How to organize your closet so you can quickly find things: original life hacks and practice-tested ideas

An important part of spring cleaning is cleaning out your wardrobe. And although, at first glance, it seems that cleaning your closet is an impossible task, in fact, with the right approach, this process will not take much time.

Closet tidying sequence

The first thing you need to decide is the sequence of actions. Having drawn up a work plan, it is much easier to achieve your goal.

So, the first point is to get rid of everything unnecessary. These can be things that are already small, out of fashion, have lost their attractive appearance as a result of many washes, exposure to sunlight or damage (stretched, torn, faded).

The second stage is sorting clothes by season. As a rule, out-of-season items are put away for long-term storage, and only what can be worn at the moment remains in the closet.

The third point is sorting by type of clothing. Here all clothes are divided into groups by type (skirts, trousers, dresses).Also, division can occur by color, sets and even type of material.

Clearing the closet of unnecessary things

The first thing to do when dismantling a wardrobe is to identify the “extra inhabitants”.

The “throw away” category includes faded, out-of-shape items with defects, damage, and irremovable stains. These, as a rule, cannot be given to other people or donated to charity due to their unsightly appearance. You can, of course, leave something, as they say, “for the dacha,” but such things also have no place in the closet. They should be put aside and taken out of town as soon as possible. If you leave them in the closet, then they have a high chance of getting lost in its depths again.

The “repair” group includes high-quality expensive items that require minor repairs (sew on a button, fix a zipper, sew up a split seam). Clothes that need washing or dry cleaning should be sent to the same group. Dirty things emit an unpleasant odor, which is easily absorbed by nearby materials.

Separately, it is worth highlighting clothes that have retained an attractive appearance, but are outdated in terms of fashion.

Here are several ways to solve the problem:

• give to friends or relatives;
• give to charity;
• sell it at a second-hand store.

In the latter case, you can even make a small profit.

Sort clothes by season

Sorting by season is very important. Firstly, the closet frees up space for current seasonal items. Secondly, before removing clothes that are currently unnecessary, they undergo an additional inspection for stains, dirt, odors, and defects. If necessary, it is washed, repaired and only then put away for storage.

The place to store an off-season wardrobe can be not only a closet, but also other options: a pantry, mezzanines, a wardrobe in the hallway, built-in linen drawers in beds. As a last resort, clothes can always be taken to the dacha (if you have one).

To save space, you should use vacuum bags. They reduce the volume of things by 5-7 times and can save up to 70% of space. If you plan to leave out-of-season clothes in the closet, then they are put away in the farthest compartment, leaving in sight only what will be worn at the moment. It is also worth remembering that ironed items take up less space than wrinkled items.

If we are talking about outerwear, then you need to think in advance about covers where, in addition to jackets, coats and sheepskin coats, you can put gloves, mittens and hats.

Sort clothes by type

Organizing your closet with clothes will not only allow you to get rid of everything unnecessary, but will also help you save time searching for things in the future. To do this, it is necessary to create a certain system, according to which the “location” of things will be determined.

The easiest way is to separate clothes by type. First you need to lay out all the things from the closet and divide them into groups:

• dresses;
• skirts;
• shirts;
• T-shirts;
• trousers;
• shorts (including beach shorts);
• jeans;
• jackets;
• sweaters;
• sweaters and cardigans;
• underwear and swimwear;
• hosiery.

This sorting will allow you to determine not only the number of groups, but also the number of things in each of them.

Each shelf should contain items of only one or two categories. In this case, it is desirable that neighboring groups are noticeably different from each other or can form a set. So, jeans and T-shirts, trousers and jumpers will be good “neighbors”.If it is possible to hang clothes on a hanger, then this option is preferable. In this case, when removing a dress or trousers from the closet, they will not have to be ironed again.

Hosiery and underwear are usually placed in closet drawers. If possible, they are placed in the top drawers of the chest of drawers. These products are from the category used daily. Moreover, in a day you can change several sets of underwear, socks, stockings or tights. Therefore, it is important to organize the fastest and most convenient access to these things.

Vertical storage will help with this. Underwear and socks can be rolled up and placed vertically in drawers. This will allow you to see all the options at once when you pull out the drawer and make the right choice. In the same way (if the number of drawers allows, you can store T-shirts, jeans or shorts). For greater convenience, you can use textile or plastic organizers, which can be purchased at hardware stores or online stores. Alternatively, such organizers are quite easy to make yourself.

As for bras, this method is not suitable for them, as it can negatively affect the shape of the cups. They are stored in separate boxes, stacked cups on top of each other. An alternative to boxes can be hangers attached to the inside of the cabinet door.

Lifehacks

The problem of putting things in order in closets is familiar to many. This has led to the emergence of a large number of interesting and useful life hacks.

Assembling kits

This option is suitable for people whose work does not require adherence to a strict dress code, as well as for children whose parents teach them to choose their own wardrobe.

For laying out sets, boxes or compartments are more suitable than hangers. Exceptions are business suits, sets of dresses and jackets or skirts and shirts.

For convenience, you can put together a T-shirt, jeans and a sweater, or a knitted, wrinkle-resistant sundress and a turtleneck in one set. Hosiery and lingerie will continue to be kept in separate drawers and boxes.

This approach saves a lot of time in the morning when you need to quickly get ready for work or a meeting, but it will also require time spent arranging things. In addition, you always need to take into account such a factor as the weather.

Making stacks

Vertical storage is mainly suitable for small items. Of course, you can also roll a sweater, but whether it is advisable to store it this way is a question. If you don't have extra hangers or free space on the bar, you can use the stacking method.

There are rules here:

1. The height of the stack should not exceed 22-25 cm (otherwise it will collapse).
2. There should be a distance of at least 1.5-2 cm between adjacent stacks.
3. Items of different thicknesses and structures should be in different piles.

The last point is easier to explain with an example. For example, large knit jumpers should be folded separately. The remaining items can be divided into subgroups: thin cardigans, turtlenecks, knitted warm tops, cropped sweaters.

The same goes for jeans and trousers. They can be divided into models: straight, chinos, flares, wide, cropped or culottes. If there is not much diversity in terms of models, then there is no need to divide into subgroups.

When folding clothes into piles, it is important to regularly “shuffle” the top and bottom.Otherwise, the bottom layer will become more wrinkled and compacted.

Hanging the boots

Shoes with high tops (boots, army boots) can be successfully “hung” on a hanger with clothespins. Leather and suede shoes are stored better when flattened, so it is worth organizing the filling of your favorite pair and treating its surface with a special compound. This method reduces the risk of creases.

When fixing the boot with clothespins, it is important that the latter do not leave dents on the material, so you should choose clothespins with soft pads or put a piece of leather or fabric under each clothespin yourself.

Special boxes for shoes

The most budget-friendly way is to store shoes in their own store box. To make it easier to find the right pair, the box must be signed. Or, as an option, take a photograph of the shoe and place its image on a part visible to the owner.

For those who don’t want to bother so much, transparent boxes, which are sold on most marketplaces, are suitable. There is no need to sign anything here, since thanks to the transparent walls, all the contents are visible.

Before placing your favorite shoes in a box, they need to be washed, cleaned, and the heels changed if necessary.

We use maximum space

In addition to shelves, drawers, rods with hangers, your favorite wardrobe can be equipped with boxes, organizers and hooks. The latter are attached to the walls and can be used for accessories: bags, belts, scarves.

We buy plastic containers

You can purchase such products in any store at very affordable prices. Like wall shelves, they are ideal for storing “small” items. They can be placed at the bottom of the cabinet, stacked on top of each other.Transparent walls allow you to immediately see what is inside.

Floor hanger and more

If, nevertheless, the closet space is not enough for the entire volume of clothes, and the funds or space of the room do not allow you to buy additional furniture, then you can purchase an inexpensive floor hanger. It is suitable for both storage and everyday use. For example, you can hang hats, caps, belts, and small bags on it. Or prepare kits in advance for going out the next day.

If the house has an ownerless wooden staircase, then it is quite possible to use it. It makes a great rod for several hangers or storage for heels. To make it fit into the interior, the staircase can be repainted in the appropriate color.

Top 5 ideas for putting your closet in perfect order

Fans of non-standard ways of organizing order will be pleased with the following ideas:

1. Multifunctional hangers. Today on sale you can find not only double hangers, but also options with two, three and four crossbars. Thus, you can store up to 4 trousers on one hanger.
2. Colored hangers. Sorting of clothes is carried out according to the principle: casual, holiday, business (work). So, you can hang weekend outfits on red hangers, business outfits on blue hangers, and everyday outfits on green hangers. Moreover, it is not necessary to paint the entire hanger. You can use colored stickers or ribbons.
3. Hanging shelves. Another indispensable assistant in the distribution of space will be hanging textile shelves. They are most often attached to a barbell and can include either 2-3 sections or 7-8. They are convenient for storing all sorts of small things: from belts and clutches to hairpins, scarves and gloves.
4. Wall-mounted organizers-pockets.The canvas with many pockets is attached to the cabinet door from the inside. These pockets are very convenient for storing socks, accessories, and jewelry.
5. Second rod. The upper rod is suitable for storing dresses, jackets, summer coats, long vests, and suits. The second additional rod is an ideal option for jeans folded in half and hung on clothespins, shortened demi-season and summer jackets, or for the same boots made of textile, leather or suede.

Organizing your closet isn't that difficult. A little patience and a systematic approach will work wonders, thanks to which the problem of “what to wear” will no longer be relevant.