Bid farewell to dishevelled shelves and command control of your clothes by getting creative with your closet space – no matter how big or small!

1. Get the hang of it

 It might seem obvious, but consider grouping clothes of the same length in the hanging space of your closet. Not only is this the first step toward a more organised space, it also prevents items from snagging on each other and getting damaged. The second step? Arranging clothes by colour. Don’t laugh, we’re serious. You’ll agree when you see how much easier it is to put an outfit together the next time you’re getting dressed. Invest in good-quality wooden hangers or non-slip ones covered in a velvety fabric. Matching hangers will stack easily, another useful tool when it comes to creating order.

2. Stash the seasonals

Store season-specific clothes such as swimming costumes or beanies in baskets. Keep the current season’s essentials on a shelf that’s easy to reach and the other bundle lower down. When the seasons change, simply swap the baskets around. Storing seasonal items like this means they will also be within easy reach if there’s a cold spell or a sudden heatwave. If you’re doing a proper summer to winter wardrobe swap, keep your clothes in canvas bags that will allow items to breathe while protecting them from pesky pests.

 3. Store scarves on ladders

Scarves are often works of art, and it seems a shame to bundle them up in the back of a cupboard. Why not make the most of their colour and texture by displaying them on a ladder? Choose a smooth wood so the threads don’t snag, and drape or tie them over the rungs. Got a glass bowl you can repurpose? Fold up your silk scarves and layer them in the bowl to show off their captivating colours. If space is short, consider folding scarves into rectangles. Pile them in a stack, then stand the stack up in a box so you can see exactly what’s what from above.

 4. Don’t toss out shoe boxes

When it comes to storing shoes, there are all sorts of gadgets you can buy. From shoe racks to organisers that can be stored under your bed, there’s something for a space of every size. But shoes comes with their own storage solution – shoe boxes! If you don’t want to splurge on clear perspex shoe boxes, stash the shoes in the boxes they came in from the store. Take snaps of each pair, print the pics out and attach the photos to the outside of each box so you don’t have to open countless lids to check what’s inside. Practical footwear like sandy slops and muddy running shoes are best popped into baskets on the bottom shelf of your closet.

5. Use your shelves

It’s tempting to hang every item of clothing, but it might do some of them more harm than good. Fabric such as fine cotton, chunky wool and even synthetic materials used to make most activewear will stretch out of shape over time if they are hung on hangers. It’s a better idea to allocate a shelf to different types of clothing (for example, pyjamas, T-shirts and jerseys) and start repacking from there. Clear storage boxes can be stacked on shelves, creating more space. They will also keep chaos at bay by containing clothes as you search for what you want. We all know of the Marie Kondo folding method for a reason: it works!

6. Down to the wire

We’ve all done it – the mad morning scramble to find a matching set of underwear. Save your favourite bras by fixing their clasps, laying them flat, and stacking them back-to-back inside a drawer. Not only does this help preserve the shape of the bra, it will also help you find what you’re looking for in an instant. Avoid storing panties, hosiery and lingerie in the same drawer – they’re called delicates for a reason! Though we advise keeping panties in a separate drawer, we are a fan of this neat trick: tucking the bra’s matching panties into the cup for easy storage.

Words by Christi Nortier