A typical coat closet includes.
- one short rod
- one upper shelf
- some floor space
- and a standard door
The coat closet collects clutter to hide its contents. So, there’s no need to be afraid of opening the door. We’re sharing our topcoat closet organization techniques for you to discover what you need quickly the next time you’re racing out the door.
Everything in your closet, whether a coat, an umbrella, or favorite footwear, should be visible and quick to grab on hectic mornings. Follow our simple coat closet organization step-by-step instructions to save time and frustration.
Clear Out Your Coat Closet
Begin by creating stacks of various categories. Place all clothing in one part (you can use a nearby couch or recliner to put them down neatly), all footwear in another, and all accessories in another. To organize your items better, you can categorize them by family member or season. For instance, you could group winter hats, scarves, and gloves in one section and summer hats, bags, and sunglasses in another. Set aside handbags, backpacks, and pet supplies if you keep them in the coat closet.
Pay attention to what you can declutter as you sort. If you have jackets that are too small or out of fashion, consider storing them. Additionally, jackets in good shape and between sizes can be labeled and stored for later use as hand-me-downs, especially if you have young children. Do the same with your shoes, caps, and winter clothing.
While the closet is empty, please take advantage of the chance to clean it properly. Vacuum and wipe away any dust from the floor. Remove scuff marks from the walls or repaint them if you feel ambitious.
The Best Closet Organization Systems for Clothing, Shoes, and More
Make Zones in Your Coat Closet
Recall that storing objects together is one of the best strategies to get and stay organized. After you’re down to just the items you want to retain in the coat closet, it’s time to create discrete zones for everything. Of course, every home, wardrobe, and personal preference is unique, but here are some primary coat closet sections to get you started:
Coats, jackets, vests, and cardigans are examples of outerwear.
Shoes such as sneakers, sandals, and boots are examples of casual footwear.
Hats, gloves, and scarves are examples of accessories.
You’ll need everyday necessities, such as bags, umbrellas, sunglasses, and a lint roller, on your way out the door.
Leashes travel, water bottles, luggage, and pet attire are examples of pet supplies.
How to Hang Coats
Begin with jackets because that is the closet’s primary function. There are various methods for organizing jackets; choose the one that works best for you.
Sort clothing by type: Keep bulky down coats apart from lighter spring and fall jackets and vests. During the warmer months, keeping winter coats separated from other dress clothes in the closet is advisable. When the weather turns cold, swap them out for your regular clothing. If you have a limited amount of room, try storing off-season coats. Before storing the jackets for the season, make sure to wash them.
Arrange outerwear for a family member: Label closet dividers to show where one person’s area finishes and another begins.
Sort coats by length: If you have a lot of long clothes, keep them all on one side of the closet to make more room for shoes.
Toddler coats are significantly shorter than adult coats. You can increase storage capacity by installing an adjustable double-hanging rod. Install a second hanging rod (particularly if you have children). Little ones can reach their winter clothing without assistance by hanging their items closer to the floor.
Maintain a minimum of 15-20% of the rod open. Let guests hang their outerwear when they visit during the cooler months. In the meantime, this will allow your clothes to breathe better.
When hanging jackets, always use the same or similar hangers, which will not only make it appear more ordered but will also make it easier to keep empty hangers tidy.
Simple Ways to Arrange Your Winter Gear
How to Store Shoes and Boots
The only shoes you regularly wear and take off should be in a coat closet. Anything else should be kept somewhere else, preferably in a bedroom closet.
A two-tier shoe rack placed on the floor is perfect for organizing shoes. If there is enough space on the shelf, it can keep the floor tidy from wet rain or snow boots. If you don’t have enough space, keep it outside the closet, possibly in the garage, during the cold and wet seasons.
Suppose you don’t need the extra space for other items in an over-the-door shoe organizer. Arranging them upright in a basket to minimize room is especially useful for children whose small shoes do not always fit appropriately on racks. Also, it is much easier for kids to throw shoes into a bin, boosting the likelihood that they will put them away.
Options for Shoe Storage in Your Closet, Entryway, and More
How to Keep Accessories Organized
If you don’t need an over-the-door shoe organizer, use it for accessories instead! You can easily store most rolled-up scarves and winter beanies in shoe slots designed for individual storage. Umbrellas, sunscreen, lint rollers, sunglasses, and gloves will also be helpful. Cubby drawers are an easy method to stay tidy in a coat closet if you have more extensive accessories to store, such as outdoor toys or bulky children’s belongings.
Stackable, open front bins on a shelf: Because closets typically have enough height, you can stack two or three storage bins. Out-of-season items can be stored in the bottom containers and swapped out as needed. Consider installing an extra shelf for them instead of stacking bins. Put a collapsible step stool in the closet to reach whatever you need.
If there’s space on the rod, loop one of these over and consider splurging on drawer inserts to protect objects from tumbling out.
Standing drawer unit: This is ideal for limited floor and height space. You can get as narrow or as long as you need, so take accurate measurements before you buy. Allocate and name one drawer for each family member to store their belongings.
You can use S hooks on the rod, a rack on the back of the door, or individual ones on the interior wall to hold your everyday bags, totes, and backpacks. Consider a scarf or hat organizer that hangs.
Baskets and pegboards with hooks can keep everything from your accessories to your dog’s needs.
Attach vertical organizers with labels to the inside of the coat closet door if you keep mail and memos in there. Remember to go over it weekly, if not daily, basis.