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Spring is on our heels, and you know what that means: spring cleaning. And, one of the hardest areas in the house to clean and reorganize is the closet. There’s a reason we tend to postpone it until the last minute; somehow, no matter how many clothes you own, it’s a tedious job that takes a lot of time.
That’s why we put together a few quick tips to help you organize your closet space. If you’re tired of tripping over shoes or spending way too much time every morning in search of your outfit of the day, keep reading and get organizing!
1. Start big
It’s no secret that bigger items take up the most space in your closet; think thick hoodies, jackets, or even some types of jeans, which we usually fold with bulky results. So, start by creating a dedicated space for these and group them in one part of your dresser or closet.
For example, roll your sweaters instead of folding them, or make use of shoe organizers to store these clothes instead of, well … shoes. By having a designated area for larger clothes—preferably on a shelf—you’ll eliminate the struggle of overflowing drawers and heavy, tangled hangers.
2. Sort and sort some more
This one is a no-brainer. Grouping clothes by category not only makes it easier to find what you need in the morning but also creates the illusion of space. And, the more categories, the better. You might even find it easier to sort by:
- Type: delicates, socks, shirts, etc.
- Season: summer dresses, sweaters, scarves, etc.
- Function: work clothes go into a drawer, eveningwear goes on hangers, for example
- Color: darker versus lighter items, or according to how well they match each other
Separate your wardrobe according to your own personal style. At the end of the day, the point of sorting is to make things easier for you as you consider how and where to put them. What’s more, you can also opt for drawers or shelves, depending on the category. Just remember that stuffing your clothes in drawers is more likely to cause wrinkles.
3. Keep essentials where you can see them
Drawers are a must in any dresser or closet. But, no matter how well organized you keep them, they can also become pretty annoying when you need that everyday essential as soon as possible. So, if you’re one of those people who wears accessories or certain items of clothing every day, keeping them visible is the way to go. Whether it’s your favorite belt, sunglasses, driving gloves or that one denim jacket that ties together any outfit—make sure you don’t have to dig through your entire closet to get to them. Not only will keeping them separate from other items make them easier to grab, but it can also help prevent wear and tear.
4. Change with seasons
Spring cleaning is the best time to consider rotating out your seasonal clothes. You know what that means: winter clothing out, lighter clothing in. If you struggle with closet space, consider placing bulkier winter clothes in boxes or plastic organizers under your bed, in the lowest dresser drawers, or on the highest shelves. The point is to get out-of-season clothes out of your way. It’s much easier to find the clothes you need when you don’t have to bypass items that you won’t be wearing again until Thanksgiving.
 5. Create a shoe system
Let’s talk shoes. Having too many is a nice problem to have—until you ruin several pairs due to how they are stored. In particular, shoving shoes into any corner you can find or piling them on top of each other is not the right answer.
There are plenty of options for shoe organizers; all you have to do is pick the one that’s right for you. Additionally, while your stilettos and other heels can benefit from a wire rack, if you tend to wear flats or sandals, you might want to choose a vertical organizer that you can hang over a door or a coat rack. Or, opt for a mesh bin that keeps them all together—as long as you can keep both it and the shoes clean. Another tip is to avoid disposing of your shoe boxes; you might need them to neatly pile up the nicer shoes in your collection.
Decluttering is a big part of spring cleaning, so start small with the area of the house that holds most of your personality: your closet. These easy tips will help you better organize your wardrobe and accessories for easy access—and make the space feel so much bigger.
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Alexandra is a creative writer and researcher for RentCafe. With a background in e-learning content writing and a passion for knowledge-sharing platforms, she's covered topics from prop-tech to renters insurance to interior design tips. Very familiar with the renter lifestyle herself, Alexandra enjoys researching and writing about renter demographic shifts and residential real estate market trends as much as she loves writing about how to get along with roommates. You can connect with Alexandra via email.
Alexandra’s work includes collaborations with financial and business publications. Her articles have been featured in several national and international online publications, including the New York Times, Barrons, Inman, Forbes, Architectural Digest, Marketwatch, Bisnow, and Curbed. Her educational background includes a B.A. in Japanese and English and an M.A. in Journalism and Cultural Studies.
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