Hang like items together.
Closets are sometimes the catch-all space for things that don't have a home. You may clutter yours with clothes, presents, shoes and seasonal decorations, many of which you may not even know you have because they are so disorganized. Fortunately, by taking just one day out of your schedule, you can get your closet clean and keep it clean for years to come. Does this Spark an idea?
Clean It Out
The very first thing you need to do in order to organize your closet is to clean it out and purge. Purge the things you don't need, the trash and the clothing that doesn't fit. If you really want to keep certain items that don't fit, pack them away in a box and put it in another storage area in your home like under your bed in plastic containers. To have and maintain an organized closet, you need to have fewer items in there. Give away extra pairs of shoes of the same style and color. Pack away Christmas decorations and other items you rarely use. If the closet is the only storage area in your home, that's OK; you can store some things in your closet in an organized fashion.
Clear Containers
Clear containers will help you know what is in your closet, even after you pack everything away. You should still label them since you can't see everything inside. Store like items together. You may have a couple of the same kinds of things, so keep a list on your computer or a paper list of what each container holds. This way you can search the list before searching through all the containers. Leave room in some of the containers for more items that you may buy in the future. Don't forget to add the new things to the list. When you do take something out of the containers, be sure to put it back. It may be tempting to just put things on top of the containers with the intent of putting it in later, but this is a risky move, since many people forget and over time their closet is back to being a disorganized mess.
Organizing
Only hang the current season's clothes and put the rest aside to deal with later. Then, start by hanging up your clothes according to kind and color. Use similar hangers, which will give your closet a more clean and organized appearance. Hang longer pieces like dresses on the end, not in the middle of everything. Afterwards, take a second look and decide if there are any more clothes you can purge. Then, look at the area where skirts and blouses are hung. There might be room underneath for a couple clear plastic storage containers that have two or three drawers or even a small dresser. This will provide you with extra storage and will be a good place to put your out-of-season clothes, thus swapping them out each season will be simple. If not, store out-of-season clothes in large, clear plastic containers. Store all the larger containers along the bottom on the floor. Light and smaller containers can go on the shelf above your clothes. If you do place containers along the floor, there may be room to line your shoes on top. For extra shoes, purchase a door shoe organizer. All like shoes should go together (for example, sneakers and sandals).
Long Term
Each year you should analyze your closet. Get rid of clothes and shoes you didn't wear that year. Reconsider the clothes that still don't fit you and think whether you will ever fit into them again. Also, consider whether they will still be in style by the time you fit into them. You probably will accumulate more things each year, which is why it is important to continue to purge. Closet organization is not a onetime event; it is a lifetime habit.
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