Practical Ways to Organize Your Closet Like a Pro

How many times have you stood in your closet, spending time you don’t have, trying to find something to wear? It adds so much stress to your already hectic morning. amiright? 

Today, I’m sharing how to organize your closet like a pro so your mornings can go from stressed out to super chill. It’s kind of like magic. 

How to Organize Your Closet Like a Pro

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Purge Your Closet

It doesn’t matter how organized your closet is if you don’t like your clothes. So, we need to get rid of everything we don’t wear.

When to Get Rid of Clothes

Get rid of clothes that:

• fit poorly
• aren’t comfortable
• were a regrettable or impulse buy
• were gifts you don’t like
• you don’t wear with confidence
• are no longer your style
• are damaged

As you sort, be honest with yourself about whether you’ll make the time to get something altered or repaired. If you decide you will, put the items in your car and set a reminder on your calendar.

H&M accepts clothes donations from any brand, in any condition. Just just look for the collection box in all stores.

I like to donate my clothes to resale shops that benefit women’s shelters.

You can also try listing your clothes on Facebook Marketplace, Thred Up, or Posh Mark.

What To Do With Clothes You Don’t Wear

I’ve worked with many clients who find clothes they’d forgotten about because they were hidden out of sight. Some of them are even new with tags still on them.

If you discovered an item you hadn’t worn because it was lost in the shuffle, hang it with the hook facing backwards. When you wear that item, hang it with the hanger facing the right way.

If after 3 to 6 months, depending on your climate and how long seasons last, if the hanger is still hanging backward, it’s time to donate the item.

If you’re not wearing something because it’s off season, store those clothing items in bins on the top shelf of the closet or in a spare bedroom closet.

What to Do With Clothes That Are Too Big or Too Small

I’m not going to tell you to donate the too small or too big clothes, because I know weight fluctuates, sometimes as much as a size up or down. So, keep those size clothes.

Pro Tip: Use tags to separate your clothes by size. The tags don’t have to be fancy. Post-it notes or washi tape will work just fine. 

Now, let’s talk about the clothes that are several sizes too small. They represent another time in your life.

The past.

Looking at your past everyday sends a negative message to your brain, suggesting who you are now isn’t good enough and keeps you from enjoying the present.

Do yourself a favor, and start living in the moment. Letting go of clothes that are too small blesses someone who needs them right now.

If you do lose enough weight to wear that size again, treat yourself to some new clothes. 

Curate a Wardrobe You Love

This might be the most rewarding part of the process. It’s certainly the why behind learning how to organize your closet like a pro. At least it is for me. 

Curating clothes you enjoy wearing, that fit well, are flattering and comfortable to wear is like having a fairy godmother wave her magic wand to reveal a made-just-for-you gown.

You’d be surprised at what feeling good in your clothes does for your confidence. And you deserve to feel confident. Not only do you deserve to feel confident, your children need a confident mother and your spouse desires a confident partner.

So, only keep clothes that you feel confident and comfortable in and that suit your current lifestyle. If you need support and accountability in the curating process, I highly recommend the Style Challenges by Get Your Pretty On. I’ve participated in the GYPO Style Challenges for a few years now and have curated a wardrobe that truly reflects my style.

Allow yourself time to create a wardrobe you truly love. The journey is actually very rewarding as you rediscover you and awaken your style.

Organize Your Closet Like a Pro

What Should I Keep in My Closet?

I use my closet for my all the items in my capsule wardrobe and everything I need to get dressed for the day. I use the dresser in my bedroom to keep pajamas, workout clothes and lounge wear.

Once you decide what you want to store in your closet, think about what clothes to put in drawers and which clothes you want to hang.

Organize Dresser Drawers

The chest of drawers in my closet holds lingerie, shape wear and socks year round. During the winter I use a drawer to organize my sweaters. During Summer, I switch out the sweaters for shorts.

My jeans are folded on a shelf in the closet.

I prefer file folding clothes to maximize space and so I can easily see my clothes. My husband rolls his clothes. Either folding hack saves space.

These inexpensive fabric storage bins from Dollar Tree make great drawer dividers. Just make sure they are shallow enough for your drawer space.

If you don’ have drawer space in your closet, you can add it with the three drawer carts at Walmart. I’ve also used hanging sweater organizers for folded clothes storage. It doesn’t have to be used just for sweaters. 

How to Maximize Hanging Space in Your Closet

I hang t-shirts, blouses, pants, skirts and dresses.

The black felt-covered swivel-head hangers from Dollar Tree are by far the best hangers for closet organization.

Their slim design maximizes closet hanging space, the felt keeps shirts from slipping and you can hang tops or bottoms on them. Plus they’re sturdier than any other felt hangers I’ve found.

Some people hang their jeans and prefer to fold t-shirts in drawers. There’s no right or wrong. The best closet organizing systems are the ones you’ll be able to maintain. 

Pro Tip: Hang a reusable shopping bag on a hook or hanger to collect donations. When the bag is full, take it to be donated.

Organizing Clothes by Color

I tend to think in colors. For example, black tank top, or pink floral top. So, I group hanging clothes by color. To make it easy to remember, I use the order of the rainbow… Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet ( R O Y – G – B I V) and add neutrals like white at beginning and black at the end.

Some people prefer hanging by color and type. For example tank tops would be color coded and hung together, then sleeveless shirts, followed by short sleeve tops and so on. That arrangement looks to cluttered and choppy to me. It’s also not how I think.

I fold my shorts in rows by color, but in this case I arrange them into three categories: neutral, denim, colors.

Black, white and a black and white pair of shorts are in the neutral category. Any other color goes into the colored shorts row. And denim is denim.

If color coordinating, or certain folding techniques are too complicated to maintain, then simplify it based on how you think and live, or just skip it altogether. The goal is for your closet to serve you, not the other way around. 

How to Organize Accessories

• Belts and Scarves – You can hang belts and scarves on regular hangers, specialty hangers, over the door hooks, or on the wall with hooks. I’ve also stored scarves in a drawer.
• Jewelry – Keep every day jewelry easily accessible if you can. I prefer to use the top of the dresser for jewelry storage.
• Coats – Since coats take up so much room, I suggest designating a separate space for them. Right now I’m using a secondary bedroom closet, but I have plans to move them to the foyer closet.
• Shoes – My shoes are stored on 2-shelf shoe stackers. You can also use over the door shoe organizers, or drop-front shoe boxes.

Organizing Non Clothes Items

It can be tempting to throw anything and everything we don’t have a space for in our closet. But, if you want to keep your closet clean and organized, limit what you store in it.

I suggest using top shelves for out of season clothing, keepsake boxes luggage and travel necessities.

I also recommend keeping bins for clothes care and shoe care in an easy-to-reach place.

Keep in mind, you will need to tweak your closet organizing system and tidy up every now and then, because life happens and circumstances change.

My favorite part about having an organized closet is having a space that truly serves me. It saves time, eliminates decision fatigue and gets rid of clutter.

Now, instead of seeing a closet full of nothing to wear, I see my style and personality reflected back at me. 

When I step out of my closet in the morning, I feel confident and ready to shine. 

Now, it’s your turn.

For more tips on how to organize your closet like a pro, read:

Seasonal Clothes Storage: Pro Tips for More Closet Space

A Simple Capsule Wardrobe Formula

And to get more decluttering and organizing help for your home, check out my book, Home on Purpose: Mindful Living in a Hectic World

p.s.  If you need help organizing your closet, contact me at sharon@sharonehines.com with the subject line CONSULTATION