Organising your wardrobe! How to get the most out of what you own!

OK so I know it might sound simple but one way to get the most out of what you already own is to have an organised wardrobe. Of course we can’t all have a celebrity wardrobe but there are things you can do to make sure you are maximising what you own. Considering Spring has just arrived its the perfect time to take stock before you go and buy a heap of new things. So here are my top tips:

1. First of all take a long hard look at the clothes that you own. If you haven’t worn something for two seasons its time to re-assess its use. Can you dye it, or get it altered. Does it work with any new items you have bought in the last few months? If not its time to cull it. Either donate it to charity, give to friends or sell it. (Selling on my website is a good start).

2. Start to organise your wardrobe by functionality. All sweaters and jumpers together, all cardigans, all pants, all skirts. Try not to double up on hangers because if you can’t see it you won’t wear it. Think about the flow of your wardrobe, you don’t want long trousers and skirts hanging in the middle, especially if you have one rail on top of another. Keep long items to the edges of each rail.

3. Once you’ve categorised this start to think about colour. Whether you plan your wardrobe the night before or throw it on in the morning, I can guarantee that organising it by colour will help. So within each section keep similar colours together.

4. Make sure all of your hangers are the same, there is nothing worse than 10 different colours and styles of hangers to make your wardobe look messy. Wooden hangers (although they take up more room) are the best for keeping clothes in shape. If you can’t afford to buy a whole load of new hangers categorise your hangers by functionality. So all of your tops hang on the black plastic ones, or all of your shirts on the wire ones. Ikea do incredibly cheap good wooden hangers as does your trusty local two dollar shop.

5. The hook is your best friend! I have hooks all over my wardrobe wherever there is space. They can go on the inside of doors above the wardobe on the wall next to it, basically anywhere they can fit. I have one hook where I hang my clothes for the next day (yes really!) and about a million other hooks for belts, scarves, random clothing.

6. Scarves are the best way to change or update an outfit in both summer and winter. But storing them can be a pain. Whilst hooks work, if you have more than 20 (and I do) find something that works. Ikea sell a fantasic scarf holder with about 20 holes for scarves with hangs like a normal hanger in the wardrobe. A lean to small ladder is also a good option for weaving scarves and looks nice in a room and adds some colour.

7. Shoes although a simple delight in life can take up a lot of space. I had custom shelving made in my wardrobe with tiny shelves the size of a pair of shoes live, all the way to the ceiling. Plastic clear show boxes are another way of stacking shoes so that you can see what you have. Keep long boots in a separate area and put them away in summer as you won’t be wearing them and they take up a lot of space. Put thongs (flip-flops!) in a shoe box and keep them all together under your bed. They look messy and are easy to throw on and see even if they all live in a box together.

8. Whilst you need your coats in winter, put them away in summer into a different closet or into a box. Trust me you’ll love the space saved.

9. Any bulky sweaters or jumpers try and fold them on the shelf above your rail or put them in drawers. Hanging knits often stretches them out of shape, plus they can be bulky and take up a lot of space.

10. Lastly, enjoy your space. If you are lucky enough to have a walk in wardrobe, add a mirror or a little seat so you can put your shoes on without sitting on the floor. If you have a regular wardrobe put cute mementos and trinkets on the inside of the doors to make it feel like your space. Enjoy it, its full of your fabulous clothes!