How organised is your wardrobe? Do you have all the right intentions, but it’s still just a jumble of trousers, sweaters, accessories, and shoes? You’re not the only one. Most of us have a less than organised system, where simply finding what we’re looking for feels like a win. If there’s no need to iron it either, well, that’s like hitting the jackpot! Do not despair. Take our clever wardrobe tips on board and you’ll soon be a master of organisation with next to no effort!
Wardrobe solutions come in all shapes and sizes. You might have a walk-in-wardrobe to die for, or a tiny space. Your reality is probably somewhere in between these two. Regardless of your situation, you need to create a system that is as clever and well-organised as possible, based on your circumstances. And it needn’t be difficult, expensive or hard work. Quite the opposite! Once it’s done, you’ll thank yourself each morning when you’re able to open the wardrobe door, stressed and bleary eyed, and find exactly the thing you’re looking for right away. So worth it!
Clever sorting is the cornerstone of all wardrobe organisation. You’ll never be able to keep on top of a system unless you have a clear overview of your belongings, and that requires you to clear out anything that you don’t use anymore. This step can feel like a mammoth task, but the results are definitely worth the effort.
* Start by taking everything out of your wardrobe.
* Create three piles: ‘keep’, ‘store’, and ‘give away/sell’.
* Sort each item from your wardrobe into one of the piles.
There you go. That’s all there is to it!
Everything in the ‘keep’ pile needs to go back in your wardrobe whereas clothes and accessories that you rarely use, that are in the ‘store’ pile, should be packed away in drawers, boxes or baskets. If after six months you’ve not reached for them, it’s time for them to go. Easy!
Protect the environment and NEVER bin clothes. Instead, pass them on to a charity or second-hand shop, or gift or sell them. If this feels like a lot of work, why not donate to aid organisations or a clothes recycling scheme? Do bear in mind that few garments in this system actually stay in circulation, so the first option is always better.
How much space do you have? What’s the space like? How could get the most out of it? What do you need? Shelving, boxes and drawers, more hanging space, hooks – your space and your needs are unique. Work with what you’ve got. Remember to make use of walls and the full ceiling height. If you don’t have enough space in your wardrobe, you can always use space in other rooms. Perhaps you’ve got a clever shelving systems with pretty storage baskets in your bedroom, kitchen seating that could double up as clothes storage, or great drawers in the living room capable of holding everything from underwear to t-shirts and workout clothes? There are many possibilities, so don’t be limited by convention.
Focus on creating a system that will be easy to maintain over time, where each item has its place. Make sure that those items and accessories you use most often are the easiest to find. It’s important that your wardrobe is clutter-free and that the system is easy to use. Otherwise, it’ll all fall apart after a few days. We’ve been there.
1.
Use shoe racks or shoe boxes for storing shoes. Don’t just keep them on the floor.
2.
Split your wardrobe into sections: jeans, trousers, blazers, etc. Hang categories together to create a good overview.
3.
You can also organise your wardrobe by colour by hanging all garments in the same colour family together.
4.
Limited hanging space? You can increase it using ring tabs from soft drink cans. Each tab has two holes. Loop the tab onto the top of a hanger, then put the top of a second hanger through the remaining hole.
5.
Use shelf dividers for shelves to group folded garments together by type.
6.
If you use free-standing boxes or drawers, the trick is to fold the clothes right. Jeans and t-shirts are perfect for storing in drawers. Fold both as usual but stand them on end instead of stacking them on top of each other – much neater.
7.
Always hang delicate garments and any that crease easily, that way you won’t have to iron.
8.
Use drawer dividers with smaller compartments to store underwear, workout clothes, and PJs. Roll each garment into a cylinder to fit more in each space.
9.
Use wall hooks for jewellery, scarves, bags, and garments that get a lot of use.
10.
Put garments that you want to clear out into a designated basket or large box as you go. Then they won’t compete for space with the stuff that you use the most.