How to organize any closet, big or small

Even in larger homes, optimizing storage space can be challenging without a good strategy. So if you’re asking yourself how to organize a closet in the most efficient way, there are several steps that professional home organizers swear by when decluttering a client’s closet.

“Pull everything out, do a good editing session and get rid of items taking up unnecessary space in your closet,” Marissa Hagmeyer, the co-founder and chief operating officer of home organization brand Neat Method, sums it up.

Below, we broke down her advice into easy-to-follow steps that will help you organize a closet of any size.

How to organize a closet - Step by step

Organizing a closet is not difficult as long as you follow these easy steps that we'll discuss in more detail below:

• Step 1: Pull everything out of your closet
• Step 2: Sort everything by category
• Step 3: Set aside items you're not using or wearing anymore
• Step 4: Map out your closet space
• Step 5: Measure, measure, measure
• Step 6: Get the right items for closet organization
• Step 7: Add labels

Step 1: Pull everything out of your closet

The first major step is to empty your closet completely. Pull out everything—clothing, accessories, and other items, big or small, and lay them out in front of you. 

Hagmeyer says that this step is necessary because often, things might not be located in the most effective spot in your closet, especially if you've accumulated a lot of new clothing and accessories since the last time you did a closet overhaul. This will also give you an opportunity to rethink your entire closet organization.

Step 2: Sort everything by category

Group your clothing and footwear by category. For example, place your blouses together on one side and your jeans on another. You might have to subcategorize if you notice that you have too many items in one category. For example, you may subcategorize your tops by sleeve length or style (blouses or button-downs versus t-shirts). 

"It always looks worse before it gets better," Hagmeyer says. But at this point, your items should be organized by category and laid out before you. That will make it easier to see what you have duplicates of so you can edit down your belongings.

Step 3: Set aside items you're not using or wearing anymore

"We use the time to edit to set aside items that are stained, no longer fit, styles that you're not wearing anymore," Hagmeyer explains. "We would ask that you set those beside, say goodbye to them, and [...] pare down to all the items that you're really wearing and truly love."

Even the most organized space will feel cramped and cluttered if it's full of items you don't wear or use. Because it can be difficult to get rid of clothes, she suggests consigning your items for some money, which "can take the sting off a little bit."

When deciding what items to get rid of based on how often you wear them, Hagmeyer suggests considering the size of your closet and the available space. 

"In a small closet, you might need to be a little stricter with that time range," she adds. So, for example, if winter just ended, you may look at your winter clothes and set aside everything you didn't wear in the past three to six months. You wouldn't want to hold on to items and have them take up valuable space in your closet for next winter if you didn't put them on even once this past season. 

However, if your closet is larger, you may edit down your unworn clothes once a year.

Step 4: Map out your closet space

"You're going to decide what goes where, and you're going to prioritize the items that you use most frequently. So if it's summer, you're prioritizing tank tops, and if it's winter, you're going to prioritize your jackets and sweaters," Hagmeyer says. 

Prioritizing means using your eye-level shelves and rods, as well as other easily accessible spots for items that you frequently wear and use, and tucking everything else, like out-of-season clothing or occasional items like costumes or special occasion clothing and footwear in the back or the top shelves, of your closet.

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Step 5: Measure, measure, measure

Hagmeyer is adamant about measuring all the nooks and crannies of your closet before heading to the store or deciding what organizational products to invest in. By measuring first, you're going to avoid ending up with a storage box that hangs over the shelf or doesn't fit because it's a little too large.

"We even go as far as measuring some of the bulkier items. So if you were to buy shoe shelves, measure your tallest high heel, measure your tallest boots to make sure that if you're purchasing something for that item to live in, that it's actually going to fit in the solution, in addition to the solution fitting into the space," she advises.

Step 6: Get the right items for closet organization

Hagmeyer says that the number one mistake people usually make is to purchase closet organization and storage products before organizing their products and going through all of the initial steps.

"People would realize they have a problem because they can never find their shoes, and then they buy some of those over-the-door pockets to put their shoes, and they realize, this doesn't fit my heels," she explains. 

So, after you've organized, edited down your items, and measured your closet, you can finally go shopping for a few closet organizers.

Below, we listed a few items that make organizing your closet a whole lot easier.

Stackable shoe storage boxes

Buy it now on Amazon

These stackable see-through boxes can be placed in a closet and customized according to its dimensions. They are a good solution for storing shoes like sneakers, loafers, and sandals (you will need larger boxes for boots) or other accessories.

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Foldable stackable container organizer set

Buy it now on Amazon

These soft-side boxes are built with a sturdy metal frame that helps them keep their shape. They are waterproof and come with handles, among other features. They can be used to store out-of-season items like winter sweaters, heavier pants, or blankets.

Amazon Basics Collapsible Fabric Storage Cube Organizer with Handles

Buy it now on Amazon

These classic soft-side boxes come in handy for storing toys, clothing, and accessories. Because they do not have lids, as Hagmeyer suggests, you can place items you frequently use inside them.

Bar Flocked Hangers Black

Buy it now at Target

We've been using these slim hangers to store belts and scarves on a hanging rod in our closet. They save space and make it easier to keep those two categories of accessories easily visible and accessible in the closet.

Hanging Handbag Purse Organizer

Buy it now on Amazon

This organizer keeps our purses and beauty cases dust-free and easily accessible. We also use it to store foldable backpacks and fabric duffles.

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32-Compartment Drawer Organizer

Buy it now at the Container Store

Small items like socks and hosiery tend to end up in a messy pile in our drawers, which is why we invested in this plastic organizer with 32 compartments (the slots could also easily fit ties, rolled-up belts or baby and toddler accessories). One feature we love is that the size of the organizer could be customized by cutting off the slots you don't need or that don't fit a drawer.

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Cotton Gusseted Jacket Bag Natural

Buy it now at the Container Store

Yes, garment bags keep dust away from outerwear during the off-season. But they also keep bulkier jackets less puffy and in order (we hate having jacket sleeves always in our way when we open the closet doors). This one can fit up to three jackets and also comes in a longer version for longer coats.

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Vagusicc Wicker Storage Basket

Buy it now on Amazon

Storage baskets are a closet essential for professional organizers. We like to use the ones that come with machine-washable liners to prevent snags on clothing and knitted blankets and small items from falling out.

Stackable Bamboo Accessory Tray

Buy it now at Target

We use three trays to store jewelry in a closet drawer without taking up the entire drawer space because they are stackable. The velvet-like liner prevents scratches and dents. We've also found that the slots are big enough for standard-sized earrings, rings, and necklaces (for very large hoops or other oversized designs, you might need a different solution).

The Beadsmith Stackable 4 Box Organizer

Buy it now at Michaels

This set of four boxes is helpful for storing craft materials, as well as small toy parts (like Legos, for example). They all have different interior configurations and have lids that prevent the items from mixing up.

Laundry Hamper

Buy it now on Amazon

If you own a walk-in closet, this hamper can help you keep your laundry organized. It has three separate baskets that can be detached and carried via handles. The hamper also has a wooden top that can serve as a shelf for other essentials.

Sterilite 30 Qt Ultra Latch Box

Buy it now on Amazon

We always keep several of these lidded boxes nested in our garage because they come in handy for storing out-of-season clothing, footwear, accessories, toys, linens, and homeware items.

Zober Velvet Hangers 50 Pack

Buy it now on Amazon

Slim hangers such as these might save you a lot of closet space. They are dressed in a velvet coating that keeps delicate straps in place while also preventing snags. The swivel hooks rotate 360 degrees and are pretty sturdy—we've hung heavier winter jackets on them, and they held up pretty well.

Step 7: Add labels

Once you arrange your items in boxes, stackable bins, and baskets, put a descriptive label on each so you know what's in it. Hagmeyer avoids using too many see-through containers because, even in an organized closet, seeing so many belongings may lead to "visual clutter." She prefers using opaque, soft fabric containers.

"Sometimes, it's just visually nicer to put a label on it, but you don't necessarily have to see everything in that category all the time," she says.

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What to know about organizing your closet

Here are a few general rules and tips to keep in mind before you start decluttering and organizing your closet.

• Size of closet: The amount of your storage space depends on the size of your closet, and this will determine how you organize your belongings in it and how often you have to edit your clothing and footwear. Make sure you take your closet's depth into consideration, too, when you're deciding what kinds of storage products to purchase.
• Type of closet: Some of the most popular types of closet spaces are walk-in closets, which allow you a lot of flexibility when storing clothing, footwear, luggage, linens, and many other items. Armoires, or free-standing cupboards, are great for bedrooms and storing clothing. You can also place one in your hallway to use as shoe and coat storage space. Linen closets are useful for storing towels, blankets, and bedding. However, it is important to note that they tend to be narrower than standard closets. Walk-in closets offer the most storage space and can be customized with rods, shelves, and even a closet island for accessories.
• Types of items in the closet: City apartments have notoriously small closets, so if you have to store linens and clothing together, place bulky seasonal items like comforters or blankets in vacuum bags like these Amazon ones and store those on the upper shelves. 

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And if you're storing shoes and clothing in the same space, use stackable modular drawers to keep your footwear separate from your clothing. 

• Bins vs drawers: Place storage modules with drawers at or below eye level because they are easier to access, and you can immediately see what's in them when you open them. Opt for an open-top bin for upper shelves where you're storing items that you use fairly frequently. If you'd like to save space or you're storing items that you rarely use, use stackable lidded bins.
• Learn a few folding and space-saving techniques: File folding, a method made popular by TV personality Marie Kondo, consists of turning a stack of clothing upright so it sits vertically and can save you a lot of space. Replacing all your hangers with matching slim ones is also a great space saver. Optimizing your vertical closet space by using hooks or storing sandals or other types of footwear upright in a bin will also make a lot of difference when you don't have much storage space to work with.

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Closet organization questions answered 

What is the best order to organize closets?

Start cleaning up your closet by removing all items, organizing them by category, and then laying them out in front of you. Then get rid of everything you don't wear, pieces that are stained, or you have multiples of. 

Next up, decide where you're going to store each category of clothing or footwear in your closet, measure the spaces, and determine what types of storage products (bins, trays, rods, baskets, etc) you'll need to optimize the available space.

How do you organize a small closet with lots of clothes?

“Adopt the one-in-one-out rule," Hagmeyer says, according to which you have to get rid of one item every time you bring a new one to your closet. Maximize every available space in your closet, such as the back of your door, by installing hooks or a door rack for items like scarves or belts, shoes, other accessories, and smaller clothing items. You can also do a seasonal swap, where you pack out-of-season clothing and accessories and store them elsewhere (like a basement or under your bed).  

How do you organize a closet without shelves?

Smaller closets usually feature a clothing rod and a top shelf and not much else. If that's what's available to you, then once you hang your clothes, look into maximizing the space below them. 

"A modular shoe solution is relatively inexpensive, and you can stack however many, and there are different dimensions to get what you need," Hagmeyer says. 

Then, make good use of the space on that top shelf by stacking lidded bins and storing items that you rarely use there, or look into adding modular shelves inside the closet.