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An organised closet is every fashion aficionado\u2019s dream. But how to actually achieve it? Jane McFarland asks the experts for storage hacks to make getting dressed easier<\/p>\n
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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 \u2013 it\u2019s likely there\u2019s a version on your Pinterest board. For most of us, the reality is more like the \u2018before\u2019 picture of a home makeover \u2013 think saggy hangers and bags stuffed inside other bags. A health hazard, yes, and most definitely a crime to fashion.<\/p>\n
Interior designer Rita Konig once said, \u2018unless there is proper storage in a house, life quickly unravels into chaos\u2019. Dramatic, but true. If getting dressed in the morning leaves you in a tizzy, it\u2019s likely down to your wardrobe or lack thereof. A messy, disorganised space will not only leave you uninspired; chances are you\u2019ve forgotten most pieces exist. It makes perfect sense, so why is organising \u2013 and staying on top of a functioning wardrobe \u2013 so hard in practice?<\/p>\n
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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\u2019ll next wear it and with what. If the answer doesn\u2019t come to you relatively quickly, it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re holding on to something solely for sentimental reasons, don\u2019t keep it in your wardrobe. \u2018Clothes with sentimental value that I can\u2019t fit into any more or never wear \u2013 such as my grandmother\u2019s old Cheongsam or a pair of Helmut Lang trousers my aunt got me when I was 16 \u2013 all get packed away in an old suitcase,\u2019 says fashion director of Tank magazine, Caroline Issa. \u2018I rarely take it down from storage but, when I do, the memories come punching back.\u2019<\/p>\n
Being able to see as much as possible will help you use your wardrobe more effectively. Vogue contributing editor Ellie Pithers swears by an \u2018extremely geeky\u2019 cataloguing system. \u2018I have a folder of images on my phone called \u201cgood outfits\u201d, 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\u2019m tired and can\u2019t think straight.\u2019 Pithers, a self-confessed storage obsessive, also has a photo album of her bags so she \u2018can flick through and remind myself what I have\u2019. Not only does this make dressing for work a breeze, it also helps curb unnecessary purchases.<\/p>\n
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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\u2019ll 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.<\/p>\n
Issa swears by Orphea\u2019s moth-repellent strips (\u00a39.99, amazon.co.uk). \u2018They smell nice and still repel the moths. This year, so far so good,\u2019 she says. If using rails, get matching hangers \u2013 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 \u2013 you\u2019ll have better visibility of the item. Organise by type first \u2013 shirts, jackets, workwear, eveningwear \u2013 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.<\/p>\n
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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\u2019ll 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\u2019ll not only get a better overview of your clothes, but they will create a softer light when you\u2019re getting dressed. If you change the handbag you use regularly, make sure you have a pouch or small packing cube for your essentials \u2013 wallet, lip balm, work pass, charger \u2013 to transition between bags seamlessly.<\/p>\n
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. \u2018It\u2019s great for hanging pieces you\u2019re planning to wear, steaming items, or planning outfits rather than flinging items on the bed when you\u2019re trying to decide between things,\u2019 she says.<\/p>\n
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LUCY WILLIAMS’ BESPOKE BUILT-IN WARDROBES<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n Finding a home for shoes and bags is often an afterthought, despite the fact they\u2019re usually expensive items. \u2018They can end up just lining hallways or stuffed in boxes in hard-to-reach cupboards, so it\u2019s nice to give them some dedicated space,\u2019 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. \u2018I have so many shoes, and I knew straight away I\u2019d convert the existing alcove cupboard in my bedroom into a \u201cshoe-drobe\u201d, which is exactly what I\u2019ve done,\u2019 she says. \u2018It sounds ridiculous, but I\u2019d sometimes forget about pairs of shoes I owned because I stored so many inside the boxes they came in, so this way they\u2019re 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.\u2019<\/p>\n If you are considering built-in storage, don\u2019t 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\u2019t lose their shape. \u2018And keep them in their dust bag, out of direct sunlight.\u2019 If you don\u2019t have additional shelf space, Williams suggests using shower curtain hooks on a rail to hang them instead. \u2018You can easily see them,\u2019 she says, \u2018so it\u2019s a gamechanger.\u2019<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/flatplan-plus-content.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2023\/11\/HIGH-RES-steamery_cirrus2_black_closet_2_oct_2020.jpg” title_text=”HIGH RES steamery_cirrus2_black_closet_2_oct_2020″ force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n Not all wardrobe makeovers require extensive building work. Whether Ikea or antique, there\u2019s no wardrobe or chest of drawers than can\u2019t be zhushed up with a new set of handles or knobs. \u2018Simply 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,\u2019 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 \u2013 every time you open the doors, it\u2019s a fun surprise.<\/p>\n So, you\u2019ve cleansed, space-saved and re-hung with gusto \u2013your newly organised closet is complete. Just don\u2019t leave it to spring for that clear-out…<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row module_class=”fp-boxout” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||20px||false|false” custom_padding=”20px|20px|20px|20px|true|true” border_width_all=”8px” global_colors_info=”{}” locked=”off” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text module_class=”custom-product-title” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|800||on|||||” header_font=”|700|||||||” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_class=”fp-boxout-heading” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Black Han Sans|||on|||||” text_font_size=”18px” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n HANDY HACKS<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_class=”text-center” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_orientation=”center” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n