You have enough hangers. However, I’m guessing they do not match and this alone can make a closet look disorganized.
But by now you know I am not an organizer who encourages you to buy stuff. I will always suggest that you declutter first to figure out what you really need. It’s always less than you think. But when it’s time to replace broken hangers, I like these. In the meantime, try these decluttering and organizing tips for your closet.
How to Reduce Hangers and Clothing
- Remove Empty Hangers – Return metal ones to the dry cleaner. Recycle plastic store hangers.
- Sort Clothes by Season – If possible, move current season clothing to the front. Or utilize a spare closet to store offseason clothing while you downsize.
- Sort Clothes by Color – Create a visually appealing space by grouping colors.
- Shoes – Use the 1-In/1-Out Rule. Or 1-In/5-Out Rule. 🙂
- Turn Hangers – To face the back of the closet. When you re-hang clean clothes, turn them in the opposite direction.
- Assess the Closet – At the end of the season, donate unworn items.
Set a goal to reduce your closet by a specific number of items. A number will encourage you to make trades and be honest about what items you love. Reward yourself with a set of high-quality hangers.
If this trick seems too easy try Project 333. Box up offseason clothes and build a capsule wardrobe of just 33 items. You can modify the rules to support your lifestyle and meet your goals for an organized closet.
Still think you don’t have enough hangers?
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This is brilliant!
Thanks Gloria!
I’m smiling as I read about the hangers. There are actually a lot of options, and reasons for all of them! The flocked ones are nice and slimline and hold the clothes well, but if you air dry items on hangers, I like the plastic ones. Wooden ones are nice for coats. I completely agree about the metal ones from the dry cleaner. I could probably talk about this for hours.
I’ve had a small closet before, and less is always easier. Especially when I remind myself how little of my wardrobe I tend to actually wear! Nice tips to help you get started and snap this space into order.
I think you and I could talk about this for hours. 🙂
There’s nothing quite like matching hangers (and all facing the same direction,) that make a closet look great and function better. However, before new or matching hangers are considered, doing a BIG edit is key. Your advice makes so much sense. And as you said, most likely you have plenty of hangers, but more clothes that you actually wear. I’ve never tried the capsule wardrobe, but I’m fascinated by the concept. There is something about it that feels in alignment with tiny houses. It’s the idea of less and just enough to live. Makes so much sense.
Thanks Linda for your kind words. So glad to hear this resonated with you!
Good stuff! “NO MORE WIRE HANGERS!” shouts Joan Crawford. 😉 Personally, I am not a fan of flocked hangers, as I have very few “slippery” clothes and most of my stuff ends up sticking/dragging on them with too much friction/clinginess. I prefer plastic tubular hangers, except for blazers or coats, which get old-fashioned Grandpa-style wooden ones. I stick to two colors, white and mauve, which makes my closet cheery without it looking too messy. Winter clothes get white hangers, summer ones go on mauve. And of course, everything is sorted by type and then by color.
Hey Julie – great point. My husband prefers a mix of flocked and plastic depending on the type of shirt. And I’ve created some beautiful minimalist closets with all wooden hangers too!
Good ideas for creating order in your closet! I’d love more information on how to create a capsule wardrobe. I think that’s a great idea.
Hey Diane – I love Courtney Carver of Project 333. https://bemorewithless.com/project-333/ Great place to start for a capsule wardrobe. You can adjust her rules to make it your own. I also like Francine Jay who first introduced me to minimalism but even if you only adopt a small fraction of her recommendations, it can make all the difference. She suggests eliminating colors in your wardrobe so as to streamline your accessories too. This was a game-changer for me. And I do not like pink. So win/win. 🙂
Great advice. Over the pandemic, I decluttered my clothes closet and was brutal with decision-making. Since no charities were taking donations at the time, I boxed up the items and gave myself a couple of months with those clothes sitting in a corner. That made it easier for me to put something in the donate pile if I wasn’t sure. When I revisited the donation boxes later, I only retrieved one shirt. I’m happy about that.
I think this is a great process. Removing the options, even temporarily makes you realize how little you need and wear. And that you don’t miss it! So good!
Love the hanger recommendation! Nothing worse than hanging something up only to have it fall down and make the closet look messy again. Great post, Amy!
Thanks Katherine!