Are you tired of constantly struggling to find the perfect outfit in your cluttered closet? It’s time to take control and organize your wardrobe once and for all. After sorting through your clothing and deciding what to keep, it’s time to learn how to organize clothes in a closet.
Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. With this simple system, you can have your entire closet organized in less than an hour.
Say goodbye to the stress of a messy closet and hello to a more efficient and enjoyable morning routine.
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could organize your closet and have it stay organized?
After purging your wardrobe and keeping only the clothes you love, you need a system to organize your closet.
This simple closet layout works for any closet, for men’s and women’s clothing, and takes less than an hour to set up.
First, group your clothes by type, such as dresses, pants, shirts, and so on. Within each group, organize your clothes by color. This not only looks visually appealing, but it also makes it easier to find what you’re looking for.
For smaller items like scarves, hats, and jewelry, use drawer dividers or small baskets to keep them organized and easily accessible.
Consider using hangers that are all the same type and color to create a cohesive look. You can also use space-saving hangers like velvet hangers or cascading hangers to maximize your closet space.
To keep your closet organized, make sure to put your clothes back in their designated spots after each use. This will help maintain the system and prevent clutter from accumulating.
With this simple closet layout, you can easily find what you’re looking for and keep your closet organized for the long term.
Choose an Organizational System that WORKS
Having an organized closet can make your life easier and save you time.
But with so many organizational systems out there, how do you choose the right one for you? The key is to find a system that works for your lifestyle and habits.
One approach that has proven successful for many people is to organize your closet by category. This means grouping similar items together, such as all your shirts, pants, and dresses. Within each category, you can further organize by color or style.
Another important factor to consider is the layout of your closet. If you have a small closet, you may need to get creative with storage solutions such as hanging organizers, shoe racks, or shelf dividers. If you have a larger closet, you may have more flexibility in how you arrange your items.
Ultimately, the most important thing is to find a system that works for you and stick with it. As the background information suggests, even if your closet dimensions and layout change, having a consistent organizational system can make your life easier.
Remove Anything That Doesn’t Belong In Your Closet
To keep your closet organized and functional, it’s important to remove anything that doesn’t belong.
This means taking out clothes that don’t fit or that are out of season. By doing this, you’ll be able to easily find the clothes you can wear and won’t waste time trying to sort through items you can’t use.
If you have out-of-season clothes, consider storing them in a bottom drawer in your dresser or in a snap-top bin or under-bed box. This will help keep them out of the way but still easily accessible when the season changes.
Sweaters, knits, t-shirts, and workout clothes can be stored in your dresser. To save space, you can try file folding your clothing. This method helps you see all of your clothes at once and prevents them from getting wrinkled.
By removing anything that doesn’t belong in your closet, you’ll have a more streamlined and functional space that makes getting dressed a breeze.
Sort Clothing by Category
When organizing your closet, it is important to sort your clothing by category.
This means putting all pants together, all shirts together, and so on. Sorting by category forms the basis of an organized storage system.
To begin, determine which areas of the closet will belong to you and which will belong to your spouse or partner. This will give you a sense of the spaces you have to work with. Then, separate your clothes into their respective categories and place them together. This will make it easier to find what you need and help you avoid clutter.
Consider using storage solutions such as shelves, drawers, and hanging space to further organize your clothing by category.
By keeping similar items together, you can create a more efficient and visually pleasing closet.
Use the Least Accessible Areas of the Closet for the Least Used Clothing
When organizing your closet, it’s important to consider the accessibility of each area.
The least accessible areas, such as the space behind the door in a walk-in closet or the center where sliding doors overlap in a straight closet, should be reserved for the clothes that you wear least frequently.
This is especially useful for storing clothes that are only worn for special occasions, such as cocktail party outfits or formal business attire.
To keep these clothes organized, it’s recommended to use a zippered garment bag. This not only keeps the dust off but also makes it easy to see what’s inside. For those who attend business conferences or have a business casual dress code, blazers and ties can also be stored in this area.
By utilizing the least accessible areas of your closet for the least used clothing, you free up valuable space for the clothes that you wear on a daily basis. This makes it easier to find what you need and keeps your closet organized.
Divide Your Clothing into Categories: Sort, sort, sort!
When organizing your clothes, it’s important to divide them into categories to make the sorting process easier.
Start by sorting your pants in the following order: business, business casual, casual, and jeans.
Within each category, sort your pants by color, from dark to light. Begin with black, then brown, blue, grey, green, red, orange, yellow, pink, and white.
Within each color, sort from dark to light.
This will make it easier for you to find the items you want to wear.
Shirts can be sorted in a similar manner.
For men’s shirts, group long-sleeved shirts and short-sleeved shirts separately. Sort by color and then by hue within the color.
Women’s shirts have more options, but the method is the same. Group shirts by sleeve length (long sleeve, 3/4 sleeve, short sleeve, sleeveless, tank, spaghetti strap), then sort by color and hue.
If you have patterned shirts, such as stripes or florals, sort them by the most prominent color, which is usually the background color. This will help you find them more easily.
One benefit of this system is that all your sleeveless shirts will hang together at one end. This makes it easy to find them and prevents them from getting lost between bulkier-sleeved shirts.
By sorting your clothes into categories and colors, you can save time and easily find the clothes you want to wear. So, take some time to sort, sort, sort!
Double Rods Are Ideal For Organizing Shirts and Pants
When it comes to organizing your closet, double rods are a great solution.
With a top and bottom rod, you can easily hang your shirts and pants in an organized manner.
For men’s shirts, it is recommended to hang them on the top rod, while pants should be hung on the bottom rod. This is because men’s shirts tend to drag on the floor when hung on a bottom rod, which can lead to wrinkles and damage.
For women, the opposite is recommended. Pants should be hung on the top rod, while shirts are hung on the bottom. This is because women’s pants don’t stick out as far, reducing the visual weight of the closet when hung on the top rod. Additionally, it is easier to check labels on jeans that look very similar if they are hanging up higher.
When it comes to skirts and dresses, they should be organized by category – business, business casual, and casual.
Skirts should be hung next to pants so that all of your “bottoms” options are easily visible at a glance.
Dresses should be hung on a standard height rod in a visible spot, especially if you wear them often.
By utilizing double rods in your closet, you can easily organize your shirts and pants while reducing the risk of damage and wrinkles.
Organizing The Extras: Shoes and Accessories
When it comes to organizing your shoes and accessories, there are a few things to keep in mind. First of all, it’s important to find a system that works for you and your space.
Hanging shoe racks can be a great option, as they keep your shoes off the floor and easily visible. If you prefer to keep your shoes in boxes, make sure to label them clearly so you can find what you need quickly.
When organizing your shoes, consider keeping your in-season shoes at eye level and your out-of-season shoes lower down. This makes it easy to rotate them as the weather changes and ensures that you always have the right shoes on hand.
For accessories like belts, an over-the-door rack can be a space-saving solution. Scarves can be folded neatly on a hanger, but if you’re looking for a better option, consider a scarf organizer or hanger.
For handbags, clear acrylic dividers can help keep them upright and organized on a shelf in your closet.
Remember, the key to organizing your shoes and accessories is to find a system that works for you and stick with it. With a little effort and the right tools, you can keep your closet clutter-free and always find what you need.
Related Posts:
If you’re interested in learning more about organization, check out these related posts:
- How to File Fold Clothes to Keep Them Organized
- 9 Quotes to Help You Get (and Stay) Motivated to Declutter
- Environmental Self-Care for Women Over 50: How to Love Where You Live
These posts can provide additional tips and inspiration for keeping your home and life organized.
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“Opening up your closet should be like arriving at a really good party where everyone you see is someone you like.”
Amy Fine Collins
Final Thoughts on How to Organize Clothes in a Closet: The Most Efficient Method
Organizing your closet can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. With a little planning and effort, you can have a beautiful and functional closet in no time.
Remember, the key to a well-organized closet is to have a plan and stick to it. By following these simple tips, you can transform your cluttered closet into a functional and organized oasis.
Happy organizing!

Lori is an energetic woman in her early 60s, dedicated to living life fully through self-awareness and self-care. Inspired by her own transformative journey toward confidence, self-love, and positivity, she writes with genuine passion and authenticity.
With degrees in Psychology, Education, and Nonprofit Management, Lori’s diverse career has spanned education administration, counseling, teaching, conference planning, and the rewarding chaos of full-time motherhood. What ties these experiences together is her steadfast commitment to uplifting others.
Today, Lori focuses her energy on empowering mature women, advocating for the vital role of self-care in building confidence and joy. She firmly believes that every woman in midlife deserves to feel capable, radiant, and fulfilled. Join Lori as she shares insights and inspiration to help you live your best life!

I’m an expert at what to wear and what to keep in your closet, but keeping it organized is another story! Great read, very helpful.
Thanks, Shereen!
We just moved and I really need to implement some of these tips. They sound like they would definitely help us sort the chaos! x
Isabella
http://www.IsabellaDavid.com
Congratulations on your move! I know most people find moving super stressful – I think of it as an adventure (25 houses so far!) Thanks for reading!
This is a great post! You’re right, organization posts usually end after everything is cleaned out. This is helpful to put it all back together!
Thanks, Carolyn!
I like how you color code everything. My closet is an embarrassment. I can’t remember the last time I saw the carpet in my closet. You gave me inspiration for how to spend my day off Friday. Thanks.
Thanks for reading! And you CAN do this – it won’t even take all day Friday!
I’m impressed with your level of organization! I keep my closet similarly organized, with long sleeved shirts on one side, short sleeve on the other, all sorted by color. Tank tops go in drawers, and so do pants. I live in Arizona so we don’t have much for seasons, so no need to rotate seasonally! I don’t try tackling my husband’s side of the closet ;)
It makes everything so much easier, doesn’t it! Thanks for reading, Alissa.
Very informative, thanks!
Great tips! Will definately implement some of these.
Glad to hear it, Lisa! Thanks for reading!
What an efficient way to organize and de-clutter your closet. Love these tips!
Thanks for reading, Leanne!
Great tips! Makes me want to go redo my closet haha
Thanks, Hillary!