It happens to the best of us. You open your closet and it’s a total disaster. Clothes on the floor, clothes half hanging on hangers and clothes that look like they’re about to tumble down from the top shelf. It’s time to regain control of your wardrobe space. Proper storage  is key, and by employing these organization tricks, you’ll never be afraid to open your closet doors again.

The components of a tidy closet

A well organized closet has three key characteristics:

1. Contents are organized by category (e.g. tops, bottoms, shoes).
2. All items are color coded within their category.
3. Each category has its own designated space.

Color code your closet

By color coding each category of clothing, you’ll make finding items in your closet much easier. For instance, you can group together garments in similar shades and tones, ordering them from light to dark. When it comes to patterned tops and bottoms, file them based on the dominant color in the garment. Two-toned striped items can be tricky, but as long it makes sense to you, however you choose to order them is your judgement call.

Clothing category tricks

Here’s how to organize and store each category of clothing.

Tops: Blouses, button-downs and jackets
Knit tops and t-shirts can be folded and placed on shelves or hanging closet organizers with shelving—line delicate pieces like cashmere sweaters with acid-free tissue to protect them against moisture or dust. Blouses, button-down shirts, jackets and blazers should be hung on thin velvet hangers to maximize closet space and prevent garments from slipping off.

Bottoms: Pants and skirts

Pants that don’t wrinkle easily (like jeans) can be folded and stored on shelves or hanging closet organizers. Dress pants and skirts should be hung on thin velvet hangers or hangers with clips.

Footwear: Casual and formal shoes

When it comes to a large walk-in closet, a shoe shelf will show off your shoe collection and make it easy to find the footwear you’re looking for. You can also put your shoes in clear polystyrene boxes, which will stack neatly in your closet. Clear boxes ensure that you’ll be able to find your sneakers or heels quicker than keeping them in regular opaque shoe boxes. For smaller closets, you can use shoe racks placed on the closet floor or over-the-door hanging shoe organizers with pockets to slot in each pair.

Accessories: Jewelry, belts and ties

For a large walk-in closet, designate one to two drawers for jewelry, belts and ties. Use drawer organizers to compartmentalize each group of items so you can find the right accessory without fuss. For a small closet, a hanging accessories organizer is your best bet. It can be hung alongside your clothes and has loops to weave ties and belts through. Use hanging organizers with individual small clear slots to store jewelry, bracelets, earrings and necklaces.

Handbags

File handbags away on shelves separated by shelving dividers. Small leather items like clutches or wallets can be placed neatly together in a shoebox on a top shelf in the closet.

Socks and underwear

 

Small items like socks, bras and underwear are best folded and grouped together in drawers and separated with drawer dividers.

Next season’s clothes

Use flat underbed garment boxes to store clothing from last season or the next one. If there’s room on the closet floor, garment boxes can be stacked there or kept underneath the bed. To keep stains and odors from setting in, launder your clothes before storing them for the season—and bring your favored pieces to a professional service for top care. Don’t forget to tuck in some pouches filled with dried lavender to keep your clothes fresh and free of moths. By using these simple tricks, you’re well on your way to creating and sustaining an organized closet that will feel like your own personal boutique.

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