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. A tiered shelf stores shoes at the bottom of the cabinet, while sweaters and seasonal accessories are placed in baskets on the top shelf. 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. 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. 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 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. If space is limited, try this small closet organization idea: place hooks on the door as a quick and easy hanging solution for handbags, scarves, or other accessories. 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. 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.
