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11 Foolproof Ways to Organise Your Wardrobe
Turn your wardrobe into a storage haven with these simple solutions
Vaishnavi Nayel Talawadekar
4 February 2018
Houzz India Contributor. Internationally published architecture, design and art journalist. www.mangomonk.com
Houzz India Contributor. Internationally published architecture, design and art journalist.... More
Are you greeted by an avalanche of endless items every time you open your wardrobe? Are your best kurtas scrunched up under layers of mismatched socks? Do you spend centuries trying to find a respectable outfit every time you decide to go out? If you answered any of these questions in the affirmative, it’s probably time you rang in the new year with a welcome round of organising. Give your wardrobe a makeover with these 11 simple solutions!
1. Dump the junk
Always start with the basics and work your way up. In this case, that would mean cleaning out your wardrobe to assess what you really need to put back. In all likelihood, you’ll have clothes that you may have outgrown. It’s a good idea to donate these to make more space for items you already have or will acquire in the future. Hard as it is, downsizing your wardrobe is a necessary step.
Always start with the basics and work your way up. In this case, that would mean cleaning out your wardrobe to assess what you really need to put back. In all likelihood, you’ll have clothes that you may have outgrown. It’s a good idea to donate these to make more space for items you already have or will acquire in the future. Hard as it is, downsizing your wardrobe is a necessary step.
2. Sort by occasion
Once you’ve emptied your wardrobe, take a good, hard look at the space available to you. Sorting by occasion will allow you to divide your clothes into categories like daily wear, weekend wear, office wear, ethnic wear and occasion wear. When it comes to storage, every recess you use within your wardrobe should suit the clothes you assign to it. Lehengas, shararas, anarkalis, blazers and formal suits, for instance, are better hung up than folded, so it’s worthwhile reserving a vertical space for them. Everyday apparel like leggings, t-shirts and jeans, on the other hand, can be given spots on the shelf.
Once you’ve emptied your wardrobe, take a good, hard look at the space available to you. Sorting by occasion will allow you to divide your clothes into categories like daily wear, weekend wear, office wear, ethnic wear and occasion wear. When it comes to storage, every recess you use within your wardrobe should suit the clothes you assign to it. Lehengas, shararas, anarkalis, blazers and formal suits, for instance, are better hung up than folded, so it’s worthwhile reserving a vertical space for them. Everyday apparel like leggings, t-shirts and jeans, on the other hand, can be given spots on the shelf.
3. Exploit your doors
Pegs and hooks create useful hidden storage when tacked onto the inside of your wardrobe doors. Decide between individual pegs and multiple-hook pegboards, based on the space at your disposal. Go ahead and hang purses, jewellery and scarves and lend your accessories visibility and easy access. Remember, though, that the space between your door and your shelves dictates how far you can go with door storage. The wider the gap, the more you can hang.
Pegs and hooks create useful hidden storage when tacked onto the inside of your wardrobe doors. Decide between individual pegs and multiple-hook pegboards, based on the space at your disposal. Go ahead and hang purses, jewellery and scarves and lend your accessories visibility and easy access. Remember, though, that the space between your door and your shelves dictates how far you can go with door storage. The wider the gap, the more you can hang.
4. Opt for multilevel storage
It would be wise to fit multilevel storage mechanisms to maximise every inch of your wardrobe. Create storage capsules like the ones shown here. These vertical and horizontal segments compartmentalise the space and make more room for orderly storage, rather than a teetering stack where what you want is always at the bottom.
It would be wise to fit multilevel storage mechanisms to maximise every inch of your wardrobe. Create storage capsules like the ones shown here. These vertical and horizontal segments compartmentalise the space and make more room for orderly storage, rather than a teetering stack where what you want is always at the bottom.
5. Redistribute the contents of your wardrobe
Your collection of clothes and accessories need not necessarily be contained within the walls of your wardrobe. A line of hooks or a series of baskets can easily hold a portion of your belongings. You could also consider using other furniture you may have available in the house, like a closet in another room, a dresser or a drawer.
Your collection of clothes and accessories need not necessarily be contained within the walls of your wardrobe. A line of hooks or a series of baskets can easily hold a portion of your belongings. You could also consider using other furniture you may have available in the house, like a closet in another room, a dresser or a drawer.
7. Stow away seasonal wear
Most of us only need winter wear for a few months of the year. When you’re not using your sweaters and pullovers, it’s a good idea to stow them away. Pack them in vacuum bags and place them in the loft, under the bed or in a storage unit you might have.
Most of us only need winter wear for a few months of the year. When you’re not using your sweaters and pullovers, it’s a good idea to stow them away. Pack them in vacuum bags and place them in the loft, under the bed or in a storage unit you might have.
8. Install retractable elements
It can be hard to navigate the farthest corners of your wardrobe. Here’s where retractable shelves, hooks and rods can help. Slide them out when you need to reach an item, then push them back into position. The retractable rods, shelf and hooks in these two closets are examples of space-saving, ergonomic storage.
It can be hard to navigate the farthest corners of your wardrobe. Here’s where retractable shelves, hooks and rods can help. Slide them out when you need to reach an item, then push them back into position. The retractable rods, shelf and hooks in these two closets are examples of space-saving, ergonomic storage.
9. Expand your hanging space
By increasing your rod-to-shelf ratio, you can store items in a more systematic way and arrest that growing heap of tangled outfits. A hanging arrangement saves you from raking through a pile of clothes every time and makes finding your favourite blouse a breeze.
By increasing your rod-to-shelf ratio, you can store items in a more systematic way and arrest that growing heap of tangled outfits. A hanging arrangement saves you from raking through a pile of clothes every time and makes finding your favourite blouse a breeze.
10. Invest in sturdy hangers
Trade in your wire hangers for sturdy wooden shouldered ones. They may be costlier, but they’ll treat your clothes a whole lot better. Wire hangers can strain, crease and stretch your garments. By upgrading your arsenal of hangers, you can keep your clothes in their original form and create an aesthetic arrangement within your wardrobe.
Trade in your wire hangers for sturdy wooden shouldered ones. They may be costlier, but they’ll treat your clothes a whole lot better. Wire hangers can strain, crease and stretch your garments. By upgrading your arsenal of hangers, you can keep your clothes in their original form and create an aesthetic arrangement within your wardrobe.
11. Roll up your socks
Socks have a mysterious way of losing their mates. A practical way of storing socks is to tuck and roll them. Put the socks together and roll back the top of one over the other, and then roll them up. Alternatively, there are several YouTube videos demonstrating the many ways to fold and store socks – take your pick.
Socks have a mysterious way of losing their mates. A practical way of storing socks is to tuck and roll them. Put the socks together and roll back the top of one over the other, and then roll them up. Alternatively, there are several YouTube videos demonstrating the many ways to fold and store socks – take your pick.
12. Divide your drawers
Drawers can end up becoming chaotic cavities without specified roles. By creating internal partitions, you can use every square inch of every recess.
With these storage tips, finding the clothes you want will be less of a struggle – and anything that eases the daily travail of deciding What to Wear Today is worth trying. Make a new year resolution to give yourself a nice, organised wardrobe – it’s never too late.
Read more:
Expert Tips on How to Organise a Wardrobe Perfectly
12 Ways to Live Large in a Small Closet Space
Tell us:
How do you organise your wardrobe? Share your ideas in Comments below.
Drawers can end up becoming chaotic cavities without specified roles. By creating internal partitions, you can use every square inch of every recess.
With these storage tips, finding the clothes you want will be less of a struggle – and anything that eases the daily travail of deciding What to Wear Today is worth trying. Make a new year resolution to give yourself a nice, organised wardrobe – it’s never too late.
Read more:
Expert Tips on How to Organise a Wardrobe Perfectly
12 Ways to Live Large in a Small Closet Space
Tell us:
How do you organise your wardrobe? Share your ideas in Comments below.
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