Heading to a wedding and can’t find your favorite tie?
Having trouble finding those boots you spent a fortune on and wore once last winter?
Packing for a vacation and can’t remember where you put that oh-so-flattering swimsuit?
If these sound like familiar problems, there’s one thing we can be 100% sure of:
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Your closet is not organized!
It’s time to stop wasting precious time looking for the things you want to wear. It’s also time to stop wasting money on new things that end up in the deep, dark depths of your closet.
Here are the seven organization tips to help you get your bedroom closet in order.
1. Purge and Declutter
There’s no point in organizing a mess. Before you can become truly organized, you’ll need to do some hard work …
It’s time to purge and declutter.
The best way to do this is to create piles for things you want to keep, things you want to donate, and things you want to toss.
It’s easy to fill the keep pile. If you love it or wear it on a regular basis, keep it!
The toss pile is also pretty easy to fill. If something is ripped, damaged, or worn beyond its years, it belongs in the trash.
The donate pile is where it gets a bit tricky. Spend a few hours trying things on and assessing if they’re actually worth keeping or not. If they don’t fit or they’re not your style anymore, give them away to someone who can make better use of them.
When it comes to organizing, it’s always easier to start with a clean slate, so when you’re in purge/declutter mode, try to get rid of as much as possible.
Once you’ve done a major purge, keep up with it every season. That way, you’ll never have to spend an entire weekend tearing your closet apart again.
2. Add Shelves, Bars, and Organizational Tools
Do you have lots of items that need to be folded? You might need more shelves.
Do you have lots of pants, shirts, and short dresses that need to be hung? It might be time to add another closet rod.
If you want to be an organizational superstar, you’ll need the right tools (aka boxes, bins, and shelves) to help you out.
Storage boxes and bins are perfect for hats and scarves. If you have a small closet, invest in a few under-the-bed storage boxes so you can “flip” your wardrobe every season.
In the summer, you can use those boxes to hold sweaters and boots. In the winter, you can use them to stash your shorts, swimwear, and sandals.
3. Buy New Hangers
A closet without hangers is useless … but a closet with the wrong hangers can be just as problematic. It’s time to spend a few bucks on a new set of hangers.
Uniformity is key, so look for slim non-slip hangers that hold items in place and take up less room on your closet rod. The more hangers you can pack in there, the more clothing you can fit!
4. Create Storage for Shoes
You cannot allow your shoes to taking over. The more shoes you have, the trickier it is to find room for them all.
One good way to keep your shoe at-bay is to hang an over-the-door organizer on your closet door. Take your shoes out of their boxes and hang them so they’re easy to identify at all times.
If you have a small shoe collection, consider placing a two-tiered shoe shelf on your closet floor. That’s an easy fix.
But if you have a massive collection of boots, sneakers, sandals, and heels, it might be time to think outside the [closet] box. You may need to remove your shoes from your closet altogether and add a freestanding bookshelf in your bedroom to put them all on display.
5. Hang Pegs or Hooks
Pegs and hooks are perfect for holding things like scarves, belts, and handbags.
With a big closet, you conceal them inside and even use them to hold jewelry such as necklaces and bracelets. With a small closet, you may have to hang these on your bedroom wall or door.
6. Make Use of Vertical Space
Don’t be afraid to stack things high. Use every inch of your closet space, including the height that stretches high above your closet rod.
If you have one shelf above your closet bar, it might be time to add another.
Not in the mood to mount additional shelves? Consider storing folded items in labeled boxes and stacking them high on your single shelf.
7. Organize Your Clothing
There’s no right or wrong way to organize clothing.
Some people organize by color. Some people organize by item. Others organize by favorites.
When it comes time to hang everything and put back into your closet, think about which organizational method will work best for you.
Will it be easier to find your favorite little black dress if all of your dresses are together? Will it be easier to find your favorite grey work pants if you create a ”favorites” section? Would you prefer to see all of your blue shirts, blue dresses, and blue pants in one group together?
Figure out what works best for you and run with it. When in doubt, put the items you wear most in the most accessible area and the items you wear least toward the back.
What are the best tricks to organizing a bedroom closet and keeping it that way?
Let’s recap:
- Start by purging and decluttering
- Add shelves, bars, and organizational tools
- Buy new hangers that maximize space
- Create storage for shoes
- Hang pegs or hooks for scarves, belts, and other accessories
- Make use of vertical space by adding shelves or stacking storage boxes
- Organize your clothing in a way that makes sense to you
Now that you know the secrets to organize your closet, you have no excuse not to do it!
So roll up your sleeves, get ready to try on dozens of shirts that you haven’t worn in a year, and get down to business.
Put these seven tips into action, and in a few hours, you can have an organized closet that looks great and functions even better!
Author Bio:
Julie Contos is the Director of Marketing for J Malden Center. She has 20+ years of experience creating and executing top-notch marketing campaigns for multi-family, commercial, and retail real estate developments.
