Fed up with facing a tangle of T-shirts? Sick of searching for a clean pair of socks? These seven steps will help you transform your clothes closet, shelves and drawers from a messy jumble into a gleaming model of efficiency.
1. Pack Away Off-Season Clothes
The first step on the road to wardrobe efficiency is to take out anything that isn’t seasonally appropriate. You don’t need to have summer clothes accessible in winter and vice versa, so get these out of the way to slim down the number of items you’re attempting to sort through every morning.
Store off-season clothes in lidded boxes under the bed or on top of the wardrobe to keep them dust-free, then step back and assess your wardrobe more clearly.
The first step on the road to wardrobe efficiency is to take out anything that isn’t seasonally appropriate. You don’t need to have summer clothes accessible in winter and vice versa, so get these out of the way to slim down the number of items you’re attempting to sort through every morning.
Store off-season clothes in lidded boxes under the bed or on top of the wardrobe to keep them dust-free, then step back and assess your wardrobe more clearly.
2. Sort by Type
Take everything out and place into piles according to the type of garment, level of formality or both. For example, group all knitwear together, then sort by type, from lightweight to heavyweight, or from office wear to casual outdoor layers.
Separate formal work shirts from casual weekend shirts, group all trousers together, and sort dresses by formal to casual. T-shirts and tops might also need to be sorted from casual to smart and from long-sleeved to short-sleeved.
Take everything out and place into piles according to the type of garment, level of formality or both. For example, group all knitwear together, then sort by type, from lightweight to heavyweight, or from office wear to casual outdoor layers.
Separate formal work shirts from casual weekend shirts, group all trousers together, and sort dresses by formal to casual. T-shirts and tops might also need to be sorted from casual to smart and from long-sleeved to short-sleeved.
3. Then Sort by Color
Once you’ve sorted your clothes into garment types, the next stage is to sort by color. Within each clothing type, arrange items from dark to light, through the colors of the rainbow.
Want to take it up a notch? If you’re super-organized, you might also want to sort your patterned items into stripes, florals and so on, or you could place them into the color order by the dominant color within the pattern.
Once you’ve sorted your clothes into garment types, the next stage is to sort by color. Within each clothing type, arrange items from dark to light, through the colors of the rainbow.
Want to take it up a notch? If you’re super-organized, you might also want to sort your patterned items into stripes, florals and so on, or you could place them into the color order by the dominant color within the pattern.
4. Ask Yourself One Question
Now that you’ve started to get some order, it’s time for a ruthless edit. Ask yourself one simple question: If you saw this item in a shop today, would you buy it? If the answer is no, or maybe, then it might need to go.
It’s easy to hang onto clothes for sentimental reasons, or because you think you “might” wear them one day. But if you haven’t worn something for a year or so, and if you wouldn’t buy it again today, then it doesn’t need to take up valuable space in your closet.
Now that you’ve started to get some order, it’s time for a ruthless edit. Ask yourself one simple question: If you saw this item in a shop today, would you buy it? If the answer is no, or maybe, then it might need to go.
It’s easy to hang onto clothes for sentimental reasons, or because you think you “might” wear them one day. But if you haven’t worn something for a year or so, and if you wouldn’t buy it again today, then it doesn’t need to take up valuable space in your closet.
5. Subdivide
Now it’s time to put everything back in your closet, so you’ll need to reconsider the layout of the space. A single rod inside your closet isn’t likely to cut the mustard, so see if you can squeeze in an extra, lower rod to divide the vertical space in two.
Alternatively, buy a shelving system that fits inside your closet to create a patchwork of different-size sections. You can then customize it to suit your exact needs.
Now it’s time to put everything back in your closet, so you’ll need to reconsider the layout of the space. A single rod inside your closet isn’t likely to cut the mustard, so see if you can squeeze in an extra, lower rod to divide the vertical space in two.
Alternatively, buy a shelving system that fits inside your closet to create a patchwork of different-size sections. You can then customize it to suit your exact needs.
6. Fold Everything That Doesn’t Need a Hanger
Soft T-shirts, casual tops and most knitwear can be neatly folded and placed on shelves within your closet or dresser. This will clear hanging space for items that need it, such as jackets, shirts and dresses.
The key to keeping these piles of clothes organized is to fold them all uniformly, with the sleeves and hems tucked neatly inside. You will then have a clean row of organized items facing you when you open the cupboard or drawer, rather than a toppling tower with sleeves trailing down.
Soft T-shirts, casual tops and most knitwear can be neatly folded and placed on shelves within your closet or dresser. This will clear hanging space for items that need it, such as jackets, shirts and dresses.
The key to keeping these piles of clothes organized is to fold them all uniformly, with the sleeves and hems tucked neatly inside. You will then have a clean row of organized items facing you when you open the cupboard or drawer, rather than a toppling tower with sleeves trailing down.
7. Group Accessories
Last. but not least, turn your attention to your accessories. Treat scarves, bags and shoes as you would your clothes and store anything that isn’t seasonal out of sight. Then fold, color-code and organize your accessories by type before placing them back on shelves or in dedicated storage boxes on the floor of your wardrobe.
Clear boxes are useful for seeing what’s inside at a glance, and a small storage unit with pull-out drawers would make it even easier to access items.
Last. but not least, turn your attention to your accessories. Treat scarves, bags and shoes as you would your clothes and store anything that isn’t seasonal out of sight. Then fold, color-code and organize your accessories by type before placing them back on shelves or in dedicated storage boxes on the floor of your wardrobe.
Clear boxes are useful for seeing what’s inside at a glance, and a small storage unit with pull-out drawers would make it even easier to access items.
Content provided by Victoria Harrison at Houzz.com
FLOWER MOUND HOUSING REPORT: OCTOBER 2023
