Anyone who works in fashion, or has a vague interest in clothes, aspires to have The Wardrobe. A capacious walk-in closet, glass-fronted shelving, bespoke compartments – it’s likely there’s a version on your Pinterest board. For most of us, the reality is more like the ‘before’ picture of a home makeover – think saggy hangers and bags stuffed inside other bags. A health hazard, yes, and most definitely a crime to fashion.

Interior designer Rita Konig once said, ‘unless there is proper storage in a house, life quickly unravels into chaos’. Dramatic, but true. If getting dressed in the morning leaves you in a tizzy, it’s likely down to your wardrobe or lack thereof. A messy, disorganised space will not only leave you uninspired; chances are you’ve forgotten most pieces exist. It makes perfect sense, so why is organising – and staying on top of a functioning wardrobe – so hard in practice?

Start with a total sartorial overhaul. This always takes longer than you think; dedicate a whole weekend to the clear-out, even if you consider yourself organised. Throw everything on the bed and ask yourself when you’ll next wear it and with what. If the answer doesn’t come to you relatively quickly, it’s time to pass it on. Consider gifting to your friends and family or selling via resale sites before dropping off a load to the charity shop; if you do, ensure items are clean and in good condition.

If you’re holding on to something solely for sentimental reasons, don’t keep it in your wardrobe. ‘Clothes with sentimental value that I can’t fit into any more or never wear – such as my grandmother’s old Cheongsam or a pair of Helmut Lang trousers my aunt got me when I was 16 – all get packed away in an old suitcase,’ says fashion director of Tank magazine, Caroline Issa. ‘I rarely take it down from storage but, when I do, the memories come punching back.’

Being able to see as much as possible will help you use your wardrobe more effectively. Vogue contributing editor Ellie Pithers swears by an ‘extremely geeky’ cataloguing system. ‘I have a folder of images on my phone called “good outfits”, which are just snaps of flat-lays of easy outfits that go together. It makes packing for a work trip so much easier when I’m tired and can’t think straight.’ Pithers, a self-confessed storage obsessive, also has a photo album of her bags so she ‘can flick through and remind myself what I have’. Not only does this make dressing for work a breeze, it also helps curb unnecessary purchases.

When it comes to actual storage, you need to consider the item of clothing you have most of, in order to decide what furniture is required. Are you a dress fan or blazer obsessive? Then you’ll need plenty of hanging space. More of a jumper-and-jeans girl? Shelves will be a better option, as hanging makes knitwear lose its shape.

Issa swears by Orphea’s moth-repellent strips (£9.99, amazon.co.uk). ‘They smell nice and still repel the moths. This year, so far so good,’ she says. If using rails, get matching hangers – ideally slimline wooden ones. The cohesion will create a sense of uniformity and keep your clothes in better shape. Make sure your clothes hangers are all facing the same direction – you’ll have better visibility of the item. Organise by type first – shirts, jackets, workwear, eveningwear – and then by colour subsections. When it comes to dresses, organise by length, with the shortest at the front and the longest at the back.

Late nights and early mornings can leave even the tidiest person scooping up clothes left all over the place. Simple hacks can help. Having a full-length mirror on the back of your wardrobe door, for example, means you’ll be less likely to leave clothes scattered round your bedroom when trying things on. If you can, add lighting inside or on top of your wardrobe. You’ll not only get a better overview of your clothes, but they will create a softer light when you’re getting dressed. If you change the handbag you use regularly, make sure you have a pouch or small packing cube for your essentials – wallet, lip balm, work pass, charger – to transition between bags seamlessly.

When designing built-in wardrobes for her London home, creative consultant Lucy Williams added a slim iron curtain pole along the top of her wardrobe. ‘It’s great for hanging pieces you’re planning to wear, steaming items, or planning outfits rather than flinging items on the bed when you’re trying to decide between things,’ she says.

Finding a home for shoes and bags is often an afterthought, despite the fact they’re usually expensive items. ‘They can end up just lining hallways or stuffed in boxes in hard-to-reach cupboards, so it’s nice to give them some dedicated space,’ says Williams, who created a walk-through shelving area between her bedroom and bathroom. It also houses her laundry basket and longer coats. Writer Otegha Uwagba, currently mid-renovation, agrees. ‘I have so many shoes, and I knew straight away I’d convert the existing alcove cupboard in my bedroom into a “shoe-drobe”, which is exactly what I’ve done,’ she says. ‘It sounds ridiculous, but I’d sometimes forget about pairs of shoes I owned because I stored so many inside the boxes they came in, so this way they’re all on display. It was a bit of an indulgence but I had slanted shelves put in, with recessed lighting underneath each shelf that switches on automatically when you open the doors. I also had the inside painted a lovely shade of blue, as I wanted the process of opening the cupboard to pick out a pair of shoes to feel like a pleasure.’

If you are considering built-in storage, don’t forget to plan your shelf dimensions accordingly. Certain styles will need more space than others (ballet flats vs knee high boots, for example). The same goes for bags. Handbag designer Anya Hindmarch recommends keeping them stuffed with acid-free tissue paper, to give them inner support so they don’t lose their shape. ‘And keep them in their dust bag, out of direct sunlight.’ If you don’t have additional shelf space, Williams suggests using shower curtain hooks on a rail to hang them instead. ‘You can easily see them,’ she says, ‘so it’s a gamechanger.’

Not all wardrobe makeovers require extensive building work. Whether Ikea or antique, there’s no wardrobe or chest of drawers than can’t be zhushed up with a new set of handles or knobs. ‘Simply adding new hardware can completely transform an existing wardrobe. You can mix it up with a pop of colour for a totally different feel, giving a tired piece a new lease of life,’ agrees designer Matilda Goad, who launched her own line of hardware last year. Add a little pizzazz by papering the internal walls or shelves in colourful wallpaper or paint in a contrast colour – every time you open the doors, it’s a fun surprise.

So, you’ve cleansed, space-saved and re-hung with gusto –your newly organised closet is complete. Just don’t leave it to spring for that clear-out…