How to Keep Your Closet Organized When Life Gets Busy

The last time you edited, cleaned out, and organized your closet, you made a vow to keep it that way. From here on out, you would be dedicated to Marie Kondo-style file folding. You’d never neglect to immediately hang garments after cleaning. And you weren’t going to buy any more shoes. 

Life had other plans. Now you’re back to the “I have nothing to wear!” and “Where did that shirt go?” zone. 

With summer fun and travel on the horizon, you’re unlikely to slow down. Instead of resigning yourself to the chaos, follow these tips and strategies for keeping your closet organized when life gets busy.  

Keeping a closet organized: Tips and techniques for busy lifestyles

If a tidy closet keeps slipping through your fingers, you might think the answer is to purge. Cleaning out what you don’t want is always a great idea, but before you do something you may regret, change how you arrange.

Make a habit of asking “hanger or hamper?”

Do you drop clothes that have been worn (but aren’t necessarily dirty) on a chair, floor, or other surface? This one habit is the biggest cause of millions of messy closets. 

Mentally eliminate “in-between” zones from your closet. Every time you undress, decide right then if it’s fit for a hanger, or should go in the hamper. This way, when you’re in a hurry, you won’t be digging through piles of questionable clothes.

Refresh your closet accessories

Last year’s organizational solution may not be this year’s. Tangled necklaces, single socks, and wadded-up knots of lingerie are sure signs the system needs updating.

If shelves are getting messy, particularly with piles of folded clothes, add, adjust, or increase shelf dividers. Updating the spacing and arrangement can help keep your stacks from toppling, even when you’re rifling through them.

Then there’s drawer organization. If you’re not taking advantage of inserts, start. They help keep items separate and organized, even if you’re not taking the time to carefully fold and arrange.

Put off-season gear in storage (really)

Wool sweaters, puffer jackets, snow suits, and thick comforters are just a few items that are cramping your closet’s summer style. Take a page out of your grandmother’s book and start packing away those single-season items.

Vacuum-sealed storage bags reduce the bulk and protect items from pests, dust, and mold. Put your reduced-size goods into an airtight plastic tote, and stow it away. This clears space mentally as well as physically, giving you a fresh perspective on your current wardrobe.

Give seasonal essentials their own zone

Now you can move what matters most center-stage. 

Your oft-worn items, as well as outfits you plan on wearing that week, should be kept in the most accessible, visible area of the closet. Tucking what you need behind or among other, multi-season or special-occasion items makes mornings a scavenger hunt.

It’s also helpful to keep a “go bag” with summer travel essentials handy, complete with packing cubes. This way, you’re not trashing your closet searching down those sunglasses, that scarf, or your favorite in-flight neck pillow. 

Commission a custom solution

If you have no plans to slow down, it’s possible that your current closet system simply isn’t growing with you. Perhaps you need more large drawers, not open shelving. Bi-level spaces for hanging, not one mid-level rod. And a custom island with extra storage for all of your summer accessories. 

Making your closet a space that aesthetically aligns with your taste and conforms to your organizational sensibilities (not the other way around) is the surest way to spend less time wrestling with its contents. Not every closet upgrade is that costly, either.

Get back on track with The Designery

Accessories, cabinets, or a whole new system–let The Designery put your life back in order. From luxury walk-ins to compact spaces, we have the expertise to optimize your system in ways you never imagined.

Kick off this summer with a free consultation from a professional designer.

Closet organization for busy lives: FAQ

Here are some of your most frequently asked questions about closet organization for booked and busy homeowners.

How do you organize an overcrowded closet?

If you’ve purged all you can and are simply out of space, add more organization accessories. Over-the-door hanging storage, more rods, more dividers. A true commitment to compressing and/or packing away rarely-used items can free up a third of your closet as well.

How do professionals organize their closets?

The main closet organization principle professionals follow is grouping like items. You’ll also find they’re big believers in using more vertical space and high-quality hangers across the board.

And of course, putting your most beloved items front and center.

Is it better to hang or fold clothes?

It depends on the clothing. Soft, stretchy tees, denim, thick sweaters, and activewear may stay in better shape folded up. Garments made of lighter wool, silk, linens, or blends containing those natural fibers will stay more wrinkle-free on a hanger.