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Closet Organization 101

Closet organization starts with paring down: remove anything you haven't worn or used in a year. Next, store shoes in labeled boxes, stacked on a shelf above the rod. Put walls to work with shower bars for scarves, hooks for handbags and tie racks. Then count your hanging items to plan a custom layout.

Updated September 17, 2018September 17, 20183 min read

Closet Organization 101

Key takeaways

  • Remove anything you haven't worn or used in a year.
  • Labeled shoe boxes stacked above the rod clear the closet floor.
  • Shower bars, hooks and tie racks put wall space to work.
  • Counting hanging items is the starting point for a custom layout.

It’s Monday morning. You throw open the doors on your closet and stand back to behold the usual mess. Today is the day: You have to do something about this disorganized space! A custom closet can change the way you begin the day for the rest of your life. A good closet allows you to maximize every corner of storage space and find your favorite blazer in seconds. If you’re new to closet organization, here are three basic tips for getting started:

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‍Start Paring Down Your Belongings

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‍The first rule of closet organization is getting rid of the clothing you don’t wear anymore. Go through your belongings and identify items you haven’t worn or used in a year. Once you’ve thrown away, donated, or sold unused stuff, you’ll know what you’re really working with. Eliminating older or unused items from your closet can be a bit painful, but it’s the crucial first step of any successful organization plan – and it will pay off later.

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‍Save Your Shoe Boxes‍

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One of the simplest ways to stay organized is by saving shoe boxes. Every messy closet features a pile of shoes on the floor that makes it hard to walk around and almost always leads to separated pairs. Labeled shoe boxes mean your boots, heels, and tennis shoes will always be in the right place and can be stacked conveniently. Do the same for accessories and other bits and bobs that tend to get lost.

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Boxes can not only be used on the floor; install a shelf above your hanging rack and stack the boxes to the ceiling to maximize the square footage. You’ll be shocked by how much more organized your closet becomes simply be eliminating the gigantic pile of shoes that take up the bottom quarter of your closet.

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‍Stop Wasting Wall Space

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‍One reason your closet is messy probably has to do with wasted space. Don’t let an inch go unused! Install shower bars on the wall and tie your scarves to them. You can also hang shoe bags from hooks when you don’t have boxes or when you run out of floor space. Other ways to utilize wall space include tie racks, hooks for handbags, and open shelves with wicker baskets.

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‍Use a Custom Closet Set-Up

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‍There is only so much you can do without installing a custom set of racks, drawers, and shelves. A custom closet is the answer to most closet needs. Take an inventory of how many hanging items you have; this is a good starting point for building your custom configuration. From there, with the help of a professional team, you can build a custom set-up that has shoe racks, cubbies, drawers, and back-lit shelves.

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Are you up for a serious closet reorganization? It’s time to call Closet World to get help designing your dream closet! A custom closet has a special place for every shoe, dress, tie, and even out-of-season sweaters. Contact us today to learn more about how to design a custom set-up that works for you.

Frequently asked questions

What is the first rule of closet organization?

Get rid of clothing you no longer wear. Identify items you haven't worn or used in a year, then donate, sell or discard them. It can be painful, but it shows what you're really working with.

How do I keep shoes organized in a closet?

Save shoe boxes and label them so boots, heels and sneakers always return to the right place. Stack the boxes on a shelf above the hanging rod to clear the floor and keep pairs together.

How do I plan a custom closet layout?

Start by taking an inventory of how many hanging items you own. From there, a professional designer can plan a set-up with shoe racks, cubbies, drawers and lit shelves around what you actually keep.

CW Man, Closet World's guide

CW Man’s two cents

Let’s plan the room you actually have

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Written by the Closet World Design Team, reviewed by CW Man

Our designers have planned closets, garages and home offices for California and Nevada homes since 1991. CW Man checks that every guide is clear, useful and free of clutter.

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