Closets are one of the make or break spaces in your home. When they’re organized, they streamline your day and inspire you to try new outfits and love the clothes you own. When they’re a mess, it can be hard to find the pieces you want and can make getting dressed a chore. Luckily, getting your closet in order is a relatively simple and rewarding process. Check out our five-step guide to learning how to use dead space in closet.
1. Clean Out Your Existing Closet
While you may be tempted to start by shopping or color coding, the first step in learning how to organize a closet is to sort through what you already have. This will help you get a better idea of your current wardrobe as well as how many of the items you actually wear.
Tidy Your Space
Start by removing everything from your closet and laying it out on your bed or another clean surface. Dust and wipe down any shelves and clothing rods and vacuum the floor. You can also add an air freshener, a diffuser, or even light a candle to freshen your space while you work.
Sort Your Clothes
Once your closet space is clean, it’s time to take on the biggest task at hand – sorting through your clothes. Organizing your wardrobe can be overwhelming, but going one piece at a time and making piles can help. We recommend four piles for this first step:
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Keep – clothing you love that fits well and is worn regularly
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Sell/donate – clothing in good shape that no longer serves you
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Throw away – clothing with holes or stains
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Try on – clothing you haven’t worn in a while or that may not fit
Take a deep breath, because the hardest part is over! Once you try on a few pieces and clear away your clothing to be donated and thrown away, you should be left with a wardrobe you love.
Consider Your Clothing’s Purpose
The next step in learning how to organize a closet is considering how you’d like your clothes to be grouped. There are many ways to organize clothes in your closet and there is no right or wrong answer, as long as the solution serves you.
Here are some of the organization groupings we’ve seen over the year:
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By color
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By type
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By warmth/season
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By occasion
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By purpose
If you live in an area with highly variable weather, organizing by warmth or season might make the most sense. If you dress formally at work but casually at home, organizing by purpose might be best. Whichever organizational system you choose, it should make getting dressed each day simple and enjoyable.
2. Take Inventory & Measurements
Now that you have a wardrobe full of clothing you love, the next step in learning how to organize a closet is to take a deeper look at your closet space. If you have a builder-grade closet with a single clothing rod and shelf, you might be due for an upgrade.
Getting to Know Your Wardrobe
Start by taking inventory of your clothing. Ask questions like:
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How many of each piece (shirts, pants dresses, etc.) do I have?
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How many floor-length/oversized pieces do I have?
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How many of my pieces are delicate and should be folded rather than hung?
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How many pairs of shoes do I have?
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Are there any other items or accessories (suitcases, ties, jewelry, handbags, etc.) I’d like to store in my closet?
Measuring Your Closet Space
You may also want to take some measurements to better understand the space you have to work with and what closet storage solutions will fit inside. Knowing these limitations will help you maximize closet space and know how to use dead space in closet.
3. Choose a Modular Closet System That Grows With You
Half of the battle of learning how to organize a closet is having a great system that can grow alongside you and your wardrobe, like Victory Closets. Without a modular closet system, you’ll likely end up with piles of extra clothes, overstuffed drawers and shelves, and wrinkled or damaged clothing.
Look for a system that includes spaces like:
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Shelves
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Drawers
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Baskets
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Hanging rods
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Hooks
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Storage for small pieces like jewelry
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Belt, scarf, and tie racks
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Purse and handbag storage
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Valet rods
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Hampers and other laundry solutions
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Space for less-used items like luggage
With a modular system like Victory Closets, you’ll be able to choose the closet storage solutions that are most relevant to your wardrobe. You’ll also have the ability to adjust your closet seasonally or whenever your needs change. And, unlike many store-bought options, custom closet systems can be easily updated as your wardrobe evolves without any tools or difficult labor.
You’ll also be able to choose the style, color, and finish of your closet system to match the rest of your master suite or home. If you’re not sure where to get started, some companies will even send out an expert for a free in-home consultation.
4. Add Finishing Touches
As you prepare for the installation of your custom closet system, take a look at your empty closet space and consider any updates you may want to make. In addition to a place to store your clothes, your closet should be an inspiring place you look forward to visiting each morning.
We’ve seen a number of transformative finishing touches over the years, including:
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Installing a unique lighting fixture
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Adding decorative pieces to the walls like mirrors and artwork
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Including a sitting area with an accent chair or bench for putting on shoes
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Adding an area rug or carpeting
Adding these finishing touches will make your closet an exciting escape from the monotony of getting dressed each morning and will encourage you to keep the space tidy and clean. And, if you find yourself dreaming of a larger renovation for your closet, a home remodel company like Kitchens by Eileen can help plan and execute your vision.
Once your closet storage solution is installed and you’ve added your finishing touches, you can return your clothes to their new organizational system based on the groupings you picked earlier. Don’t be afraid to adjust your strategy as you see how items fit and what makes the most sense for your wardrobe.
5. Reassess Your Closet Seasonally
Once you’ve learned how to organize a closet and built your perfect wardrobe, you’ll want to keep it tidy and clean! In addition to dusting and vacuuming regularly, you’ll also want to reassess your wardrobe at the end of every season. While you don’t need to do a complete overhaul, a quick look through your closet can help you remove unworn pieces and create a shopping list to fill any gaps in your wardrobe.
If you opt for a modular closet system, you’ll also be able to reconfigure your space each season to best fit your wardrobe. For example, you can make more room for long dresses in the summer or add shelving to house extra sweaters and knits in the winter. Many custom closet systems don’t even require tools, making seasonal updates even easier.