Your closet is always too small? This helps: Switch your clothes every autumn and spring. This provides more space and a better overview. So you have a well organized closet all year round!
When is the best time to switch clothes?
It’s getting cooler and colorful leaves rustle under your feet outside – October is the best time to organize your closet: the summer clothes come out and the winter clothes are put in. Hello cozy warm sweaters!
Many people wish for more space in their closet. It makes the daily choice of dressing more exhausting, if the seasonally wrong clothes are mixed in. In December, summer tops and shorts don’t have to take up valuable space on hangers. And in summer, we don’t have to encounter scarves and gloves in drawers.
Of course, not everything is replaced. There are always clothes such as jeans, which are conveniently independent of the season.
Switching clothes also has this advantage: some of the clothes are out of sight and out of mind for half a year. And so you can rediscover all your beautiful things twice a year and look forward to seeing them again!
As a professional organizer, I implemented the seasonal exchange in three steps.
1. Take summer clothes out of the closet
Select: What belongs to your summer wardrobe and is now taken out of the closet?
- Shorts
- Summery skirts and dresses
- Tops, light blouses, short-sleeved shirts
- Summer Jackets
- Thin nightwear
- Sandals, canvas shoes, ballerinas
- Accessories such as sunglasses and beach hats
This is a good moment to check which clothes were not worn at all in the summer. The floral dress? The worn-out shorts? You can sort them out and sell them or donate them.
A tip: Sorting through your clothes in daylight helps to better detect stains and pilling (the small knots on the fabric). Again, you can decide directly whether you want to repair the garment or take it to the dry cleaner or if you want to part with it now.
2. Store out of season clothes
You can store clothes well in storage boxes under the bed, in a storage room or in the attic. They should be in a dry space and protected from light. Of course, all things are only put away after cleaning and washing them!
3. Put winter clothes in the closet
Take the winter clothes out of the boxes and also check their quality and if you still like them. Select: What belongs to the current winter wardrobe and now goes into the closet?
- Thick sweaters
- Coats and winter jackets
- Boots and winter shoes
- Wool socks
- Thermal underwear
- Warm nightwear
- Accessories such as hats, scarves and gloves
Then store it in the closet, hang it on the clothes rail or hang it on the coat rack in the hallway. Shoes and boots go on the shoe rack, of course.
When it gets warmer again in spring, winter clothing is exchanged for summer clothing and will be put away in storage again.
Extra tip for more organization in your closet
If you look so intensively at your wardrobe twice a year, it’s worth writing a shopping list at the same time. What do you need? Be as specific as possible: dark blue blazer, cream-colored cashmere sweater… So you know exactly what your wardrobe needs to make you feel well dressed. And that’s the goal, after all!
Do you want a better organized closet? But you don’t know where to start? Learn more about Professional Organizing here.
Christin Köppen
Professional Organizer in Berlin