Look, I’m not gonna lie—my closet used to be an absolute disaster. Like, “I found a single flip-flop from 2017 and a winter coat I swore I donated” kind of disaster. Last spring, after one too many mornings yelling “where the hell is my other sock?!”, I finally tackled it.
I tried all the Pinterest hacks, bought three different sets of bins that didn’t fit (ugh), and nearly gave up halfway through. But now? My closet isn’t perfect, but it’s functional, and I can actually find things without having a full meltdown.
Here’s what actually helped.
1. Purge Like You’re Moving
Start by pretending you’re about to pack up and move cross-country. That mindset helped me be ruthless. If I hadn’t worn it in a year or forgot I owned it, out it went. Bonus: I found two shirts I thought I lost.
2. Use Uniform Hangers
Swapping all my hangers to the same type made a huge difference. It looks less chaotic and takes up less space. I went with velvet ones—nothing slides off, and they feel kinda fancy.
3. Add a Second Hanging Rod
Game changer. I installed a second tension rod below the first one for short-hanging clothes like shirts and skirts. Doubled my hanging space and made it way easier to separate work clothes from everything else.
4. Baskets for the Win
Stuff like scarves, belts, and random accessories lived in a tangled mess before I got baskets. Now they’re grouped, labeled, and I actually use them.
5. Go Vertical
Turns out, I was wasting a ton of space above my top shelf. I added stackable bins and a little cube shelf to store bags and off-season shoes. Vertical space = hidden goldmine.
6. Shoe Shelf (or Just Stack Smart)
I used to toss all my shoes into a bin. Not ideal. Now I use a shoe shelf for everyday stuff and clear boxes for seasonal ones. It’s not Pinterest-pretty, but I can find both boots and flip-flops without digging.
7. Label Everything
I thought labeling was extra… until I tried it. Now I don’t have to open six boxes to find a beanie. Even just masking tape and a Sharpie works.
8. Use the Inside of the Door
I added a hanging organizer inside the door for small stuff—hats, gloves, even a lint roller. So handy. There are also hooks for bags or robes if you don’t want a full organizer.
9. Rotate Seasonally
Now I keep only the current season’s stuff front and center. Everything else goes in bins up top or under the bed. No more digging through swimsuits in December.
10. Drawer Dividers Are Magic
If you’ve got drawers, dividers keep them from turning into junk piles. I made some out of cardboard (DIY win), but you can also buy adjustable ones that don’t suck.
11. Hang Bags, Don’t Stack Them
Stacked purses fall over, always. Hanging them from S-hooks or special organizers keeps them upright and easy to grab. Looks better, too.
12. Use Clear Storage (But Not Everywhere)
Clear bins help when you forget what you own (hi, it’s me). But I also like a few opaque bins for the not-so-pretty stuff. It’s all about balance.
13. File Fold, Don’t Stack
This Marie Kondo tip? Actually works. I file-fold my tees and workout clothes so I can see them all at once. No more shoving things aside to find my favorite tank top.
14. Get Lighting In There
I had no overhead light (seriously, whose idea was that?!), so I stuck in a motion-sensor LED puck light. Now I can actually see what I’m doing. Wild concept.
15. Keep a Donate Bag in There
I hang a reusable bag in the closet for stuff I randomly decide I’m done with. When it’s full, I drop it off at the donation center. Way easier than pretending I’ll do a big purge later.
16. Make It a Space You Like
I added a little framed photo and a lavender sachet in the corner. Why not? Now my closet smells nice and makes me smile instead of stress-sweat.
Closet’s still not perfect (I will never stop hoarding hoodies), but it works. And I haven’t lost a sock in months. Let me know if you’ve got a closet trick I need to steal!