12 Easy Ways to Hack Your Wardrobe
Instead of letting the mess in your wardrobe overwhelm you, tackle it head-on with these smart and simple solutions
Luisa Rollenhagen
30 January 2015
Houzz Contributor. I am a passionate traveler, writer, reader, and debater. My previous haunts have included Buenos Aires, Berlin, New York, and now London. All of these places have introduced me to varied and unique styles of architecture, design, and a certain cultural standard of living, all of which I try to include in my daily work.
I've studied English Literature and Journalism at NYU in New York, and am now continuing to burrow myself into books at Kings College London. I have a socially unfortunate obsession with literature, film, and the newest shiny gadgets. I will nerd out over vintage typewriters and 3-D printers.
Houzz Contributor. I am a passionate traveler, writer, reader, and debater. My previous... More
Do the items in your wardrobe try to leap out and attack you every time you dare open the door? Have you already given up on ever finding your favourite shirt because it’s hidden behind a monstrous pile of balled-up scarves, stray socks and embarrassing novelty shirts? With a few easy, cheap and convenient space-saving solutions, you can rescue your wardrobe from becoming a hopeless black hole and instead bring some order into one of the most-used spaces in your home. Say goodbye to the days of desperately dodging a mass of handbags raining down on you, and instead be ready to embrace an organised and harmonious wardrobe.
Be merciless
The first step is the hardest. In order to properly evaluate what needs to be in your wardrobe (and rediscover those inappropriate cut-off shorts you bought five years ago and never wore), you’re going to have to take everything out first, and then separate the bad from the good. Donate or sell anything that doesn’t fit or you haven’t worn in over a year, and throw anything damaged or torn away.
The first step is the hardest. In order to properly evaluate what needs to be in your wardrobe (and rediscover those inappropriate cut-off shorts you bought five years ago and never wore), you’re going to have to take everything out first, and then separate the bad from the good. Donate or sell anything that doesn’t fit or you haven’t worn in over a year, and throw anything damaged or torn away.
Colour-coordinate
Now that everything is in piles on the floor, you may as well start sorting things by colour. Not only will your wardrobe look much more pleasing and automatically organised, you’ll also be able to select outfits with ease, and rapidly identify your favourite pieces.
Now that everything is in piles on the floor, you may as well start sorting things by colour. Not only will your wardrobe look much more pleasing and automatically organised, you’ll also be able to select outfits with ease, and rapidly identify your favourite pieces.
Alternate the way shoes are facing
By alternating your shoes in this way, you’ll be able to fit more of them on a flat surface.
By alternating your shoes in this way, you’ll be able to fit more of them on a flat surface.
Stagger your rods
By staggering your hanging rods at different levels in your wardrobe, you’ll be able to utilise every centimetre of space. Tension rods, such as the ones used for curtains, are particularly useful for this project, since they’re easy to install, adjust and remove.
By staggering your hanging rods at different levels in your wardrobe, you’ll be able to utilise every centimetre of space. Tension rods, such as the ones used for curtains, are particularly useful for this project, since they’re easy to install, adjust and remove.
Know what to hang and what to fold
Hang up anything made out of easily creased material, such as cotton and linen. Blouses, skirts, dresses, trousers, jackets and blazers are best kept on hangers, while knitwear and more durable shirts can be folded, thus allowing you to organise your wardrobe space according to your needs.
Make sure you allow for some space between hanging items, and invest in slim but structured hangers (no wire ones!).
Hang up anything made out of easily creased material, such as cotton and linen. Blouses, skirts, dresses, trousers, jackets and blazers are best kept on hangers, while knitwear and more durable shirts can be folded, thus allowing you to organise your wardrobe space according to your needs.
Make sure you allow for some space between hanging items, and invest in slim but structured hangers (no wire ones!).
Use as much vertical space as possible
Reach up as high as you can. Install tension rods, shelves or hooks right up to the ceiling of your wardrobe, and use the higher space to store bulkier or seasonal items, such as winter coats, boots and formal outfits.
Reach up as high as you can. Install tension rods, shelves or hooks right up to the ceiling of your wardrobe, and use the higher space to store bulkier or seasonal items, such as winter coats, boots and formal outfits.
Exploit pegs and hooks
Make the most of your wall space by using hooks and pegs to hang up handbags, scarves, ties and hats. They can be drilled into the wall, attached to a door hanger that slots over the wardrobe door, or mounted with the help of strong adhesive pads.
Make the most of your wall space by using hooks and pegs to hang up handbags, scarves, ties and hats. They can be drilled into the wall, attached to a door hanger that slots over the wardrobe door, or mounted with the help of strong adhesive pads.
Hooks and pegs can also be attached to the back of wardrobe doors in order to use up as much dead space as possible. Making everything in your wardrobe as visible as possible is crucial to ensuring every item is used and not left lying neglected in the farthest corners.
Check out 10 creative walk-in wardrobe ideas
Check out 10 creative walk-in wardrobe ideas
Don’t hide your pretty scarves or stylish ties away in the depths of your wardrobe. Display them proudly on the wall or against your wardrobe door with the help of pegs or adhesive hooks, and you’ll immediately give your space a colourful boost.
Stack your shoes
If you can, install shelves at the bottom of your wardrobe to store your shoe collection.
If you can, install shelves at the bottom of your wardrobe to store your shoe collection.
If installing shelves is too cumbersome, invest in a shoe rack instead, which is lightweight and durable. A slanted rack is a great space-saving solution.
Incorporate retractable features
Pull-out shelves or open drawers are a great solution for keeping an overview of all your belongings. They allow you to cram your collection of trainers into the farthest corner of your wardrobe and still be able to see what you’re working with.
Pull-out shelves or open drawers are a great solution for keeping an overview of all your belongings. They allow you to cram your collection of trainers into the farthest corner of your wardrobe and still be able to see what you’re working with.
Retractable hooks are also a handy addition to any wardrobe, since they allow you to still feel organised after having hoarded all those pretty little shawls from your last trip to India (or the second-hand shop).
Divide and conquer
There’s something about dividing things into little compartments that immediately makes anyone feel much more organised. So prepare yourself for organisational bliss by either buying or making some handy drawer dividers. You could use small gift boxes to create compartments or strips of thick cardboard to make your own dividers.
There’s something about dividing things into little compartments that immediately makes anyone feel much more organised. So prepare yourself for organisational bliss by either buying or making some handy drawer dividers. You could use small gift boxes to create compartments or strips of thick cardboard to make your own dividers.
Label containers
Boxes or baskets are great for storing lesser-used accessories and seasonal items, such as hats and gloves. But do take the time to label them all – it will take the guesswork out of remembering what’s in each one (just make sure you stick to the labels and don’t move items around).
Alternatively, consider transparent boxes: the clear sides will help you spot the items you need without you having to dig through each one.
Boxes or baskets are great for storing lesser-used accessories and seasonal items, such as hats and gloves. But do take the time to label them all – it will take the guesswork out of remembering what’s in each one (just make sure you stick to the labels and don’t move items around).
Alternatively, consider transparent boxes: the clear sides will help you spot the items you need without you having to dig through each one.
Make use of trunks
Old trunks are another stylish solution for seasonal clothes, such as thick jumpers, coats and winter bedding, and can also double as seating or bedside tables.
Discover the versatility of vintage suitcases
TELL US…
What’s your wardrobe like – tidy or a bit more freestyle? Share your organising tips and photos in the Comments below.
Old trunks are another stylish solution for seasonal clothes, such as thick jumpers, coats and winter bedding, and can also double as seating or bedside tables.
Discover the versatility of vintage suitcases
TELL US…
What’s your wardrobe like – tidy or a bit more freestyle? Share your organising tips and photos in the Comments below.
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Why or why. Do people keep so much stuff.
trishideas - folding sweaters - I have deep drawers in a built-in cabinet. With the sweater laying flat, arms out to side, and face down, I fold each sleeve over the upper back and then place a paper towel tube horizontally halfway down the sweater. I fold the bottom up over the tube so now my sweater is folded in half from top to bottom. The tube prevents a crease. Easy peasy! I have enough drawer depth so that the tubes don't all sit on top of each other and I also alternate the tubes front to back in the drawer. The drawers are also wide enough that I don't have to fold the sides of the sweaters. Hope this helps!
And for hanging shirts, etc, I found that pop tabs can be put over a thin flocked hanger and will hold another hanger flat against it. I don't feel those hangers are strong enough to hold more than one "attachment."
Not wanting to spend a lot of money on my closet, I put a chest of drawers in it for foldable clothes and dollar store clear plastic shoe boxes for shoes. I sort hanging clothes by type and color.