Question about closet organization? - YouLookFab Forum

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Question about closet organization?

cheryl

Veteran

I would like input from all of you on what works for you in your closet. Right now my clothes are sorted and hung by type. All tanks together, all short sleeves together, etc. In the past i thought about doing it by type and then by color but that didnt seem to work for me. I think i either have to sort by type or just by color. Do you prefer sorting by type of item or by color of item or you do take it a step furthur and sort by type then color? Thanks for any input.

Dressing

29 replies

Latest reply was from Rebecca

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I sort by type and then each type by colour.

Amy

(website)

Veteran

I'm just happy if I can squeeze everything into my closet, lol. But on to your question...I sort by type.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

What Shannon said.

anne

Veteran

I go by type too - but I think it is one of those "whatever works for you" things

rachylou

Veteran

I do by capsule, by type, and then by color. That is, for example, all my bakery short sleeve tops go together and the stack is sorted by color. My office tops are another stack.

Inge

(website)

Type and then by colour, just like Shannon and Angie.

cheryl

Veteran

Wow, thanks everyone. Seems like everyone is by type and some take it that step furthur by color. Rachylou, your way sounds very intriguing. Maybe I will keep things as is for now in my closet and sort my overflow by color to get the best of both worlds, haha.

Laurinda

Veteran

By type, and then color arranged following the resistor color code:
Black-Brown-R-O-Y-G-B-V-Grey-White-Gold-Silver. I bet that I'm unique.

"Type" is a personal decision, I separate: 1) smooth cotton sweaters and tops from 2) fuzzy acrylic and wool tops from 3) woven short sleeve shirts from 4) woven long sleeve shirts from 5) jackets.

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cheryl

Veteran

Laurinda, I love that color chart!

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

My closet is currently sorted by type and then solid/print and then color. I am planning a purge this weekend and am considering re-organizing into capsules. I haven't decided yet so will be followingthis thread for ideas.

I like to keep suits together but wonder if they would be better in their "type" area instead.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I traditionally have gone by type, then color. This week I separated my shirts for skirts from my shirts for pants. Will see how that goes. I'm still not used to it, but I hope it makes it easier for me to visualize my 'with skirts' options, and not pull a too short top erroneously thinking it will go with pants.
I also just moved my summery dresses toward the front of the closet, and the heavier weight ones towards the back.

ManidipaM

Veteran

What Shannon said.

Laurinda's typing put a 'happy geek' smile on my face though! MUST try this at home!

christieanne

Veteran

I tried to do by capsule but I didn't really have the space (plus I don't like to hang knits or sweaters) so recently redid by color - even by color it is sort of by type - bulkier sweaters together and thin knits together so that seasonally I can grab the right thing. It is working well so far and I think it is opening my eyes to options I didn't think of before.
I used to have it more by type - all the sweaters together and then colorized, etc. Now, I think I want to wear cobalt blue so I go to the cobalt sections and just look at those.
I do have the "small stuff" like camis together in a rubbermaid three drawer thing because they are so tiny that they get lost easily on the shelves and make things messy. I can still see the colors through the front though.

I am still working on my hanging pants and skirts and jackets - those are by type.

Girl X

(website)

Veteran

I sort first by type, then textile, and if there are enough items, by colour.

Jjsloane

Veteran

Yikes - I sort only by type , but break out types: On my long bar I have suits, work jackets, dresses (all), work bottoms. On my 2 shorter bars I have work tops, casual tops. Jeans are on shelves together, as are shorts, cardigans, layering tees. When I see a possible combination among the items I will group them on the back of my door as an outfit option or stack them at the end of the bar for the week.

Astrid

Veteran

I sort by types. I don't have that many items so I don't see the need to sort further within a cathegory.

KikiG

Veteran

Top row:

Toppers: jackets, cardigans.
Camis: sorted by color
Tops with sleeves

Bottom Row: skirts, shorts, tee shirts

Long hanging: suits, pants, dressed, skirts too long for bottom row.

I am on the verge of a purge (hee!) and I will restore order and rainbow-ization when I do.

I confess: I'm a total hanger snob. These hangers rock. Everything I have is on these wonderful hangers.

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cheryl

Veteran

Great input everyone. It's really interesting to read what works for everyone. KikiG, one small section of my closet is done in huggable hangers and i love it. I bet those closets organized by color look really pretty

Aida

Veteran

Another who does type, then color. I have one long bar, with a shelf above.

On the shelf are mostly knits, from left to right I have: jeans, sweaters, turtlenecks in winter/tunics in summer, neutral cardigans, colorful/printed cardigans, graphic tees, layering tees, layering tanks, purses. These are not sorted any specific way, just most recently worn/taken down is on top.

On the bar I have everything else hanging up, from left to right I have: pants/trousers, dresses, blouses/nicer tees/vests, shorts, skirts, blazers/jackets.

And my color order is: black, charcoal, gray, white, cream, pink, red, orange, yellow, green, teal, blue, purple, brown, tan. Dunno where it came from, but that's what it is

EDIT: Shoes are on the floor, outerwear downstairs by the door. I found an older photo from last year that's close, but the way I described it above is how it's currently setup.

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Lisa

Veteran

I sort by type first, then by color.

Jewell

Veteran

The clothes hanging in my closet are sorted by color- ROYGBIV. The clothing folded in my dresser and armoire drawers is sorted by type- all tanks together, all tees together, all jeans together, etc. This is the system that makes me happiest for now : )

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I do by type, but I only divide by tops, pants, skirts, dresses and jackets - nothing more detailed. Then they're by color from light to dark. The stuff in drawers is only sorted by type, not by color.

K. Period.

Veteran

I used to do it by type, then color, but I wasn't mixing up my wardrobe enough. I sorted again and now have it by capsule, type and color and it has really pushed me to wear more of my wardrobe in more interesting ways. Sorting by capsule made me stop talking about how a skirt went with three tops and really made me see it that way and start wearing it. Huge difference! And I have super skinny velvet hangers and all-the-same pant hangers. That is one of the most awesome clothing investments evaaaaah! It takes your eyes off of the hangers and puts them squarely on the clothes. Shelves are now for accessories (bags), extremely bulky sweaters and some weekend wear. Oh, and I color sort by Roy G. Biv too!

teeandcee

Mine are all on hangers. No really, every single item.

cheryl

Veteran

Great response everyone. Thank you.

Aida, great visual, thanks.

fashionista

Veteran

I separate by types. I like hanging my tops by sleeves length and then type.

1. Puffer jackets, leather jackets and work coats (hanging) and sweaters dresses, cardigans (folded)
2. Only coats (length wise)
3. Tops (hung by sleeves length and some folded as per types) and below pants (not seen that proper)
I have to admit I am very bad by arranging at colors. I have to try that rainbow pattern.

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jayne

Veteran

I am so the odd man out, my clothes hang in outfits. so a jacket, slacks, blouse and even a necklace maybe. When I started doing this i was totally dependent on this to be able to get dressed in the morning because i cannot seem to figure out in my head outfits to put together.

But now that I have been practicing outfits so much and branching out to two ways to wear something, say a jacket, then now I can manage to pick out the other outfit the jacket goes with from a different spot. So they still hang in outfits but I am not so rigid about only wearing it the one way.

My brain isn't made for this creativity, but it is learning, just like IK's SYC muscle!

Meredith1953

Veteran

Type and color. I try to hang everything but have some bulkier items (winter sweaters) that are in a drawer.

Rebecca

Member

i def post by type since when i construct an outfit, i think type much more over color (plus color is very easily identifiable by a quick glance!).

i also recently came across a really easy way to store my scarves that i wanted to share with you guys! instead of folding, i roll them into cylinders and put them on a shelf. its nice cause i can see all of my scarves at the same time