Cleaning out and organizing your overflowing closet can seem like a very daunting task indeed, but with these easy to follow steps and tips your closet will be in tip-top shape in no time to show off to your friends and shave minutes off your morning routine; no more, “I have nothing to wear today,” tantrums.

Make sure you have plenty of time set aside to tackle this large task; pick a Saturday afternoon or clear your schedule for the night to give yourself plenty of time. Nothing is worse than being cut short of your task to pick up the kids — or the fact that you are exhausted because you started to pull all the junk out on a whim at midnight.

Closet Organization Ideas

Have a plan of action: what is your goal? Simple organization, do you need to get rid of clothes, do you need to make more space, etc? 

Prior to your organization date with your closet, browse online or through catalogs of organizers from Ikea, Target, or OrganizeWorld.com for bins, boxes, hangers, and shelving options to use. It is a good idea to buy two different colored hangers (one color for work, one for play). The hangers should be of the same style to have a uniform appearance in your closet. 

Take everything out of the closet and put it on your bed or the floor. Once everything is out, wipe off any dust, pick up any trash, and vacuum/sweep the floor. You always want to start with a clean space.

 Next, put it your shelving organizers if you plan on using any.

 As you start to move clothing back into your closet, discard any clothes that do not fit, that you do not like, or that you have not worn in over a year. Then separate work clothes from play clothes on different colored hangers. That way when you are rushed for time in the morning, you will automatically know what you can wear to work and you will not waste valuable time shifting through piles of clothing.

 Store items that you only wear occasionally in a box or bag under the bed or in the hall closet. You do not want to take up space in the closet for a dress or costume that you only wear once every two years.

 There are two approaches to organizing your clothes: by color or by item. If you are working by color, start with black at one end and white at the other. If you are working by item, organize your clothes in a manner similar to this: tank tops, casual t-shirts, dressy tops, long sleeve shirts, sweaters, and jackets. Keep your dresses, skirts, and pants separate from your tops.

Shoe Organizing Ideas:

Organizing shoes can be such a pain because they do not fit anywhere easily and are not stackable. Try using the same style boxes and label them. Alternatively, if you prefer to see the shoes store them in plastic, transparent containers. Place outside boots in the hall closet or elsewhere so that the floor does not get dirty over time. Stack shoes you wear on a regular basis on the floor of the closet or at the shelf that is at eye-level. Shoes that you do not wear that often or that are out of season can be stored on higher shelves. Tall boots can be stored on the ground, right side up, or you can invest in larger boxes to store them in as well. Be clever and come up with some of your very own closet organization ideas! For jewelry, ties, and scarves: buy hooks or special organizers to hang on the back door or inside wall of your closet. There are many options, but buying the organizers that will be put to best use and help with saving space are the ones that will be worth their cost!