7 steps to clothing wardrobe organizing

Did you watch The Home Edit on Netflix?

Well today, I am sharing “How to organize your clothing wardrobe : 7 steps to clothing wardrobe organizing”

As an image consultant for the last 10 years or so, I have decluttered over 200 wardrobes in person, 100 virtually and 400 or so during workshops. Today’s blog, I will share some tried and tested tips to organise your clothing wardrobe. I have blogs on organising your vanity, jewellery, shoes, bags and lingerie with swimwear. YES, we need separate categories for this.

Can I tell you, most of the times, when I am decluttering the wardrobes,  people find things as if its a Christmas gift dropped by Santa clause just the earlier night?

How many times have you kept things in your wardrobe and then you cannot find them just when you need it, or you feel it magically disappears for a comeback during spring cleaning.

Rule of the thumb is, if you can’t see it, you will never wear it. yes read it slowly, IF YOU CAN’T SEE IT, YOU WILL NEVER WEAR IT.

Now ideally, all of us would want an unlimited wardrobe space. Having a walk-in closet like Big gifted Carrie Bradshaw is like a dream for me.

But we don’t have that luxury, so let us get back to our modest wardrobes and not so modest dreams of organising it.

So whether you are building a new wardrobe for yourself, or looking to organise your current one, the below tips will be helpful.

NO MATTER WHAT YOUR CLOSET SIZE IS, YOU CAN ORGANISE IT.

Steps to organising your clothing wardrobe:

Step 1 : Categories of clothes. 

This is important and non-negotiable. have clear categories of clothes in your wardrobe. Don’t mix, skirts & tops or tops & jackets or even similar categories like skirts and pants. Having defined category space makes sure that you know what and how much you have in each category. Also, if you are sharing wardrobes, or utilising wardrobes in other rooms and not your main room, then these categories will be immensely helpful. 

The categories should be

1. Tops – Tees, blousons, shirts

2. Pants – Denim, casual pants, formal pants

3. Skirts – all kinds

4. Dresses – all kinds

5. Outerwear – separate outerwear to seasonal if you stay in a location like that.

6. Gymwear

7. Ethnic / Traditional wear

8. Costume clothing 

9. Emotional / Sentimental clothing

Now depending on your closet space, arrange the clothes in a way that are most accessible to you. Whether you have a dedicated wardrobe for yourself, a smaller wardrobe, or you are putting your clothes in 2-3 different wardrobes, keep your separates ( Top, pant & skirt) in the same wardrobe. 

The  image explains the accessibility

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 2: Declutter wardrobe

Generally, it gets overwhelming for people when they start decluttering their wardrobes. I know we are talking about organising, but decluttering is an important second step. We are not deep-diving into decluttering, however, do remember that since all your clothes are categorised, it will be easier for you to declutter things that don’t fit, put them away if they are emotional value, etc. 

Step 3: Sort & Organise colour coded

Now once the categories are sorted, unnecessary items purged, now deep dive into each category and sort them into colour. Sorting the pieces in colour gives you clarity on the colours you have in the wardrobe. Do you have too much for one colour, ort is your wardrobe filled with black whites, or this there a colour you like but don’t have a single top/dress in that colour. It helps you analyse, the category and colour, say you have majority tops that are white and majority pants that are solids, hence you are unable to style them differently.

My preferred colour sorting is Achromes + Burst of colours.

white-black-grey + rainbow colours

Step 4: Sorting Lengthwise

This is an optional, good to have step while organising your clothes. 

This step is useful while getting dressed, you can clearly see whether its a maxi dress or mini dress, culottes or full pants. 

Step 5: Sorting occasion/seasons 

Same like step 4, this step is also good to have a step. If you live in a place whether season decides the clothing, then this is an important step.

Don’t mix your heavy wool tops with cotton tops, separate them and store them away for the season.

Sorting occasion wise, means your cargo trouser and formal trouser both in bottle green colour, serve different occasion, hence it is better to organise it that way. 

Step 6: Showcase your clothes – 

No matter, what amazing witchcraft origami skills you have, folded clothes are not as visible as hanging the clothes. So if you have hanging space, use them to your advantage of showcasing your clothes. Fold the clothes and keep only if there isn’t enough hanging space. Clothes like, tees + tops, denim & shorts can be stored in drawers/storage boxes. Dresses, skirts, jackets, pants, should preferably be hanged. 

Use good hangers – Can’t stress this enough. Use good, similar-looking, appropriate hangers. The mismatched hangers (I am guilty of that), gives a very cold un-uniformity to your wardrobe. Tap here to read about what hangers to be used for what purpose. 

Clear storage boxes:Use clear storage boxes inside a wardrobe. Clear boxes give your clothes visibility. Cane boxes look great in the open space, and clear boxes are great for inside spaces. 

 

 

Drawers: When your wardrobe had drawer space and less of hanging space, use drawer inserts. Drawer inserts, help segregate clothes in colour, occasion, length, type and that becomes easy access for you.  

Step 7: Wardrobe Rhythm

Your wardrobe needs a rhythm. The goal of organising a wardrobe is ultimately for easy access while dressing up. So once the whole wardrobe is categorised, sorted, contain them in a way that is most useful for you.  An ideal rhythm for one person is how to gravitate towards while getting dressed. 

Follow these 7 steps and I guarantee you that your wardrobe will be organised like a pro.

READ MORE on how to organise your vanity, jewellery, shoes, bags and lingerie with swimwear. YES, we need separate categories for this.