How to Reorganize a Walk-In Closet

To have enough room for all of your belongings, its important to organize your walk-in closet for maximum space efficiency. If you don't, it's likely you'll have a big mess on your hands.

With a walk-in closet, there are endless ways to reorganize. The key is to start by getting rid of items you don't need, sorting and grouping similar items together, and implementing effective storage solutions.

Ready to take your walk-in closet from a big, unorganized mess to a functional and organized part of your home? Read on to learn how to implement the above tips!

Purge Items for a More Organized Walk-in Closet 

If you're ready to reorganize your walk-in closet, the first thing you need to do is indulge in a good purge, getting rid of clothing and accessories you don’t need or use.

Create three piles:

• Keep
• Donate
• Toss
  

Keep items you've worn over the past year (and vice versa). Donate items that are in good condition, and throw away damaged or stained pieces.Here are some items Martha Stewart recommends removing from your closet, as well as a few personalized suggestions:

• Worn-out denim
• Old t-shirts
• Clothing that doesn't fit
• Items you never wear
• Uncomfortable shoes
  

After you've gone through everything, focus on your keep pile again. Organize those pieces by type, season, or both. For out-of-season items, store them in drawers, baskets, shelves, or another area in your home. Just because you have ample space doesn’t mean you need to fill it up completely. Leave room in your closet for newer things.

Organize by Style & Color 

A walk-in closet can often feel like a big, jumbled mess if it's not organized effectively. You can avoid this feeling by organizing your clothes first by style. For example, group all of your t-shirts together, dress shirts together, and so on. 

Then, within each clothing type, organize by color tones. Place your red shirts together, followed by your black, blue, green, and gray shirts, or whatever colors you have. Use the same color order for each type of clothing. This will give your closet a more uniform look.

Invest in Uniform Hangers 

Make your closet look more put together by using uniform hangers. Stick to one or two of the same materials or colors for all of your hangers.  Here are a few options to consider:

• Wooden hangers are both stylish and durable. They don't sag under the weight of heavy clothing and help maintain the shape of your garments.
• Bamboo hangers are a great option as they are lightweight, affordable, and eco-conscious. 
• Velvet hangers are very aesthetically pleasing and will not damage your more delicate pieces. Slippery fabrics also will not slip off velvet hangers. 
• Satin hangers include contoured pads designed to prevent your clothing from getting damaged, especially pieces that are prone to creasing.

You can also purchase specialized hangers for different types of clothing, including:

• Suit hangers 
• Scarf hangers 
• Belt Hangers 
• Tie hangers 

Add Upper and Lower Hanging Rods 

If you have a lot of clothes to hang up, be sure to use all hanging space effectively. Take it a step further by adding an extra lower hanging rod for storing shirts, jackets, pants, or whatever other items you desire. Leave a section in your closet with only an upper hanging rod so you have space to hang longer items, such as dresses and long coats.

Add Tall, Narrow Bookcases 

Not all of your clothing needs to be hung up. If you have pieces that need to be folded, add a bookshelf to your walk-in closet. Tall, narrow bookcases allow you to fold clothing and place them on open shelves.

If you are looking for a more organized look, purchase coordinating baskets. Choose one or two colors to use throughout your space, and place your pieces inside the baskets on the bookshelves. This will keep things looking sleek, and make it easier for you to access your wardrobe. Baskets are also great for storing smaller items such as socks and underwear.

Add a Custom Island

Another option is to add a custom island. A custom island provides supplemental storage and adds a feeling of glamour to your closet. You can customize your island to fit your needs. Add lots of big drawers to store things that don't hang up well, such as socks, bathing suits, pajamas, and lingerie.

If you have a large jewelry collection, custom jewelry storage drawers can be built into the island. Designate sections for earrings, rings, necklaces, and cuff links. Add some outlets to your custom island so you have a space to charge devices, or plugin an iron.

A custom island provides you with the opportunity to have storage built inside of your closet. One other benefit of this particular piece is the large flat space on top of the island can double as a work area for laying out outfits.

Use a Shoe Rack 

If you store shoes in your closet, don’t just throw them on the floor. Instead, add a shoe rack. Or, opt for a multiple-level rack under a hanging rod. Another option is to install an over-the-door shoe rack, making it easy to look at your shoes at eye level and grab the pair you need.

Add a Built-In Hamper 

When you have dirty clothes, throwing them on the floor of your closet contributes to a feeling of disorder. Adding a built-in hamper, one of the many versatile accessories you can use to organize your walk-in closet, will give you a place to put dirty clothes and help to maintain order inside your precious space.

A built-in, slide-out hamper acts and functions much like a drawer would, pulling out when you need to throw your dirty clothes into it and pushing it away when you don’t need it. If you install a double pull-out hamper, you can easily sort your lights and darks on the spot, making the process of doing laundry even easier!

Include a Mirror 

Still have some additional wall space in your closet? Follow the advice from The Spruce and add a mirror. That way, you can make sure your outfit is on point before leaving the house. A mirror can also make your space feel bigger, as it reflects lights. At the same time, a small, circular mirror is great for checking your makeup.

Conclusion

If your walk-in closet is a hot mess of items, start by going through everything and purging what you don't need. Then, organize your clothing by season, style, and color. Complete the transformation by adding storage solutions that allow you to keep things organized, and improve the flow and function of your newly organized walk-in closet. 

Sources

• https://www.marthastewart.com/1129829/things-you-could-eliminate-from-your-closet
• https://www.thespruce.com/walk-in-closet-storage-4172366