11 Smart Strategies for Organizing Clothes in the Space You Have (2024)

Organizing clothing can be tricky because there's no one-size-fits-all solution that works for your entire wardrobe. Although it might be tempting to throw everything on a hanger, different types of clothes require unique organization methods for the most effective storage. Your knit sweaters, for example, won't be organized in the same way as your dresses or socks. To keep your clothes as neat and accessible as possible, you'll need to use a variety of clothing organization ideas for garments and accessories.

Whether you want to organize clothes in a closet, dresser, or wardrobe, it's important not to cram too many pieces into a tight space. This leads to wrinkles and makes it more difficult to see the full range of your clothing options when you're picking out an outfit. Open storage solutions, such as hanging clothes or organizing garments on shelves, are best for what you wear each day, including pants, sweaters, blouses, and dresses. If your full wardrobe is easily within view, you're less likely to end up wearing the same couple of pieces over and over again. On the other hand, items like socks, undergarments, and other accessories are best stored in drawers or bins, which keep them contained and hidden away if desired. Use these tips on how to organize clothing to keep your wardrobe tidy and ready to wear.

1. Edit Your Wardrobe First

Clothes retain their good looks longer when stacked neatly or hanging freely. But before you begin organizing clothes, create breathing room in closets and drawers by editing your wardrobe. Consider donating apparel that hasn't been worn in a year, no longer fits, is too damaged to repair, or is decidedly never coming back into style. If you want to do a thorough edit, pull all of your clothes out of your closet and try everything on. By trying things on, you'll be able to better gauge if you'll get good wear out of an item—and maybe even discover some new favorite pieces that you forgot about.

2. Organize Garments Like Sweaters and Jeans in Plain Sight

Unlike dressers or armoire drawers, bookcases and open shelves let you quickly see and retrieve what you need. This system to organize clothes works well for jeans, t-shirts, sweaters, and other garments that don't need to be hung. Move a bookcase into a closet to hold stacks of foldable items, organized by type. Equip a few shelves with colorful labeled baskets that corral socks and delicates.

3. Divide Hanging Clothing by Category

Create a closet-rod labeling system that tells you what goes where to easily find what you're looking for, then return it to its proper space. Storing similar items, such as jackets or button-down shirts, together streamlines clothing storage and stops you from stuffing too much in one spot. This also prevents other garments from falling off hangers or becoming wrinkled. Repurpose drapery-rod clips to display handwritten tags that define different clothing sections.

4. Keep Your Best Attire on Wood Hangers

Hang your best garments, such as dresses, jackets, and delicate blouses, on wood hangers. These large, sturdy hangers help clothing pieces hold their shapes in storage. To streamline your morning routine, organize a week's worth of outfits by separating hanging clothes with day-of-the-week dividers. This handy sorting system lets you pre-check garments and gives you time to clean spots or repair flaws before Monday rolls around. This method makes it easy to dress and dash on busy mornings.

5. Install Over the Door Storage

Over the door storage solutions are a great way to maximize vertical space, and often don't require any tools to install. Use an over the door shoe rack for smaller shoes, like flats, loafers, and sneakers. Place as many shoes as you can in the pockets to save your closet's floor space for taller shoes, like boots and heels. You can also use over the door storage to organize things like accessories, scarves, and hats to keep your remaining garments tidy. Use hooks to hang belts, necklaces, and purses on the back of the door.

6. Customize Closet Organization

Boost the storage capabilities of your closet by incorporating a variety of buyable clothing organizers. Customizable closet systems, specialty racks and hangers, storage bins and baskets, shelf dividers, drawer organizers, and hanging compartmentalized bags can all help optimize clothes storage. Personalize storage systems by using vintage hat boxes, suitcases, and even planters to beautifully corral rarely-used clothing, fashion accessories, and out-of-season apparel.

7. Organize Seasonal Clothing Under the Bed

Underbed organizers, such as plastic boxes, fabric bags, wire racks, and wooden drawers, provide a variety of clothing organization and storage options.

These can be used to hold folded sweaters, jeans, extra robes, or balled-up socks andout-of-season clothing, such as swimsuits or winter scarves. Look for options with shoe-organizer inserts. Moving shoes out of your closet can create a tidier look and open up more space for storing clothes.

8. Plan Outfits on the Back of a Door

Use the back of a door to organize clothes and expand storage space beyond the closet. Over-the-door hooks, shoe bags, and multi-hook racks are great to temporarily hang freshly ironed outfits, contain ball cap collections, and stash heavy items, such as robes or coats. Alternatively, add a pegboard to the front or back of a door so you can use hooks to organize smaller accessories such as scarves, neckties, and belts.

9. Organize Clothes in a Freestanding Wardrobe

Increase clothing storage by utilizing an antique armoire or a spacious wardrobe, which you can find at various price points and in numerous styles. Outfit the cabinet's interior with modern bin storage systems and closet rods situated at heights that suit both hanging clothes and ease of access. Tuck in shoe racks and storage bins as space allows. To make planning outfits easier, showcase sketches on door-hung bulletin boards that remind you how to pull together your favorite looks.

10. Organize Clothes Storage for Kids

Little ones have smaller clothes, which means you can fit more clothes inside a closet.

Opt for multitier systems featuring dual rods. The lower one should be used to sort clothes by day-of-the-week closet dividers. Stencil, paint, or sketch an image of what's inside each drawer or bin so kids can readily identify what's stored where.

11. Stash Mending Tools Nearby

Organize clothes and the tools needed to keep apparel looking its best in the same spot. You're more likely to replace lost buttons, stitch a falling hem, or press a blouse when a mending kit, button jar, and iron and board are nearby. Being able to tackle these quick fix-ups ensures that no flawed or rumpled garment languishes unused in your closet.