How to keep your wardrobe organised (according to the pros)

When it comes to wardrobe organisation, many of us operate on an out of sight, out of mind basis. What's going on behind that door is none of our business! If you can't see the mess, it doesn't exist, right?

Except then you find yourself scrambling to put together the perfect dinner date outfit ten minutes before you need to be out the front door, and you know you saw the perfect shirt on your wardrobe floor just yesterday, but now you can't find it for love nor money. Face it, it might be time for a wardrobe reshuffle. 

It's a pretty daunting task, but with a bit of planning you can get that wardrobe looking shipshape in no time, and avoid those outfit crises! Retailer House of Fraser has partnered with decluttering experts, Hayley Harrison and Gemma Abraham from Organise-d, to provide some guidance.

It's best to start any big project by setting some goals and intentions. What outcome are you hoping to achieve by rearranging your wardrobe? Do you just want more space? Or maybe you fancy making a bit of extra money by selling the things you don't wear? Either way, figuring out your goals before you get started will help you fine-tune your approach. 

Hayley and Gemma say, "Whether you’re decluttering to make space for new items or looking to refresh your style, being clear on what you want out of your wardrobe space will help to inform the decluttering. To make sure you dedicate time to do it, schedule a decluttering slot in or break the chore into smaller sessions if you’re short on time."

The biggest culprits behind a messy wardrobe are those clothes you bought five years ago and wore once, if that. Sorting through your wardrobe and deciding what to get rid of is essential for restoring order—and don't be afraid to be brutal! Take a cold hard look at your clothes and ask yourself what you really need. 

A good tactic for working out how often you really wear your clothes is to turn all the hangers to face one way. Over the period of a month, every time you wear an item of clothing, turn the hanger the other way to mark that it has been worn. After a month you can take stock of what you're actually wearing.

"We recommend working your way through your wardrobe in categories of items," say Hayley and Gemma. "Sort through all coats, then dresses, trainers and so on. This will help you see clearly which categories you have multiples of, helping you to narrow these down. For example, if you have several white t-shirts, it might be time to clear out any tired ones.  

“If you’re struggling to part with an item, consider asking yourself: 

“For anything that makes its way into the ‘maybe’ pile, try these items on and scan the rest of your wardrobe for any coordinating items that could be worn with these pieces.” 

Map out your wardrobe space by categorising your clothing and putting like items together. For example, group coats and jackets together in one section of your wardrobe, and dresses and skirts in another. Colour block within the categories for maximum organisational impact (as well as aesthetic pleasure!). 

Hayley and Gemma advise, "Use slimline hangers to keep jackets, tops and trousers in place, making sure to avoid wire hangers as they can cause your clothes to lose shape. Remember to ensure that long hanging space is saved for trench coats and dresses. Save drawers for underwear, nightwear, swimwear and gym wear. Chunky, heavy knits that could stretch on hangers should be folded onto shelves.” 

To further organise items within your drawers, you can use trays or dividers. This will make it much easier to find matching socks in the morning when you're rushing to work—no need to pull everything out in a mad panic!

A great way to create space is to remove seasonal items from your wardrobe and pack them away in a damp- and moth-proof storage bag. These can be stored somewhere out of the way. There's no need for your big bulky puffer jacket to take up wardrobe space in the middle of summer! Just remember to give your clothes a wash before you store them away, as stains and smells will worsen over time.

"Rotate your wardrobe as the seasons change to create more space—plus it means you get a brand-new wardrobe each season!" say Hayley and Gemma. "For holiday wear, create a box to store these in to pack away, outside of your wardrobe. Realistically, you won’t reach for these items all year round, so separating these out could help to create more space in your wardrobe."

Hayley and Gemma advise against hanging your bags on a hook or hanger in your wardrobe. "This can cause the chain or handles to lose their shape," they warn. "Instead, place them on a shelf in the wardrobe or a flat surface, away from direct sunlight to prevent the material from fading. To reduce discolouration or marks, make sure your bags are separated from one another and not touching.

"If you’re tight on space, store each handbag in a box—just make sure to check up on them every few months to check for mould, mildew, cracking or other signs of deterioration."

Hayley and Gemma add: "Once you’ve done your clear-out, clean the entire inside of the wardrobe and chest of drawers before replacing items. If you keep shoes in your closet, you might find a build-up of dirt and debris at the back and in the corners so make sure to wipe this clean.

"Before you add items back inside, remember to add moth protection to protect your clothing. Hang a scented bag on one of the hangers to keep the wardrobe smelling fresh."