10 Ways to Organize your Closet and Drawers
Have you ever found yourself tripping over clothes that have been left on the floor because there is no room left in the closet or the dresser drawers?
This may not happen to all of us but for some it’s a very real situation.
Arranging clothes in your closet and drawers is much easier and less stressful than having to step over piles clothes.
Fortunately, we can help you get those overstuffed spaces organized so you can find and wear everything you have.
How to Organize Your Space
Organize your Time
First you want to set aside at least half a day for this organizing task as you will be going through all your clothes and shoes.
You will want to try clothes on to see if they still fit or decide if you even like them and want to keep them.
Dump Your Clothes and Shoes Out
This step will probably be the easiest – dump all your clothes on the bed and lay your shoes out on the floor. You may be surprised by the heaping pile of clothes you have.
Make Piles to Categorize Clothes
Now you can start by making four additional piles of clothes.
They should be categorized for:
- A pile will be for the clothes and shoes you plan on keeping.
- Another pile of clothes will be for clothes you’re not quite sure if you want to keep.
- A third pile will be for items you want to donate to charity or a thrift store.
- The last pile will be the throw away pile for clothes that are damaged and not worth keeping or donating.
Make Piles to Categorize Shoes
Repeat the above process only now you’re categorizing and working on your shoes.
When in Doubt – Toss It Out
Don’t be a hoarder. Time to start trying on those clothes and shoes from the keeper pile and the pile you’re not quite sure if you want to keep or not.
This will help weed out the items you may not fit into anymore or now that you’re seeing them on you – the color or cut doesn’t flatter you. If there are any clothes or shoes you don’t want; put them in the donate pile if they are reusable.
At least twice a year, go through your closet. Remove and store clothes that are out of season. Don't hang on to clothes that you will never wear again, that are out of style, or anything that you haven't worn at least once in the past year. Chances are, you'll never wear it again anyway, so donate such articles to a thrift shop so that someone else may benefit.
Closet Organizing Tips
These closet organization tips are for accessories you’ll want to have for organizing your closet. There are space-saving products available that are very creative.
For instance, hanging multiple shirts on a space saving clothes hanger organizer.
- Wall hooks are great if you have scarves and belts.
- Stackable clear, plastic containers with lids work wonders for miscellaneous items or for storing winter and summer clothes.
- Space saver bags/containers that fit under the bed are also great to have for seasonal clothes.
- Tie racks.
- Garment bags to keep the clothes you wear for special occasions crisp and clean.
- Shoe organizers. Some people even use the boxes their shoes came in to store shoes so they don’t get dusty if they are not worn very often.
- A jewelry box or decorative containers for the top of the dresser for jewelry, loose change, and keys.
How to Arrange Your Clothes
Now it’s time to start arranging your closet space. Divide your closet into sections for business clothes, casual wear, and the clothes you will wear for evening and special occasions.
If you have the closet space, you can hang your jeans as well. If you don’t have the space to hang your jeans and you have a shelf above the closet you can put them on the shelf. You can take this one step further and arrange these sections by color. This makes it easy if you’re running late to quickly grab clothes for work, pleasure, or if you’re going out with friends.
Now is also a good time to make note of how many similar items you have in the same color. For instance, four white blouses, 5 black slacks. This is good to know when you go shopping so you don’t get an item you don’t necessarily need.
How to Arrange Your Shoes
Follow the steps you just did for arranging your clothes, only working on your shoes.
Place business shoes on the floor, rack, or shoe organizer under the business clothes section, casual shoes by the casual wear section of your closet and so on.
How to Organize Your Dresser
Now you can get started putting things back in dresser drawers. A dresser with five drawers is perfect, if you have a dresser with fewer drawers; you can combine items or use storage containers for under the bed or in the closet.
Drawers can be organized in the following way:
- Under garments and socks in one drawer.
- Long sleeved shirts in a drawer.
- Short sleeved t-shirts in a drawer.
- Tank tops in another drawer.
- Short sleeved shirts and tank tops can be combined in the same drawer by putting short sleeved shirts on one side and tank tops on the other side of the drawer. This allows you to have an extra drawer for bathing suits and other miscellaneous items.
- Shorts in the last drawer.
How to Organize Purses
For women who have a supply of purses, these can be stored on the top shelf of the closet in the open or in a covered clear, plastic container. These can also be stored in clear plastic containers that fit under the bed.
The Organized Closet
Now that you have your closet and drawers cleaned and organized, get in a good routine to daily put your clothes away where they belong.
Your closet may look empty but don’t worry; now you have the items you need and will wear - and you can easily find them.
Knowing what you have you can reap the benefits and make more knowledgeable purchases and save money by setting limits on yourself - if you don’t need another white blouse, don’t buy it until you do need it.
