmom

Veteran

Fashintern - I wish I had my wardrobe in Finds! I would ROG it all and be done Right now it's only new purchases, shoes, and outerwear. I like your idea to come up with 3-4 ideas before trying things on. That might help lower the frustration...

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Pulling out all the orphans I think may be a good start, and I should join you on that. I tend to leave them in the closet in case inspiration strikes, but that doesn’t seem to work most of the time. Instead it’s a bit of “familiarity breeds contempt.” Whereas maybe absence would make the heart grow fonder, you know?

Sal

Veteran

I agree with pulling out the orphans. We all have a few!! And if we still like them, they fit (or close enough) and they fit our style I agree with holding on a bit longer..... But I do agree that sometimes you don't want to see them.