How to Organise Your Wardrobe (and Actually Keep It That Way!)

Ah, the wardrobe. A staple of the bedroom and a place where clothes go to disappear, bags tumble from the top shelf, and you can never seem to find the other shoe when you need it. Sound familiar?  

If your wardrobe is starting to look more like a “floordrobe” than organised and accessible storage, it’s time for a little overhaul. Here’s how to organise your wardrobe in 10 quick and easy steps. 

1. Start with a good clear-out 

Before you can begin organising, you’ll need to make some space in your wardrobe. Pull everything out and lay it on your bed. Yes, this may sound a bit extreme, but it’s the only way to see what you’re actually working with.  
 
Then, sift through each of your items and ask yourself these key questions: 

• Do I wear this regularly? 

• Does it fit properly? 

• Do I actually like it? 

If you’ve answered “no” to any of the above question, it’s time to donate, sell, or recycle. And here’s where you have to be ruthless. A wardrobe that’s only holding clothes you love is one that will be much easier to manage moving forward. 

2. Sort by category 

Now that you’ve cleared out the clutter and all that’s left are the items you love, it’s time to sort them out. Separate them out into categories that work for you. Here are a few suggestions to help you on your sorting mission: 

• Tops (long-sleeved, short-sleeved, vest tops, etc.) 

• Bottoms (jeans, trousers, skirts) 

• Jumpers & hoodies 

• Workwear 

• Dresses (got too many? Separate them into casual and formal.) 

• Shoes 

• Accessories 

Remember to keep items that you often pair together close to each other too – this should make getting ready in the morning so much easier. 

3. Arrange by season 

Organising your clothes by season can be a game-changer – especially if you’re dealing with a small wardrobe. In the UK, our wardrobes need to keep up with all four seasons (sometimes in the same week!). Try putting your off-season clothes — like chunky knits in summer or holiday clothes in winter — in a box or suitcase on the top shelf or under the bed. Then when the season changes, you can just swap things around again. 

4. Invest in some good hangers 

While it sounds simple, having uniform, quality hangers makes a huge difference in wardrobe organisation. Not only do they look nicer on your rails, they also help to keep your clothes from slipping to the floor. Velvet hangers are great for grip, while wooden ones are good for heavier items like coats and suits. And if you’re working with limited hanging space, consider thin, non-slip hangers to maximise hanging space. 

5. Make the most of your space 

Most wardrobes aren’t that spacious and as Brits, we tend to expand to fill our space and so even bigger wardrobes will benefit from efficiently. Here are some of our favourite wardrobe efficiency hacks: 

• Shelf dividers: These can help keep piles from toppling over. If you’ve got a stack of jumpers, a divider can be handy for keeping them from blending into your jeans. 

• Drawer organisers: For those of us with wardrobes with drawers, drawer organisers can be a great idea. They’re brilliant for sorting small items like socks, tights, and underwear and should prevent you from having to rummage around to find what you need every morning. 

• Hooks: Hooks come in handy for all sorts of accessories including scarves, bags, or belts. You can even hang them on the inside of the wardrobe doors to create extra wardrobe storage space too. 

• Over-the-door organisers: If your wardrobe doors can accommodate one, an over-the-door organiser can provide plenty of extra storage for shoes, accessories, or even hats. 

6. Fold like a pro 

For items you’re not hanging, folding them well is key to maximising drawer space and avoiding that dreaded morning pile-up. Try the Marie Kondo “file folding” technique, where clothes are folded into rectangles and stacked vertically. This way, you can see everything at a glance — no digging around in the wardrobe necessary! 

7. Keep accessories tidy 

Accessories like bags, belts, scarves, and hats can take up more space in your wardrobe than you think. Here are a few quick tips to help you keep things organised and accessible: 

• Belts and scarves: Store these on hooks or in boxes to ensure they’re easy to grab as and when you need them. 

• Bags: Stuff larger bags with tissue paper or spare socks to help them hold their shape. Smaller bags can be stacked or even hung up if you have space inside your wardrobe. 

• Jewellery: Use small jewellery trays or a hanging organiser for necklaces and bracelets to avoid that seemingly inevitable tangled mess. 

8. Label or colour-code 

If you’re one for organisation hacks, consider using labels or even a bit of colour-coding. Labels work especially well for boxes or bins where you might be storing things like shoes, accessories, or seasonal clothes. Colour-coding can look satisfying and make finding things easier if you have a large wardrobe. 

9. Get into the habit of regular tidies 

Once everything’s in place, set yourself up for long-term success by doing a quick tidy every few weeks. Just a five-minute check can help you catch anything that’s out of place before it snowballs into another chaotic wardrobe catastrophe. And doing a mini clear-out every couple of months or so can help you keep on top of the clutter. If you have new pieces making their way into your wardrobe, there’s likely older pieces that are now past their best in there too. 

10. Reward yourself for a job well done 

Once you’re done organising your wardrobe, you’ll have more than earned yourself a treat! After all that sorting, folding, and organising, we recommend treating yourself to something that will actually make you look forward to opening that wardrobe door. Maybe it’s a lovely scented sachet, a new scarf that goes with everything, or even just standing back and admiring your handiwork. 

With your wardrobe in order, getting dressed in the morning (or for a night out) can be easy, stress-free, and dare we say — fun? Here’s to a more organised, and way less stressful, start to your day.