Ideas on Purging a Bedroom Closet For More Space

Shannon Quinn - January 29, 2020
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Ideas on Purging a Bedroom Closet For More Space
Photo: Is your closet in a convenient place? Credit: Shutterstock

According to Forbes, the average American woman owns 30 outfits in her closet, and most people spend well over $1,000 a year buying new clothes. With all of these clothes, we obviously need closet space. And according to ClosetMaid, the top item that people tend to hoard in their home is their clothing. This might be because we spend so much money on our clothes, and we instinctively don’t want it to be wasteful. Or, we think that maybe the right occasion might appear one day where your clothes will finally be useful again. If you’re like most people, you might feel frustrated with having an overflowing closet. Here are a few tips that should help you clean out your closet once and for all.

Cleaning your bedroom regularly is a good way to keep your closet clean. Credit: Shutterstock

30. Get in the Habit of Keeping Your Bedroom Tidy

Sometimes, a closet becomes the spot where you shove your mess inside, just so you can close the door and greet your guests with a smile. Before you know it, all of your junk is in the closet, and you can’t access any of the items that are actually meant to be there! This is why one of the first steps in getting your closet cleaned is to make sure your bedroom is always kept neat and tidy.

Make sure the mess in your bedroom doesn’t end up in the closet. Credit: Shutterstock

When you are in the habit of making your bed, picking up after yourself, and generally keeping a clean bedroom, that attitude will also bleed over into your closet. If you find that certain items always end up sitting out in the open, that’s a sign that there is nowhere for the object to call “home”. Make sure there is a place to put away every single item in your bedroom, and that you know where it belongs.

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How efficient is your closet location? Credit: Shutterstock

29. Think About The Efficiency of Your Closet’s Location

Unfortunately, sometimes an architect does not think about how efficient a closet layout when they are building a house. For example, some people have to walk into a hallway to access their closet. Or, if you have too many clothes, you might have to put certain items in a second bedroom’s closet. Couples often have to deal with this as well, especially when they both love fashion. This can be very inconvenient if you just want to get ready for the day.

Is your closet in a convenient place? Credit: Shutterstock

Obviously, not everyone can afford to remodel their house to give themselves a bigger closet. But try to figure out if there is a better solution to your clothing storage issue. Sometimes, a problem can be resolved by adding an extra piece of furniture in your bedroom. Ikea makes some beautiful armoires that are in the $100 to $150 range. Check out their website to see all of the different colors and designs they come in.

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In a crammed closet, it’s difficult to see what’s on there. Credit: Shutterstock

28. Create a Giant Pile of Your Clothes, and Go Through One by One

When your closet is stuffed full of clothes, it can sometimes be impossible to see exactly what you own. There may be items of clothing that you haven’t seen in years. If you have ever heard of the famous organizer Marie Kondo, you may already know about her method of making a massive pile of clothes on your bed. Next, make three piles- One to keep, one to donate, and one to throw away. If you are on the fence about keeping something, ask yourself, “Would I buy this again?” And if the answer is “no”, then you should give it away to charity.

Once you have all of your clothes in one pile, you might be shocked to see how much you have. Credit: Shutterstock

Always check for holes and stains in your donation pile. Even thrift stores and charities will throw those clothes away, because they do not want to give away or attempt to sell damaged clothing. If you think that you could possibly saving your clothing from the trash bin, please do. Sometimes, all you need is a small sewing kit to keep an item of clothing that you truly love.

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Only keep clothing that makes you feel comfortable and confident. Credit: Shutterstock

27. Focus on How the Clothing Makes You Feel

Marie Kondo encourages people to keep clothing that helps them “spark joy”. However, maybe clothing sparks joy because it looks really cute, so one part of you has an attachment to it. But you might feel self-conscious wearing it, because it’s too short, long, or tight. So instead of just focusing on how much you like something, try to remember how it makes you physically feel. You want to be able to walk around feeling comfortable and confident, instead of worrying about itchy or revealing clothes.

Ask yourself how each piece of clothing feels to wear. Credit: Shutterstock

For example, my favorite tops are from Lucky Brand, because I love their hippie vibes. So anything in my closet that is Lucky Brand definitely “sparks joy”. But unfortunately, a few of the blouses I bought from their outlet store shrank in the torso to the point where they had become crop tops. I don’t like revealing my stomach, but I still wore the tops much longer than I should have by wearing high-waisted pants. Eventually, I realized that it was ridiculous to keep something that no longer fit properly. It pained me to say goodbye to those tops, but I still donated them to the thrift store, and replaced them with longer shirts that I feel more comfortable in. Now, I love the new shirts so much, I have absolutely no regrets.

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Pre-styling outfits in your closet can help you grab and go. Credit: Shutterstock

26. Create Pre-Styled Outfits

Sometimes, when you’re extremely busy, it can be difficult to know what to wear. Leading up to a big event, you might get nervous, and feel like you have “nothing” to wear. This is what leads most people to rush out to buy new clothes. After all, there is a good reason why professional stylists get paid big bucks to dress celebrities. Jaclyn Hill is a YouTuber and a CEO of a cosmetic company who makes a lot of public appearances. She uploaded a video of her closet tour, and revealed that she has a rack of pre-styled outfits ready to go for special events. So she has several multi-tiered hangers with tops, pants, and jewelry all together in once place. On the outside of the outfit, she also has photos of herself wearing the outfits so that she can see how she looks without actually trying it on.

Even casual outfits can look better with a little bit of planning. Credit: Shutterstock

Most people can’t afford to pay a professional stylist to help them put outfits together. However, it can sometimes be a lot easier to create pre-made outfits when you are in a calm, creative mood, instead of waiting until the last minute to figure it out. If you need to wear a lot of different outfits to events, or your job demands that you look very professional, it would help to plan ahead.You could buy your own multi-tiered hangers or garment bags with pockets and do exactly what Jaclyn Hill has done all on your own.

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You can buy tabs that can be customized with a label maker. Credit: Safiya Nygaard on YouTube

25. Organize by Category of Clothing

Some people like to organize their closet by color. While this might look aesthetically pleasing, it’s actually not very practical once you actually try to find something in your closet. When we pick clothes, our brains don’t care so much about color. We care far more about the dress code being either casual, fancy, or business attire. You also think about the weather outside, and if you are going to wear long or short sleeve clothing. So it only makes sense to separate your clothing into categories. You might have specific categories that are different than the next person (like sports jerseys or beauty pageant gowns) so the categories are completely up to you. Closet dividers will help to categorize different items in your closet. This way, you can have seconds of your closet rod labeled as either “casual” or “formal”. So when you are getting ready for an event, you can go straight to the appropriate section of your closet.

Once the closet dividers are on the pole, it helps to seperate clothing. Credit: Safiya Nygaard on YouTube

This method also works if you keep your clothing in a chest of drawers. One drawer can be for tee shirts, while the next has sweaters or socks. As long as you keep all of the similar clothing into each of the appropriate drawers, it should be easy to find anything you need when it’s time to look for appropriate clothing. If you feel like your closet or drawers can’t fit all of the clothing at once, it may be a sign that you should put seasonal clothing in storage.

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Get rid of the items that you are holding onto for occasions that may never come. Credit: Shutterstock

24. Remove Your “Later” Items

Almost everyone has “later” items hanging in their closet. These are the clothes you hope that you will wear “some day” when you lose weight. Or you assume that eventually, you will have an occasion to wear a special item that you thought was pretty, but not practical. When you are going through all of your clothes, take out the items that you are only keeping because you assume you will use it “later”. Take the time to be real with yourself. Do you actually need it?

Scrutinize the clothing you are holding onto for far too long. Credit: Shutterstock

Let’s imagine what the future would be like in these imaginary scenarios. If you lose weight, you would probably want to completely redo your entire wardrobe. Is that one dress really going to matter? Or if you were invited to an extravagant event where you want to wear something fashionable, are you actually going to want to wear a style that is a few years old? If it’s still difficult to part with these items, put them to the side and wait a few months. If they are still in a box without being touched, it’s time to donate them.

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Some online clothing sellers buy a mannequin and industrial racks for their inventory. Credit: Shutterstock

23. Consider Reselling Your Clothes on eBay, Poshmark, or DePop.

Sometimes, we hold onto clothes because it’s too late to return them within a 30 day window, and they are still brand new with tags. After all, if you spend a lot of money on those clothes, so it’s understandable why you don’t want them to go to waste. It’s actually possible to get some, or even all of your money back by selling your clothes online. You should download eBay or Poshmark if you live in the United States. Anyone who lives in the UK can download DePop instead, but it’s the exact same concept.

You can research the value of your clothes by browsing eBay. Credit: Shutterstock

Just download the app on your phone or iPad, and follow the instructions to create a listing. Make sure to mention the measurements, as well as any potential imperfections that the item may have. You can print a label from home, and send the item to your customer. Once the item has sold, you can get a deposit in your PayPal account. This can be transferred to your bank, or used for online purchases.

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Boxes can help keep like items together. Credit: Shutterstock

22. Organize Items in Boxes and Baskets

There are some items like belts, scarves, and winter hats that take up too much room in a drawer, but they still need a place to stay organized. This is where boxes and baskets come in. They are perfect for putting on the top shelf of your closet, because they don’t necessarily need to be used on a daily basis. Label your boxes and baskets with tags, or consider buying a label maker.

A lot of people combine the Konmari folding method with organizational boxes. Credit: Shutterstock

Small cloth organizational boxes can also come in handy if you are trying to organize the inside of your drawers. For example, one box can have your bras, while another has neatly folded panties. And if you want boxes made out of a nicer material to divide your items in the closet, there are bamboo boxes, clear plastic, and more.

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Velvet jewelry trays fit nicely into a drawer. Credit: Architectural Digest

21. Organize Your Jewelry

Most women have a large jewelry collection with pieces they have collected over a lifetime. Unfortunately, if you don’t have a good organizational system, things can get lost or tangled very quickly. Depending on your personal situation, you may want to buy a jewelry tree to hang your necklaces, as well as a ring holder. Personally, I have a set of adhesive hooks that I bought online. They have a sticky backing, so they attach without any need to drill or nail anything to the wall. I keep them hanging near my full-length mirror so that I can try on my necklaces to see what looks best with my outfit.

Adhesive hooks are another option for displaying a necklace collection. Credit: Amazon

Some people would rather keep their jewelry collection inside of a drawer so that it’s not on display at all times. If this is the case for you, we recommend getting velvet-lined boxes that are specifically designed to fit each type of jewelry. Organizational trays can be your best friend, because they make it easy to see everything you own at a quick glance. This cuts down on a lot of time when you are trying to put an outfit together in the morning.

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A full Ikea walk-in- closet system. Credit: Ikea

20. Buy Ikea Closet Inserts

If you have ever visited Ikea, you already know the amazing dreams closet systems they have on display. But you don’t have to buy an entire new walk-in closet system. Ikea allows you to buy individual pieces, and install them into your existing closet. One of their most popular items is their white pants hanger. They also sell a sliding hamper system that makes hiding your dirty clothes really easy.

It’s possible to buy individual organizational items to fit into your existing closet. Credit: W T Fab

Just make sure to measure your closet before you go shopping at Ikea. Most hardware stores like Home Depot and Lowes also sell insert shelving for clothes and shoes, too. These might be a little more difficult to install on your own, but it is still worth checking it out if you want to add additional shelving without going all-out with a $1,000 closet makeover.

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The Konmari method makes it easy to see all of your clothing items at one glance. Credit: Shutterstock

19. Try The Konmari Folding Method

If you’re not already aware, the Konmari folding method is considered to be one of the best ways to store your clothes, because all of your items will be like a file-folder. Instead of digging through your drawers to find the item you want, you should be able to see everything in front of you, and quickly pick the item you want.

Before and after the Konmari folding method. Credit: Shutterstock

Not familiar with the method? You can watch Marie Kondo explain her folding method on YouTube, or watch her show on Netflix called Tidying Up With Marie Kondo. It takes a few tries to get the hang out it. And at first, it might seem to be very tedious. However, once you get in the habit of folding like Marie Kondo, you will see that it makes a huge difference in your clothing organization.

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Some people like to use the backwards hanger method. Credit: Burst by Shopify

18. Try the Backwards Hanger Method

The “backwards hanger method” has been suggested by several organization experts as a great way to identify which items you use the most. Basically, you start out by putting all of your clothes facing the same direction. Once you wear something, you will return it back to your closet pointing in the opposite direction from the rest of the items. This way, you can see which items of clothing have not been worn in a while.

By hanging your clothes in the opposite direction, you can keep track of your most worn items. Credit: Burst by Shopify

The backwards hanger method will make it blatantly obvious which items get the most love in your closet. Give yourself a set period of time. It could be a few months, or even a year. But once that time period has passed, make a commitment to yourself: If you haven’t worn a piece of clothing even once, it’s time for it to get donated.

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Safiya Nygaard’s makeup organizational system and vanity. Credit: YouTube

17. Organize Your Makeup

Depending on your situation at home, you might keep your makeup collection in your closet. Or, maybe your makeup collection is a mess, and you have absolutely no idea where to put all of your stuff. A lot of people like to buy a set of Ikea Alex drawers, and use each individual drawer for different categories of makeup. Depending on your situation, these drawers might fit into your closet.

One of Safiya Nygaard’s lipstick drawers. Credit: YouTube

An amazing inspiration video is by Safiya Nygaard called “I Got My Makeup Collection Professionally Organized”. Since Safiya is a beauty influencer, she gets a lot of free makeup sent to her from being on various PR lists. So, obviously, her collection is massive compared to the average person. But the tips and tricks she learns from professional organizers really is amazing. If you love makeup, it’s worth 23 minutes of your time.

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Thin hangers make it easier to fit more clothes into a smaller space. Credit: Wayfair

16. Use Thin Hangers

Some people love the idea of buying thick wooden hangers, because it seems far more luxurious and long-lasting. However, the problem with thick hangers is that it wastes a ton of space. The thinner your hangers are, the more clothes you can fit into your closet.

You can buy thin hangers online. Credit: Wayfair

We recommend getting thin velvet lined hangers. These are great, because your clothing will cling to them, and prevent it from slipping. Normally, plastic hangers can be slippery, and clothing items with thin straps tend to slide off really easily. It’s also a good idea to buy enough so that there is a fully matching set of hangers. This looks far more elegant than having multi-colored hangers that you have collected over the years.

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Drawer dividers can help keep your clothing organized. Credit: The Container Store

15. Use Drawer and Shelf Dividers

Earlier on this list, we recommend getting organization boxes to divide up the items in your drawers. But there might be some cases where a box won’t fit in your drawers. Or, you might need a space that’s larger than a box, but you still wish it could be separated somehow. This is where spring loaded drawer dividers come in. These make it easy to split your drawer space into two sections, and it can fit any size.

Cloth dividers help keep smaller items organized. Credit: Shutterstock

If you have a large closet shelving, you can also buy shelf dividers that help you keep piles of clothes separate from one another. It may seem simple enough, but keeping your belongings separated into different sections truly does make a big difference.

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I removed my closet doors to make it easier to access. Credit: InspiringHome.org

14. Consider Removing Your Closet Door

If you own your home, you might want to consider removing your closet door so that it’s exposed to the rest of the room. For some people, this sounds like a total nightmare, because it means that you can’t hide the inside of your closet from guests. But for some people, the fact that it’s always exposed might encourage you to keep it clean. And your closet can become a way for you to express your creativity.

Without a closet door, it’s easier to display those expensive installs. Credit: Shutterstock

Personally, I chose to remove my closet doors a few years ago. I used to have sliding doors that only allowed me to access one side of my closet at a time, so it felt very restrictive. Once the doors were removed, it immediately made the room feel bigger. A dresser of drawers was moved in there for folded clothes, as well as a metal shoe and coat rack. I am able to display some artwork and books on top of my dresser, but it would also be a perfect place for a jewelry and perfume collection. I also have a bookshelf with plastic baskets where I keep my random items like camera equipment, beauty products, and makeup. Some day, hopefully I can install a $1,000 Ikea closet system. But for now, I am happy that I was able to get this done for less than $100.

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Vacuum seal bags can help store clothing at the end of the season. Credit: Shutterstock

13. Store Last Season’s Clothing in Vacuum Seal Bags

When the weather changes, there are clothes that we don’t touch for months at a time. If you have the space to keep all four seasons in your closet, that’s great, especially since the weather can be unpredictable nowadays with climate change. But if you find that you are struggling to have enough room in your closet, one solution to the problem could be to put all of your off-season clothing in vacuum seal bags.

All you need to remove air from clothes is a vacuum and seal bags. Credit: Shutterstock

If you aren’t aware, vacuum seal bags suck the air out of the bag, which can take a pile of clothes and flatten it like a pancake. These can be stored under your bed, in the attic, or inside of a chest of drawers. This is especially helpful if you have really thick winter sweaters.

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How functional is your furniture? Credit: Shutterstock

12. Choose Function Over Furniture

Sometimes, the furniture we choose to use for clothing storage isn’t our most functional option. Do you find yourself going back and forth between multiple dressers or rooms before you can get an outfit together? Try to focus on the function of getting a good flow going while you are getting ready in the morning.

Always try to think about how easy it is to function in your closet. Credit: Shutterstock

For example, in Safiya Nygaard’s video called “I Got My Closet Professionally Organized”, her husband Tyler had a set of drawers in their bedroom that he held onto since his first apartment. After getting help from the professional organizers, they realized that it didn’t make much sense to have multiple sets of drawers and their closet, because it made it more confusing to find their items. By the end of the video, they were able to downsize and reorganize so well, that they extra set of drawers was moved to their guest bedroom.

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Figure out some of the biggest problems in your closet. Credit: Shutterstock

11. Identify Some of Your Biggest Closet Issues

We have made it to the end of the article, so hopefully you feel more prepared to tackle your closet issues. The problems you have with your closet are going to be different than the next person. So before you take advice from this article, or any video you might see online, identify what problems you personally need to tackle the most.

Cleaning your closet might be tough, but you can do it. Credit: Shutterstock

For example, a YouTuber named Safiya Nygaard and her husband share socks. So the professional organizers decided that the solution was just to have one shared sock drawer. For you, it may be that you don’t have a place for your dirty clothes, or that you don’t have enough space for shoes. Once you identify your biggest problem, that is where you should start. Good luck, and happy organizing!

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Hide cluttered items under the bed instead of the closet. Credit: Shutterstock

10. Store As Much as Possible Under Your Bed

For some of you, the suggestion to store items under your bed might be a no-brainer. However, there are a lot of people out there who have beds that go all the way down to the floor, or the legs are too short to fit anything underneath. This is a huge waste of space that could be used for storage. If at all possible, consider getting bed risers online. This can add 5 to 8 inches of extra space between your bed and the floor. Place your clothing and accessories in plastic bins or baskets, and label them so that it’s easy to find your items.

Use baskets underneath your bed with risers. Credit: Shutterstock

Recently, I removed all of my baskets from the shelves of my closet and put them under the bed. I already had things under the bed, but there was plenty of space left there for me to place the baskets underneath so that I don’t have to look at them every day. Now that they are hiding underneath the bed, it makes so much more sense. These were items that I rarely needed on a day-to-day basis, so it didn’t make sense to keep them out in the open. Now, it will be easy for me to just pull the baskets out from under the bed whenever I’m looking for something.

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When you arrange clothes by color, it makes it easier to find things. Credit: Shutterstock

9. Arrange by Color

There are a lot of different ways to arrange the clothing in your closet. The technique that is used by the designers at The Home Edit is to arrange everything by color. When you arrange items by color, it’s easier to find the clothing that you’re looking for at any given time. It also gives you a good idea of what colors you gravitate towards the most. This might be a good way for you to figure out what you need more or less of in your closet. For example, maybe you have an abundance of black clothing. You can decide if it’s actually necessary, or if it’s time to mix things up.

A rainbow closet makes some people happy. Credit: Shutterstock

The only downside to arranging your items by color is that you were going to end up mixing up items of different occasions and materials. For example, you might have a red formal dress next to a cotton t-shirt. If that bothers you, this arrangement might not work for you. However, there are a lot of people out there who swear by this method and believe that it’s the best organizational technique that they’ve ever used. Remember that there is no “right” way of doing something like this. Find what works for you, and stick with it.

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If you wear suits to work, it makes sense to keep them all in the same section. Credit: Shutterstock

8. …Or, Arrange by Occasion

As I just mentioned in the last bullet point, some people don’t like the color arrangement technique, because it might actually make things more difficult for you when looking for clothing that is appropriate for work. That’s why some people would rather arrange their closet so that the clothing is separated by occasion. There could be a section for formal, business casual, and casual. A millionaire real estate agent named Ryan Serhant has so many suits, he actually arranges his closet with one side full of cheap suits, and the other full luxury. This way, he can save all of his best pieces for special occasions.

Some people like to keep casual clothing separated from dressy outfits. Credit: Shutterstock

Arranging your closet by occasion will help you realize how many clothing items you have in each category. For example, I spent the majority of my twenties wearing business formal or business casual clothing 5 days a week. I wanted to be taken seriously, so I always tried to look professional and presentable. But when I started working from home, I realized that almost everything I owned was way too dressy for sitting around the house. After working from home for three years, my wardrobe has swung in the opposite direction, where the vast majority of my clothing is casual.

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A watch case like this will help keep accessories safe. Credit: Shutterstock

7. For Menswear Accessories, Keep Everything Safe in Cases

If you’re a man, or if both partners share the same closet, it’s important to display men’s accessories in a way that makes it easy to find what you need in the morning. Instead of stuffing your ties inside of a drawer, roll them up neatly so that you can see the pattern of the ties at a quick glance. An even better way to save space would be to purchase a hanging tie rack, which can fit on the bar with your suits and other clothing.

This wooden drawer insert helps keeps accessories organized. Credit: Shutterstock

Storing watches properly is important to make sure that they don’t get scratched or damaged. There are velvet lined watch cases that you can purchase online. These can be placed on top of a dresser, or put inside of a drawer for safekeeping. Same goes with sunglasses and any other accessories that could potentially get damaged if you leave them out in the open.

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A lot of people keep a storage ottoman at the end of the bed. Credit: Shutterstock

6. Store Excess Clothing in a Trunk or Ottoman

In a lot of luxury closet tours, you may have noticed a lot of people as ottomans. This serves multiple purposes. First, it gives you a place to sit down and put your shoes on and off. Second, it can double as additional storage. For example, My mom had an old cedar wood trunk she found at a flea market years ago. She used this for our Halloween and dress up costumes. So when I grew up, I also found an old trunk at a thrift store, and I use it for formal dresses that I wore on special occasions.

Leather trunks can be a great place for storage. Credit: Shutterstock

Some people like to use these ottomans for their shoe storage, and leave it at the end of the bed. This is perfect if you have older sneakers or sandals that don’t look aesthetically pleasing on display in your closet, but you still want to have them around. Also consider putting extra clothing into your suitcase. It’s likely that you’re not traveling very often, especially with the current state of the world. So it’s a perfect place to hide things away that would normally clutter your closet space.

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When you keep everything out in the open, it’s easy to see where all of your objects ae. Credit: Shutterstock

5. Strive to Keep Everything Visible

When you see videos of luxury closet tours, you might have noticed that they all have one thing in common. Every single item in that closet is visible. It’s almost like walking into a boutique where you can shop for clothing in your own house. This is because closet designers figured out a way to make every single piece of clothing visible at the same time. Most people don’t have the space to do this. So they crammed items into drawers, or they stock things on top of one another.

Design a closet like a boutique. Credit: Shutterstock

If at all possible, strive to make your closet look like you can find everything when you open the door. This might worst you to get rid of a lot of your clothing and consolidate it to a capsule wardrobe. But once you can see everything, this makes it a lot easier to put an outfit together. You’re also far less likely to forget that certain items exist.

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A full-length mirror helps to decide if you should keep a clothing item or not. Credit: Shutterstock

4. Buy a Full-Length Mirror

Sometimes, it can be difficult to figure out what clothes you should keep or give away. The only way that you can truly judge how good you look in an outfit is to see yourself in the mirror from head to toe. If you don’t already own one, it would make sense to invest in a full-length mirror. Every time you try on something, take a look in the full-length mirror. Your partner or friends might give their opinions, if they’re helping you clean. But be honest with yourself about how you look, and how the outfit makes you feel.

It’s easier to get ready in the morning if you look in a full-length mirror. Credit: Shutterstock

If you don’t have space in your bedroom for this mirror, this might also fit in your entryway, or somewhere else in the house where you can easily check yourself before you leave in the morning. Obviously, this is going to make your life a lot easier if you’re trying to stay fashionable and look presentable before you leave the house.

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Pinterest is a great platform for planning out your fashion. Credit: Shutterstock

3. For Future Purchases, Plan Your Next Outfit

Once your closet is clean, you have to put in an effort to keep it that way. If you immediately go back to buying a lot of clothes, your closet is only going to get messy again. A great way to cut down on the amount of clothing that you own and save money at the same time is to plan out your next outfit. This can be done with a Pinterest board. Save photos of outfits that really resonate with you, and identify the pieces that you would need in order to make that outfit come to life. Give yourself some time to really think about these outfits. Don’t jump into this, and check back on the Pinterest board a couple weeks after you first make it. If certain outfits still resonate a lot with you, it’s a good sign that you should stick to those pieces.

Plan your dream wardrobe on Pinterest. Credit: Shutterstock

The next time you go to a store, you can look for those specific items. I recently started doing this in 2020, mostly because I can no longer casually browse for clothing at the mall. Going to a clothing store is now an event where I need to get in and get out as quickly as I can. Usually, I wait for when I’m able to use my Old Navy Super Cash coupon once a month. When you start shopping for items in this way, you save money by avoiding random purchases that you weren’t expecting to make. It also adds few are close to your closet, and it guarantees that you are definitely going to use those pieces.

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How easy is it for you to find items in your closet? Credit: Shutterstock

2. Prioritize Your Closet Real Estate

No matter what shape or size your closet is, there are going to be sections of it that are easier to reach than others. So it only makes sense to put your most used items front and center. Once you figure out what your most important items are, it becomes easier to navigate where you’re going to put your other pieces of clothing. Formal clothes that are only worn once a year should obviously be put in the back of the closet where it’s hard to reach.

Put your most-used items front and center of your closet. Credit: Shutterstock

The same rules should be used for arranging the clothing in your drawers. For example, I keep my socks, underwear, and bras on the top shelf because they are things that I obviously need to use every single day. The bottom drawers are harder to reach, which is why I keep items that are not used as often. Overall, try to make things easier on yourself. Don’t put something out of reach, unless it’s something you use once or twice a year.

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This built-in wardrobe is in place of a closet. Credit: Shutterstock

1. Consider Buying an Additional Wardrobe

Sometimes, closets are so small, there is almost nothing you can do to fix it. No amount of organizational hacks or tricks will possibly help. This was the case for my brother John. He had an incredibly small closet, which only had space for his suits and other special clothing items. This is why he had to get a chest of drawers to fold his casual pieces every day. However, after a while, even the drawers were not enough to accommodate all of his clothes. This is why he went ahead and bought an Ikea wardrobe, which has a section to hang clothes, drawers, and shelving.

This is an example of an armoire you can purchase from Ikea. Credit: Shutterstock

Some houses or apartments might not have a closet in the bedroom at all. This is why a lot of these homeowners will have built-in wardrobe or cabinets installed along the wall. When you’re renting, it’s best to buy something like an Ikea wardrobe that can be moved when your lease is over. If you have a big enough budget for a renovation, I recommend buying floor-to-ceiling wardrobe closets. This helps to give the illusion of a higher ceiling in a small space, which will be important to balance the fact that the wardrobe is removing square footage from the room.

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