Do you dread approaching your closet each morning? Let’s discuss creating a space you love and enjoy visiting. If you’ve been on this style journey with me for a few years, you may already have your dream clothing and accessories collection. How is it all arranged? After several downsizing adventures, I’ve learned much about making the most of small spaces.
Pants, long tunics, and skirts are hung on the bar to the left. They are arranged so that the longest pants are in the back of the closet, and the skirts and tunics are near the center for easy access. I also hang the camisole and tank hangers (detailed below) here since more length is required. Moving to the top bar on the right, tanks, tees, bodysuits, and various tops are arranged from lightest to darkest, followed by button-up shirts and blouses. The bottom bar houses sweaters, cardigans, and sweatshirts. Keeping colors together from lightest to darkest allows me to find what I’m looking for in a moment.
I don’t wear my statement heels as often these days, but I still enjoy seeing them there ready for me when I need them. I hang lightweight sweaters inside out on felted hangers so that hanger bumps are inside. That way, I don’t have to steam the item before wearing it. I don’t wear bulky cardigans and sweaters, but if I did, I would fold them and store them on shelves.
Small, unusable wall space is on each side of the closet doors, so I measured the space and looked for appropriate vertical shelving. The rolling rack was the first storage item I purchased when I moved in with Mr. Mickey over two years ago. When I close the closet doors, the rolling rack fits neatly in front of them.
I leave this rack mostly empty to air out something I’ve worn for a couple of hours or extra hanging space while ironing or packing for a trip. I also have many over-the-door hooks for the same reasons. Similar hooks are here.
I use pant hangers to store scarves and tank hangers for camisoles and tanks. These tank hangers saved more than a foot of space on the bar since they now take up only the space of two hangers.
I’ve considered how best to use every inch of space in my closet and office.
I store clutch bags in one shoe holder and flat summer sandals in the other.
A dresser top houses handbags and a tote organizer (here), where everything I might need in a bag is kept. Since I change handbags often, this system allows me to take only the necessary bits without forgetting anything. When I get home, I take everything out, put it back in the felt organizer, and return the day’s handbag to its spot. (The tulip birthday card features an original painting by a long-time blog follower. Thank you, Cathy!)
Across from the door is an area just large enough for a full-length mirror, and beneath it is another wooden shoe rack.
This shelf houses the dressy heels and flats I wear most often. A similar shelf is here.
We sometimes walk by a display bookshelf near the entry foyer but only touch it to dust, so I parked another rolling rack in front of it. Here, I hang vests, jackets, blazers, and dusters. Dresses, trench coats, and winter coats are in the small entry coat closet. (Summer clothes are now in my climate-controlled storage unit.)
Consider how your favorite boutique is arranged; that might be a guide for how you want your wardrobe to look. I prefer seeing everything so that I don’t forget what I have.
The dining area has only been used twice in the past twenty years, so I asked Mr. Mickey if he would mind if I used it to create a boutique display with jeans and bags. Should we ever have guests, I can remove everything in minutes and store it in my office.
Another empty floor space in the dining area was just the right size for another shoe rack.
I adore the look of your storeage and will definitely emulate some points. I am not one to keep unworn items but after charity gifting regrets occurring too often, I now have an ornamental box where I store something for 2 years before it goes to charity.
I am speechless!
Your organization skills are another of your talents. It does no good to own things if you can’t find them. Well done!
Thank you, Donna.
Dear Susan, this closet is perfectly tidy. The most apparent and impressive is the superb “collection” of shoes which I really love. Low heels, high heels… it’s a real pleasure. All my attention and my preference for high heels that I can see, ready to wear when occasions will happen soon, I hope.
Thank you very much for this posting, Susan. I have recently moved and have been trying to organize and then reorganize my wardrobe(s). This detailed post and the photos couldn’t have come at a better time. Inspired and grateful am I.
I’m happy to be helpful, Carol. I hope you enjoy your new home.
This was very helpful. I just have a closet like yours. I used to have a walk in closet that I liked and could organize. I also like to see everything I have because I get ideas for outfits.
These racks and shelves might be the answer.
Some great suggestions here.
Very timely to read this as I will be downsizing soon. My problem is I love my clothes and it’s so hard to downsize my clothes! I used to sew many years ago and have some clothes that I can still wear that are 30 years old and don’t look dated. My mother was a clothes lover as well and while I did pass on most of her clothes when she died 10 years ago, I hold onto to some of hers that I can still mix in with what I have. I need help to break my emotional ties with some of my clothes!
I have found the fewer clothes I have, the easier it is to get dressed. Since I can mix and match many outfits out of a few pieces, it doesn’t appear that I’m stuck in a rut wearing the same things on repeat. When I retired 7 years ago, I donated a lot of my business wear and reduced my collection of shoes from 50 pairs down to 25. It’s much easier to manage and I just keep those pieces I love the most.
When I started blogging thirteen years ago, I lived alone in a five-bedroom house. The walk-in master closet, as well as the other four closets, were full. You can just imagine how much I’ve let go of. I like my wardrobe now much more, and it is easier to get dressed with fewer decisions.
Hi Susan, your closet is very well organized I think it’s perfect. Storage can always be a problem. When I retired 4 years ago I did a huge clean out and our local Hospice got many bags of clothes, shoes and scarves. Now I have just what I need and wear all the time in my closet for summer and winter clothes in the guest room. I actually noted how you organized your closet before on one of your blogs and used that for inspiration. What a pleasure it is to get dressed in the morning. Thank you so much.
Keep safe and well.
God bless
ELIZABETH SA
Goodness gracious Susan!! I thought I had a lot of shoes!! Recently donated heels I can no longer wear due to foot surgery….and I miss them.
I’m confused by your closet. It looks like you have storage racks all over the house, including the dining room table.
We always eat in the breakfast nook, so the dining room table was never used. I store things in part of the dining area outside my office, but not all over the house. Except for the rolling rack and one shoe rack, all the other elements are in my office.
I’ve always kinda wondered how in the world you dealt with your wardrobe so thank you for revealing your ways of storing pieces. You might be the only other woman ‘I know’ who has as many pairs of shoes as I do! My husband’s nickname for me is Imelda. Oh well, I always say to him there could be a lot worse things to be addicted to! My winter selection is mainly boots and ‘big shoes’ for snowy, muddy, wet conditions so I have a storage area on our back porch or mud room. Since I have ‘barn chores’ for my horse it’s sometimes a challenge to keep the mud outside!!! All the best and we’re lucky to have tolerant men in our lives – – – or they’re lucky to have such wonderful women like us in theirs.
So, I’m guessing you don’t store any of your clothes in a dresser? I think it’s such a better system to have everything out and organized, like you do. My problem is I just have everything OUT!
Undies, hosiery, sunglasses and socks are in drawers.
Golly, I don’t have that many clothes. What I do have is concealed and our shelves on view have books and mementoes on display for our joy and the joy of any (like family) who might visit.
In the wardrobes, clothes are stored by colour and style. Foldables are pressed and concealed in a large antique cedar chest of drawers. Handbags are in their dust bags and stored on a high shelf of the wardrobe. Ditto longer scarves. Smaller silk scarves are folded and stored in their own drawer in the chest of drawers. Shoes are cleaned and stored on the floor in the wardrobes. Coats and jackets are stored in a coat cupboard in the office. Formal silk clothing is stored in a wardrobe and never ever under plastic. It is removed periodically and allowed to breathe.
Every storage area has either cedar balls, pomanders or fragrant anti-insect blocks within.
Each person has their own method of storage I guess. As long as it’s tidy and cares for the clothes, it’s all that matters. I do have a policy of spring cleaning and anything that’s not worn for over 12 months (unless it brings joy), is sent to clothing charities.
Thank you for sharing your closet and creative organization with us.
I can’t speak for all of your readers, but frankly I was shocked at the amount of clothes/accessories you display, not counting those we don’t see in the entry coat closet and the storage unit (storage fees!). I guess you always came across as more disciplined than this. No matter how you cut it or excuse it, this is excess. And you obviously don’t realize it or you wouldn’t have written this column. That radio silence is your audience seeing another side of Susan.
Remember that I have earned a living as a blogger for thirteen years. My collection would seem excessive if these were not also the tools of my trade. I don’t have children, pets, or hobbies. I spend most of my time caring for and serving others. Showing how I store and organize what I enjoy was meant to inspire you with functional ways to arrange or store your items.
I too was surprised at the quantity of items in your closet. I was beginning to feel guilty of having so many clothes, shoes, etc in MY closet. I honestly thought you had a time capsule wardrobe. You win on content! HOWEVER, you did organize everything quite well. I expected a professional organization cabinet system. It’s nice to see you live as the rest of us with a normal closet and lots of clothing. Thank you for sharing. Ladies…don’t be afraid to shop!