It seems obvious, but having a well-organized closet can not only save you time—it can also bring you immense peace of mind. This isn’t an exaggeration: In one study, women living with home clutter were actually found to have higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol. But controlling the chaos is easier said than done; especially when you’re dealing with a small space or a wardrobe that’s especially out of control. While it might be tempting to start storing some of your extra items in strange places—like the oven, à la Carrie Bradshaw—there are far better ways to maximize your closet space.
It starts with having a game plan. According to Allison Finn of Reclaim Professional Organizing, there really are just three essential steps: “Edit your wardrobe, keep items you wear and feel good in, and, use bins wherever possible. This ensures the space stays tidy,” she says. It also helps to have a few handy tools at your disposal that’ll make your closet visually sleek.
How to Organize Your Closet, According to Vogue:
To help make it all the easier, we’ve gathered tips from experts who specialize in turning once-unwieldy wardrobes into wow-worthy closets to rival any Pinterest feed. Read on to find out how to organize a closet once and for all—with the help of a few handy pieces, of course.
Step One: The Edit
A true deep clean means paring down everything—from shoes and purses to scarves and necklaces—and getting real about what you actually need. “First, take everything out of the closet—yes, everything,” advises Los Angeles-based professional organizer Meaghan Kessman. “Then, edit everything. And, be honest with yourself.” Make three piles: one for keeping, one for donating or selling, and one for any unwearable or damaged items that should be thrown away or (ideally) recycled.
Tina Priestly, founder of Virginia-based home decluttering company Ready, Set, Refresh!, recommends using the “Five Outfit Rule” to make hard cuts: “If you can make a minimum of five different looks with a piece and will wear it, then keep it,” she advises. She also asks her clients to reflect on their actual use with each item. “Ask yourself if you’ve worn the item in the last 90 days or expect to wear it in the next 90. Except in the case of seasonal items, if the answer is no, it’s time to let it go,” she says.
As for those pieces that you’re on the fence about? Shira Gill, organizing expert and author of Minimalista uses something she calls the “backwards hanger” trick. “Turn all hangers backwards at the start of the season,” she says. “Anything still backwards at the end hasn’t been word, and needs to be seriously reconsidered—no extensions.”
Step Two: The System
There is no one way to organize a closet—find the method that makes sense for you, and you’ll be more likely to stick to it.
By Type and Color
Arrange your “keep” pile into categories. Put boots with boots, sandals with sandals, button-up shirts with button-up shirts, and so on. This will give you a nice dopamine hit—and, also, a sense of how much space you’ll need for each type of item. “It is much easier to find your favorite T-shirt if it is with all of your other T-shirts,” Courtney Cummings of The Stylish Organizer notes.