Closet Organization: Cooler Weather Tips

 As sad as it is to admit, summer is officially gone. But, in it’s place we get to experience the return of comfort food, the holiday season, and, of course, cooler temperatures. This year, don’t let the need to switch seasonal wardrobes catch you off guard. We’ve got some closet organization tips to help keep all your clothes in tip-top shape. Our advice will help you tackle winter head on.

Closet Organization: Cooler Weather Tips

Set your closet up before it’s truly winter so you’ll be prepared whenever the cold comes.

Image Via: ClosetMaid

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Store Off-Season Clothing Elsewhere:

Before you can even think about dealing with your heavy winter clothes, you need to create space for them. The easiest way to do that is to store your summer clothes in a separate place. Go through all of your summer items and be realistic about which outfits can be bulked up with cardigans and which are only truly suited for warm weather. Once you know which pieces need a break, tuck them away elsewhere – a storage closet, your basement or attic, or even under the bed will do just fine.

Storage trunks are ideal for keeping off-season clothing away from valuable closet space.

Image Via: Living Simply By Annie

Take A Yearly Inventory:

After you have a better idea of the space available to you, take out your winter wardrobe and take an inventory. Think about how your clothes fit, which pieces look to be in good shape, and what how you feel about the styles. Consider donating any items that you can’t picture yourself wearing regularly. If an item has truly seen better days, go ahead and trash it or repurpose it into a DIY decor item.

Taking an inventory is even more important for kids since they’ve likely grown over the summer.

Image Via: ClosetMaid

Pay Attention to Fabric Needs:

Since summer clothes are made of lighter materials, you can sometimes get away with treating them more haphazardly – sticking multiple items to a hanger or using organizational tactics that will probably stretch out the fabric. However, winter clothing requires a bit more TLC to be kept in good shape. Keep in mind that heavy fabrics like wool always require their own hanger, sweaters must be folded instead of hung to keep the shoulders in place, and boots should be keep on the bottom level of shoe racks to accommodate their weight. Don’t hesitate to invest in a few closet accessories like dividers or shelf baskets to help make your space more user-friendly.

Winter fabrics may require different storage set-ups.

Image Via: Richard Ross Designs 

Designate Space For Coats and Shoes:

Winter is synonymous with warm coats and wet shoes, both of which take up a ton of storage space. Save room in your main closet by designating a spot for them elsewhere in the house. A mud room or hall closet would be an ideal choice, but anywhere near the front door is fine. (You don’t want people tracking dirt through the house, after all.) Consider keeping winter accessories like hats, scarves, and gloves there, too, to make getting out the door a little easier.

Pick a separate spot for heavy winter coats and messy boots.

Image Via: Archer & Buchanan Architecture, Ltd.

Winter is coming and, whether you’re ready or not, cooler temperatures will soon be here. Soon jackets and gloves will be part of the daily routine. Don’t let the first cold snap catch you by surprise. Let us show you how to get your wardrobe all set up for the winter season. Use our tips to create a closet organization system that you can use year after year.

Do you organize your closets with the change of seasons? Do you have any must-know organizational tips to share? Let us know in the comments!

For more organization ideas, check out Stagetecture’s archives.