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It’s probably almost that time again in your home: time to switch out your summer wardrobe for your fall/winter looks, both in your own closet and, if you have them, your kids.
It’s not just about swapping out your summer wardrobe for fall attire; now is the ideal time to declutter, organize and refresh your closet. Here, to help you do that, and prepare for the cooler fall weather, are my top tips and easy to follow steps for successful seasonal closet organization.
Do the Big Purge
Purging and decluttering is the first step in freshening up your wardrobe and organizing your closet. Take the time to go through your summer clothes and accessories and see what you want to keep, recycle, or toss.
This first step in a seasonal closet organization project is where many people get stuck and frustrated. It does not have to be that way this year, though, as long as you follow an ordered closet organization process. If you haven’t worn it at all this season, toss it or donate it. If you have worn it, but it’s looking worse for wear, don’t hold onto it, toss it and then consider hitting the clearance racks to replace it – probably at a big discount – for something new.
If you are making the fall switch in your kids closets too, and will be doing some closet organization in their personal spaces, it’s OK to let older children do the initial sorting work, but given that some will, given the chance, hold onto a t shirt that’s three sizes too small for them simply because they like it, or it’s cool, you should step in after they are done to make a second edit to successfully declutter before you get to the closet organization part!
If you have a pile of your kids clothing to donate, go through it again before sending it straight to Goodwill. Clothing in very good condition can be sold on a third party thrift marketplace like Poshmark or Thredup rather than just given away. This may be an excellent way to reward kids for helping with a closet clean out and closet organization project– they can keep the cash when their stuff sells – and a way to give them a little extra spending cash.
Clean and Freshen Up Your Closet
While it’s empty, it’s a great time to clean and freshen up your closet itself. Vacuum or sweep the floor, dust and wipe off the shelves and get rid of any clothes hangers that are broken or damaged, as hanging your light summer clothing on damaged hangers not only looks bad but may damage them too. Once the closet is clean, freshen it up by adding fabric safe air fresheners, potpourri and/or scented drawers liners and scented hanger sachets.
Store Your Summer Clothing the Right Way
Whether you box everything up and store it away, or have another closet for out-of-season clothing, make sure you take the time to store your items correctly. Launder or dry-clean clothing – storing dirty clothing is a no-no- and then keep these tips in mind as you prepare to store your stuff as a part of your seasonal closet organization project:
Say No to Plastic or Cardboard Packaging.
Your clothing needs to breathe. Plastic bags from the dry cleaner, plastic bins, cardboard packaging etc.—keep your clothes trapped in them, and you’ll risk mildew, insects, and yellowing. The best storage container for your seasonal clothing is made of either linen or cotton. Oh, and they are better for the environment too, an added bonus.
These linen canvas storage bags are an excellent choice. They are roomy, eco-friendly and will protect the clothing inside effectively without harming it. If you fold your clothes nicely inside, they should be ready to wear as soon as you get them out again next spring!
Pretreat for Moths.
For extra protection from moths, consider adding lavender sachets to your stack of seasonal clothes. Lavender smells pretty to us, but is actively loathed by moths. But no matter how much you want to prevent holes in your pretty summer dresses and cool line pants, stay away from mothballs, which are toxic not just to moths but also humans and their pets.
Store Out of Season Clothing in a Dark, Cool, Dry Spot.
That means the basement and attic are often NOT a good idea for clothes storage, as both areas tend to be humid and musty. Many closets have a high shelf that is perfect for stowing your out-of-season wardrobe, or consider adding removable under bed storage to stash your warm weather clothes neatly and safely.
If you opt for under bed storage, there are organizers available that will get the job done very well but still look nice. I particularly like these fabric under bed organizers, as they are fashioned after faux drawer fronts, so will look attractive underneath your bed, and have the added advantage of handles to make them easy to slide in and out.
Try Different Closet Organization Methods.
As you add your fall and winter clothing to your closet in the final stages of your seasonal closet organization project, try making use of new and different methods to help organize your clothes and stay organized for months to come:
- Turn your hangers the opposite way and as you wear the clothes, turn the hangers the right way. This will make editing your closet later a lot easier.
- Use matching hangers for an instantly more organized looking closet.
- Organize your clothes by color to find items faster.
- Use zones in your closet – you can organize by outfits for days of the week, group by type of clothing (tank tops, long-sleeve, blouses, etc.), or whatever works best for you.
One question I have heard a lot when working with clients on closet organization is whether they should fold, roll or hang their clothes in order to keep them better organized and prevent damage. With that in mind, here are some basic guidelines.
Best Clothing Items To Fold
Pro tip: Items you fold are best to put in a closet shelf space. It is better to have more shelving to keep the “stacks” in order and not from getting too high. Clothing that is piled too high eventually falls, and ends up in a cluttered mess on the floor!
- Athletic/athleisure wear
- Sweatshirts that aren’t bulky
- Jeans
- Casual pants
- Long sleeve knit shirts
- Knit skirts
- Sweaters that aren’t bulky
- Lightweight shawls and some capes
Best Clothing Items To Roll
Pro tip: Items you roll are often best stored in drawers or a bin on a shelf. Many of these already don’t take up a lot of space – it’s easy to “corral” these smaller items and to see them all at a glance in a drawer.
Folding your tees into rectangular packets and “filing” them into your drawers is another idea so you can see the folded edge of every tee in the drawer. If you have more shelf space than anything, fold and stack them.
- Socks
- Ties
- Underwear
- Leggings
- T-Shirts
- Scarves
- Casual knit skirts
- Lingerie, camis, and lightweight sleepwear
Best Clothing Items to Hang
Pro tip: Definitely hang anything that you might otherwise have to iron. Many fabrics today can skip the iron if you remove it from a hot dryer immediately before they are completely dry and shake or hand-smooth the remaining wrinkles. This method works great for wrinkle free button down shirts and slacks.
- Blouses
- Tunics
- Sweaters that won’t lose shape to a hanger or are bulky
- Most tops that have zippers (make the extra effort to zip them up when hanging)
- Coats, jackets, large capes or ponchos
- Dresses
- Formal wear
- Robes
- Some sleepwear (usually winter) and nightgowns
- Tailored items like pants
- Business Attire
In the end, you will probably have personal preferences based on how your closet is designed and the amount of drawers you have. Maybe your current closet design does not meet your expectations and your tendencies for how you prefer to store your clothing investment. Maybe you are finding that, as you go through your closet and drawers, that you are disappointed because you truly forgot about items you purchased because they have been “buried” in a bad situation happening in your storage places.
This is where professional closet organization help is particularly effective. In person or virtually we can help you take stock of the closet space you have, the items you want to put back in it and your personal preferences about getting ready and come up with a closet organization plan that works for you, not against you, and will not only help ensure your closet looks tidy but will help enure that everything is visible, so those great clothing items don’t get lost again this season!
Ready to get your closet in shape for fall? Book a professional closet organization session here.
Working with Taya and her team is easy. You can book an appointment easily on her website, or contact her directly at 832-271-7608
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