How to Organize a Closet in 9 Simple Steps

I went into my closet earlier, and as I pulled a shirt from the rack, a box full of receipts fell on my head. As I got to looking around, I realized that the whole closet was in sad shape. It became apparent to me at that moment that if I needed to find something, I wouldn’t be able to do so quickly, and certainly not easily.

Whether your own closet feels like a disaster or it just needs a little glowup, these 9 simple steps can turn any storage space into a breath of fresh air.

Ready to tame your closet once and for all? Let’s get started!

A full closet glowup is a real project. Make sure you set aside enough time to get everything done.

A day, or a whole weekend? How messy is your closet? If it’s in fairly good shape, a day may be enough. But if you have a big closet and it looks like World War III happened in there, a weekend may be more your speed. You’ll want uninterrupted time, so don’t do it on the same weekend as the big game.

Write up a list of supplies that can help you clean and organize — bins, totes, hangers, labels, cleaning products — and have everything ready before you start. Make it exciting by getting as fancy as you want with some extra touches, like cedar hangers and designer labels, or stick with good ol’ plastic hangers and tape. Go all out or make it as simple as possible, whatever will help you get started.

Take everything out of the closet. Start with a clean slate before you begin building your masterpiece. Lay out your items in a designated space for sorting — another room or your bed.

Dust shelves, wipe down walls, and vacuum the floor. Try to clear out all the dust, and avoid reintroducing dust by giving your clothes a good clean before you finally put them back into the closet.

Now would also be a good time to deodorize and maybe add a bag of cedar chips or a floral packet to keep the moisture out and have the space beautifully scented.

Now for some organization! Section off all your clothing, shoes, goods, etc. For each category, you want four piles: keep, donate, sell, and recycle.

Be honest and practical about what you truly need and use. We all have that sweater that, no matter what season it is, always makes it back in the closet, never to be worn.

Clear out what you no longer need and give it to someone else who will use it. Don’t keep storing the same clothes you’re hesitant to part with. Instead of holding onto clothes you’re unsure about, find a better way to let them go.

Focus on the keep pile and remove any duplicates or items you rarely use. Try to reduce that pile by 20% at least! Ask yourself how often you wear each piece of clothing and whether it’s worth storing unused items endlessly, hoping one day you’ll wear them.

Separate clothes by type: shirts, pants, shoes, jackets, sweaters, etc. Then organize by season — items that are out of season should go into storage. They can go in an attic, in bins under the bed, or even into a storage unit.

Take some time to evaluate what you have to ensure that your storage solutions, like bins, racks, and shelves, are adequate for the job ahead. Consider adding wicker baskets, racks for shoes and hats, and organizers for anything that can’t fit on a hanger.

If you spend some time in any of the home furnishing stores, you’ll find the perfect storage solutions for your needs. There are even services that will take the measurements of your closet and design a unique closet-organization setup just for you.

Start putting items back in the closet, starting with the items you use the most. Everything should have a place. Hopefully, you bought some decent hangers that will keep your clothes wrinkle-free. Uniform hangers will also save space and improve aesthetics.

Group together similar items for easy access. Fold or roll clothes that don’t need a hanger, like sweaters and jeans. Keep your shoes in a tidy array by using organizers or clear boxes. Arrange everything by type and frequency of use.

Get the most utility out of your space with the use of hooks, trays, boxes, or baskets for accessories like belts, scarves, and jewelry.

Clearly label bins and boxes for easy identification. There’s nothing worse than not knowing where your lime-green jeans are stored. You can use a fancy label maker or hand-write them for a personal touch.

Set up a schedule for routine maintenance of your closet — we suggest by season, as you’ll be moving different items in and out of storage like coats and boots. For example, if you experience deep winters, you’ll definitely need a prepared space to store all bulky items like jackets and ski wear.

Don’t let messes get away from you. Address any problems right away and get the closet back in ship-shape condition. When you leave them for more than a day or two, organization fails soon after. Item after item will start piling up, and your closet will be back to a sad state.

Many people have started businesses by starting to sell unwanted items from their closet. Take inventory and consider listing items that are in good condition on sites like eBay or Poshmark. After selling your items, help friends and family organize and sell their items too.

If you don’t want to bother with that, wrap everything up in plastic bags and drop them off at local thrift stores or donation sites. Thrift stores will take almost everything in any shape. Just avoid sending intimate items like underwear or items that are in absolute disrepair.

You’ve finished! Take some time to enjoy your handiwork and take pictures so you can remember where everything goes. Or, show off your new closet on social media and tag it #closetmakeover!