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The Only Perfect Thing In My Life Is My Closet

there is one place in my life that is an oasis of calm: my closet

suddenly, my dresser drawers were as beautifully organized as my closet

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How to Organize Clothes in Your Closet: 5 Easy Steps

Decluttering tips and organization methods to get your wardrobe in order

Elizabeth Larkin is a professional organizer with a strong interest in productivity, time management, and process refinement. She used her organizational skills and effectiveness to pen articles with helpful information on cleaning, organizing living spaces, and decluttering.

Katherine is a professional home organizer and certified KonMari consultant with over 5 years of experience helping clients get their homes in order. She launched her own professional organizing business, Tidy Milso, in the summer of 2020, to help reorient those feeling overwhelmed with both clutter and disorganization in their homes. To date, she has logged over 500 hours of organizing with her clients using Marie Kondo’s KonMari method.

how to organize your closet essay

Before You Begin

  • Organization Methods
  • Storage Tips
  • How to Maintain Order

The Spruce / Michelle Becker

It's inspiring to think about organizing your clothes, shoes , and accessories perfectly in your closet when watching home design shows. But in real life, it takes a bit of planning and preparation to declutter , clean, and reorganize a closet to make sure it's more functional after you finish.

How you organize your closet will differ slightly based on the size of your space , the size of your wardrobe, and the kind of life you lead.

Follow these tips to learn how to best organize your clothes closet, similar to how the organization experts do it on TV.

Gather tools and supplies that will help make the job easier. Here's your quick closet organization toolkit:

  • Shopping bags: Use sturdy bags to transport clothes to the donation center, tailor, and dry cleaner. If you don't have bags, boxes and bins will do in a pinch.
  • Tape measure: Measure shelving and hanging space. Don't forget a notebook to jot down your closet's measurements.
  • Full-length mirror: Decide what to "keep" and "let go," and make sure your mirror can accommodate your entire image.
  • Catch-all basket: Collect change, papers, rubber bands, hair clips, wads of cash (score!), and assorted receipts in pants pockets. Do not stop in the middle of organizing to put these items away; put them aside for now into this catch-all basket.

Empty Your Closet

Remove all the items from your closet, giving you a bare closet to reset your closet space. If you’re used to shoving clothes into your closet, this will be weird because you’re about to take everything out and probably find some stuff shoved in a back corner that you forgot about. The easiest way to organize your clothes is to remove everything from the closet, including hangers , baskets, bins, and anything else on the floor or shelves.

Clean Every Corner

You need a clear, clean space to plan and visualize how you will re-organize your closet. First, dust the shelving and hanging rods. Next, run the vacuum or sweep and mop the floor. Finally, wipe the shelving, hanging rods, walls, and baseboards down with a good all-purpose cleaner. Don’t forget any baskets or bins that could be collecting dirt and dust.

The Spruce / Sarah Lee

Sort and Declutter Your Things

What often happens with closets is people stow their items away in a dark, back corner, sometimes forgetting what they have. The best way to start decluttering your clothes is to take it all out; sort it by separating all items into piles by item: shoes, outerwear, evening wear, and more. Figure out what you have and how many you have. Now, make some decisions. If you have 22 "little black dresses" and only go to dinner parties as frequently as the ball drops in Times Square, it's time to pare down. Sort again into piles: "must keep," "donate, toss, or pass along," or "not sure."

Some people fear decluttering because they love to hold onto things they “may need one day” or “used to fit/be in style.” To make this process easier and organize your closet like a pro, you can follow the KonMari Method of organization by focusing on what you want to keep instead of what you're getting rid of . Following Marie Kondo's advice, ask yourself these questions:

  • Do you love it?
  • Do you wear it?
  • Does it project the image you want to portray?

If the answer is "yes" to all three, you can confidently place that item into the keeper pile. However, if you haven't worn something in years, it doesn't fit you anymore, or you don't like the cut, color, or style of it, let it go.

If you’re having difficulty deciding, create a "maybe" bin and revisit it in one, three, or six months. If you forgot about these items or never thought about wearing them once during that time, you can confidently donate or consign them.

The Spruce / Margot Cavin

Assess Your Storage System

Figuring out the right closet storage solutions for your particular space can be challenging. Luckily, there are tons of great options for closet organizers, including closet system kits, but most people can get away with installing a few budget-friendly closet organizers. 

If your closet system does not meet your needs by providing a space for your things (shelves, hanging racks, dividers, drawers), then look for a new organizing system. If your things don't fit, consider getting a different storage space for some things or re-evaluate whether you should keep an item.

Put Things Back in an Organized Way

How you organize your clothes closet and drawers depends on your storage plan. Think about where it makes sense to store each clothing category and which are the most accessible spots to reach in your closet. Everything should fit easily; it should not look overstuffed or continue to be overflowing. Fit your "keeper" items back in the space with like things; put least-used items in the back.

  • Group like with like: Gather belts, sweaters, long-sleeve shirts, work pants, dresses, button-down shirts, jeans, shorts, etc., and decide the best place to store each item as a group (e.g., hang pants in the closet, fold and stack sweaters in a bureau). Working with groupings will help you figure out how much space you need and the best way to store each type of item.
  • Properly utilize prime real estate: Reserve the front and middle of your closet for clothes you wear most often. If you have to get dressed for work each morning at 6 a.m., make sure your work clothes are at the front of your closet. You should store lesser-worn items like formal wear and out-of-season clothes toward the back and on the upper shelves.
  • Tuck away least-used items: Use the very top of your closet for out-of-season items and stuff you only wear a few times a year, such as Halloween costumes and super-fancy shoes.

Closet Organization Methods

  • Get better drawers or shelves: Big-box home improvement centers and online home organization sites offer storage solutions that include drawers and shelving units that can fit your closet's available space. Many prefabricated systems are easy to install and come with everything included.
  • Sort by color, category, or length: Put jeans with jeans, keep sweaters with sweaters, and so on; if you have an expansive closet or are a visual organizer, consider putting items of the same color in the same area. Or, if using shelves, move long items like long dresses or coats to a higher hanger rod, and put thinner items like T-shirts on top shelves you can reach and pants on a mid-level shelf. Use rack tags and shelf dividers to keep things organized.
  • Revisit how you fold, stack, or hang clothes: Stack clothes on shelves, but use the vertical or "file folding" method that Marie Kondo uses to see all the clothes at your fingertips when you open a drawer. Use specialty hangers to optimize space for scarves, ties, belts, and pants. Nest bras inside each other, and do the same with handbags, putting smaller bags inside bigger bags.
  • Consider vacuum-seal storage bags: Get vacuum bags from a retail or make DIY vacuum bags by using a large clear drawstring trash bag and a vacuum cleaner. Suck the air out of the bag, firmly tie it closed, and voila, you've maximized available space. Place these bags on a top shelf, bottom corner, or storage space until you need them.
  • Label everything: Find things quickly without having to open storage boxes, bins, drawers, or vacuum-sealed bags.
  • Use wall space: You can use walls to store jewelry and accessories; consider using hooks, spice racks, pegboards, or wall-hung wire bins for accessories and small clothing items.

Closet Storage Tips

Closet storage solutions won't create more space in your closet; however, closet organizers, storage solutions, and closet systems can help you maximize your space. Here are some tips for making more with less space:

  • A step stool will make it easier for you to reach the top part of your closet; instead of ignoring an empty space that was hard to reach, you will use that space.
  • A double-hang rod with two levels of hanging rods will better use horizontal storage space in the closet.
  • An over-the-door shoe rack can turn your door into the perfect place to store shoes, accessories, or both.

You might be tempted to throw your hands up, pull out your credit card, and buy an expensive closet system. This urge might not be necessary if you measure the space, assess what you already have, and make a storage plan. Buy only what you need to store your clothes and re-purpose what you already own. Small bookcases, cubbies, and baskets are great for storing handbags, shoes, accessories, and gym clothes.

Finally, don't forget to measure a space three times before buying a new storage item. Nothing is worse than carting something home and finding it's too big or small.

The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

Maintaining Your Newly Organized Closet

The more you work on closet maintenance, the less time it will take. Go through your closet, complete a quick tidying once a month, and tackle the full re-organization process twice a year.

Make it easy on yourself by following a cleaning schedule, either by season, by date (such as your birthday or New Year's), or by an event. The next time you can't find an important piece of clothing, that's a good sign you need to re-organize your closet.

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How to Organize Your Closet in 6 Easy Steps

Say goodbye to closet chaos and hello to a streamlined, functional space.

how to organize your closet essay

  • Step-by Step Guide to Organizing Your Closet
  • Maximizing Closet Space
  • Maintaining Your Closet

Liudmila Chernetska / GETTY IMAGES

Taking the time to organize your closet may feel overwhelming, but you can easily nail the task in a weekend—and the return on your efforts pays off in spades. An organized closet doesn’t just look good. It saves you from the chaos of frantically searching for that dress or accessory at the last minute, and even prevents you from spending excess money (no more buying duplicates or pieces you don't actually need). 

Just follow this simple step-by-step guide on how to organize your closet and you'll be well on your way to a stress-free, streamlined space in no time. 

KhongkitWiriyachan / GETTY IMAGES

Organizing Your Closet: A Step-by-Step Guide 

Follow these six steps, and you'll have a clean, organized closet—that you can maintain moving forward—in no time at all.

Step 1: Pull Everything Out of the Closet

The phrase "it gets worse before it gets better" is one you'll want to repeat as you tackle the first step of organizing your closet, which involves removing and evaluating every single item, which can make it feel like you're working backwards. Trust us, though—this step is critical. "The very first thing you need to do when you start to organize your closet is take everything out of the space," says Ashley Murphy, organizing expert and co-founder of NEAT Method .

This helps you get a clear visual of the area and account for everything you have, making it easier to go through your items. 

Step 2: Create Toss, Keep, and Donate Piles 

Create a pile for items you want to keep, items you plan to donate, and items that aren't fixable and need to be thrown out or repurposed. Murphy suggests letting go of "items you have not worn in the last year, are damaged, or no longer fit well," prioritizing sustainability at all times. "We always suggest consigning or donating before throwing anything away," she says.

Still not sure what to let go of? Lisa Adams , a professional organizer who specializes in closets, offers this advice: "I like to use the five outfit rule for keeping something: If you can make five outfits with the clothing item, and will wear it, then keep it." Enlist help from an impartial friend if you need some support. 

Step 3: Sort Everything by Category  

Once you're clear on the clothes and accessories you're keeping, Murphy says to sort them into categories based on likeness (like shoes, undergarments, swimwear, workout gear, etc.). Sorting is non-negotiable, since it helps you determine how many items you have in each category. This gives you a better idea of where everything will go once you start putting things back in the closet.

Make a category for sentimental items that you no longer wear. You can place these in a see-through bin stored on a shelf. This allows you to see the items when you open your closet, but still allows your closet to remain a functional space full of items you actually wear.  

Step 4: Count and Measure Everything 

Now it's time to take your inventory. Adams says to count and measure everything that you own and plan to keep, including the number of each item in every category, shoe heights, hat widths, and so on. 

With nothing in your closet, also take time to measure how much hanging, drawer, and shelf space you have. You can also measure the height of the hanging rods. If this feels overwhelming, then at a minimum, measure the width, height, and depth of your closet shelves and drawers. 

Step 5: Set Your Closet Up 

Now that you have your inventory and measurements, you can lower or raise hanging rod heights and shoe shelves (if they are adjustable). "We often forget that we can move shelves and hanging rods in our closet," Adams says.

Also place any purchased bins and baskets, dressers, trays, or other storage solutions into your closet. (Measuring the space beforehand will ensure everything fits just right!)

Step 6: Put Everything Back 

Now, the moment you've been waiting for: putting your closet back together again. As you arrange your pieces, consider which items you wear regularly and store those in easy-to-reach places. For items you use less frequently, Murphy says to set those "in harder-to-reach places, like a top shelf or back corner."

"Based on your closet inventory and closet design, you can organize or style your closet based on the item type, color, formality, and designer," Adams says. "Whatever the system is that works best for you, use it and keep it up."

Kinga Krzeminska / GETTY IMAGES

How to Maximize Your Closet Space 

Some closets are bigger than others. If you need to make the most of every square inch, give these space-expanding ideas a try.

  • Use baskets and bins: These items allow you to compartmentalize items so they're easier to find. For example, you can have baskets for fitness apparel or beachwear, and clear bins for seasonal sweaters or boots. 
  • Buy matching hangers: To create more space, focus on your hangers. "The number-one way to create more space in your closet and provide a uniform look is to swap out your hangers for a matching slimline version," says Marissa Hagmeyer, co-founder of NEAT Method. 
  • Put your dresser inside: Maximize the negative space beneath your clothes by placing your dresser inside the closet, situating it just below hung items—which will also save you space in your bedroom.
  • Use trays for accessories: Small accessories—like jewelry and watches—can become disorganized quickly. Small organizational trays ensure these items don't get lost in the shuffle.

Tips for Maintaining an Organized Closet 

Now that you've done the work, you want to ensure you can maintain the result. Stick to these tips to ensure your closet stays organized long-term.

Make the Space Work for You 

Don't feel beholden to the way you set things up in your closet the first time. "Make it work for you," says Shantae Duckworth , professional organizer and founder of Shantaeize Your Space. "Remember that closet organization is fluid—it isn't written in stone." You can also work with a closet design company to customize a space for better functionality.

Label Items

Label items so you know where things go, which makes finding and putting them back a breeze.

Routinely Edit and Tidy 

Tidy up your closet at least once per week, using this time to re-hang or re-fold items or put items back in their place. "I also like to edit almost daily versus making it a seasonal or yearly, daunting chore," Adams says. "If you pull something out of the closet that doesn't fit or has a stain, then take action in the moment."

Add a "Still Clean" Basket 

Ever put on an item before an event only to say, "That’s not the look I'm going for?" Give these garments a place to go via a "still clean" basket, Duckworth advises. "That way, if you're too tired to put clothes back where they belong, you can throw them in a pretty bin and go through them at another time," she says.

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34 Closet Organization Ideas for Clutter-Free Spaces

Keep clothes, purses, accessories, and more, efficiently stored.

how to organize your closet essay

Add order, maximize your spaces, and store items the right way with our favorite closet organization ideas. Learn how to adapt strategies and plans to work for your home's closets and see what savvy tricks can help keep them clutter-free.

Primp Station

If you have empty wall space in your closet, take advantage of it! A wall-mounted desk will hold all your jewelry. Use a divided storage container for reading glasses and accessories. Above, line the wall with hooks for hats and scarves, and place laundry bins below.

Buy it: Better Homes & Gardens Woven Water Hyacinth Tank Basket , $19, Walmart

Purse Display

Stacking your purses or clutches in a pile won't do them any good. Instead, protect your favorite bags and make them more visible with clear shelf dividers. Place prized bags in one compartment and group smaller items together in another.

Closet Systems

Well-designed closet systems and bedroom closet organizers can help you make the most of your space. This plan implements several smart walk-in closet organization ideas: hanging bars, space to organize clothes on shelves, and drawers all help organize clothing and ensure everything has a place. This system is an excellent example of how to use space at the top of a closet and keep the floor clean. If you're not ready to invest in a full closet system, look for inexpensive products that hang on traditional hanging bars and boost closet storage.

Buy it: Better Homes & Gardens 4-Shelf Hanging Closet Organizer , $20, Walmart .

Shelf Space

You might think adding more shelves is the best way to organize clothes in a closet—but this is not always true. The shelves themselves take up inches of precious storage space, and too many of them can make it difficult to stack or remove items. It's best to design shelves that will fit the various things you have to store.

Makeover Must-Haves

Plan a closet makeover by measuring your current closet to determine hanging requirements and storage needs. Keep these measurements handy as you shop for bedroom closet organizers. Next, you'll need to clear everything out of the closet to install the new system.

Now is a good time to evaluate the content of your closet. One of the best ways to organize clothes in a closet is to keep clutter at bay by regularly going through items you can no longer use and donating them to charity.

Double Duty

While ample closet space is a dream, too much space can be wasted, leaving room for clutter. On the other hand, finding a place for everything can be challenging in homes where space is at a premium. The solution for both scenarios? Double up. Determine what other function your bedroom closet can serve, such as a laundry room. Zoning is key in a dual-purpose space: Clearly distinguish where the closet storage ends and where a new function begins.

Closet Armoire

Don't have a lot of closet space? Freestanding armoires or garment racks are perfect for customizable storage space to take the place of a closet. Although not technically a closet, these savvy pieces can borrow from clever small closet organization ideas. Here, wire shelving in ready-to-assemble cabinets mimics traditional bedroom closet organizers. The shelving maximizes storage space and allows for easy organization of foldable garments.

A tiered shelf stores shoes at the bottom of the cabinet, while sweaters and seasonal accessories are placed in baskets on the top shelf.

Buy it: Better Homes & Gardens Farmhouse Gray and Metal Garment Rack , $88, Walmart .

Organize Your Closet with These Tips

Restore order in your closet. These must-know storage secrets will help you clear out the clutter and find a spot for everything. Plus, see how a few DIY closet organizer ideas can yield custom storage for less.

Kid's Closet Hacks

Fabric storage bins help keep an open closet neat, organized, and presentable. Double rods on both sides of the storage tower provide extra space for shirt and pants storage.

To make it easier for kids to stick with your organization system, try this DIY closet organizer idea: Apply adhesive picture labels to the outside of the fabric bins.

Small Space Used Wisely

Evaluate every inch of a small closet to maximize limited space. One of the best small closet organization ideas is to utilize over-the-door storage, which is great for shoes and belts—items that take up space in the closet that could be better utilized.

Bins and baskets allow quick, out-of-the-way storage for grab-and-go items like socks and underclothes. Uniform hangers, though a simple detail, help keep your closet neat and tidy.

Changeable Storage

Your wardrobe changes with the season and through the years; a closet that can adapt will support the shifts. When planning your closet, look for adjustable features. For example, you can rearrange these acrylic drawer dividers to suit any number of items, including scarves, belts, socks, and more.

Space Management

If your bedroom is small, consider placing your dresser inside the closet. While this move takes up floor space, you have plenty of vertical space for more storage. You can organize clothes on shelves above it and still maximize a closet's vertical space.

Space Calculation

Small closet organization ideas rely on careful space planning. Use a combination of cubbies, shelves, and rods to accommodate any number of organizing ideas. Make a list of your storage needs and match it with the right storage solution. Map out the placement and size of shelves and rod lengths, and move on to the fun part: installation and organizing!

Folding Clothes

You might find that folding is one of the best ways to organize clothes on shelves in a closet. Meryl Starr, a professional organizer in New York and author of The Organizing Workbook , recommends these tips for folding clothes.

Shelves should be about 12 inches deep, roughly the depth of a stack of clothes. You don't want a lot of wasted space in front or behind. Ventilated shelves promote airflow around folded clothes, reducing the possibility of mold, mildew, and pests.

Group like with like (jeans with jeans, etc.). Same-size items stack more neatly. Put the clothes you use most in the center at eye level. Don't stack higher than about a foot; leave at least 6 inches between the top of the stack and the next shelf for easy reach. Finally, add drawers to collect smaller items. If you don't have drawers, use a basket or two. Position drawers below eye level, so it's easy to peer in.

Storage for Shoes

If you don't know how to store and organize shoes in your closet, try these tips from John Trosko, a professional organizer and co-author of The Experts' Guide to Doing Things Faster .

Slim shoes, such as flats and flip-flops, can be stored in a cubby. Use spare slots for belts, scarves, and clutches.

Drawers give the closet a polished, built-in look, while handy closet door storage works for folded clothes. Bulky items like sweaters and purses can go on the open shelves. Eke out another sliver of storage by putting a shallow basket on the shelf below the top row of hanging clothes. Use it for things that fold up small, such as tights, tees, or socks.

Hanging Clothes

Hanging clothing inside a closet is an easy way to keep clothing organized, especially if you have a lot of dress clothes, suits, or dresses. Try these tips for managing the hangers in your closet .

For the double-hang area, put the shortest clothes on the top rod and hang the bottom one as high as possible under them. Use space near the floor for a shoe rack or storage bins.

Organize garments by category and separate them with hanging labels; the more specific the types, the better. For example, subdivide your shirts into short- and long-sleeve, or casual and dressy. Bonus points: Organize by color within a category.

Slanted Shoe Rack

Storing shoes on slanted shelves makes it easier to see the shelf contents. Before installing slanted shelves, consider how many pairs of shoes you need to store and what size they are. You might want to space the shelves differently or decide on uniform spacing based on the height of your most high-heeled shoes.

Boots will need more height than flats. If you have a lot of tall boots, consider storing them elsewhere, such as beneath a hanging rod. Look for inserts that will help boot shafts stay upright at organizational stores.

Pull Down Bar

Movable clothing rods inside your closet or armoire provide easy access to clothes when choosing outfits. The metal rod can be pushed up to keep clothes out of the way or pulled down to shoulder height for more convenience. Built-in drawers hidden behind wardrobe doors also help with closet organization.

Accessory Storage

If you need an idea of how to use space at the top of the closet, hat boxes or high-quality gift boxes are an easy storage option. Whether you need a place for belts, scarves, hats, or other smaller items, stylish boxes provide the perfect-sized space and help keep little accessories in their place and out of the way.

If space is limited, try this small walk-in closet organization idea: place hooks on the door as a quick and easy hanging solution for handbags, scarves, or other accessories.

Built-In Drawers

Consider built-in drawers for storing sweaters, undergarments, and accessories. Shorter drawers might only store a stack of four T-shirts or two sweaters, which is beneficial because you don't have to dig through a large pile to find what you're looking for, but a series of shorter drawers might not offer the same amount of storage space as larger, taller drawers, because when you have more drawers, it means you need to have more room for the tracks and other drawer hardware.

Whether your closet is big or small, good lighting will make it even more functional. Look for ceiling-mount lighting that doesn't need hardwiring as a quick update for a reach-in closet. You can use lamps in a walk-in closet for extra illumination, which is beneficial for dressing areas.

If your walk-in closet has a window, install a light-blocking window covering. That way, you can keep out the natural light when not using the closet. Constant sunlight might cause some clothing to fade.

Double Bars for Kids

For a narrow and short space, utilize this small closet organization idea: stair-step rods for kids' clothing storage. Since their clothing is short and slender, you can hang one rod higher and further back and another bar lower and more toward the front to get a double layer of storage. Consider tension shower rods, which can be installed without making holes in the wall and are easier to change as the child gets older.

Double Bars for Adults

Using double closet rods—one over the other—is the best way to organize clothes in a closet and squeeze in more storage space, especially if you have taller ceilings. Measure the length of items you'll hang and allow another 6 inches of clearance above and below each rod. Blouses, shirts, skirts, jackets, and kids' clothes will all fit on double rods.

Closet Mirror

If your closet is also your dressing area, make it more functional by hanging a large mirror on the wall behind a dresser. Or consider hanging a floor-length mirror on a door.

Built-In Ironing Board

Cut down on your ironing time with an ironing board that's always ready to go. Hang a wall-mount ironing board near an outlet and store the iron nearby. Simply fold down the board when you're ready to iron. There are also ironing board cabinets that can be recessed into a wall.

Wire Drawers

Learn how to organize with wire drawers. This storage option makes it easy to see what you have in your closet. The metal pull-out bedroom closet organizer here has drawers with various depths to fit into different-sized spaces and provides a more organized form of storage than simple cubbies would provide.

Laundry Sorter

Want to streamline laundry ? Try this DIY closet organizer idea: place hooks on the back wall of your closets, above your laundry basket, for hanging bags. Now you have an instant sorting center. Rather than tossing everything into the basket, use the bags to sort delicates or undergarments, so you're ready to wash on laundry day.

Velvet Lining

While most bedroom closet organizers focus on large items, a well-organized closet also pays attention to the small things. Utilize shallow drawers and velvet drawer organizers to keep your jewelry in order. With smart jewelry storage, you'll say goodbye to lost earrings and tangled necklaces.

Bench Storage

A bench is handy for keeping bulky items, like large handbags or briefcases, out of sight. Both built-in benches and furniture pieces will do the trick. They're also a perfect spot for storing extra blankets. Plus, a closet seat serves as a perch for folding laundry or putting on shoes

Shoe Solution

If shoes flood your closet floor, develop a smart strategy for storing them. Keep the shoes you wear all the time accessible on shelves if you have room. Store seasonal and special-occasion shoes in easy-to-see clear plastic boxes on the top shelf of your closet. Or simply reuse the original box and attach a picture of the shoes to the front of the box.

Multipurpose Shoe Holder

Clever pocket-filled shoe holders are versatile bedroom closet organizers and can be used for more than just footwear. Lingerie, leggings, and other small, foldable extras fit nicely into the pockets and because the pockets are translucent, everything remains easy to find.

Head to the hardware store for this DIY storage closet organizer idea. Use PVC pipe to organize scarves and ties. Measure the height of your drawer and cut pieces of pipe to size. Arrange pipe pieces in the drawer. Roll up your scarves and ties and place them inside the pipe.

Luggage Tags

Labels are one of the best ways to organize clothes in a closet. For this label idea, head to the travel aisle. Luggage tags aren't just for travel—they also work well as a bedroom closet organizer. Loop the tag around the handles of a basket or bin, and insert a label into the tag's pocket.

Putting labels on boxes and containers stored up high is especially helpful, and a clever way for how to use the space at the top of a closet. That way, you won't have to guess what's in the box, and you can pull down the right one on your first try.

Garment Organizers

Sort clothes by category or color to make it easy to find what you need. Insert garment organizers (available at organization stores) or use multicolor hangers to label your groupings. Also, professional organizers suggest turning all of the hangers in your closet the opposite way. Every time you wear an item, turn the hanger around. After a few months, you can clearly see what clothing items you could live without.

How to Save Even More Space

Whether you have a massive walk-in closet or a minimal space to store your clothes, there is a way to save significant room by using vacuum-seal bags for storage . These air-tight bags are perfect to store large items such as blankets or duvets or seasonal wardrobe items, like coats and parkas. Vacuum-seal bags are usually made out of polypropylene, a type of durable plastic that’s also resistant to mold or bacteria growth. Basically, you’ll suck out all of the excess air once you’ve stored your items until they’re compressed, making them the ideal size to be kept on top shelves, at the bottom of the closets, in drawers, or under the bed. Even when the closet space is limited, vacuum sealer bags help to maintain order as well as protect your clothes and linens when done properly. Just ensure any freshly laundered items are thoroughly dry before sealing them in bags.

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6 Easy Ways to Organize Your Closet, According to Professionals

By Tiffany Dodson

How to Organize a Closet in 2021

All products featured on SELF are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

When it comes to the spaces in our houses or apartments, closets probably get the least amount of love. Whether we’re hastily throwing items into our closets at the last minute to tidy up before company arrives, or filling them to the brim with forgotten knick-knacks and last year’s wrapping paper , it’s easy for these small spaces to quickly get out of hand. Since closets are designed to provide extra room for our stuff outside of wall shelves, under-the-bed storage, and full-on garages, learning how to maximize them for efficiency is key—especially for those of us living in small spaces .

Before getting started on how to organize a closet, author and home organizing expert Shira Gill tells SELF, the first step is to edit. “Too much stuff is the enemy of a well-organized space,” she explains. “Most people try to organize their closets without editing their wardrobe first. It’s crucial to review the entire contents of your closet and do your best to keep only what you actually use, need, and love.”

If you get stuck, Gill suggests asking yourself a few questions:

  • Does this item reflect my authentic personal style?
  • Would I buy this item for full price today?
  • Would it impact my daily life not to have this item?
  • Is this item really worth the space it's taking up?

According to experts, when organizing less clothing-heavy closets—like the ones designated specifically for towels and linens —the same rules apply to keep your essentials in order. Jamie Hord , founder of Horderly Professional Organizing, uses a similar method of editing prior to organizing to keep her clients’ closets as neat as possible. “One of the first steps in our organizing process is editing, or determining which items to keep, toss, or donate,” Hord tells SELF. “In linen closets, we like to use bins to separate everything from cleaning supplies to medicine to linens. You can fold towels in piles and place them inside, or roll towels for a more spa-like look.”

And before you simply chuck piles of clothes into the trash, remember that donating gently worn items is always an option. Check the websites of the Salvation Army , Goodwill , or Dress for Success to find drop boxes or locations near you (this writer personally uses Greendrop ). You could even resell select pieces online using companies like Vestiaire Collective or Depop . Plus, depending on what’s actually tucked away in your closet (say, a fancy piece of jewelry from an ex you’d never want to wear again), your local consignment shop may also be an option.

Once you’ve cleaned away the clutter, it’s time to take a deep dive into organizing . For the inside scoop on how to organize a closet in a way that could rival an aisle at The Container Store, we asked several professionals for their expert tips and product picks that will help transform your current enclosed catch-all into a useful storage haven.

Swap out regular hangers for slim ones.

The thickness of your hangers may be one of the last things you consider when looking to make space in a closet, but experts say it can make a big difference in the number of pieces that are able to actually fit in it. “Slimline hangers are a small closet’s best friend because they maximize space and prevent slipping,” Gill explains.

Hord agrees, adding that her team loves using slim velvet hangers to hang most clothing items. “We’ll typically add a few clips if we’re hanging skirts or shorts as well,” she says. As for your heavier items? Hord says you should stick to slightly thicker wooden hangers for coats and suit jackets, since they offer a bit more structure.

Image may contain: Hanger

Amazon Basics Slim Velvet Clothes Hangers (Pack of 50)

Don’t underestimate the value of a hook.

Adding a hook to your wall is one of the simplest ways to make the most of any space, but especially in closets where internal shelving isn’t always an option. “Hooks, hooks, hooks! They’re great for taking advantage of the real estate on the backs of doors (storage meccas), small walls, or really any vertical space,” organization expert Tova Weinstock of Tidy Tova tells SELF. “I usually tell my clients, ‘If you see an open wall above a shelf, stick a couple of hooks there and hang some stylish hats for a little extra flair.’”

how to organize your closet essay

Command Medium-Size Forever Nickel Classic Hooks

how to organize your closet essay

The Container Store Maple Shaker Peg Rack (4-Peg)

The Container Store

Fill open baskets with easy-to-grab essentials.

Gill advises using eye-catching open bins or baskets to contain gloves, scarves, and other accessories. She suggests picking one particular style and color, like the coastal-inspired bowl or canvas bin below, to keep your closet looking as clean and streamlined as possible.

how to organize your closet essay

Dharma Door Minikin Bowl

how to organize your closet essay

The Container Store Large Farmhouse Open Canvas Storage Bin

Utilize over-the-door shoe organizers to store more than just footwear.

“In small spaces, over-the-door systems can be the ultimate saving grace to creating a proper home for all of your items,” Hord says. Consider using those handy pockets to store cleaning supplies, pet accessories, or even toiletry and makeup items in your bathroom. If you’re in need of extra clothing storage, use the shoe pockets for swimsuits, scarves, and more.

how to organize your closet essay

Made by Design Over-the-Door 26-Shelf Mesh Shoe Organizer

Image may contain: Shelf, Paper, and Towel

West Elm Over-the-Door Hanging Organizer

Image may contain: Interior Design, Indoors, Furniture, and Shelf

The Container Store Elfa White Utility Mesh Closet Over-the-Door Rack

Keep accessibility in mind.

The best closets are organized so that you can easily access the items you use most. “Each item should be categorized and put away depending on its frequency of use,” Weinstock says.

In other words, the items you wear most frequently should be easy to see and access at all times. That favorite white button-down? Your go-to LBD? Put them in the front. “As you work your way back, layer in the items and accessories you’re not wearing quite as often and don’t need to reach as frequently.” Gill agrees, adding that out-of-season and occasional-use items—like that heavy winter coat or a black-tie dress—should be relegated to the back.

Store items vertically to maximize closet space.

Anyone who has lived in a small apartment understands how necessary it is to go up—and up. In fact, adding extra shelves can help you stay organized in just about any room—whether that’s a bedroom closet or a cramped kitchen space. “Extra shelves can be used to store folded jeans, sweaters, structured handbags, or rows of shoes. As a bonus tip, acrylic shelf dividers work wonders to keep stacks of folded jeans or sweaters from toppling over, and help keep small purses and clutches sitting upright.”

how to organize your closet essay

The Container Store Palaset Letter Sorter

Image may contain: Clothing, Apparel, Footwear, Shoe, Furniture, Crib, and Shelf

The Container Store White 2-Tier Stackable Mesh Shoe Shelf

how to organize your closet essay

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33 Best Closet Organization Ideas to Maximize Space and Style

By Amelia Mularz and Kristi Kellogg

33 Best Closet Organization Ideas to Maximize Space and Style | Architectural Digest

The idea of a clutter-free closet might seem impossible, but these closet organization ideas prove otherwise. A savvy organization system is completely within reach. No matter the size of your closet —sure, we know a sprawling celeb-style wardrobe area isn’t realistic for most of us—you’ll find closet storage solutions to make the most of what you do have. Between interior design inspiration and professional organizer hacks, it is possible for a closet space to feel decluttered and have extra space for scarves, handbags, and all those T-shirts without having to jam it all onto the top shelf. You’d be surprised how this one nook can lead to overall home organization .

Here, 33 of the best closet organization ideas and expert tips to help you sort through your storage boxes and create easy access to your wardrobe every morning.

All products featured on Architectural Digest are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Edit your wardrobe.

Edit and purge

“My clients are encouraged to purge before I take inventory of their wardrobes,” says designer Lisa Adams, CEO of L.A. Closet Design . “Keep what you really love; donate and part ways with all else.” A good rule of thumb? Ditch anything you haven’t worn in a year. Once you’ve done the work to declutter, organizing the rest won’t feel so overwhelming. 

Tyra Bank's walkin closet with geometric rug.

Make the closet space a happy place

“Instinctively, people feel like the closet should be in keeping with the rest of their home, but then they realize, ‘This is my space and I can do what I want with it.’ That means there are no limits—channel whatever style you want, even if it's not in keeping with the rest of the house,” Adams says. If wallpapering the ceiling, decorating the wall space with art, or adding in a geometric rug brings you joy, go for it.

how to organize your closet essay

Get reflective

Mirrors and lacquered surfaces always make a space seem bigger. The wall mirror and glossy glass surfaces in this large walk-in make it seem even more massive. They also provide views from multiple angles of your outfit of the day. Don’t have a walk-in? Hang a mirror on the back of closet doors for a space-saving alternative.

The best closet organization ideas will keep your closet stylish and clutterfree—just like this one.

Group clothing by category

Create zones for your clothes. “Avoid the temptation to group items by priority [i.e. how often you wear them or how much you like them], which makes things very difficult to find,” says Shara Kay, a certified professional organizer and the founder of SK Organizing in Beverly Hills. “Instead, keep like with like: tops, sweaters, dresses, pants, skirts, jackets, etc. And colorize within each category. It’s like a filing system!”

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how to organize your closet essay

Grab a few wire baskets

Open Spaces

The trouble with rarely used items is that they are often out of sight. Keep them in your line of vision by neatly placing scarves, clutches, and even socks in a wire basket. Bonus points if you get a colorful one, like these matte beauties from Open Spaces .

Tyra Banks knows how to show off her closet space.

Add decor to wall space and shelves

Speaking of adding lamps and rugs, your closet doesn’t have to be just a storage space. Now that your clothes and accessories are organized into cubbies and drawers, consider adding some design elements like sculptures, oversized books, and other decor as seen in Tyra Banks’s walk-in closet . Hanging framed photos, especially from your favorite fashionable moments, is another nice touch.  

how to organize your closet essay

Use a ladder

A decorative ladder can be as functional as storage bins: Lean it up against one wall in your closet and use it to hang loosely folded, worn-but-not-dirty-yet shirts. You can also drape scarves from it or add S-hooks for securely hanging belts. A ladder is basically a more versatile version or a tie rack because it can take on bulkier items, too.

Image may contain Clothing Apparel Footwear and Shoe

Metal grid for hanging items and heels

Andy Warhol said, “I see art in everything. Your shoes. That car. This coffee cup.” If you agree and you’re extra proud of your stiletto collection, put them on display. Consider hanging heels on a metal grid. It’s a creative closet organization idea that works in or outside a closet. 

A Kelly Wearstlerdesigned closet.

Incorporate brass hanging rods

Another option for displaying shoes? Go for a more polished look with mounted rods. “To display heels and dress shoes we use brass rods since they’re more refined,” says award-winning designer Kelly Wearstler . “Underneath we’ll include baskets for flats, tennis shoes, and sandals. That way only your best pairs are displayed.”

Lucite dividers help designer Kelly Wearstler keep all the handbags organized.

Divide and conquer

"Everything in a closet has to be versatile,” Wearstler says. “For storing handbags we create shelving with glass partitions that can be moved around to accommodate a single clutch or purse. And because the panels are clear, they don’t get in the way of seeing the whole collection of bags, which we like to arrange by color or material."

how to organize your closet essay

Add hooks to walk-in closet walls

In walk-in closets, add single hooks to walls wherever you have space. You’ll create extra storage zones and you can have fun with them by choosing vibrant versions like these bent wall hooks from West Elm. The end result? An eye-catching gallery wall for your sweaters, necklaces, scarves, or hats.

Interior designer Kelly Wearstler keeps her baubles within reach.

Opt for shallow drawers

“I like drawers that aren’t super deep, so you can see everything at a glance rather than having to dig around to find stuff," Wearstler says. “We always line them in fabric or wallpaper—even if they’re just for T-shirts. If you do have deep drawers, use drawer organizers to keep smaller items, like socks and underwear, from getting lost in the back.

Model Tyra Banks knows how to put her best foot forward when it comes to closet design.

Put your wardrobe on display for easy access

"I like to be able to see everything in my closet,” Adams says. Which is why she often takes her clients’ shoes and handbags out of their boxes and dust bags to store on open shelves. Not only is seeing your full wardrobe aesthetically pleasing, it can save you from buying repeat items that you forget you already have. Case in point, a neat shoe and boot collection of model Tyra Banks.

how to organize your closet essay

Wallpaper or paint the closet

Tempaper & Co.

Rounding out our list of the best closet organization ideas: painting or embracing wallpaper textures in your closet. Tempaper & Co. offers peel-and-stick grasscloth that looks posh but is still easy to install should you want to do a closet makeover this weekend . It'll be the grand finale of your walk-in redo. After all the work you put it in, your closet just might be one of your favorite spaces.

how to organize your closet essay

Stylize jewelry storage

Jewelry organizers can be so much more than practical. They also provide a gorgeous design element in your closet, like lucite bracelet holders in Shay Mitchell's home . Other options that are as beautiful as the baubles they hold include acrylic jewelry boxes , ceramic ring holders , and glass trinket dishes with decorative lids—all available on Amazon. For a fancier take on jewelry organization look to a freestanding display made of natural stone.

The more drawers the better.

Use drawers and drawer inserts

Having drawers in your closet is a luxury—and if you happen to have them, add inserts or dividers to keep each drawer organized. It's a cost-effective way to organize, and you can use them to create a space for everything: sunglasses, intimates, scarves, tech, watches, cuff links, undergarments, et cetera. Everything has a place. 

Don't just lump all the handbags on the floor.

Find a home for each handbag

“For handbags, there are many different options, and it truly depends on the bag,” says Melanie Charlton, owner of the New York–based closet design company Clos-ette . “For clutches, I like to use shallow cubbies or drawer inserts. To protect high-end bags or skinned bags, I’ll use glass doors, plus great lighting to show them off.” If space is lacking, she adds, storing bags in an armoire or in shallow reach on the top of a closet shelf is also a great option.

how to organize your closet essay

Create closet storage zones with stackable bins

In hallway closets, creating specific zones for each type of item, especially seasonal clothes, makes it easier to put things away, and the easier it is, the more likely you’ll put things where they belong and stay organized. For a pantry closet, set up different zones for washcloths and bath towels. For a miscellaneous closet, dedicate space for each holiday’s decorations. This is one place where stackable storage bins will make your life less chaotic.

how to organize your closet essay

Build a wall of cubbies for shoe storage

Clothing organization is one thing, shoe storage is a whole other animal. If you have the vertical space, design a shoe wall with cubed shelving. Ikea is king for this. Not only is a compartmentalized wall a satisfying alternative to lining up shoe racks, it ensures you can see all your footwear at a glance. 

how to organize your closet essay

Have a jewelry tray on hand

Another one of our closet organization ideas? Popping in a jewelry tray. “People don’t always have time to put their jewelry away,” Wearstler says. “A tray or bowl provides someplace to stow it in a rush. They’re also useful when packing.”

Fashion mogul Tommy Hilfiger knows that a chair in a closet works.

Add a chair

Now that you're all organized, you might find you have plenty of extra space—in fact, enough to include a chair. It'll make pulling boots on easier—and also gives you a place to sit back and admire your freshly organized closet. And if Tommy Hilfiger has one in his closet, why not you?

how to organize your closet essay

Get an accessory wardrobe

An accessory wardrobe hits so many style and organization marks. Does it organize? Check. Does it take up minimal room? Check. Does it free up clothes and drawer space? Double check. Plus, some versions even double as full-length mirrors with built-in makeup shelves. Just short of actually doing your hair and choosing your outfit, a jewelry armoire does it all.

how to organize your closet essay

Try a garment rack

Urban Outfitters

Large, closed-door wardrobes are expensive and a huge commitment; look for an open, lightweight, breezy garment rack for hanging items instead. It works inside or outside your closet for extra storage (especially with bulky clothing like coats), and it's got a lot of character—just like your clothes. Added bonus: you can always take stock of what you have since everything is super visible with easy access.

One of the best closet ideas is go as high as you can like this one in a California Closets design by Martha Stewart.

Look up for added storage

You can get extra storage space by installing a high shelf for seasonal clothes and infrequently used items.

how to organize your closet essay

Invest in matching velvet hangers

Celebrity closets often look like boutiques, and for good reason: Closet designers like Charlton take cues from retail settings to create spaces that make getting dressed feel like a shopping trip. “A visual merchandising trick I learned a long time ago is to simply organize by type of clothing, left to right, light to dark,” she says.

The key to getting the look just right? “Make sure that everything is on the same monotone hangers so the clothes are visible, not the hanger.” Ditch all those mismatched wire and plastic versions for a cohesive set of slim velvet hangers. If you tend to wear certain pieces together, hang them together in the closet—that way you won’t have to go searching for the other half of your outfit.

how to organize your closet essay

Or color-code hangers

Kay suggests another approach when it comes to your hanging space. “Use consistent hangers, at least within each category of clothing,” she says. Blouses might get white hangers, sweaters go on blue hangers, and jackets get wooden hangers. “It’s a small investment that will streamline the appearance of your closet and allow your eye to focus on your clothing.”

how to organize your closet essay

And get the right hangers for your closet space

And those puffy hangers that look like they belong in your grandmother’s closet? “There is no need to buy those bulky silk-lined hangers for sweaters,” Charlton says. A simple way to hang sweaters without stretching out the shoulders is to use hangers with shoulder molds . “Only hang thicker-gauge sweaters, instead of fine-gauge ones that might stretch.” Thinner sweaters can be folded and stacked on shelves (again, consider shelf dividers!) or kept in drawers.

For extra long items that bunch up on the bottom of your closet, consider a long garment velvet hanger from Cove that allows you to pick up the length without wrinkling dresses and jumpsuits.

how to organize your closet essay

Snag a laundry sorter

Closet clothes storage isn’t just about clean pieces. Create a system for your dirty clothes, too. Hampers with multiple sections make it easy to instantly sort dark, light, and colored clothes. You’ll have a quicker time on laundry day, and once everything is clean, putting each item back in its place will be easy breezy.

how to organize your closet essay

Let there be lights

“You want to be able to see the difference between navy and black when you’re getting dressed. Use recessed lighting, a ceiling fixture, LED lights in shelves and the hanging rods—basically, whatever you need to create a well-lit room," Adams says.

Wearstler echoes Adams’ thoughts. "Great lighting is crucial,” she says. “Installing only overhead downlights can be deadly—not at all flattering. You need light from multiple angles. We embed task lighting within millwork and then layer in secondary sources, such as sconces and chandeliers. You want your client to look their best and feel sexy.”

how to organize your closet essay

Declutter your closet each season

“Seasonally declutter your closet,” says Vivien Lee-Mayhue, a certified KonMari organizing consultant and the founder of Tidy Up Los Angeles . “Keep what you love for the person you are today. Then, keep two baskets handy (store them in the hall closet): one to be used for donations and the second for items that need mending, altering, cleaning, etc. Give yourself a set time frame on when these should be dropped off,” she says.

how to organize your closet essay

Don't knock clear storage bins till you try them

The Container Store

Bins get a bad wrap, but if done correctly, they can save you tons of time scrounging for pieces in your closet. The best way to maximize their effectiveness is to put pictures of what’s inside them on the front. It may sound tedious, but if done with a Polaroid (as Jessica Alba does in her own closet) it takes no time and will make your life infinitely more organized. Not enough closet space? You can still put their space-saving abilities to good use under your bed.

how to organize your closet essay

Throw in a rug

Take pride in your closet and make the closet feel like an actual fitting room, even if it is a small space, by adding a throw rug. A pop of color or a fun print may inspire you to get creative with your looks. Or, a faux fur rug will feel comfy under bare feet in the morning when you’re getting ready.

This image may contain Furniture Indoors WalkIn Closet Room Closet Dressing Room Shelf and Interior Design

Think about shoe shelving ideas

"Use shoe shelves with adjustable, flat-slanted ledges to get them off the floor," Charlton says. "I also like to use the shallow space underneath the hanging clothes to line them up." Have a small closet and not enough space for a whole shelving system? Invest in a shoe cabinet that can live anywhere and holds dozens of pairs of shoes.

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This is Your Ultimate Guide to Closet Organization

Ashley Knierim has over a decade of experience in writing, editing, and content strategy. She held positions at Time Magazine, AOL, and JPMorgan Chase. She is also a home décor and DIY enthusiast who spends her free time decorating (and redecorating) her home.

how to organize your closet essay

Rachel Rosenthal

In This Article

If you've been itching to streamline your morning routine and make your closet work a little harder for you, it's time to reorganize. Though it sounds daunting, organizing your closet like a pro is a task that should only require an afternoon's worth of investment. We chatted with organizing expert Rachel Rosenthal and LA Closet Design CEO Lisa Adams to give you all the answers you need to simplify your life.

Meet the Expert

  • Rachel Rosenthal has been a professional organizer for 13 years and founded her own company, Rachel & Co, to help clients change their lives through organization.
  • Lisa Adams is the CEO and lead designer behind LA Closet Design and has worked in the industry for 13 years.

Materials You'll Need to Organize a Closet

  • Boxes for accessories
  • A basket for giveaways
  • Matching hangers
  • Large storage containers
  • A mirror (for trying on clothes)

How to Organize a Closet

Before you begin, expect to spend three to four hours from start to finish on this project. After you lay the groundwork, you just have to stick to the system—and before you know it, you'll see that finding the perfect outfit has gone from being a chore to a breeze. Here's everything you need to know to get (and stay) organized.

Lay Out Everything You Have

The first step may be the most painful one, but it's a must if you truly want to clean up your closet and create an organizational system that works. Take everything you own out of your closet and lay it on your bed or the floor (a clean floor, of course)! This will give you a chance to inspect every item and really decide if it's worth keeping.

This is a great time to deep clean your closet. Dust, vacuum, or even paint after all of your clothing is removed.

Only Keep What You Wear

Now it's time to make some hard decisions. Spend some time trying on every item and deciding whether it's a "today" piece or a "someday" piece.

According to organization expert Rachel Rosenthal , it's common to hold onto pieces that no longer fit (we all have a pair of "in 10 pounds" jeans), but organizing your closet means getting rid of those "someday" pieces.

"Keeping those items is a constant reminder that they no longer fit or make you feel good," Rosenthal says.

If you really have to keep them, store them someplace you don't have to see on a day-to-day basis, or flip the hangers so you know not to grab for them when getting ready in the morning.

Store Off-Season Items

Now that you've gotten rid of all of those items that no longer fit, separate your clothing into seasons. The best closets only feature what you can wear right now, so it's a good rule of thumb to store winter clothing in the summer and vice versa.

If you don't have enough storage to put away large bins every season, make sure the off-season pieces are tucked away in the back of your closet.

Set Your Closet Up for Success

When it comes to storing your clothes, Rosenthal says "the number one thing to remember is that if you use it often, it needs to be accessible." Put the items you wear constantly front and center (think your capsule wardrobe pieces) and the ones you wear rarely toward the back. Before you put your clothes back into the closet, put your twenty most-worn pieces to the side and focus on these.

It's important to utilize all corners of your closet, but save those areas for rarely-worn items, like formal dresses or interview suits.

Placing a hook on the back of your closet door can be a great place to store ready-made outfits for the next morning.

Invest in New Hangers

Gone are the days of mismatched hangers you picked up for free at Target. While it may not seem like a big deal, mismatched hangers will make your closet look cluttered and messy, despite your best efforts at organization.

Decide on a color and material (i.e. white wood) and buy a set that works for all your pieces. A good closet will have a mixture of pant hangers, shirt hangers, sweater hangers, and a sprinkling of accessory hangers for things like scarves and tights.

We recommend a two-tiered system when it comes to organizing your closet. First, focus on the pieces you wear often. From there, organizing the pieces by color can make it much easier to match items and dress for your mood. While this sounds tedious, if you focus only on those items you wear often, it may mean only color-coding your top twenty or so pieces.

Stay on Top of It

Rosenthal suggests incorporating a permanent donation bin into your closet so that you're always ready to purge.

"Designate a donation spot in your closet for items that you aren’t wearing, that don’t fit, or that you simply aren’t interested in any longer," she says. "When the bags and bins are full, that's your cue to get the donation items out and clear room for the next cycle of stuff."

Sort Your Shoes

If you have a habit of digging through a pile of shoes on the bottom of your closet floor, it's time to change that. Rosenthal suggests you take stock of what shoes you wear frequently and sort them in two ways.

"Sort shoes by categories (i.e. flip flops, flat sandals, wedges) and then by color if you want to be super-specific," she says.

If you have pairs that are valuable or easily damaged, invest in clear storage boxes so you can see what you have without digging around.

Invest in Organization

Lisa Adams of LA Closet Design  says putting up a little money upfront to invest in great organizational pieces will really pay off in the end. She recommends custom drawer inserts, vertical shelving separators, and pretty storage boxes that make you want to get organized.

Think Vertically

Don't neglect the space at the top of your closet that you rarely see. This is a good place to store out-of-season items or pieces you wear once a year. Invest in storage boxes to keep things neat and tidy, and have a step stool on hand for easy access.

How Much Time Will It Take to Organize My Closet?

The time will vary depending on the size of your closet and the amount of clothes you own. However, on average, it should take three to four hours.

What Do I Do With the Clothes I Don't/or Won't Wear?

You can either set up a box or bin to throw in clothes that are worn out, no longer fits, or barely worn. Once your box or bin is filled to the top, consider your options of donating , reselling , or passing them down to other people you know.

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How to Organize Your Closet in 30 Minutes Flat

Use this step-by-step guide, and you'll be the fastest closet organizer out there.

How Often to Organize Your Closet

Considerations before you get started.

  • Total Time: 30 minutes

It doesn't matter how many color-coordinated hangers or scarf organizers you buy: There will come a day when you look at your closet and wonder, How the heck did it get so messy ?!

The daily barrage of clothing you pull out and put back in (and maybe, sometimes, only hang halfway onto that non-slip hanger ) can turn this functional space into a hassle. Raise your hand if you ever buy new stuff without taking out the old or if you ever stash non-clothing items in your closet. (No judgment!) We called in a closet organizing pro to help break these habits and learn how to organize your closet with a system that works.

So if your closet needs a reset, set the timer and get going: You've got 30 minutes to get it working for you again.

"I recommend organizing your closet on a seasonal basis ," says Cary Prince , a certified professional organizer in Los Angeles. Doing it this way allows you to think about what you've worn and liked that season (or what you've ignored completely) and do some editing before the next season starts.

You may be tempted to buy more hangers, hanger add-ons , bins, or hanging organizers to streamline your closet. "But don't buy anything!" Prince instructs. Instead, save those purchases for later in the organization process once you know exactly what you need. This way you'll only be buying the best hangers to suit your specific needs.

If you think you'll need help making decisions, enlist a friend. An objective bystander can make it easier to decide what to keep and what to toss.

What You'll Need

Equipment / tools.

  • Broom and dustpan
  • Vacuum cleaner (optional)
  • A few trash bags or bins
  • Multipurpose cleaner

Instructions

How to organize your closet step-by-step, pull everything out.

Pull all of your clothes out of the closet and dump everything on the bed. Sort them into piles on the bed by type (shirts here, dresses there, etc.). Pull out any organizers and bins to give yourself a totally empty closet.

Clean Your Closet With a Rag and Cleaner

Now that your closet is empty, wipe down the shelves, closet rods, walls, and baseboards with your rag and cleaner, then clear the floor of debris with a vacuum or broom. The space shouldn't be too dirty, so it won't take a lot of effort to get yourself a fresh slate here.

Look at Your Closet

Consider how your closet has and hasn't been working for you. "The prime real estate is right in front, so think about your most-used items, what you're always struggling to reach, or which things would be better folded than hung," says Prince. If your current closet system is in good order but has just gotten out of whack, that's great—otherwise, tweak it!

Ask Four Questions

Take every garment out of the pile and decide if it goes back into the closet . "You don't have to go full Marie Kondo, but as you decide, ask yourself four questions to figure out if you should keep something." Her questions are:

  • Does it fit?
  • Have I worn it in the last 12 months?
  • Will I repair it (for items that are damaged or need alteration)?
  • Do I feel confident in it?

As you answer the questions, make piles for clothes to keep, clothes to throw out, and clothes to donate. Prince also suggests two more categories: clothes to give away (like maternity clothes to a pregnant friend) and clothes to sell (a pristine bridesmaid dress you'll never wear again).

Prince says if you answer "no" to any of the questions, put it into one of your piles instead of back into the closet. "I always say that if you use the word 'should' to justify keeping it, that's the first step towards knowing you should let it go," says Prince.

Fight the Urge to Overthink

If you've seen any episode of "Sparking Joy with Marie Kondo," you'll recognize this stage of the process for what it is—a closet organization danger zone. This is when your resolve may falter, and the task could slow to a halt. Does parting with your size 4 dress mean you're giving up on your old, thin self? Does donating your decade-old thigh-highs suggest your wild-partying youth is behind you? All this overthinking can turn a 30-minute task into a three-hour one—or make you abandon the project altogether.

"I find it's helpful to focus on what you're keeping instead of what you're getting rid of," says Prince. "Look at all these awesome clothes left in your closet that make you feel fabulous!"

Place the "Keep" Items Back in the Closet

Put each "keep" garment back in the closet in roughly the right spot and move on to the next item. Work by type (pants, skirts, blouses, jackets) and try to move quickly rather than getting caught up thinking about the clothes you used to fit into or wear for an old job or lifestyle. The goal is to make your closet work for who you are today.

Make It Nice

Once your closet is filled back up with only the keepers, take a few minutes to straighten everything out and make sure it's all organized by garment type and by color (even if you've been sort of doing it as you put it away). "I love a ROYGBV!" Prince says. One of the best tips for organizing small closets is to add clothing categorizers.

Remove the "Toss" Items

Take your bags out and get them on their way. Put your donation clothes right into the car, so you don't just leave them sitting around and get any other items (like the give or sell piles) ready for the next step. Here's a sampling of donation centers that might take your items:

  • Green Drop Charitable Donations
  • Big Brother Big Sister Foundation
  • Salvation Army

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How to organize a closet according to professional organizers

Here's everything to know to get your closet in tip top shape.

Woman choosing outfit from large wardrobe closet

  • Jennifer Graham Kizer
  • February 14, 2024

The products and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and advertising. However, Simplemost may receive a small commission from the purchase of any products or services through an affiliate link to the retailer's website.

Does peering into your closet make you feel stressed? Have you lost a favorite sweater or pair of shoes in there? Is it taking longer and longer to figure out what to wear each day? These are all signs that it’s time to organize your closet. While it might seem like a daunting task, it doesn’t have to be.

We spoke with professional organizers who offered step-by-step instructions for organizing your closet (and some extra tips). If you dread opening your closet door right now, here’s how to get started.

Clear out and wipe down

Woman selects clothes from her closet to box up

Start by emptying the closet. Everything out!

“It’s like hitting the reset button,” says Michigan-based organizing expert Carrie Ypma, the founder of Clutter Keeper . “You get to see everything you have, and it’s easier to decide what stays and what goes.”

Then use this rare moment — when the closet is completely empty — to clear out all the dust and grime that may have accumulated.

Mr. Siga Microfiber Cleansing Cloths.

$13 (was $16) at Amazon

“ I wipe the shelves with a microfiber cloth and all-purpose cleaner,” says Roswell, Georgia-based professional home organizer Holly McKinley of  Holly’s in the House . 

Sort everything into piles

IRIS USA 12 Quart Stackable Plastic Storage Bins

$35 at Amazon $35 at Walmart

Divide all of your clothing and accessories into piles and use what  Ruth Guerrier, an Atlanta-based professional organizer and owner of Imagine Organizing , calls the S.O.R.T. method.

S.O.R.T. stands for:

  • Save items you want to keep
  • Offload items that can be sold or donated
  • Relocate items that need to be placed in a different room
  • Trash items that are too worn to donate.

If you’ve ever caught an episode of “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo,” you know that this can be an emotional process — one that tempts many people to give up and leave things as they are.

While some decisions are easy — like tossing out clothes with stains or that you haven’t worn in years — it can be agonizing to let go of certain items. This can happen “if the person regrets paying too much, it no longer fits, or they have an emotional attachment,” McKinley tells Simplemost.

When you’re starting to vacillate, consider the benefits of clearing out clutter. “R emember, organizing isn’t just about space; it’s about making your daily routine smoother,” says Ypma.

In situations where a client is on the fence about letting go of an item, McKinley says she avoids losing momentum by adding a fifth pile. She calls it the need more information pile.

Fab totes 6 Pack Clothes Storage

$30 (was $42) at Amazon

“After we’ve made progress on the rest of the wardrobe, we revisit that pile, but this time we have more information,” she adds. For example, a client might realize that she has enough favorite sweaters, so it’s easier to recognize mediocre sweaters and let them go.  

She also encourages people to consider how their clothes might benefit others.  “Is it better for a dress to hang in the back of a closet, or for it to go into a thrift store where someone who needs it will find it for a great deal and wear it every week?” she asks.

Another common issue is when a client wants to keep an item of clothing that they hope to fit into later. Most closets aren’t big enough to comfortably hold both the clothes you can wear and the clothes you aspire to wear. The goal-oriented clothes, McKinley says, should be stored elsewhere.   

Identify ways to maximize vertical space

StorageWorks 6-Shelf Hanging Closet Organizer

$24 at Amazon

Before you start putting everything back in the closet, stand back and consider if there’s some vertical space potential you’re not taking advantage of.

MORE: 15 surprising ways to organize with over-the-door shoe holders

“Installing a few extra shelves, or even a tall, narrow set of drawers, can dramatically increase your storage capacity,” says Ypma.

Is there an area of your closet that you’re not using? Adding an over-the-door shoe organizer might convert the back of the door into a spot for scarves, belts or jewelry. “Some shelving systems come with add-ons like [under-shelf] drawers or bins, making them even more functional,” Ypma says.

She recommends the Simple Houseware Crystal Clear Over The Door Hanging Shoe Organizer and the Simple Houseware Under Shelf Basket .

Replace your hangers

Zober Velvet Hangers 20 Pack

$17 at Amazon $20 at Walmart

Matching, uniformly-sized hangers can help you maintain a tidy closet. If you have a hodgepodge of wooden and plastic hangers in various styles and shapes, consider swapping them out for just one type.

McKinley and Guerrier both use velvet hangers, such as the  Zober Velvet Ultra Slim Non Slip Shirt Hangers , to save space and to create a clean, streamlined look. For suits, McKinley prefers wooden hangers , such as the Superior Wooden Coat Hanger from the Container Store,  for the way they maintain the shape of the shoulders.

As for finding the best hanger, C. Lee Crawley , Arlington, Virginia-based certified professional organizer, recommends those with a crossbar for versatility. She says the bar helps make the hanger more sturdy and makes it possible to hang items like pants, jeans, and scarves.

 Zober 4-Tier Skirt, Pants Hangers with Clips

$18 (was $23) at Amazon

Crawley also recommends buying petite hangers (14.5” wide) if you have a smaller shoulder span. “I promise it’s worth investing in narrower hangers to prevent stretching out your clothing and leaving the dreaded shoulder ‘bump,'” she says.

Finally, Ypma suggests tiered hangers for pants and skirts since they can store multiple items, making the most of your hanging space.

Group like with like

The Home Edit by iDesign Shelf Divider

$18 at The Container Store

“This might sound simple, but grouping similar items together is a game-changer,” says Ypma. “This not only makes finding what you need easier but also helps you see what you have too much of or what’s missing.”

How you group them — and how specific you want to get — is entirely up to you, and it can be different for everyone. McKinley determines the groupings based on her client’s lifestyle.

MORE: 15 genius organizing hacks

“For someone who starts their day with a run, workout, or walking the dog, I want to create easy access to activewear,” she says. “In some closets, I organize by what is worn to the office, on date night, for running errands, and lounging.”

Ypma suggests grouping specific clothing items together. “Place all your shirts in one area, pants in another, dresses separately, and so on,” she says.

HEALIFTY Color Wheel

$9 at Amazon

And Guerrier says that some people might want to organize clothing based on color-matching options, which will make getting dressed go more quickly. She notes that the hosts of the TV show, “The Home Edit” use the ROYGBIV method, which means they place items in order of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet.

“ If you purchase a color wheel, it simplifies the process by just following the colors on the wheel as much as possible when arranging your clothes,” Guerrier says. “Otherwise, people get stuck on wondering what colors are in the rainbow.”

hanging dividers

$10 (was $13) at Amazon

In some cases, you may benefit from organizational items that help maintain the separate groupings. “I recommend keeping categories contained within the closet using shelf dividers and bins,” says McKinley.

You can separate different types of clothes with hanging dividers like these Closet Dividers for Hanging Clothes

Assign bins for out-of-season clothes and nonessentials

The Container Store Medium Montauk Rectangular Bin

$28 at The Container Store

In a perfect world, you’d have a separate space for out-of-season clothes, and your linen closet would be large enough to accommodate all your sheets and towels. But chances are, you’ve had to stow some of these items in your bedroom closet.

“I like these lined bins [ The Container Store Medium Montauk Rectangular Bin ] for hiding the contents of a category that I don’t need to see daily,” says McKinley. You can pop them up on a shelf and forget about them until needed. But if you do glance up, they’re not an eyesore.

Rehome or discard

A person adds folded clothes back into a closet.

Now that you’ve returned only your favorite clothing items and accessories to your closet, turn back to the piles that didn’t make the cut. You might consider donating to Goodwill (which uses profits to fund job training programs for people facing unemployment challenges) or selling items to an online thrift store .

If you have a spot for it, McKinley recommends keeping a bin in your closet for future donations. “When you’re getting dressed and realize that you no longer like the way you look in something, you can toss it right into the bin,” she says.

Hopefully, this will make your next closet organization a little easier!

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How To Organize A Closet: The Ultimate Guide

Is your closet a disaster? Does it stress you out? Do you have a clothes mountain waiting to fall on top of you every time you open the closet door? Is your closet so overrun that your clothes are now taking over your bedroom?

If so you need some tips on how to organize a closet. Inside this guide you will find:

In a rush? A quick overview

Why bother organizing your closet, how to declutter your closet, how to organize your closet – a step by step guide, 10 minute makeovers, go beyond the rod with closet organizers, pimp your closet, how to organize a small closet, how to organize a closet on a budget, how much do custom closets cost, how to design a closet system, how to build a closet organizer, how to build closet shelves, useful and interesting resources.

You can save time, money and stress by having an organized closet and here’s how: Start by decluttering. If you don’t love it, wear it or look good in it, then get rid of it. Be ruthless, be brutal and donate these items. Someone else will appreciate your efforts. Now you have less stuff to organize so giving everything a proper home will be easier. Take everything out of your closet and group items in a way that works for you (eg, color, style, type, function). Replace things in a place appropriate to their style (eg, skirts on hangers, sweaters on shelves, camisoles in baskets). Keep items used most often at the front and middle with rarely used items at the back, sides and upper shelves. Utilize every square inch of your closet from top to bottom, including every wall, the floor and the back of the door. Use closet organizers to maximize the space. Make your closet as attractive as possible to inspire you to keep it organized but schedule in a monthly review to keep on top of things.

By learning how to organize your closet you will:

  • be able to find clothes , shoes and accessories quickly and easily (no more chaos at 6am when you’re rushing to get ready for work) and perhaps more importantly, put them back in the right place;
  • know exactly what you have in your clothes inventory (meaning (a) that you don’t need to waste money buying another white long sleeved blouse or whatever else has just taken your fancy and (b) that you can look as good as new in that little black dress you had forgotten you bought);
  • be able to reclaim and properly utilize that premium closet space that was previously being wasted.

Your closet is probably one of the first things you see every morning and an organized closet will give your start to the day the uplift it needs.

If you want to achieve all of these things, but just can’t get motivated, read all about overcoming your roadblocks here .

Back to top

Any organizing task, starts with a good bout of decluttering.

In order to maintain an organized closet, every item of clothing, shoes and accessories needs their own home within the space. Without a place to call home, items will turn into clutter whether that is in the closet itself or in your bedroom.

But even with a home, your closet will still attract clutter in the form of items that shouldn’t really be in there. You might have a hanging rod for blouses, but there are a few on there that you just never wear and probably never will. These are cluttering up the rod, the closet and your life.

If your rods, shelves, drawers and floor space are crammed full of wrinkled items, start decluttering today. Remember if you can’t see it, you won’t wear it , so get rid of some stuff and make space for the items you don’t want to forget about.

Grab yourself a large, sturdy shopping bag and use it as a ‘ Donation Station ‘.

Start at the top of your closet and work down asking yourself the following questions about each item:

  • do I love it?
  • do I wear it?
  • do I feel good in it?

If you can’t answer ‘yes’ to one of these questions, put it in your donate bag.

An alternate question to ask is: “ Have I worn this item in the last year? “. If not, the chances are you never will, so be brutal and fill up that donate bag. Remember just because you’ve spent money on something, doesn’t mean it should take up valuable space in your closet, and if you’re thinking “I’ll wear it someday”, get real, someday never comes. So learn to let go .

If you find yourself stressing at the thought of donating all these items, take the less ruthless option . Hang all your items with the hangers facing the wrong way round. Every time you return the item to the closet after having worn it, put the hanger in the right way round. This way you will know for sure in 6 months to a year what you haven’t worn. Promise yourself now, that you will donate your surplus.

Remember, all the clothes you never wear could make a big difference to someone else’s life. Sometimes looking at the good you could do for someone else helps you move your clothing from the hanging rod to the Donation Station.

A key to the Donation Station idea is knowing where to donate your clothes . Unless your items are vintage or designer and in excellent condition, it is unlikely that you will get much money for them second hand, so find your local Goodwill , Salvation Army or Vietnam Veterans of America drop off point and stop by the next time you are in the area.

Tip: Don’t forget to get a receipt to claim back some tax on your donations.

Once emptied keep your Donation Station bag handy in your closet for a monthly sweep.

There seem to be two trains of thought when it comes to exactly how to start organizing your closet. I call these the OMG approach and the softly, softly approach. Personally I prefer the latter but both have times when they would be useful.

The OMG approach: Take everything out, pile it on the bed or floor, organize and replace.

The softly, softly approach: Clear one area at a time, organize and replace.

Basically you need to decide how much chaos you can stand at one time. Personally the OMG approach would make me feel overwhelmed and frustrated.

You will need to take the OMG approach though, if you are installing a closet organization system, such as wire rods and shelving from Rubbermaid or if you know that the only way to get your closet sorted once and for all is to empty it all out so you have to organize it to go to bed that night! For this approach I recommend you set aside at least a few hours.

The softly, softly approach is more suitable if you already have adequate shelving and rods but your clothes have run amock inside. It is also best if you only have 10 minutes here and there to regain control.

Luckily whichever route you choose, the principles are the same. Just apply them to your entire clothing inventory or to the subsection you have chosen to tackle:

Step 1 Declutter ( details above )

Step 2 Group items in a way that makes the most sense to you. Ideas include:

  • like items together (eg, jeans, sweaters, camisoles);
  • by sleeve length;
  • by hem length;
  • by function (eg, work, gym, bedwear);
  • a Go To section for your favorite items that you wear all the time;
  • shoes by style (heels, flats, sandals, boots).

Step 3 Think about the most appropriate place to store each item type:

  • hang pants, skirts, blouses, dresses;
  • stack sweaters on shelves;
  • put folded items such as t-shirts and jeans on shelves or in drawers (although shelves allow for easier access);
  • put underwear in a basket;
  • put belts in a basket;
  • use boxes for odds and ends.

Step 4 Replace items into the closet. Ideally use a system that you can maintain daily without any extra effort. Remember to:

  • place the items used most often in the front and middle sections (off season and rarely used items should be relegated to the sides, back and upper shelves)
  • utilize all of the available space, every square inch of it: up high, down low, every wall and even the back of the door.

Step 5 Consider making or investing in some closet organizers to help you with this as your old closet design didn’t work, so maybe it’s time for a new one. Reconfigure your current rods and shelves by moving them into new places and/or add new ones if possible.

Tip: keep all of your clothing receipts in an envelope pinned to your closet wall. This way you’ll know exactly where they are should you need to exchange or return anything.

Maintenance

Once a month, perform a quick scan around your closet. Is everything in the right place? Is there any available space not being used? Are there any items that should be donated? Also why not archive some of your favorites so you are forced to wear some other things for a change?

Twice a year, think about tackling a full reorganization to catch anything that is lurking at the back!

Here’s a great video about closet organization to help keep you in style.

If you are short on time or just prefer the softly, softly approach I talk about above, the following closet organization ideas can all be completed in 10 minutes or less and will help to makeover a section of your closet.

Sometimes, life happens , and your beautifully organized closet will get neglected for a week or so and the rot sets in. You put one pile of laundry in the wrong place and then you can’t sort the next pile until the previous one has been dealt with, so you leave it in your bedroom and soon, clothing chaos has returned and you’re feeling stressed.

I know, it has just happened to me. I’ve had a rubbish month – my house got burgled (wow what a mess) and my dog died – so keeping up with putting laundry away in the right place just didn’t happen.

I’m now working my way through the following ideas so I can regain control of the situation:

  • Make or find a Donation Station (an old cardboard box or shopping bag will do).
  • Declutter one drawer or shelf. Kids clothes especially can benefit from a regular sort through.
  • Turn all your hangers the wrong way round to start off your ‘do I wear it in a year’ test.
  • Sort your clothes by color and/or type.
  • Refold and stack the clothes from one drawer or shelf.
  • Make sure your most worn items are front and center of the closet. Move everything else to the back or side with the least used items the furthest away.
  • Pull out all the empty hangers and place them together on the hanging rod or better yet next to the iron.
  • Scavenge around your house for items that could be repurposed as closet organizers: think boxes, baskets, drawers. Plan to pretty them up with the kids at the weekend if need be.
  • Move off season items into empty luggage to keep them out of the premium space within your closet.
  • Sort your bedding into sets and store each one in the relevant pillow case.
  • Collect up your shoes and put them back in the right place.
  • Install some command hooks on the back of the door for belts, scarves, hats, jewelry etc.
  • Fix up some battery power lights for any dark corners or shelves.
  • Get your label maker out and mark up those boxes and baskets with exactly what’s inside.

Closet organizers have flooded the market lately – you can find whole systems made of wire or wood as well as individual organizers such as hanging organizers made from fabric, and you can also use regular storage favorites such as storage bins and baskets to help bring some order to your clothes, shoes and accessories.

Closet rods need company. Give them an organizing friend.

But which ones are a good buy?

The best closet organizers are easy to install, affordable and will maximize the available space in your closet. The following are the basic essentials:

==> Please click IMAGES for full range <==

Tip: whilst not strictly an organizer, why not consider lining some part of your closet wall with corkboard. You could then pin up necklaces and other jewelry, clothing receipts and magazine clippings with inspiring fashion ideas.

When to buy

Buying closet organizers is a bit of catch 22. You don’t really know what you need until you have emptied your closet and decluttered. But then, just as you’re ready to put everything back to clear the bed or the floor, you have to go shopping for organizers.

If you buy your organizers before emptying your closet and decluttering, you’ve little idea of whether you need more hanging space, shelves, baskets or specific organizers and how many of each.

One answer maybe to work your way through your closet decluttering but without emptying everything out. That way you can assess what is left and what organizers you need, without leaving your bedroom in chaos while you go out shopping.

In order to save money , you should have a plan before your credit card comes out. Remember the more time you spend planning, the less money and time you will spend later.

Once you have assessed what you have and what you need, take some measurements and then look around your home. You may find that you have things you can repurpose , such as dressers, plastic drawer sets, hooks, MDF for more shelving, curtain poles for more hanging rods, boxes, baskets etc. You can always paint things or cover them in craft paper to pretty them up.

The best way to save money on organizers is to have less to organize, so be ruthless in your decluttering.
An attractive closet is one that will inspire you to put things back where they belong.

Add some wallpaper to get a chic, boutique look. See before and after pictures via Tissuepapers .

Line your shelves with cute paper (click here for a ‘how to’ on using contact paper via PrettyHandyGirl.com) or shelf liners .

Use pretty boxes for your odds and ends like these at AThoughtfulPlaceBlog.com .

Throw in a rug under your shoes like this one at ThriftCore.com .

Throw away all those horrid wire hangers that ruin your clothes and mismatched others that you’ve been collecting for years and opt for uniformity with matching huggable hangers . They are ultra thin so space saving, and velvet so they look after your clothes.

Invest in a closet deodorizer to absorb the musty odors caused by stagnant air.

Move stuff out

In addition to following the advice above, the key to organizing a small closet lies in getting most of your clothes and accessories out of it.

Here are some ideas so you can see what I mean:

  • Be brutal with your decluttering . You don’t have the space to try the ‘backwards hanger’ trick so the ‘love it, wear it, feel good in it’ questions become even more important. Feel good about being generous with your donations. Remember your trash maybe someone else’s treasure.
  • Practice the “one in, one out” regime for anything new that you buy and donate something old for every new item.
  • Move out your off season clothing . Store it in your empty luggage. Use under the bed storage containers. Buy or make some attractive storage boxes and fix up some high shelves running around your bedroom.
  • Transfer your bedding or towels into attractive storage ottomans. These could be used as décor in your bedroom, bathroom or even the living room.
  • Clear out your fancy bags and purses . Use them to decorate your bedroom by displaying them on shelves.
  • Find other attractive storage options and use them in unusual ways to store items of clothing. Who would have thought jeans would look good in a wine rack?

Photo credit: Chris Eckert/Studio D via Cosmopolitan.com

Organizers are your friend

After moving everything out of your closet that you possibly can, you will be left with everything else. To maximize the small amount of space you do have, you will need some closet organizers.

If you just have a closet rod, install a shelf above it with some dividers. If you have a spare wall, again install some shelving or just some command hooks for scarfs, hats and belts.

Sort your clothes into long hanging and short hanging. Below the short hanging use a closet doubler or move in a chest of drawers, a shoe rack or a laundry basket with handles that can be carried to the washing machine.

Fit more into your hanging space by using hanger cascaders .

If you have spare hanging space, buy a hanging closet organizer to add more shelves, drawers or shoe cubbies.

Use a shoe rack for closets or cheap plastic totes to store your shoes on the floor. If you have any spare floor space, use more boxes or baskets to store belts and other accessories.

Make use of the back of the closet door with an over the door organizer . These can hold anything from shoes, to belts, to jewelry and more.

With the huge range of cheap but quality closet organizers available these days, there is no need to spend thousands organizing your closet.

Just check out our $50 closet organizing project to see how to overcome the common closet problems of not enough shelves, not enough hanging space and messy shoe chaos, very easily.

Even the big closet system brands such as ClosetMaid have economy options leaving you with no excuse for a messy closet. This system gives you 10 feet of hanging space and 13 feet of shelf space all for less than $40 .

But if you prefer or need to spend your time and creative skills on your closet organizing rather than any of your money, we’ve previously written about 11 ideas for how to organize a closet for free .

If you have some cash to splash and are considering investing in a custom closet (I say investing as closet organization systems can increase the value of your house), here is an idea of what one will set you back:

  • $100 to $600 for a DIY organizer
  • $2,500 to $5,000 for a custom installation.

Source: WhatItCosts.com

If you have had enough of your current closet organization system and have the time and budget to start afresh with multiple hanging rods and shelves, here are some tips on what to do.

Step 1 After decluttering , assess your clothing inventory.

Step 2 Break your items into the following categories: long hanging (eg, dresses); short hanging (eg, blouses, skirts, pants); sweaters; linen; items that require drawers (eg, underwear); folded items (eg, t-shirts); shoes (make a separate note of flats, heels and boots); hats, purses, jewelry and other accessories.

Step 3 Measure your closet wall(s) – both height and width and draw a rough sketch. This form might be useful.

Note: your closet will need to be at least 22″ deep to hang clothes.

Step 4 Work out how much hanging space you need as well as how many shelves and drawers you need to be able to store everything that you have.

Note: apparently you need approx. 1.5″ of closet rod space for every item you want to hang, although this seems like a lot to me.

Step 5 Play around with your sketch until you can fit in everything that you need in a sensible manner. Make sure to include high shelves for items that are not used very often and keep long hanging off to one side unless dresses are your everyday wear. Make the best use of space by placing hanging poles under high shelves.

Note: the height for a dress rod is usually around 65″. Double hanging rods work best at 42″ and 84″. Shelves usually start 16″ from the floor and are 12″ high for normal shelves, 7″ high for shoe shelves and 16″-18″ high for linen.

Step 6 When you are happy with your design, you can take your measurements and plan to your local hardware store or online retailer and order away.

Here is how this sketch of the right hand wall looks in real life:

Photo credit: Rubbermaid Products .

Online design tools

They guide you through the process of closet design. You can choose between walk in closets, reach in closets and open walls. You enter in your wall dimensions and select the various components of a closet organizing system and place them where you like. You can move them around and add and delete items as often as you like. Some of the standard configurations that they suggest you start with are also very helpful. (See image to the right.)

Typical components include wire shelves, hanging rods, wicker or canvas baskets, wooden shelf and drawer units as well as shoe shelves and cubbies.

You will probably get all caught up in the design of your actual organizing system, but there are other components to an efficient closet that should not be overlooked. So don’t forget:

  • lighting – a dark, dingy closet is no use to anyone. Check out this FreshHome.com article for tips on lighting your closet.
  • a floor covering – wood, vinyl or carpeting might be best for bare feet first thing in the morning.
  • air flow – mold and mildew breed in still air so be sure to plan for something like a small bathroom fan or a dehumidifier.
  • keep bugs at bay with cedar freshners or socks filled with cedar shavings and fragrant herbs such as lavender and rosemary. Hang them on closet rods or tuck into drawers.
  • optional extras – a seat, a place to iron.

If you learn how to make a closet organizer system on your own it will work out a lot cheaper than paying a custom closet manufacturer to come to your home, assess your needs, measure up, provide a design and install the units. But going the DIY route means you have to do all these activities yourself.

A closet organization system will typically comprise hanging rods, shelves and accessories such as drawers and baskets. There are two main ways to build such an organizer: from a prefabricated kit or by purchasing supplies from your local hardware store and building from scratch.

Prefabricated kits

Kits are generally the quickest and simplest solution for many. They only require basic DIY skills and tools, are fairly customizable and very versatile.

Modular kits , such as those from Rubbermaid, are pre-cut and come in standard sizes with holes drilled where necessary. All the necessary mounting hardware is also included. You order the individual components to suit your design, mixing and matching to get the best fit, which are then delivered to your door. When the kit arrives, you follow the manufacturer’s step by step instructions for quick and easy assembly and installation. This is the most affordable method.

One step up from modular kits are custom DIY kits . A few internet based manufacturers, such as EasyClosets, allow you to design your custom closet using their online software. They then make up the components and ship them to you with instructions for installation. Taking accurate measurements is obviously paramount for success using this method.

Building from scratch

Smart planning and a simple design are key here. You will also need more advanced DIY skills and tools (such as a pretty good woodworking shop) than for installing prefabricated kits. The upside is though that your design can be very customized.

Here you would start by designing your closet system making sure to take account of where your studs are and what supports the shelves will need. After determining and purchasing the necessary supplies, you will install the vertical tracks and brackets for the shelves, the shelves themselves and the hanging rods.

Before you start buying any materials you need a good plan. Think about shelves for sweaters, shoes, baskets for accessories and everything else you hope to store away neatly. Then grab a pencil and paper and sketch out your design . Take measurements (3 times to be sure!), decide how many shelves you can fit in (making sure they will be tall enough for what you want to put on them) and write a list of all the supplies you will need.

Check out this article at DoItYourself.com for more specifics.

Vertical track and bracket shelving

If you are installing wire shelving , make sure you locate your vertical tracks over a stud to give them the greatest possible strength. If you can’t find the studs, use drywall anchors at the very least. Draw lines on the wall (using a level!) to mark where the shelves will go and then follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installing the hardware. You shouldn’t need to go outside of their guidelines as the systems are often very versatile allowing you to customize as much as you like.

For custom wood closet shelving , you will first need to choose between BC graded plywood (one side smooth, one side rough), cabinet grade plywood (veneered top layer giving a more professional finish but more expensive) or laminated shelving (again veneered, often come in depths that match pre-made shelf supports, no need to seal, paint or stain).

After cutting your wooden boards to size, you then need to install the vertical tracks and shelf supports as for wire shelving. The track and shelf support system is very flexible as you can move the supports up and down as need be in the future without having to re-mount the track. Now paint or stain your shelving if need be before setting it into place.

Closet shelving units

If you want to build a closet shelving unit rather than use a track and bracket system, click here for a good resource that explains how to cut the plywood, build the shelves, fix the shelves and sand and install the finished unit.

Here’s another very quick video showing how to make closet shelves:

Click here for another resource for creating a fully shelved closet.

  • A peek into celebrity closets
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  • How to create the perfect fold – ignore the creepy bit at the end! For something more fun, check out this 10 second clip from The Big Bang Theory – Sheldon and his FlipFold! I love that show – roll on Season 5.

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How to Finally Clean Out Your Closet

The allure of a streamlined wardrobe calls. Here’s how experts say you can get there.

how to organize your closet essay

By Holly Burns

Holly Burns is a writer and a self-described Type A organizer whose closet is somehow still a disorganized mishmash.

Behind the closed door of my closet lies a world of possibility. Give me a few hours to clean it out, and perhaps I’ll finally become a person with a wardrobe of chic, coordinating neutrals instead of someone with four different black turtlenecks that I hate for four different reasons.

I know there can be real value in purging. Having better and fewer choices makes it easier to get dressed, and being able to see what you already own means you’re less likely to overbuy. Research also suggests that uncluttered living spaces may decrease stress.

And yet there are shoes I love despite the pain they inflict, office clothes I’ve hung onto even though I’ve worked from home for four years, and an expensive, impractical dress that I can only assume I bought while in some sort of hypnotic trance.

Cleaning out your closet can feel emotionally charged, said KC Davis, a licensed therapist and the author of “How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing.” A person who grew up with scarcity might feel anxious about getting rid of something in case they need it later. Someone whose body has changed may find it tough to purge sizes they may never wear again. But regardless of the guilt or pressure you feel about an item, she said, “there’s no reason to store it in your closet if you really aren’t wearing it.”

I asked Ms. Davis, along with several other professional organizers and stylists, how to get past the overwhelming feelings and make the clean-out process more rewarding.

Chellie Carlson holds up a pink pair of pants draped over a black hanger.

Go in with a vision

Most people dive into decluttering without a plan, said Shaniece Jones, a professional closet organizer whose clients include the singers Normani and Michelle Williams. “You don’t have a strategy, you don’t have a vision. You’re just like, let me get all this stuff out of here.”

Instead, take some time to think about your current style and how you might want to change it, she said. In the days before you start decluttering, make a note when someone compliments something you’re wearing to help you pinpoint pieces you may want to hang onto .

Ms. Jones suggested creating a Pinterest board of outfits that speak to you, saving items in an online cart or wish list or flipping through magazines or catalogs so that you have reference points when you’re deciding what to keep or toss. “It makes it easier to think, you know what, this piece doesn’t fit into this look I’m going for,” Ms. Jones said.

Make it easy to review what you have

Depending on the size of your wardrobe, a thorough clean-out can take up to four hours, said Chellie Carlson, a stylist based in Los Angeles. She recommends taking out one category of clothing at a time — tank tops, then T-shirts and so on — and starting with the category you wear most often.

While it’s fine to just lay the clothes out on your bed, Ms. Carlson said she preferred to use a rolling rack — you may be able to borrow one from a friend or neighbor — and hang each category of clothing as you go. Creating that display “is so powerful, you can’t unsee it,” she said. “You might have five or six black camisoles. What does that tell you? You need to stop buying black camisoles.”

Then, going item by item, pull each one from the rack to hold, touch and try on, Ms. Carlson said. “Ask, does this fit? Does this feel good?”

how to organize your closet essay

What to do with the ‘maybe’ pile

If you’re on the fence about a piece, Mary Gonsalves Kinney, a San Francisco-based stylist, suggests trying to style an outfit around it with other things you’re keeping. If you can’t do it, “it’s gotta go,” she said.

Ms. Jones recommends “tagging” any items you’re still wavering on with a safety pin. If the safety pin is still there the next time you declutter — meaning you haven’t worn the item in that time frame — it’s time to part ways.

“It doesn’t have to be this onetime purge where all your decisions are final,” Ms Davis added. You can put the things that feel too hard to part with somewhere else temporarily. Store them in the hall closet, or in a bin or vacuum-sealed storage bag and revisit them in a few weeks. “You can still get the goal of a downsized closet that’s easier to maintain without feeling like, oh god, don’t make the wrong decision!”

Ashlee Piper, a sustainability expert and the author of “Give a Sh*t: Do Good. Live Better. Save the Planet,” stressed the importance of making a repairs pile. If you still like a piece, but the zipper is broken, for example, “think, ‘How can I get more life out of this item?’ rather than, ‘Oh, it’s kind of worn out, I need to replace it.’”

Follow through

For the pieces you have decided to keep, create a system that makes sense with your routines, Ms. Jones said. If you work out in the morning, put exercise clothes in the top drawer of your dresser or on the rod closest to your closet door.

To be able to “shop” your wardrobe at a glance, Ms. Carlson says she likes to organize by category and then by color — so tank tops from light to dark, then T-shirts from light to dark, for example.

For accessories and smaller items, resist the urge to buy fancy storage solutions, Ms. Piper said, and try to reuse things you already have, like shoe boxes. “A container is a container,” she said. “You don’t need to go out and buy something new that says ‘socks.’”

And to ensure you won’t need to do this again for a while don’t cull and shop simultaneously, Ms. Gonsalves Kinney said.

“Once you’ve purged, really try to sit on it for a month and don’t buy anything,” she said. “Then you’re buying with intention rather than reckless abandon.”

An earlier version of this article incorrectly identified Shaniece Jones’s client as the actress Michelle Williams. Ms. Jones has worked with the singer Michelle Williams.

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Brian Christian Tom Griffiths

How Should You Organize Your Closet? Exactly Like a Computer Organizes Its Memory

Excerpted from Algorithms to Live By  The Computer Science of Human Decisions by Brian Christian and Tom Griffiths

You have a problem. Your closet is overflowing, spilling shoes, shirts, and underwear onto the floor. You think, “It’s time to get organized.”

Now you have two problems. Specifically, you first need to decide what to keep, and second, how to arrange it. Fortunately, there is a small industry of people who think about these twin problems for a living, and they are more than happy to offer their advice.

On what to keep, Martha Stewart says to ask yourself a few questions: “How long have I had it? Does it still function? Is it a duplicate of something I already own? When was the last time I wore it or used it?” On how to organize what you keep, she recommends “grouping like things together.”

This looks like good advice.

Except that there is another, larger industry of professionals who also think obsessively about storage---and they have their own ideas. Your closet presents much the same challenge that a computer faces when managing its memory: space is limited, and the goal is to save both money and time. For as long as there have been computers, computer scientists have grappled with the dual problems of what to keep and how to arrange it. The results of these decades of effort reveal that in her four-sentence advice about what to toss, Martha Stewart actually makes several different, and not fully compatible, recommendations---one of which is much more critical than the others.

The computer science of memory management also reveals exactly how your closet (and your office) ought to be arranged. At first glance, computers appear to follow Martha Stewart’s maxim of “grouping like things together.” Operating systems encourage us to put our files into folders, like with like, forming hierarchies that branch as their contents become ever more specific. But just as the tidiness of a scholar’s desk may hide the messiness of their mind, so does the apparent tidiness of a computer’s file system obscure the highly engineered chaos of how data is actually being stored underneath the nested-folder veneer.

What’s really happening is called caching.

Caching plays a critical role in the architecture of memory, and it underlies everything from the layout of processor chips at the millimeter scale to the geography of the global Internet. It offers a new perspective on all the various storage systems and memory banks of human life---not only our machines, but also our offices, our libraries, and even our closets.

Starting roughly around 2008, anyone in the market for a new computer has encountered a particular conundrum when choosing their storage option. They must make a tradeoff between size and speed. The computer industry is currently in transition from hard disk drives to solid-state drives; at the same price point, a hard disk will offer dramatically greater capacity, but a solid-state drive will offer dramatically better performance.

What casual consumers may not know is that this exact tradeoff is being made within the machine itself at a number of scales---to the point where it’s considered one of the fundamental principles of computing.

In 1946, Arthur Burks, Herman Goldstine, and John von Neumann, working at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, laid out a design proposal for what they called an electrical “memory organ.” In an ideal world, they wrote, the machine would of course have limitless quantities of lightning-fast storage, but in practice this wasn’t possible. (It still isn’t.)

Instead, the trio proposed what they believed to be the next best thing: “a hierarchy of memories, each of which has greater capacity than the preceding but which is less quickly accessible.” By having effectively a pyramid of different forms of memory---a small, fast memory and a large, slow one---maybe we could somehow get the best of both.

In computing, this idea of a “memory hierarchy” remained just a theory until the development in 1962 of a supercomputer in Manchester, England, called Atlas. Its principal memory consisted of a large drum that could be rotated to read and write information, not unlike a wax phonograph cylinder. But Atlas also had a smaller, faster “working” memory built from polarized magnets. Data could be read from the drum to the magnets, manipulated there with ease, and the results then written back to the drum.

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Shortly after the development of Atlas, Cambridge mathematician Maurice Wilkes realized that this smaller and faster memory wasn’t just a convenient place to work with data before saving it off again. It could also be used to deliberately hold on to pieces of information likely to be needed later, anticipating similar future requests---and dramatically speeding up the operation of the machine. If what you needed was still in the working memory, you wouldn’t have to load it from the drum at all. As Wilkes put it, the smaller memory “automatically accumulates to itself words that come from a slower main memory, and keeps them available for subsequent use without it being necessary for the penalty of main memory access to be incurred again.”

The key, of course, would be managing that small, fast, precious memory so it had what you were looking for as often as possible.

Wilkes’s proposal was implemented in the IBM 360/85 supercomputer later in the 1960s, where it acquired the name of the “cache.” Since then, caches have appeared everywhere in computer science. The idea of keeping around pieces of information that you refer to frequently is so powerful that it is used in every aspect of computation. Processors have caches. Hard drives have caches. Operating systems have caches. Web browsers have caches. And the servers that deliver content to those browsers also have caches, making it possible to instantly show you the same video of a cat riding a vacuum cleaner that millions of . . . But we’re getting ahead of ourselves a bit.

The story of the computer over the past fifty-plus years has been painted as one of exponential growth year after year--- referencing, in part, the famously accurate “Moore’s Law” prediction, made by Intel’s Gordon Moore in 1975, that the number of transistors in CPUs would double every two years. What hasn’t improved at that rate is the performance of memory, which means that relative to processing time, the cost of accessing memory is also increasing exponentially. (A factory that doubles its manufacturing speed each year---but has the same number of parts shipped to it from overseas at the same sluggish pace---will mean little more than a factory that’s twice as idle.) For a while it seemed that Moore’s Law was yielding little except processors that twiddled their thumbs ever faster and ever more of the time. In the 1990s this began to be known as the “memory wall.”

Computer science’s best defense against hitting that wall has been an ever more elaborate hierarchy: caches for caches for caches, all the way down. Modern consumer laptops, tablets, and smartphones have on the order of a six-layer memory hierarchy, and managing memory smartly has never been as important to computer science as it is today.

So let’s start with the first question that comes to mind about caches (or closets, for that matter). What do we do when they get full?

When a cache fills up, you are obviously going to need to make room if you want to store anything else, and in computer science this making of room is called “cache replacement” or “cache eviction.” As Wilkes wrote, “Since the [cache] can only be a fraction of the size of the main memory, words cannot be preserved in it in definitely, and there must be wired into the system an algorithm by which they are progressively overwritten.” These algorithms are known as “replacement policies” or “eviction policies,” or simply as caching algorithms.

IBM, as we’ve seen, played an early role in the deployment of caching systems in the 1960s. Unsurprisingly, it was also the home of seminal early research on caching algorithms---none, perhaps, as important as that of László “Les” Bélády.

Bélády’s 1966 paper on caching algorithms would become the most cited piece of computer science research for fifteen years. As it explains, the goal of cache management is to minimize the number of times you can’t find what you’re looking for in the cache and must go to the slower main memory to find it; these are known as “page faults” or “cache misses.” The optimal cache eviction policy--- essentially by definition, Bélády wrote---is, when the cache is full, to evict whichever item we’ll need again the longest from now.

Of course, knowing exactly when you’ll need something again is easier said than done.

The hypothetical all-knowing, prescient algorithm that would look ahead and execute the optimal policy is known today in tribute as Bélády’s Algorithm. Bélády’s Algorithm is an instance of what computer scientists call a “clairvoyant” algorithm: one informed by data from the future. It’s not necessarily as crazy as it sounds---there are cases where a system might know what to expect---but in general clairvoyance is hard to come by, and software engineers joke about encountering “implementation difficulties” when they try to deploy Bélády’s Algorithm in practice. So the challenge is to find an algorithm that comes as close to clairvoyance as we can get, for all those times when we’re stuck firmly in the present and can only guess at what lies ahead.

We could just try Random Eviction, adding new data to the cache and overwriting old data at random. One of the startling early results in caching theory is that, while far from perfect, this approach is not half bad. As it happens, just having a cache at all makes a system more efficient, regardless of how you maintain it. Items you use often will end up back in the cache soon anyway. Another simple strategy is First-In, First-Out (FIFO), where you evict or overwrite whatever has been sitting in the cache the longest (as in Martha Stewart’s question “How long have I had it?”). A third approach is Least Recently Used (LRU): evicting the item that’s gone the longest untouched (Stewart’s “When was the last time I wore it or used it?”).

It turns out that not only do these two mantras of Stewart’s suggest very different policies, one of her suggestions clearly outperforms the other. Bélády compared Random Eviction, FIFO, and variants of LRU in a number of scenarios and found that LRU consistently performed the closest to clairvoyance. The LRU principle is effective because of something computer scientists call “temporal locality”: if a program has called for a particular piece of information once, it’s likely to do so again in the near future. Temporal locality results in part from the way computers solve problems (for example, executing a loop that makes a rapid series of related reads and writes), but it emerges in the way people solve problems, too.

If you are working on your computer, you might be switching among your email, a web browser, and a word processor. The fact that you accessed one of these recently is a clue that you’re likely to do so again, and, all things being equal, the program that you haven’t been using for the longest time is also probably the one that won’t be used for some time to come.

The literature on eviction policies goes about as deep as one can imagine---including algorithms that account for frequency as well as recency of use, algorithms that track the time of the next-to-last access rather than the last one, and so on. But despite an abundance of innovative caching schemes, some of which can beat LRU under the right conditions, LRU itself---and minor tweaks thereof---is the overwhelming favorite of computer scientists, and is used in a wide variety of deployed applications at a variety of scales. LRU teaches us that the next thing we can expect to need is the last one we needed, while the thing we’ll need after that is probably the second-most-recent one. And the last thing we can expect to need is the one we’ve already gone longest without.

Unless we have good reason to think otherwise, it seems that our best guide to the future is a mirror image of the past. The nearest thing to clairvoyance is to assume that history repeats itself---backward.

While caching began as a scheme for organizing digital information inside computers, it’s clear that it is just as applicable to organizing physical objects in human environments. When we spoke to John Hennessy---president of Stanford University, and a pioneering computer architect who helped develop modern caching systems---he immediately saw the link:

Caching is such an obvious thing because we do it all the time. I mean, the amount of information I get . . . certain things I have to keep track of right now, a bunch of things I have on my desk, and then other things are filed away, and then eventually filed away into the university archives system where it takes a whole day to get stuff out of it if I wanted. But we use that technique all the time to try to organize our lives.

The direct parallel between these problems means that there’s the potential to consciously apply the solutions from computer science to the home. First, when you are deciding what to keep and what to throw away, LRU is potentially a good principle to use--- much better than FIFO. You shouldn’t necessarily toss that T-shirt from college if you still wear it every now and then. But the plaid pants you haven’t worn in ages? Those can be somebody else’s thrift-store bonanza.

Second, exploit geography. Make sure things are in whatever cache is closest to the place where they’re typically used. This isn’t a concrete recommendation in most home-organization books, but it consistently turns up in the schemes that actual people describe as working well for them. “I keep running and exercise gear in a crate on the floor of my front coat closet,” says one person quoted in Julie Morgenstern’s Organizing from the Inside Out, for instance. “I like having it close to the front door.”

A slightly more extreme example appears in the book Keeping Found Things Found , by William Jones:

A doctor told me about her approach to keeping things. “My kids think I’m whacky, but I put things where I think I’ll need them again later, even if it doesn’t make much sense.” As an example of her system, she told me that she keeps extra vacuum cleaner bags behind the couch in the living room. Behind the couch in the living room? Does that make any sense? . . . It turns out that when the vacuum cleaner is used, it is usually used for the carpet in the living room. . . . When a vacuum cleaner bag gets full and a new one is needed, it’s usually in the living room. And that’s just where the vacuum cleaner bags are.

A final insight, which hasn’t yet made it into guides on closet organization, is that of the multi-level memory hierarchy. Having a cache is efficient, but having multiple levels of caches--- from smallest and fastest to largest and slowest---can be even better. Where your belongings are concerned, your closet is one cache level, your basement another, and a self-storage locker a third. (These are in decreasing order of access speed, of course, so you should use the LRU principle as the basis for deciding what gets evicted from each level to the next.) But you might also be able to speed things up by adding yet another level of caching: an even smaller, faster, closer one than your closet.

Tom’s otherwise extremely tolerant wife objects to a pile of clothes next to the bed, despite his insistence that it’s in fact a highly efficient caching scheme.

Fortunately, our conversations with computer scientists revealed a solution to this problem too. Rik Belew of UC San Diego, who studies search engines from a cognitive perspective, recommended the use of a valet stand. Though you don’t see too many of them these days, a valet stand is essentially a one-outfit closet, a compound hanger for jacket, tie, and slacks---the perfect piece of hardware for your domestic caching needs. Which just goes to show that computer scientists won’t only save you time; they might also save your marriage.

After deciding what to keep and where it should go, the final challenge is knowing how to organize it. We’ve talked about what goes in the closet and where the closet should be, but how should things be arranged inside?

One of the constants across all pieces of home-organization advice we’ve seen so far is the idea of grouping “like with like”--- and perhaps no one so directly flies in the face of that advice as Yukio Noguchi. “I have to emphasize,” says Noguchi, “that a very fundamental principle in my method is not to group files according to content.” Noguchi is an economist at the University of Tokyo, and the author of a series of books that offer “super” tricks for sorting out your office and your life. Their titles translate roughly to Super Persuasion Method, Super Work Method, Super Study Method--- and, most relevantly for us, Super Organized Method.

Early in his career as an economist, Noguchi found himself constantly inundated with information--- correspondence, data, manuscripts--- and losing a significant portion of each day just trying to organize it all. So he looked for an alternative. He began by simply putting each document into a file labeled with the document’s title and date, and putting all the files into one big box. That saved time---he didn’t have to think about the right place to put each document--- but it didn’t result in any form of organization.

Then, sometime in the early 1990s, he had a breakthrough: he started to insert the files exclusively at the left-hand side of the box. And thus the “super” filing system was born. The left-side insertion rule, Noguchi specifies, has to be followed for old files as well as new ones: every time you pull out a file to use its contents, you must put it back as the leftmost file when you return it to the box. And when you search for a file, you always start from the left-hand side as well.

The most recently accessed files are thus the fastest to find. This practice began, Noguchi explains, because returning every file to the left side was just easier than trying to reinsert it at the same spot it came from. Only gradually did he realize that this procedure was not only simple but also startlingly efficient.

The Noguchi Filing System clearly saves time when you’re replacing something after you’re done using it. There’s still the question, however, of whether it’s a good way to find the files you need in the first place. After all, it certainly goes against the recommendations of other efficiency gurus, who tell us that we should put similar things together. Indeed, even the etymology of the word “organized” evokes a body composed of organs---which are nothing if not cells grouped “like with like,” marshalled together by similar form and function.

But computer science gives us something that most efficiency gurus don’t: guarantees. Though Noguchi didn’t know it at the time, his filing system represents an extension of the LRU principle. LRU tells us that when we add something to our cache we should discard the oldest item---but it doesn’t tell us where we should put the new item. The answer to that question comes from a line of research carried out by computer scientists in the 1970s and ’80s.

Their version of the problem is called “self-organizing lists,” and its setup almost exactly mimics Noguchi’s filing dilemma. Imagine that you have a set of items in a sequence, and you must periodically search through them to find specific items. The search itself is constrained to be linear---you must look through the items one by one, starting at the beginning---but once you find the item you’re looking for, you can put it back anywhere in the sequence. Where should you replace the items to make searching as efficient as possible?

The definitive paper on self-organizing lists, published by Daniel Sleator and Robert Tarjan in 1985, examined (in classic computer science fashion) the worst-case performance of various ways to organize the list given all possible sequences of requests. Intuitively, since the search starts at the front, you want to arrange the sequence so that the items most likely to be searched for appear there. But which items will those be? We’re back to wishing for clairvoyance again.

“If you know the sequence ahead of time,” says Tarjan, “you can customize the data structure to minimize the total time for the entire sequence. That’s the optimum offline algorithm: God’s algorithm if you will, or the algorithm in the sky. Of course, nobody knows the future, so the question is, if you don’t know the future, how close can you come to this optimum algorithm in the sky?” Sleator and Tarjan’s results showed that some “very simple self-adjusting schemes, amazingly, come within a constant factor” of clairvoyance. Namely, if you follow the LRU principle---where you simply always put an item back at the very front of the list---then the total amount of time you spend searching will never be more than twice as long as if you’d known the future. That’s not a guarantee any other algorithm can make.

Recognizing the Noguchi Filing System as an instance of the LRU principle in action tells us that it is not merely efficient. It’s actually optimal.

Sleator and Tarjan’s results also provide us with one further twist, and we get it by turning the Noguchi Filing System on its side. Quite simply, a box of files on its side becomes a pile. And it’s the very nature of piles that you search them from top to bottom, and that each time you pull out a document it goes back not where you found it, but on top. (You can force your computer to show your electronic documents in a pile, as well. Computers’ default file-browsing interface makes you click through folders in alphabetical order---but the power of LRU suggests that you should override this, and display your files by “Last Opened” rather than “Name.” What you’re looking for will almost always be at or near the top.)

In short, the mathematics of self-organizing lists suggests something radical: the big pile of papers on your desk, far from being a guilt-inducing fester of chaos, is actually one of the most well-designed and efficient structures available. What might appear to others to be an unorganized mess is, in fact, a self-organizing mess. Tossing things back on the top of the pile is the very best you can do, shy of knowing the future. You don’t need to organize that unsorted pile of paper.

You already have.

Excerpted from Algorithms to Live By: The Computer Science of Human Decisions by Brian Christian and Tom Griffiths, published by HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY, LLC. Copyright © 2016 by Brian Christian and Tom Griffiths. All rights reserved.

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How to Organize an Essay

Last Updated: March 27, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Jake Adams . Jake Adams is an academic tutor and the owner of Simplifi EDU, a Santa Monica, California based online tutoring business offering learning resources and online tutors for academic subjects K-College, SAT & ACT prep, and college admissions applications. With over 14 years of professional tutoring experience, Jake is dedicated to providing his clients the very best online tutoring experience and access to a network of excellent undergraduate and graduate-level tutors from top colleges all over the nation. Jake holds a BS in International Business and Marketing from Pepperdine University. There are 17 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 282,517 times.

Jake Adams

Essay Template and Sample Essay

how to organize your closet essay

Laying the Groundwork

Step 1 Determine the type of essay you're writing.

  • For example, a high-school AP essay should have a very clear structure, with your introduction and thesis statement first, 3-4 body paragraphs that further your argument, and a conclusion that ties everything together.
  • On the other hand, a creative nonfiction essay might wait to present the thesis till the very end of the essay and build up to it.
  • A compare-and-contrast essay can be organized so that you compare two things in a single paragraph and then have a contrasting paragraph, or you can organize it so that you compare and contrast a single thing in the same paragraph.
  • You can also choose to organize your essay chronologically, starting at the beginning of the work or historical period you're discussing and going through to the end. This can be helpful for essays where chronology is important to your argument (like a history paper or lab report), or if you're telling a story in your essay.
  • The “support” structure begins with your thesis laid out clearly in the beginning and supports it through the rest of the essay.
  • The “discovery” structure builds to the thesis by moving through points of discussion until the thesis seems the inevitable, correct view.
  • The “exploratory” structure looks at the pros and cons of your chosen topic. It presents the various sides and usually concludes with your thesis.

Step 2 Read your assignment carefully.

  • If you haven't been given an assignment, you can always run ideas by your instructor or advisor to see if they're on track.
  • Ask questions about anything you don't understand. It's much better to ask questions before you put hours of work into your essay than it is to have to start over because you didn't clarify something. As long as you're polite, almost all instructors will be happy to answer your questions.

Step 3 Determine your writing task.

  • For example, are you writing an opinion essay for your school newspaper? Your fellow students are probably your audience in this case. However, if you're writing an opinion essay for the local newspaper, your audience could be people who live in your town, people who agree with you, people who don't agree with you, people who are affected by your topic, or any other group you want to focus on.

Step 5 Start early.

Getting the Basics Down

Step 1 Write a thesis...

  • A thesis statement acts as the “road map” for your paper. It tells your audience what to expect from the rest of your essay.
  • Include the most salient points within your thesis statement. For example, your thesis may be about the similarity between two literary works. Describe the similarities in general terms within your thesis statement.
  • Consider the “So what?” question. A good thesis will explain why your idea or argument is important. Ask yourself: if a friend asked you “So what?” about your thesis, would you have an answer?
  • The “3-prong thesis” is common in high school essays, but is often frowned upon in college and advanced writing. Don't feel like you have to restrict yourself to this limited form.
  • Revise your thesis statement. If in the course of writing your essay you discover important points that were not touched upon in your thesis, edit your thesis.

Step 2 Do research, if necessary.

  • If you have a librarian available, don't be afraid to consult with him or her! Librarians are trained in helping you identify credible sources for research and can get you started in the right direction.

Step 3 Brainstorm your ideas.

  • Try freewriting. With freewriting, you don't edit or stop yourself. You just write (say, for 15 minutes at a time) about anything that comes into your head about your topic.
  • Try a mind map. Start by writing down your central topic or idea, and then draw a box around it. Write down other ideas and connect them to see how they relate. [14] X Research source
  • Try cubing. With cubing, you consider your chosen topic from 6 different perspectives: 1) Describe it, 2) Compare it, 3) Associate it, 4) Analyze it, 5) Apply it, 6) Argue for and against it.

Step 4 Revisit your thesis.

  • If your original thesis was very broad, you can also use this chance to narrow it down. For example, a thesis about “slavery and the Civil War” is way too big to manage, even for a doctoral dissertation. Focus on more specific terms, which will help you when you start you organize your outline. [16] X Trustworthy Source University of North Carolina Writing Center UNC's on-campus and online instructional service that provides assistance to students, faculty, and others during the writing process Go to source

Organizing the Essay

Step 1 Create an outline of the points to include in your essay.

  • Determine the order in which you will discuss the points. If you're planning to discuss 3 challenges of a particular management strategy, you might capture your reader's attention by discussing them in the order of most problematic to least. Or you might choose to build the intensity of your essay by starting with the smallest problem first.

Step 2 Avoid letting your sources drive your organization.

  • For example, a solid paragraph about Hamlet's insanity could draw from several different scenes in which he appears to act insane. Even though these scenes don't all cluster together in the original play, discussing them together will make a lot more sense than trying to discuss the whole play from start to finish.

Step 3 Write topic sentences for each paragraph.

  • Ensure that your topic sentence is directly related to your main argument. Avoid statements that may be on the general topic, but not directly relevant to your thesis.
  • Make sure that your topic sentence offers a “preview” of your paragraph's argument or discussion. Many beginning writers forget to use the first sentence this way, and end up with sentences that don't give a clear direction for the paragraph.
  • For example, compare these two first sentences: “Thomas Jefferson was born in 1743” and “Thomas Jefferson, who was born in 1743, became one of the most important people in America by the end of the 18th century.”
  • The first sentence doesn't give a good direction for the paragraph. It states a fact but leaves the reader clueless about the fact's relevance. The second sentence contextualizes the fact and lets the reader know what the rest of the paragraph will discuss.

Step 4 Use transitional words and sentences.

  • Transitions help underline your essay's overall organizational logic. For example, beginning a paragraph with something like “Despite the many points in its favor, Mystic Pizza also has several elements that keep it from being the best pizza in town” allows your reader to understand how this paragraph connects to what has come before.
  • Transitions can also be used inside paragraphs. They can help connect the ideas within a paragraph smoothly so your reader can follow them.
  • If you're having a lot of trouble connecting your paragraphs, your organization may be off. Try the revision strategies elsewhere in this article to determine whether your paragraphs are in the best order.
  • The Writing Center at the University of Wisconsin - Madison has a handy list of transitional words and phrases, along with the type of transition they indicate. [22] X Research source

Step 5 Craft an effective conclusion.

  • You can try returning to your original idea or theme and adding another layer of sophistication to it. Your conclusion can show how necessary your essay is to understanding something about the topic that readers would not have been prepared to understand before.
  • For some types of essays, a call to action or appeal to emotions can be quite helpful in a conclusion. Persuasive essays often use this technique.
  • Avoid hackneyed phrases like “In sum” or “In conclusion.” They come across as stiff and cliched on paper.

Revising the Plan

Step 1 Reverse-outline the essay.

  • You can reverse-outline on the computer or on a printed draft, whichever you find easier.
  • As you read through your essay, summarize the main idea (or ideas) of each paragraph in a few key words. You can write these on a separate sheet, on your printed draft, or as a comment in a word processing document.
  • Look at your key words. Do the ideas progress in a logical fashion? Or does your argument jump around?
  • If you're having trouble summarizing the main idea of each paragraph, it's a good sign that your paragraphs have too much going on. Try splitting your paragraphs up.

Step 2 Cut your essay up.

  • You may also find with this technique that your topic sentences and transitions aren't as strong as they could be. Ideally, your paragraphs should have only one way they could be organized for maximum effectiveness. If you can put your paragraphs in any order and the essay still kind of makes sense, you may not be building your argument effectively.

Step 3 Shuffle things around.

  • For example, you might find that placing your least important argument at the beginning drains your essay of vitality. Experiment with the order of the sentences and paragraphs for heightened effect.

Step 4 Cut where necessary.

Expert Q&A

Jake Adams

You Might Also Like

Write an Essay

  • ↑ Jake Adams. Academic Tutor & Test Prep Specialist. Expert Interview. 20 May 2020.
  • ↑ http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/planning-and-organizing/organizing
  • ↑ http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/understanding-assignments/
  • ↑ https://open.lib.umn.edu/writingforsuccess/chapter/6-1-purpose-audience-tone-and-content/
  • ↑ https://www.student.unsw.edu.au/writing-your-essay
  • ↑ https://www.hamilton.edu/writing/writing-resources/persuasive-essays
  • ↑ http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/thesis-statements/
  • ↑ http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/brainstorming/
  • ↑ https://owl.english.purdue.edu/engagement/2/2/53/
  • ↑ https://pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca/scholarlywriting/chapter/revising-a-thesis-statement/
  • ↑ http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/reorganizing-drafts/
  • ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/essay-outline/
  • ↑ https://wts.indiana.edu/writing-guides/paragraphs-and-topic-sentences.html
  • ↑ http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/transitions/
  • ↑ https://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/Transitions.html
  • ↑ http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/conclusions/
  • ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/reading-aloud/

About This Article

Jake Adams

To organize an essay, start by writing a thesis statement that makes a unique observation about your topic. Then, write down each of the points you want to make that support your thesis statement. Once you have all of your main points, expand them into paragraphs using the information you found during your research. Finally, close your essay with a conclusion that reiterates your thesis statement and offers additional insight into why it’s important. For tips from our English reviewer on how to use transitional sentences to help your essay flow better, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Clothes — How to organize your Wardrobe

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How to Organize Your Wardrobe

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Published: Mar 14, 2019

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Staying true with your style, sort out by category, influence use of vertical hanger, get a proper wordrobe.

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how to organize your closet essay

The Best Closet Organizing Ideas to Make the Most of Even the Smallest Spaces

Kiss the clutter goodbye.

Closet, Room, Shelf, Furniture, Shelving, Wardrobe, Clothes hanger, Outlet store, Boutique, Cupboard,

Whether your closet is small or a sprawling walk-in, chances are you probably feel like you don’t have enough space to keep everything you own orderly. But having an organized closet isn’t the insurmountable challenge it may appear to be—and, no, you don’t need to spend a fortune on a built-in system.

Ready to say goodbye to disheveled shelves and hanging rods, and take back control of your closet? We’ve rounded up some of our favorite Pinterest-worthy ideas for organizing a closet filled with lots of clothes. We’re talking everything from bulky sweaters to sneakers to travel bags . No Kondo-ing needed!

Invest in Matching Hangers

matching hangers

A set of matching hangers not only looks aesthetically pleasing but also ensures clothes sit nicely against one another, conserving precious space in your closet.

See more at Aww Sam .

Allocate Hanging Space for Long and Short Items

organized closet

Rather than fold dresses over on themselves or let them puddle on the floor, plan for an array of differently sized hanging spaces. This way, everything stays neater, plus you'll have dedicated areas for all of your different garments.

See more at Stinajss .

Add a Clothing Rack to the Corner of Your Room

clothing rack

Adding a clothing rack in your bedroom corner not only saves closet space but can also add a stylish aesthetic to your room. It allows you to hang more items that may be taking up too much room in your current closet while revealing your fashion sense and favorite items to anyone who steps in the room.

See more on Instagram at @thehouseofsequins

Label Everything

labeled closet

If you use bins or baskets to keep smaller items and accessories corralled, be sure to label everything clearly, so you know exactly where to find what you need. It’s also a great way to keep track of baby clothes, since you can label all the different sizes within the drawers.

See more at A Beautiful Mess .

Keep Seasonal Items Down Low

organized closet

Fill baskets with seasonal items, like snow clothes or bathing suits. Then, as the seasons change, simply swap what baskets are on what shelves. In the fall, move cold weather gear to lower shelves and warm weather items to higher shelves. In the spring, do the opposite.

See more at The Creative Mom .

Add a Dresser

dresser in closet

If your closet doesn’t have built-ins, you can maximize any extra space under shelves or a hanging rod by placing a dresser inside.

See more at Live Pretty on a Penny .

Color Coordinate

color coordinated clothes

Have trouble spotting what you’re looking for? Arranging your clothes by color not only gives you a better starting point but can also help you pick the matching duds in a flash.

See more at Live Composed .

Learn Better Folding Techniques

vertical folding method

Another key trick to optimize space is learning better folding and hanging techniques and incorporating them into your closet. Some basic steps are tucking bras inside of each other to save drawer space as well as putting small purses or bags into bigger ones. Another helpful tip is to use the vertical folding method rather than piling when organizing sweaters or shirts in a drawer.

See more at Good Housekeeping .

Hang a Closet Organizer with Shelves

hanging shelves for closets

Investing in a shelf-hanging organizer is the perfect solution if your closet happens to have less built-in shelf space or drawers. Placing these on a rack allows you to maximize the vertical space available in your closet for sweaters or bags.

Hang Jewelry

hang jewelry

If you don’t have a dedicated drawer space for jewelry, these hanging organizers with pockets small enough for baubles, like earrings, bracelets, and necklaces, are perfect for that as well.

See more at Decluttrme .

Use Acrylic File Dividers at the Top of the Closet

acrylic file dividers

Office accessories, like clear acrylic file dividers , serve double duty in the closet. Use them to organize small accessories, like clutches, that are typically housed on a shelf.

See more at Studio DIY .

Make Room for a Hamper

organized closet

To help keep things orderly, consider reserving space for a hamper. This way, dirty duds are more likely to find a home in the laundry pile rather than in a heap on the floor. Bonus points for stashing two hampers—one for darks and one for lights.

See more at Arlynn Wiebe .

Use Clear Glass or Acrylic Shelves to Make It Easier to Spot Things

organized closet

Clear glass or acrylic shelving and drawer fronts make it easier to identify exactly what’s in each storage space. It’s a particularly good option for accessories like jewelry, since you can quickly pick something that matches your outfit of the day.

See more at Simply Patrice Designs .

Maximize Every Inch of Space

organized closet

Use extra wall space to stash smaller items that are tricky to place. Think: hats, necklaces, scarves, ties, belts, and more.

See more at Bless'er House .

Use Over-the-Door Organizers for Hard-to-Fold Items

organized closet

Have a number of hard-to-fold items, like swaddles, blankets, scarves, or even belts? Use an over-the-door organizer typically reserved for shoes to neatly corral these tricky garments and accessories.

See more at Lucky Andi .

Use a Lazy Susan

organized closet

A lazy Susan can conserve precious shelf space by organizing beauty, grooming, or diapering products into one convenient location. Since it spins, you won’t have to go digging through your shelf to find exactly what you need.

See more at Lemonaid Solutions .

Add an Island

organized closet

If you're lucky enough to have a particularly large walk-in closet, consider adding an island to the center of the space. This not only adds storage space in the form of shelves and drawers, but it also provides a surface to perch folded laundry.

See more at Shelby Russe .

Or a Vanity

vanity in a closet

Similarly, a vanity can add a bit more storage space for the smaller things your closet holds. It has another purpose, too: It serves as a spot to complete the rest of your morning routine, including your makeup.

See more at Casa di Denise .

Raise the Bar(s)

Closet, Room, Furniture, Shelf, Cupboard, Chest of drawers, Wardrobe, Cabinetry, Drawer, Clothes hanger,

Double your closet’s storage potential by raising the top clothing rod above standard height to free up usable space below. Install drawers or bring in a freestanding dresser to fake a built-in look.

See more at Container Stories .

Add a Second Rod

Closet, Clothes hanger, Room, Boutique, Furniture, Wardrobe, Shelf, Home accessories,

Need more hanging space? Raise your top clothing rod and install a second level in the open space. If you don't want to deal with installing a new organizational system, you can maximize your closet capacity by adding an adjustable expander that hangs from an existing closet rod.

See more at A Bowl of Lemons .

SHOP HANGING RODS

Headshot of Laurren Welch

Laurren Welch is a freelance editor, writer, and creative who covers lifestyle, interiors, entertaining, fashion, and more. When she’s not under deadline, you can find her styling blooms over at Garden Party L.A ., scouring thrift and antique stores for hidden gems, and reminding her boxer pup, Monster, that he’s a very good boy. 

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  • How to structure an essay: Templates and tips

How to Structure an Essay | Tips & Templates

Published on September 18, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

The basic structure of an essay always consists of an introduction , a body , and a conclusion . But for many students, the most difficult part of structuring an essay is deciding how to organize information within the body.

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Table of contents

The basics of essay structure, chronological structure, compare-and-contrast structure, problems-methods-solutions structure, signposting to clarify your structure, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about essay structure.

There are two main things to keep in mind when working on your essay structure: making sure to include the right information in each part, and deciding how you’ll organize the information within the body.

Parts of an essay

The three parts that make up all essays are described in the table below.

Order of information

You’ll also have to consider how to present information within the body. There are a few general principles that can guide you here.

The first is that your argument should move from the simplest claim to the most complex . The body of a good argumentative essay often begins with simple and widely accepted claims, and then moves towards more complex and contentious ones.

For example, you might begin by describing a generally accepted philosophical concept, and then apply it to a new topic. The grounding in the general concept will allow the reader to understand your unique application of it.

The second principle is that background information should appear towards the beginning of your essay . General background is presented in the introduction. If you have additional background to present, this information will usually come at the start of the body.

The third principle is that everything in your essay should be relevant to the thesis . Ask yourself whether each piece of information advances your argument or provides necessary background. And make sure that the text clearly expresses each piece of information’s relevance.

The sections below present several organizational templates for essays: the chronological approach, the compare-and-contrast approach, and the problems-methods-solutions approach.

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The chronological approach (sometimes called the cause-and-effect approach) is probably the simplest way to structure an essay. It just means discussing events in the order in which they occurred, discussing how they are related (i.e. the cause and effect involved) as you go.

A chronological approach can be useful when your essay is about a series of events. Don’t rule out other approaches, though—even when the chronological approach is the obvious one, you might be able to bring out more with a different structure.

Explore the tabs below to see a general template and a specific example outline from an essay on the invention of the printing press.

  • Thesis statement
  • Discussion of event/period
  • Consequences
  • Importance of topic
  • Strong closing statement
  • Claim that the printing press marks the end of the Middle Ages
  • Background on the low levels of literacy before the printing press
  • Thesis statement: The invention of the printing press increased circulation of information in Europe, paving the way for the Reformation
  • High levels of illiteracy in medieval Europe
  • Literacy and thus knowledge and education were mainly the domain of religious and political elites
  • Consequence: this discouraged political and religious change
  • Invention of the printing press in 1440 by Johannes Gutenberg
  • Implications of the new technology for book production
  • Consequence: Rapid spread of the technology and the printing of the Gutenberg Bible
  • Trend for translating the Bible into vernacular languages during the years following the printing press’s invention
  • Luther’s own translation of the Bible during the Reformation
  • Consequence: The large-scale effects the Reformation would have on religion and politics
  • Summarize the history described
  • Stress the significance of the printing press to the events of this period

Essays with two or more main subjects are often structured around comparing and contrasting . For example, a literary analysis essay might compare two different texts, and an argumentative essay might compare the strengths of different arguments.

There are two main ways of structuring a compare-and-contrast essay: the alternating method, and the block method.

Alternating

In the alternating method, each paragraph compares your subjects in terms of a specific point of comparison. These points of comparison are therefore what defines each paragraph.

The tabs below show a general template for this structure, and a specific example for an essay comparing and contrasting distance learning with traditional classroom learning.

  • Synthesis of arguments
  • Topical relevance of distance learning in lockdown
  • Increasing prevalence of distance learning over the last decade
  • Thesis statement: While distance learning has certain advantages, it introduces multiple new accessibility issues that must be addressed for it to be as effective as classroom learning
  • Classroom learning: Ease of identifying difficulties and privately discussing them
  • Distance learning: Difficulty of noticing and unobtrusively helping
  • Classroom learning: Difficulties accessing the classroom (disability, distance travelled from home)
  • Distance learning: Difficulties with online work (lack of tech literacy, unreliable connection, distractions)
  • Classroom learning: Tends to encourage personal engagement among students and with teacher, more relaxed social environment
  • Distance learning: Greater ability to reach out to teacher privately
  • Sum up, emphasize that distance learning introduces more difficulties than it solves
  • Stress the importance of addressing issues with distance learning as it becomes increasingly common
  • Distance learning may prove to be the future, but it still has a long way to go

In the block method, each subject is covered all in one go, potentially across multiple paragraphs. For example, you might write two paragraphs about your first subject and then two about your second subject, making comparisons back to the first.

The tabs again show a general template, followed by another essay on distance learning, this time with the body structured in blocks.

  • Point 1 (compare)
  • Point 2 (compare)
  • Point 3 (compare)
  • Point 4 (compare)
  • Advantages: Flexibility, accessibility
  • Disadvantages: Discomfort, challenges for those with poor internet or tech literacy
  • Advantages: Potential for teacher to discuss issues with a student in a separate private call
  • Disadvantages: Difficulty of identifying struggling students and aiding them unobtrusively, lack of personal interaction among students
  • Advantages: More accessible to those with low tech literacy, equality of all sharing one learning environment
  • Disadvantages: Students must live close enough to attend, commutes may vary, classrooms not always accessible for disabled students
  • Advantages: Ease of picking up on signs a student is struggling, more personal interaction among students
  • Disadvantages: May be harder for students to approach teacher privately in person to raise issues

An essay that concerns a specific problem (practical or theoretical) may be structured according to the problems-methods-solutions approach.

This is just what it sounds like: You define the problem, characterize a method or theory that may solve it, and finally analyze the problem, using this method or theory to arrive at a solution. If the problem is theoretical, the solution might be the analysis you present in the essay itself; otherwise, you might just present a proposed solution.

The tabs below show a template for this structure and an example outline for an essay about the problem of fake news.

  • Introduce the problem
  • Provide background
  • Describe your approach to solving it
  • Define the problem precisely
  • Describe why it’s important
  • Indicate previous approaches to the problem
  • Present your new approach, and why it’s better
  • Apply the new method or theory to the problem
  • Indicate the solution you arrive at by doing so
  • Assess (potential or actual) effectiveness of solution
  • Describe the implications
  • Problem: The growth of “fake news” online
  • Prevalence of polarized/conspiracy-focused news sources online
  • Thesis statement: Rather than attempting to stamp out online fake news through social media moderation, an effective approach to combating it must work with educational institutions to improve media literacy
  • Definition: Deliberate disinformation designed to spread virally online
  • Popularization of the term, growth of the phenomenon
  • Previous approaches: Labeling and moderation on social media platforms
  • Critique: This approach feeds conspiracies; the real solution is to improve media literacy so users can better identify fake news
  • Greater emphasis should be placed on media literacy education in schools
  • This allows people to assess news sources independently, rather than just being told which ones to trust
  • This is a long-term solution but could be highly effective
  • It would require significant organization and investment, but would equip people to judge news sources more effectively
  • Rather than trying to contain the spread of fake news, we must teach the next generation not to fall for it

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Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:

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how to organize your closet essay

Signposting means guiding the reader through your essay with language that describes or hints at the structure of what follows.  It can help you clarify your structure for yourself as well as helping your reader follow your ideas.

The essay overview

In longer essays whose body is split into multiple named sections, the introduction often ends with an overview of the rest of the essay. This gives a brief description of the main idea or argument of each section.

The overview allows the reader to immediately understand what will be covered in the essay and in what order. Though it describes what  comes later in the text, it is generally written in the present tense . The following example is from a literary analysis essay on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein .

Transitions

Transition words and phrases are used throughout all good essays to link together different ideas. They help guide the reader through your text, and an essay that uses them effectively will be much easier to follow.

Various different relationships can be expressed by transition words, as shown in this example.

Because Hitler failed to respond to the British ultimatum, France and the UK declared war on Germany. Although it was an outcome the Allies had hoped to avoid, they were prepared to back up their ultimatum in order to combat the existential threat posed by the Third Reich.

Transition sentences may be included to transition between different paragraphs or sections of an essay. A good transition sentence moves the reader on to the next topic while indicating how it relates to the previous one.

… Distance learning, then, seems to improve accessibility in some ways while representing a step backwards in others.

However , considering the issue of personal interaction among students presents a different picture.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

  • Ad hominem fallacy
  • Post hoc fallacy
  • Appeal to authority fallacy
  • False cause fallacy
  • Sunk cost fallacy

College essays

  • Choosing Essay Topic
  • Write a College Essay
  • Write a Diversity Essay
  • College Essay Format & Structure
  • Comparing and Contrasting in an Essay

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The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement , a body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas.

The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ideas.

An essay isn’t just a loose collection of facts and ideas. Instead, it should be centered on an overarching argument (summarized in your thesis statement ) that every part of the essay relates to.

The way you structure your essay is crucial to presenting your argument coherently. A well-structured essay helps your reader follow the logic of your ideas and understand your overall point.

Comparisons in essays are generally structured in one of two ways:

  • The alternating method, where you compare your subjects side by side according to one specific aspect at a time.
  • The block method, where you cover each subject separately in its entirety.

It’s also possible to combine both methods, for example by writing a full paragraph on each of your topics and then a final paragraph contrasting the two according to a specific metric.

You should try to follow your outline as you write your essay . However, if your ideas change or it becomes clear that your structure could be better, it’s okay to depart from your essay outline . Just make sure you know why you’re doing so.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

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How to organize a small closet with lots of clothes - 10 clever tips and tricks

Posted: September 20, 2023 | Last updated: September 21, 2023

<p>                     <strong>Scratching your head wondering how to organize a small closet with lots of clothes? Look no further because we've spoken to organization experts and decluttering professionals to gain insider tricks to make the most of your space.</strong>                   </p>                                      <p>                     Don't let your tiny closet limit your love of fashion, simply look for smart ways to maximize storage space to ensure everything has a place and your wardrobe capacity is not compromised. Using many of the same principles you'd apply when considering how to make a small bedroom look bigger, you can double your closet space and declutter your home in the process.                   </p>                                      <p>                     Even if you've mastered how to build a capsule wardrobe and have minimal amounts of clothing, these expert tips will keep your closet streamlined and functional for everyday use.                   </p>                                      <p>                     Start by making sure every inch of your small closet is taken up by necessary storage only. "If you have a small wardrobe the first thing you need to do is think cleverly about the rest of your bedroom storage available," advises Vicky Silverthorn, Professional Organizer and founder of You Need A Vicky.                    </p>                                      <p>                     "Do I need a bed with built-in storage? Could I have a chest of drawers beside my bed instead of bedside tables? Is there any space for an ottoman? Because you can remove all your out-of-season clothes from your wardrobe altogether, freeing up valuable space."                   </p>                                      <p>                     Once you've moved everything out of your closet that can be housed elsewhere, follow these expert tips to make your space work as hard as possible.                    </p>                                      <p>                     <em>BY TAMARA KELLY</em>                   </p>

Wondering how to organize a small closet with lots of clothes? Follow these top tips to maximize precious cupboard space...

Scratching your head wondering how to organize a small closet with lots of clothes? Look no further because we've spoken to organization experts and decluttering professionals to gain insider tricks to make the most of your space.

Don't let your tiny closet limit your love of fashion, simply look for smart ways to maximize storage space to ensure everything has a place and your wardrobe capacity is not compromised. Using many of the same principles you'd apply when considering how to make a small bedroom look bigger, you can double your closet space and declutter your home in the process.

Even if you've mastered how to build a capsule wardrobe and have minimal amounts of clothing, these expert tips will keep your closet streamlined and functional for everyday use.

Start by making sure every inch of your small closet is taken up by necessary storage only. "If you have a small wardrobe the first thing you need to do is think cleverly about the rest of your bedroom storage available," advises Vicky Silverthorn, Professional Organizer and founder of You Need A Vicky. 

"Do I need a bed with built-in storage? Could I have a chest of drawers beside my bed instead of bedside tables? Is there any space for an ottoman? Because you can remove all your out-of-season clothes from your wardrobe altogether, freeing up valuable space."

Once you've moved everything out of your closet that can be housed elsewhere, follow these expert tips to make your space work as hard as possible. 

Click through to read the full story...

<p>                     Like when organizing kitchen cabinets there is often valuable storage space wasted because of bad spacing when it comes to shelves. "Shelves that have a greater distance apart means you're often piling things high, which is never an efficient use of space," says Vicky. "Consider reconfiguring your shelves, adding in extra shelves to make more storage space."                   </p>                                      <p>                     Could you fit an extra shelf in between your existing shelves to provide a more efficient and practical storage solution? As opposed to creating piles of clothes that have the potential to topple over on a daily basis when trying to retrieve items.                    </p>

1. Adjust shelf spacing to maximize storage

Like when organizing kitchen cabinets there is often valuable storage space wasted because of bad spacing when it comes to shelves. "Shelves that have a greater distance apart means you're often piling things high, which is never an efficient use of space," says Vicky. "Consider reconfiguring your shelves, adding in extra shelves to make more storage space."

Could you fit an extra shelf in between your existing shelves to provide a more efficient and practical storage solution? As opposed to creating piles of clothes that have the potential to topple over on a daily basis when trying to retrieve items. 

<p>                     When space is at a premium, every surface available becomes a valuable storage solution and none more so than the back of the closet door.                   </p>                                      <p>                     "If you have a built-in closet in your bedroom, use the back of doors to hang dressing gowns, handbags, scarves, hats, etc," advises Elizabeth Wickes, found of The Life Organiser and member of APDO, the association of professional declutterers and organizers. "By installing sturdy screwed-in or over the door hooks (of course depending on the thickness of your doors), this will maximize your storage space and keep your clothes and accessories off the floors!"                   </p>                                      <p>                     "Command hooks are ideal for keeping jewelry, accessories, belts and scarves close-to-hand and visible and can be easily attached to the back of a wardrobe door," suggests Kate Galbally, APDO member and founder of Better Organised.                   </p>

2. Utilize the backs of doors

When space is at a premium, every surface available becomes a valuable storage solution and none more so than the back of the closet door.

"If you have a built-in closet in your bedroom, use the back of doors to hang dressing gowns, handbags, scarves, hats, etc," advises Elizabeth Wickes, found of The Life Organiser and member of APDO, the association of professional declutterers and organizers. "By installing sturdy screwed-in or over the door hooks (of course depending on the thickness of your doors), this will maximize your storage space and keep your clothes and accessories off the floors!"

"Command hooks are ideal for keeping jewelry, accessories, belts and scarves close-to-hand and visible and can be easily attached to the back of a wardrobe door," suggests Kate Galbally, APDO member and founder of Better Organised.

<p>                     "Upgrade your hangers," says Suzanne Spencer, Master KonMari Consultant, APDO member, and Founder of A Life More Organised. "Clear out empty hangers as they take up space – if you need to keep some use a box to store them tidily at the bottom of the wardrobe out of sight. Having a matching set of hangers really helps clothes to hang straight and save space (and stops the hangers from becoming tangled), switching to space-saving velvet hangers allows you to make the most of the space in your wardrobe."                   </p>                                      <p>                     "Skinny velvet hangers take up significantly less space than plastic or wooden hangers and are more visually appealing than wire ones," explains Kate. Adding matching mini hooks means you can store 2 or 3 items together in the most space-saving way possible! "                   </p>                                      <p>                     But it's imperative to research hangers to ensure they fit your clothes, warns Vicky, " because not all clothes are suitable for all hangers." Streamlining is one thing, but stretching your shoulders of your best garments is another.                     </p>

3. Rethink your hangers

"Upgrade your hangers," says Suzanne Spencer, Master KonMari Consultant, APDO member, and Founder of A Life More Organised. "Clear out empty hangers as they take up space – if you need to keep some use a box to store them tidily at the bottom of the wardrobe out of sight. Having a matching set of hangers really helps clothes to hang straight and save space (and stops the hangers from becoming tangled), switching to space-saving velvet hangers allows you to make the most of the space in your wardrobe."

"Skinny velvet hangers take up significantly less space than plastic or wooden hangers and are more visually appealing than wire ones," explains Kate. Adding matching mini hooks means you can store 2 or 3 items together in the most space-saving way possible! "

But it's imperative to research hangers to ensure they fit your clothes, warns Vicky, " because not all clothes are suitable for all hangers." Streamlining is one thing, but stretching your shoulders of your best garments is another.  

<p>                     "If you have a tall but slim wardrobe, with lots of free and unused space at the top, add shelving to store items you don’t need as often," advises Siân Pelleschi, APDO Conference Director and founder of Sorted!.                   </p>                                      <p>                     Use boxes to keep items contained and looking neat. "Make the most of any shelves at the top of the wardrobe. It’s easy for things to disappear to the back of shelves and be forgotten about," warns Suzanne. "I like to use baskets the full depth of the wardrobe (like IKEA STUK baskets) as this makes it easy to use all the space and gives you easy access as you can just pull the basket down."                   </p>                                      <p>                     If you don't currently have shelving in place explore the possibility of putting a shelf in high for storing baskets of out-of-season clothing that you don't need to have access to daily, because otherwise, this is dead space going to waste.                    </p>

4. Make better use of vertical space

"If you have a tall but slim wardrobe, with lots of free and unused space at the top, add shelving to store items you don’t need as often," advises Siân Pelleschi, APDO Conference Director and founder of Sorted!.

Use boxes to keep items contained and looking neat. "Make the most of any shelves at the top of the wardrobe. It’s easy for things to disappear to the back of shelves and be forgotten about," warns Suzanne. "I like to use baskets the full depth of the wardrobe (like IKEA STUK baskets) as this makes it easy to use all the space and gives you easy access as you can just pull the basket down."

If you don't currently have shelving in place explore the possibility of putting a shelf in high for storing baskets of out-of-season clothing that you don't need to have access to daily, because otherwise, this is dead space going to waste. 

<p>                     "You need to make the most of all of the space within the wardrobe. Look at your hanging space vs shelf space," suggests Elizabeth. "If you need more shelf space look to get a wardrobe hanging organizer. If you need more hanging space see if you can remove some of the shelves and add an extra rail."                   </p>                                      <p>                     "Look out for potential headspace," advises Vicky. "Say you had a hanging rail but there are 10 inches below, look to have your rails moved higher to make better use of the small space. That 10 inches could be a framework to put in alternative additional storage from baskets to shelving.                    </p>                                      <p>                     We recommend the IKEA HJÄLPA Adjustable clothes rails that give you the freedom to move and adjust your hanging layout with ease, allowing you to reconfigure the internal closet space to suit your needs.                   </p>

5. Adjust your rail heights

"You need to make the most of all of the space within the wardrobe. Look at your hanging space vs shelf space," suggests Elizabeth. "If you need more shelf space look to get a wardrobe hanging organizer. If you need more hanging space see if you can remove some of the shelves and add an extra rail."

"Look out for potential headspace," advises Vicky. "Say you had a hanging rail but there are 10 inches below, look to have your rails moved higher to make better use of the small space. That 10 inches could be a framework to put in alternative additional storage from baskets to shelving. 

We recommend the IKEA HJÄLPA Adjustable clothes rails that give you the freedom to move and adjust your hanging layout with ease, allowing you to reconfigure the internal closet space to suit your needs.

<p>                     Look to make the most of the space on top of the closet to store baskets and boxes to prevent them from taking up space inside.                   </p>                                      <p>                     "If there is room on top of the wardrobe then use this dead space for seasonal clothes and shoes not being worn," advises Marie Bateson, APDO’s volunteer director and founder of Cut the Clutter.                    </p>                                      <p>                     "Aesthetically pleasing matching boxes with lids look good and of course must be lidded to stop things getting dusty." Lidded storage will make it far easier to get rid of dust than open baskets that may be left untouched for long periods of time.                   </p>

6. Utilize the space on top of the closet

Look to make the most of the space on top of the closet to store baskets and boxes to prevent them from taking up space inside.

"If there is room on top of the wardrobe then use this dead space for seasonal clothes and shoes not being worn," advises Marie Bateson, APDO’s volunteer director and founder of Cut the Clutter. 

"Aesthetically pleasing matching boxes with lids look good and of course must be lidded to stop things getting dusty." Lidded storage will make it far easier to get rid of dust than open baskets that may be left untouched for long periods of time.

<p>                     Think outside of the closet to maximize storage potential because for a small closet to function well it can't afford to be overwhelmed by too many clothes. A great place to store out-of-season or lesser-worn clothes is under the bed because the ample space is perfect for low-level storage bags or boxes that can be hidden from view.                   </p>                                      <p>                     "Under-the-bed storage is an easy storage solution, whether it's built-in draws or just space underneath this is a great way to use what could be wasted space," says Vickie Farrell, APDO member and founder of Declutteright. "Just remember it can get dusty under there so ensure you have good storage boxes with lids.                   </p>                                      <p>                     Rebecca Roberts, APDO member and founder of Curate My Space suggests: "If your bed is too low to get adequate storage underneath, use furniture riser blocks."                   </p>

7. Seek alternative storage under the bed

Think outside of the closet to maximize storage potential because for a small closet to function well it can't afford to be overwhelmed by too many clothes. A great place to store out-of-season or lesser-worn clothes is under the bed because the ample space is perfect for low-level storage bags or boxes that can be hidden from view.

"Under-the-bed storage is an easy storage solution, whether it's built-in draws or just space underneath this is a great way to use what could be wasted space," says Vickie Farrell, APDO member and founder of Declutteright. "Just remember it can get dusty under there so ensure you have good storage boxes with lids.

Rebecca Roberts, APDO member and founder of Curate My Space suggests: "If your bed is too low to get adequate storage underneath, use furniture riser blocks."

<p>                     Once you've mastered the fold it'll be beneficial to seek drawer dividers to ensure all items are streamlined and kept neat and tidy. You can buy smart drawer dividing solutions from any retailers that cater to storage, and they are often a cheap tool to offer maximum order to drawers and internal surfaces.                    </p>                                      <p>                     These multipurpose organization accessories can provide and maintain order in internal closet drawers to make for more efficient storage. You simply place one inside a drawer and it creates little pockets in which your neatly folded items can be securely stored.                   </p>

8. Use dividers to sort drawers

Once you've mastered the fold it'll be beneficial to seek drawer dividers to ensure all items are streamlined and kept neat and tidy. You can buy smart drawer dividing solutions from any retailers that cater to storage, and they are often a cheap tool to offer maximum order to drawers and internal surfaces. 

These multipurpose organization accessories can provide and maintain order in internal closet drawers to make for more efficient storage. You simply place one inside a drawer and it creates little pockets in which your neatly folded items can be securely stored.

<p>                     Hang extra vertical storage to cater to folded items so that not every item of clothing in the central part of your closet has to be hung. This method of vertical storage utilizes space more efficiently if you need more shelves but don't want to have them running the full width of the closet.                   </p>                                      <p>                     "You need to make the most of all of the space within the wardrobe," says Siân. "Look at your hanging space vs shelf space. If you need more shelf space look to get a wardrobe hanging organizer."                   </p>

9. Hang extra vertical storage

Hang extra vertical storage to cater to folded items so that not every item of clothing in the central part of your closet has to be hung. This method of vertical storage utilizes space more efficiently if you need more shelves but don't want to have them running the full width of the closet.

"You need to make the most of all of the space within the wardrobe," says Siân. "Look at your hanging space vs shelf space. If you need more shelf space look to get a wardrobe hanging organizer."

<p>                     Consider packing your suitcase – not for a holiday but to store your out-of-season wardrobe in the most practical manner. An otherwise empty suitcase will still take up the same amount of space whether stored empty or packed, so make it count by using the capacity to neatly pack the case full with all the items you won't need access to for the next few months.                   </p>                                      <p>                     Either store it at the back of the wardrobe or move it to a spare room or attic room to free up space. If your suitcase is an attractive one you could even store it on top of the closet to add a decorative touch.                   </p>

10. Pack a suitcase

Consider packing your suitcase – not for a holiday but to store your out-of-season wardrobe in the most practical manner. An otherwise empty suitcase will still take up the same amount of space whether stored empty or packed, so make it count by using the capacity to neatly pack the case full with all the items you won't need access to for the next few months.

Either store it at the back of the wardrobe or move it to a spare room or attic room to free up space. If your suitcase is an attractive one you could even store it on top of the closet to add a decorative touch.

BY TAMARA KELLY

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How to organize a bathroom closet with too much stuff

Organize a bathroom closet the right way with our expert tips and tricks

Bathroom shelves with products neatly displayed in rows and in bins.

1. Create zones

2. use a turntable, 3. remove toilet paper packaging, 4. utilize containers for feminine hygiene products, 5. roll up your towels, 6. utilize door space, 7. label things as much as possible, 8. as much as possible, opt for clear bins, 9. fill items from the back to keep a consistent rotation, 10. add a bin for your travel-sized products.

Jessie Quinn

See how to organize a bathroom closet full of medicine, towels, and even your random collection of travel-sized products that you keep on hand. With so much versatility, this storage area is prone to clutter and disorganization. 

Bathroom closet organization starts with categorizing your items and expands into finding the best storage solutions. This can look like placing things in designated bins on a shelf or getting even more specific with turntables and clear acrylic organizers for smaller items. 

Whether you are organizing a small bathroom and looking for ways to maximize space, we’ve got you covered with these expert-approved tips.

How to organize a bathroom closet

The best bathroom organization ideas for a closet depend on your space’s design and overall size. However, there are a few universal tips and tricks for keeping toiletries neat and tidy. 

To learn how to organize a bathroom closet the right way, we tapped four home organizing experts for their insights and advice. See what they had to say about that pesky bulk toilet paper purchase, overflow of hygiene products, and what to do about all of those mini travel-sized formulas, ahead.  

Bathroom closet cabinets with bins and products neatly displayed

Before getting into the specifics of organizing, Britnee Tanner , a professional home organizer in Utah, says to think about creating zones within your bathroom closet to make things more functional and maximize your space. 

“It can be helpful to think about each shelf as a zone to contain different categories of things. For example, it helps to have one shelf dedicated to linens like washcloths and towels,” says Britnee.

For smaller items, incorporating storage baskets , like these woven storage baskets from Amazon , on shelves to zone things can be useful, especially when you don’t have enough shelf space for lots of different categories. For example, one shelf can contain three baskets (aka, three zones) with first aid supplies in one, extra toiletries in another, and your toilet paper backstock in the third basket. 

Britnee Tanner is a profesional organizer based in Utah. 

White turntable under sink with toiletries and cleaning supplies.

It can be a little tricky to organize toiletries in a small closet says Britnee. To counter this, Tanner recommends first taking inventory of how many toiletries you have and their various sizes. 

From there, look for bathroom organizers so they aren’t floating around on a shelf. “I like to use turntables for tall hair and skin care products,” Britnee notes. Turntables, like these non-skid turntables from Amazon , also work well for small containers of toiletries, such as an acrylic cup that holds your extra hair ties and bobby pins.  

Similar to toiletries, medicine can also get messy while in storage. A turntable (or several turntables) works well for this category because you can easily see what you have and reach for your vitamins and medications without making a mess of things. 

Clear acrylic turntable with dividers and square tea packets in pink, green, and purple colors.

Price: $21.99

The iDesign Cabinet Binz Divided Rotating Turntable is technically designed for tea packets, but it works well for feminine hygiene products, makeup, skincare formulas, nail care products, and more. The dividers on this turntable make categorizing super easy and allow you to create a functional space for smaller items or narrow down your categorization (such as travel products) into more specific zones. 

Bathroom storage shelves with bins and products neatly displayed

When storing toilet paper , it helps to keep a basket or toilet paper storage caddy, like this storage container from Amazon , near your toilet so that you don’t run out. 

That being said, if you purchase toilet paper in bulk, you’ll likely be left with lots of overflow. In that case, Tanner says to remove the toilet paper from the store packaging to make organization easier. 

“Oftentimes, wrapping creates an organization barrier. Remove the plastic wrapping so that you can easily fit rolls on a bathroom closet shelf,” says Britnee.

Bathroom storage containers with products and towels stored neatly.

Feminine hygiene products are another toiletry item that can create clutter and be hard to contain. According to Britnee, they’re much easier to take inventory of when they’re organized in containers, instead of floppy bags or mismatched boxes. 

“Acrylic containers are great because you can see when you need to buy more,” she adds, noting that bins with lids can also be useful and allow you to utilize vertical space. 

To up the ante, professional organizer Michelle Garb says to use a turntable with multiple dividers “so that you can keep all your feminine hygiene products in one place while accounting for the different sizes and types you might need throughout that cycle.” 

The iDesign rotating turntable available from Amazon is an excellent option for this storage hack. 

Michelle Garb is a professional organizer in Sherman Oaks, California. 

Rolled towels in white shelving unit

If you have enough space in your bathroom closet to store extra linens (including bath towels, hand towels, and washcloths), Jackie Pittman, a professional organizer and founder of Chez Nous Organizing , says to ditch the traditional towel folding method and, instead, opt for a rolling technique. “This not only saves shelf space but also adds a touch of visual interest to your closet,” she notes. 

Depending on your closet, smaller linens like hand towels and washcloths might become easily unraveled with this method. So, instead of rolling and stacking them together, consider getting a small basket or bin to house the rolled-up towels together and keep things nice and neat. 

Jackie Pittman, a professional organizer and founder of Chez Nous Organizing. 

Over the door hanging baskets

In cases where a bathroom closet doesn’t exist or is too small to cover all of your needs, Jackie says to utilize door space (either your actual bathroom door or the front of your bathroom closet door). “Install hooks or an over-the-door organizer for items like loofahs, hairdryers, or even extra storage for smaller items,” she explains. 

Over-the-door organizers come in several different designs and styles. You can even find over-the-door shelving which works well for bathroom toiletries and backstock of cleaning supplies, toilet paper, and more. 

A bathroom door with an over-the-door organizer shelf system filled with cleaning products, bottles of shampoo, and laundry detergent.

Price: $146

The Elfa Door Rack features a sleek style with durable construction and plenty of storage space. We love it because the shelves make designating zones much easier, plus it’s a great spot for everyday items that you want to keep within reach. 

Clear labeled jars with cotton swabs on a small wooden tray

Since bathroom closets can be home to a variety of items, professional organizer Olivia Parks says that labeling is a simple yet powerful way to keep things orderly. “It not only designates a specific spot for each item but also makes it easier for other household members to contribute to maintaining the organization,” she explains. 

When labeling your bathroom closet, Parks says you can opt for a method that works best for you. Some prefer using handwritten labels, while others like printed tags. “Labeling itself instills a sense of discipline and structure in the use of space,” Parks adds. 

You can even try a label maker, like this handy Bluetooth printer, available on Amazon .

Olivia Parks is the owner and lead organizer at Nola Organizers

White rectangle label maker with a roll of tape on the left side

Price: $36.99

This label maker is a useful tool to have on hand for this reason. This label maker connects to your phone through Bluetooth, allowing you to easily type up and print labels as you organize. Plus, it comes with different templates to personalize the look. 

Bathroom towels stored in see-through bins on a shelf

While baskets and other storage containers can work well in a bathroom closet, Olivia says to consider opting for clear bins, like these stackable containers from Amazon , as much as possible. “This approach eliminates rummaging through containers to find what you need,” she explains, noting that this approach also lets you see the contents quickly, saving you time and reducing clutter. 

If you can’t upgrade all of your organizers, Parks says to ensure the items you use daily are stowed away in a clear container, as this can streamline your routine and keep everything neatly in sight. 

Bathroom products displayed neatly on a shelf

“I think it’s important to keep the bathroom closet in constant rotation, or things will get lost in the back,” says Garb. With this in mind, she recommends filling items such as toilet paper or tissues from the back so that they are in neat rows. 

By looking at your shelving space in rows — sort of like the refrigerated section at a grocery store — you can ensure that items don’t get lost amongst themselves and have a better idea of what might require a restock the next time you are out running errands. 

Clear plastic bin with perfume bottles stacked neatly inside

When organizing your bathroom closet, don’t forget the travel-sized products and other essentials you might use while on vacation, such as miniature appliances, a portable water flosser, and even pill organizers. 

Depending on how you have your items organized, keeping all of these together in a labeled bin can help ensure everything you need is together for easy packing. 

Where do I start when organizing a bathroom closet?

“The best way to organize your bathroom closet and create a system that sticks is to take everything out first, then categorize your various toiletries, linens, and hygiene products,” says Britnee. 

From there, consider which categories you use the most and create a designated zone for those at eye level, then fill in the rest of the shelving with the other categories.

 “Contain loose, smaller items in stacking or pull-out bins so you can easily grab them when you need them,” Britnee adds, noting that labeling bins with their corresponding category for extra clarity is also helpful.

What should I keep in a bathroom closet?

Bathroom closets can be an excellent storage space for a variety of items. While some of your everyday products might be better suited for a medicine cabinet or even countertop organization, Britnee says bathroom closets work particularly well for storing extra toilet paper, hygiene products, skincare formulas, and hair products. “Additionally, you may want to keep your go-to medicines and first aid supplies on a shelf,” she notes. 

If you have the space, bathroom linens such as bath towels, hand towels, and washcloths can also work well in a bathroom closet. This type of storage often makes these essentials a lot more accessible and easier to grab. 

When organizing your bathroom closet, our experts recommend first creating zones for specific categories to make everything a bit more functional. Whether you choose to organize with clear acrylic bins, baskets, or turntables, having your everyday items at eye level can also make the closet a little more accessible, no matter how much space you have to work with. 

Bath towels, hand towels, and washcloths can also work well in a bathroom closet (if you have the room). To make the most of your space, consider rolling these bathroom linens up instead of folding them and placing smaller towels in bins or baskets to keep everything neatly together. 

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Jessie Quinn is a lifestyle writer with words published in The Spruce, Byrdie, Well + Good, Shape, PEOPLE, and more. Jessie has a Bachelor's Degree in Fashion Journalism from Academy of Art University and leans on her background in fashion to inspire readers to hone their personal decor style as if it's their wardrobe. When she's not writing, Jessie can be found browsing the aisles of her local antique stores, creating DIY home decor projects, and taking care of her dozens of houseplants. Her eclectic decor style balances vintage, modern, and artisanal pieces that reflect her artsy style and love for handmade goods.

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  2. How to Organize Your Closet

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  3. View How Do You Organize A Small Closet? Pictures

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  4. BONUS: they are completely easy to do Small Space Living, Small Spaces

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  5. How to Organize Clothes in Your Closet: 5 Easy Steps

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  6. How To: Clean and Organize Your Closet!

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    Organization Methods Storage Tips How to Maintain Order The Spruce / Michelle Becker It's inspiring to think about organizing your clothes, shoes, and accessories perfectly in your closet when watching home design shows.

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    A thoughtfully organized closet with a floor-to-ceiling structure allows you to use every available inch vertically and horizontally, which significantly multiplies the usable space while also creating new space for storing and organizing all you own.

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    1 Remove all of the clothes from your closet. Take all of your clothes off their hangers and out of any bins or drawers in your closet. Fold them in piles on the floor or on your bed. This includes your shoes as well. It may also include other accessories such as belts, scarves, purses, or ties. 2 Decide which clothes you will keep.

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    01 of 34 Primp Station Dera Burreson If you have empty wall space in your closet, take advantage of it! A wall-mounted desk will hold all your jewelry. Use a divided storage container for reading glasses and accessories. Above, line the wall with hooks for hats and scarves, and place laundry bins below.

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  11. The Ultimate Guide to Organizing Your Closet Like a Pro

    Take everything you own out of your closet and lay it on your bed or the floor (a clean floor, of course)! This will give you a chance to inspect every item and really decide if it's worth keeping. This is a great time to deep clean your closet. Dust, vacuum, or even paint after all of your clothing is removed.

  12. How to Organize Your Closet in 30 Minutes Flat

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    How To Organize A Closet Essay Superior Essays 1312 Words 5 Pages Open Document Essay Sample Check Writing Quality Show More Deciding to organize your closet can be an amazing decision if you allow it to be.

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    1 Take inventory. Download Article Take out and inspect all of the items in your room. It might just feel like you're making a bigger mess, but taking out all of your items and laying them out gives you a clean slate to begin reorganizing them. This is also a great way to see what items you might want to get rid of or donate.

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    1 Determine the type of essay you're writing. [2] In general, essays have the same basic components: an introduction that sets the stage for your essay, body paragraphs that discuss your ideas and arguments, and a conclusion that wraps everything up.

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