Let the chest of drawers become your assistant: storage and order. Ways to compactly store things in a closet, how to fold them correctly
A dressing room is the dream of every housewife who cannot organize all the things in the house. Unfortunately, this dream is not feasible due to the small areas of the apartments. And sometimes the largest closet becomes cramped. Proper organization of clothing storage in closets will help solve this problem.
In order for all things to fit in the closet, and at the same time there is still room for new clothes, you need to follow the storage rules:
Parsing hangers
Every person has clothes that they don’t wear, but it’s a shame to throw them away. These are the things that take up a third of the closet space. You need to get rid of old things: throw some out or use them as rags, give some to someone. For those who are fond of handicrafts, think about where unnecessary clothes can be used. After a general analysis of the hangers, a lot of space will be freed up.
Seasonal storage
Winter and summer items are not stored in the same closet or compartment. During the changing seasons, things are sorted out. Those clothes that will not be used for the season are put away in bags, cabinets, suitcases, drawers of sofas or beds.
If seasonal items are put away in the attic or garage, be sure to protect the clothes from dust, dirt, moisture and insects
Competent sorting
There are situations when, in search of one thing, you can rummage through the entire closet and make a mess in it. This can easily be avoided if all clothes are carefully sorted. For example, you can distribute things on shelves as follows:
- By color. In this case, it is very easy to find a black skirt or a red T-shirt.
- By fabric type. Silk items are stored on one shelf, woolen items on another.
- By subject. Skirts are placed in one pile, trousers in another, blouses in a third.
- By appointment. Clothes for home and clothes for going out are stored separately. It is advisable to divide things into “top” and “bottom”.
Using Vertical Space
In the closet compartment where the hangers are located, there is usually a lot of free vertical space that can be used wisely.
- Use of additional shelves or drawers. They are located both above the level of hangers and at the bottom of the closet.
- Transparent plastic containers or laundry baskets are installed at the bottom of the cabinet. They store things that are not used often. Plates with the names of the contents are glued to the baskets.
- Hooks are attached to the inside of the door. You can hang robes or bags on them.
- Also, small containers for storing gloves, scarves, and scarves are attached to the inside of the door.
- Another hanger rod is installed in the middle between the bottom and ceiling of the cabinet. If long things are hung on the top level - coats, dresses, skirts, then on the middle level - blouses, shirts, sweaters.
- Hooks with fabric bags are nailed to the doors or walls. They are convenient for storing hair accessories, socks, tights, and ties.
- Instead of ordinary hangers, multi-tier ones are used. Additional crossbars are installed as tiers, clothespins and hooks are hung.
How to properly put things in a closet
Neatly and compactly folded items will ensure perfect order in the closet, but for how long? It is important not only to fold your T-shirt or blouse neatly, but also to give it the right place. Things should be folded so that every day, when you take out a certain wardrobe item from the shelf, you can maintain order there.
Things that are used frequently should be within easy reach. Clothes that are rarely worn are placed on the upper shelves.
Skirts
The ideal option is if the skirt is stored on the lower crossbar of the trempel, you can hang another blouse or jacket on top. If this is not possible, the skirt is folded in half lengthwise and then rolled transversely into a tight roll. Several skirts folded in rolls will not take up much space on the shelf and will not get wrinkled.
T-shirts
The classic way of folding a T-shirt or T-shirt: the item is leveled and folded in half lengthwise. The result is the shape of the letter “G”. the side part of the letter is the sleeves that wrap over the main part of the T-shirt. Then the bottom of the T-shirt is folded up in half. The result is a square. If there is not much space in the closet, then this square can be rolled up, as in the case of a skirt.
Blouses, shirts
When it is not possible to hang shirts or blouses in the closet, all that remains is to lay them out on the shelf. The folding process consists of the following steps:
- Button up the ironed shirt or blouse with all the buttons and lay it on the table with the back up;
- Mentally divide the backrest into three longitudinal parts;
- The left sleeve and 1/3 of the back are turned to the right;
- Then fold the left sleeve to the left side, aligning it with the edge of the shirt;
- Do the same with the right side and sleeve;
- Fold the bottom edge of the shirt up to the base of the collar.
Sweaters and jumpers
Sweaters and jumpers are folded using exactly the same method as blouses and shirts. They can also be rolled up, as they don't have the stand-up collars found on shirts.
Jeans and trousers
Before folding trousers and jeans, you need to remove the belt and empty all the contents of the pockets. After this, carefully straighten it with your hands and fold it in half, trouser leg to trouser leg. Smooth it out again and fold it in half again, but this time across. To save space, you can go ahead and roll things up.
Blazers and cardigans
Usually the jacket is stored hung on a trempel, but when traveling there is a need to fold it. A jacket or jacket can be quickly folded in a few steps:
- Turn the left half back, as if you wanted to turn the item inside out, but do not touch the sleeve;
- Repeat the same with the right side;
- Fold the jacket in half lengthwise;
- Then fold the tails of the jacket towards the collar.
If necessary, the jacket, folded in half lengthwise, is rolled into a tight tube.
How to fold socks
When folding socks, you want to achieve one goal: so that they don’t end up getting lost. There are several simple ways to quickly fold socks:
- The socks are folded in a cross, with the heels at the center of the cross. Then the foot of one sock is wrapped under the heel of the other. The sock cuff is also turned up on the other side. After this, the action is repeated with the other sock.
- The socks are carefully folded together, after which the top one is turned inside out, and the bottom one is inside it.
- Two socks are placed one on top of the other. The cuff of one sock is turned inside out slightly, catching the cuff of the other. After this, a pair of socks is folded into a tube.
Underwear
It is more convenient to store bras and panties in the chest of drawers. To sort laundry by type, you can use shoe boxes placed in one of the drawers. It is advisable to sort your laundry: warm and light, for going out and at home, by color to match certain clothes.
The panties are folded as follows:
- Place on a flat surface, straighten;
- Conditionally divide them into three parts;
- Wrap the right and left sides of the linen over the central part;
- Fold the bottom part to the top, wrapping it a little in elastic.
The bras are folded in half, cup to cup.
Belts, ties, accessories
Scarves, shawls, ties, belts and other accessories, as well as underwear, can be conveniently stored in a drawer divided into compartments. Things are rolled up into a tube. Also, if space allows, they can be hung vertically on a hanger, using rings or clothespins, on hooks on the walls of the closet.
Shoes
All shoes should be stored in a closet, and not stacked on the threshold. A few interesting ideas will help you arrange all your shoes in a practical way:
- Fabric (moccasins, sneakers), as well as light summer shoes (ballet flats, sandals) can be stored in textile covers, hanging them on a hook in the closet;
- At the bottom of the closet, place boxes, baskets, containers in which to store shoes;
- Shoes are also stored in special lockers in the hallway.
Before putting your shoes away for storage, you need to make sure that they are clean and dry. It is important to take care of protection against moths.
Video: how to fold things
Marie Kondo's method
Japanese housewife Marie Kondo came up with her own way of keeping her closet tidy. The algorithm of her actions is as follows:
- Get rid of unnecessary things;
- Store all your clothes in one closet, so you can have an idea of their quantity;
- Fold each item into rectangles or rolls - this will make it easier to find the right item;
- Sort clothes by color, type of fabric, purpose.
How to pack things in a suitcase
When planning a trip, it is important to pack your suitcase correctly. There are two ways to pack things:
- The straightened items are folded in half and rolled into a tube.
- Long items (dresses, skirts) are placed at the bottom of the suitcase, leaving the edges hanging down. Then shoes and all remaining things are placed, they are covered with the edges of long clothes.
Simple, practical ways will help keep your closet clean and tidy, thereby saving the housewife a lot of time.
Last time we settled on dumping all the clothes on the bed and dividing them into three categories: keep them, get rid of them, and repair them. Today we have to place things in the closet. How to do this so that maintaining order is as easy as possible?
How do you process information
Having finally completed the selection, determine how you will place the clothes in the closet. There are several ways to do this. To find the best one for you, you must first understand how you best perceive information - visually, auditorily or through touch. If you arrange things correctly in your closet at the very beginning, then in the future it will be easier for you to maintain order there.
Don't know how you process information? The questions in this short test will help you find out.
People who perceive visual information better
- Is it easier for you to remember your to-do list if you write it down?
- Do you need to imagine yourself wearing certain clothes to decide how to dress today?
- Do you take a lot of notes in a notebook during meetings, and remember more what the pages of notes look like than their contents?
- Do you need to see the person you are listening to speak?
- When you work, do you prefer the office to be quiet?
- Do you find it easier to understand digital data if it is presented in the form of graphs and charts?
- Is it easier for you to remember a phone number if you imagine yourself typing it on a telephone keyboard?
People who perceive information better by hearing
- Do you prefer listening to audiobooks and reading aloud?
- Is it easier for you to solve a problem at work if you discuss it with your colleagues?
- Was it enough for you to listen to teachers in school to learn the material and pass exams successfully?
- What do you remember first - how people look or their words?
- Do you like to complete one task first and only then take on a new one?
- When trying to remember how to spell a word, do you say it out loud?
- When you go to the grocery store, do you repeat the list of necessary purchases in your mind or in a whisper?
People who perceive information better through touch
- When starting a project, do you prefer to act rather than plan?
- When you take a break from work, do you want to get up and walk around the room?
- Can you work efficiently in a cafe or airport lounge?
- Do you find it easier to remember a person's name if you shake hands with them?
- Would you like to bike to work if you don't already?
- Do you find your day easier if you start it with exercise in the morning?
- Do you often notice what the temperature is in your office?
- When you pick up something very ordinary, say a stapler, do you remember any event associated with it?
So, you could say “yes” in all three categories, but in one of them there will definitely be more yeses. For example, I perceive visual information better, but touch also plays an important role in my life. The following sections provide tips specific to each type of information processing, as well as instructions for grouping. Check them out before you start placing things in your closet.
Your closet should have fewer clothes than it can hold. You need a place to move things around and inspect them. You need to attach a hook on the inside of the door - you can hang hangers with accessories on it so you can immediately find the right one.
Also group things by type, situation and sets. Perhaps instead of, or in addition to, the traditional hanging rail that runs from one side wall to the other, the closet should be equipped with several outward-facing rods. In this case, things will hang facing you, and you will be able to examine them completely. Also, for stacked items, you should use open compartments and shelves instead of drawers. If you are used to storing sweaters or shoes in boxes, then put a tag on each one or buy transparent boxes so that you can see their contents.
Tips for people who perceive information better by hearing
Such people usually adapt to any system of organizing things in a wardrobe. You should stick tags on shelves and closed compartments (drawers, boxes), then you will read the text, say it to yourself or out loud, and this will help you better perceive the information.
This technique will also work for you: use different types of hangers for each group of things. Just come up with some kind of mnemonic or alliterative rule to make it easier to remember what type of clothing each type of hanger corresponds to. For example, hangers of RUBY color are suitable for SHIRTS, and obviously blue hangers for jeans. With this organization of things in your wardrobe, it will be easier for you to decide what to wear today.
You'll need enough space to move them around inside your closet as you select clothes. If you don't have a spacious walk-in closet that you can walk into, at least clear out the space in front of your regular wardrobe door so you can open it wide.
Probably, in order to make a decision on your choice, you need to touch the thing, even take it out and try it on yourself and, if you are not satisfied with something, return it to its place. Therefore, longitudinal slats filled to capacity with hangers are contraindicated for you. And, like people who are better at visual processing, you also need a hook on the inside of your closet door, or at least one rod that points outward. On these devices you will hang things that you will finally select for today.
Grouping things
Grouping is the act of hanging things in your closet in groups. There are several ways to organize your clothes, so you can choose the one that suits you best.
Type. Place items of the same type next to each other: pants with pants, dresses with dresses, etc. Adjacent groups should be noticeably different to avoid confusion. For example, jackets, trousers, short-sleeve shirts, skirts or ties, long-sleeve shirts, dresses can hang from left to right.
By color. You can distribute the entire contents of your wardrobe according to color criteria or only items within one group formed according to some other criterion. In my closet, things are first sorted by type and, within those groups, by color. I usually start with black and navy, then work my way through the color spectrum and end with white.
Depends on a situation. If your wardrobe contains clothes for different purposes, then creating sets based on situations will suit you best. Collect all the clothes for sports into one group, into another - office clothes in a purely business style, into a third - also office clothes, but in a looser interpretation, etc.
Based on the principle of rotation. I once worked with a woman who came in wearing different clothes every day for an entire year. But after spending several years side by side with her, I noticed that she wore the same clothes on the same dates (in other words, she wore the same things to the office on December 14, 2005 and December 14, 2006). In the morning she pulled the item out from the left side of the wardrobe, and in the evening she hung it on the right side. I don't dare recommend that everyone have so many clothes, but a two- or three-week rotation is a very good idea. Simply hang your items in your closet in the order you would like to appear in them during the rotation period.
Complete principle. With this scheme, it is better to use not a bar for hangers, but a series of compartments. You put the basic wearables you need for one trip out of the house, plus socks, underwear and everything else except shoes, into one box or one compartment. A great idea for children who want to dress themselves without the help of adults, as well as for those who do not need to wear a business suit at work. True, it will take some getting used to - for example, you will have to learn how to distribute clean clothes into compartments so that the set of clothes for one trip out of the house is completely complete - but perhaps this will be the ideal solution for you.
By season. If you don't have much clothing, simply organize it by season. For winter, spring, summer and autumn, allocate a separate compartment of the wardrobe.
When choosing a system for grouping things, honestly admit to yourself whether you can stick to it in the future. If not, it is better to stick to a simpler scheme.
Well, the time has come to hide the selected items in the wardrobe. If you use a chest of drawers or shelves to store clothes that can be folded (sweaters, jeans, T-shirts, etc.), in addition to the closet, do not forget to take them into account in your organizational design. When placing clothes in a chest of drawers or on shelves, provide free space around them so that the end, and therefore the contents of the stack, is visible. In addition, things do not wrinkle.
For repairs and charity
Now that all the clothes in the "keep" category have been distributed, you can return to the other two piles.
Look through the things you need to get rid of and divide them into two groups: those that are still of acceptable quality and those that are only suitable for rags. Clothes in good condition can be donated to charity, taken to a thrift store, or given to friends. The rest should be taken to a recycling collection point or cut into pieces and used around the house. Some charitable organizations accept such items and dispose of them themselves for little money, thus replenishing their budget. In any case, things in the “get rid of” category really need to be gotten rid of as quickly as possible before they become another source of clutter in your life.
In addition to clothes, you should have the following items in (or near) your wardrobe.
Small trash can. A spacious built-in wardrobe or closet will accommodate a small trash bin, which will save you from having to wander across the entire apartment to the kitchen every time you need to throw away a tag cut off from new clothes, plastic packaging in which things were delivered from the dry cleaner, or God knows where taking threads. If your closet is very small, like mine, keep at least a large plastic cup in it for small debris.
Magnetic strip. A magnetic strip about 12 inches long, attached to the inside of a cabinet door or on the end of a shelf, is a great place to store safety pins, safety scissors (with rounded ends), a metal box for a small sewing kit, and a stain remover pencil.
Hooks. Attach a pair of hooks to the inside of the cabinet door. On the first you will hang the clothes you selected for leaving the house, on the second - your night pajamas.
Three bags or boxes. It would be very nice to have bags in your wardrobe that can be tightened with a drawstring, or boxes with the inscriptions “For repairs”, “Special attention” and “For charity”.
In the first bag (box) put things that need repair. In the second - items that are delicate or require dry cleaning so that they do not mix with other clothes for regular washing. And in the third - clothes that you plan to donate to charity. Be careful not to overfill the bags. You should send items for repairs and donations to charity at least once a month, and the "Special Attention" box should be handled (that is, hand wash delicate items or take them to the dry cleaner) every time you start washing regular items.
Discussion
no, an easy way to organize your closet is to have a giant closet.
It’s amazing how difficult it can be to find a thing or put together an image in a space measuring 1.5 square meters. m. It’s even more amazing when you pull out your skates from the closet and get hit on the top of your head with fins falling from above. And how many nerves are spent trying to fit a wardrobe that is growing exponentially into a closet. With some variations, the story is familiar to most. And how to get out of the situation?
The easiest way to arrange a dressing room.
“Excuse me!..” - you cry out in amazement - “I live in a semi-truck. Are you suggesting that I make a dressing room and practically live in the closet?”
And I will reassure you: we will not move to live in a closet, but will simply organize the space available, with maximum convenience for ourselves. The principle of organization can be applied to both a regular closet and a dressing room.
First, we need to do something unrelated to the organization of space, but extremely necessary for the successful implementation of our project, namely, throw away or sell/give away unnecessary things. You can skip this point, but I give you a 100% guarantee that you will not achieve successful organization of space. It is these unnecessary things that will constantly clutter up shelves, drawers and hangers. Move around in the laundry, on the ironing board, on the shelf, and then inexplicably end up in the laundry again. We’ll assume that I’ve convinced you, so let’s move on to the first point.
Throw away:
- Worn items (pillings, wear and tear, fading, stretching - signs of worn items). Of course, worn-out jeans or a sweater can still be used at the dacha - we take it away, and throw away everything else.
- Old, shabby underwear.
- Tights with “a small hole covered with nail polish - to go under jeans.”
- Socks, mittens, gloves that have been waiting for their “soul mate” for years. I myself have such a bag, after washing I take it out in the hope of finding something, but hope...
- Things that need repairs that you will never do. If the item has been worn, is in good condition and you know that you would definitely wear it again, put it in a bag and take it for repair as soon as possible or do it yourself. The defects that can be repaired are usually: a torn lining, a broken zipper, a split seam, heels on shoes. The rest, most likely, will never see a new life - it will wait for it for years on the outskirts of the wardrobe world.
We give/sell:
- The color of the item doesn't suit you or you don't like it.
- The proportions or silhouette don't suit you at all.
- The design on the item does not suit your build or height.
- If you don't feel comfortable in this thing, even if it suits you. (You shouldn’t keep scratchy woolen items or panty-length skirts in your wardrobe that you constantly need to pull down. In general, clothes that are too revealing for you, how do they even appear in your wardrobe?..)
- Things are not the right size. This also applies to those constantly changing weight. If you lose weight, you still won’t want to wear the old one; a new figure requires new things.
- If you’re tired of an item or you haven’t worn it for at least a year (although I have several things that have been lying around for years and are waiting for the impossible - I’ll wear it next summer, I think in the fall; I’ll wear it at home; I’ll wear it out at the dacha; I’ll go to the base - but the things are still lying around - into the firebox, sorry, for recoil).
- Children's things that children have grown out of. They often do not have time to wear out and remain in good condition.
Disassembled? Now we sell what can be sold, we give to friends and acquaintances what needs to be given away. We carefully put everything else in a bag and place it at the garbage disposal or next to the trash can fence.
All! The first stage, the most tedious, because everything is “sorry” and “useful” - is over, we’re great!
Next stage:
- We wash or dry-clean out-of-season clothes, fold them carefully (they will live on mezzanines, top shelves and on the top of the closet along with rarely used items.)
- We sort clothes by type (regardless of where you will store them on hangers or on shelves). Among clothes of the same color, it is more problematic to find the right one, so we arrange the items according to their length and sleeve length (short, to the hips, below the hip, with long/short sleeves).
- The waist group can be sorted by width: narrow/wide (conditionally) and length (mini, midi, maxi, and for trousers: above the knee, below the knee and regular length).
- We also sort stockings, socks, tights, and knee socks by type: density or length.
- We sort everything exactly this way and no other way. For example: it is more difficult to find a beige blouse with short sleeves among beige items than among colored blouses with short sleeves. It will take longer to find black 60DEN tights among black tights than among 60DEN tights of different colors.
- Now that all the things are sorted, we describe point by point what exactly will be stored in our closet and calculate the number of rods, shelves and drawers.
Mezzanine, top of cabinet: more suitable for things that are seasonal or rarely used (winter clothes, skates, New Year's supplies and accessories or summer clothes, rollers, fins, assembled fan). Before putting things away for storage, be sure to clean them and pack them, adding moth repellents: fresh newspapers, orange peels or lavender sachets.
What to store:
— Vacuum bags: winter clothes, warm blankets, sweaters, and just piles of out-of-season clothes can be stored in vacuum bags. We select packages according to clothing size. We suck out the air using a vacuum cleaner and... op-la-la! — things take up 3 times less space.
— Plastic and cardboard boxes: they are easy to stack on top of each other and look nice. You can store non-seasonal accessories in them: for example, in our case these are skates/roller skates, fins/masks, nets/rackets and two oversized items that you can’t do without in the summer (a fan and a double air mattress).
Highly placed items should have labels so you know where to look for what. We mark vacuum bags, boxes, containers with labels with the name or list of contents. You can use transparent containers (they are more suitable for a dressing room, bedroom or bathroom, i.e. places less accessible to prying eyes) or put things in the same place each time (“Christmas tree decorations in the rightmost box”).
*********The main principle of placing things: Everything that is required frequently should be easily accessible. What is rarely needed can be stored high or low.
Barbells: for long and short items. If there is not enough space in the closet, you can hang an additional section on the rod for long items.
Hangers:
We use wooden hangers for jackets, fur coats, coats and raincoats. We grind old hangers with burrs or throw them away. Any item damaged by a burr costs more than a hanger.
Wide, durable wooden and plastic hangers for blouses and shirts.
Hangers with clips are for skirts and trousers, although sometimes it is more convenient to use hangers for suits with a crossbar.
Hangers covered with fabric - for thin silk blouses and dresses.
Shelves:
It is better to store knitwear (jumpers, sweaters, cardigans), jeans, towels and bed linen on shelves.
Stacks of things on a shelf should be no higher than 25 centimeters. This is about 3-5 things in a stack. Place dense items on the bottom and thin items on top. If there is space left on top, it is better to make an additional shelf or attach a pull-out basket. Then thick sweaters can be stacked on a regular shelf, and thin sweaters and cardigans on a low shelf or in a pull-out basket.
Shelves that are too deep are an additional inconvenience. Therefore, in the depths of the closet it is better to store seasonal textiles (curtains, blankets, etc.) or things that are guaranteed not to be needed every week.
Boxes, baskets:
The things in them can be rolled up or stacked. Expensive items can be additionally placed in clothing bags. You can store knitwear, T-shirts/undershirts, underwear, tights and socks in them.
For greater convenience when storing small items, you can buy or make honeycomb sections yourself; they are suitable for panties, socks, and tights. It is enough to roll them up and put them in the desired “cell”. It is better to additionally put stockings and thin tights in transparent plastic bags.
The smaller the wardrobe items, the less storage space you need.
Boxes for dresses:
Clothes embroidered with beads or rhinestones, long evening dresses, and knitted dresses cannot be stored on hangers. It costs them nothing to stretch out, lose shape, get dusty or lose some of their “jewels”. To store such things, we carefully lay them out on light cotton fabric or thin paper and roll them up. Thanks to this, the item will not lose its shape, the rhinestones will not cling to other things, and everything will be preserved in the best possible way. We put the folded dresses in beautiful boxes, attach labels and put them on the shelf.
Now a little about storing and placing accessories and shoes.
The same principle applies here: frequently used items are easily accessible, rarely used items are placed at the very top or at the bottom.
Bags:
Before storing bags, we carefully clean them, wash textile ones, dry them (leather ones - at room temperature, away from heating devices and hot air), fill them with paper so as not to lose their shape and put them in linen bags. Then on a shelf or in a box.
One of the important conditions for proper storage is air access, so you should not store leather products in plastic bags.
Shoes:
For those whose shoes play a significant role in their wardrobe, there is often a problem with their placement and storage. Everything is known here: we clean it, stuff it, put it in boxes, label it and put it on top. And placing shoes is not a plowed field at all. You can see
Accessories and decorations:
How can you find something that suits your look/outfit/outfit at any time?
1. We divide jewelry by style (ethnic, romantic, steampunk, etc.); pearl/glass/stone; rings, earrings, hair jewelry.
2. We select a place for storage, placing the jewelry next to the mirror.
3. Choose a storage method: boxes, chests of drawers, hangers, mannequins, holders. If there are a lot of decorations, then one method will clearly not be enough.
4. We arrange our “jewelry” according to the rule we already know: what you wear most often should be easily accessible. Lay out and hang the decorations as you sorted them a little earlier. This will make your search easier in the future.
If you have reached the end of my story step by step and put what you read into practice, you will receive several important bonuses:
- There is no longer any need to waste time looking for lost things - each has its place.
- In the morning, getting ready for work takes much less time (secret: if you move the choice of image to the evening, then in the morning getting ready, without makeup and hair, will take exactly 3 minutes).
- And last but not least, you have personally removed several small irritants from your life that can significantly spoil your mood on a daily basis.
We have made our life more comfortable - we love ourselves!
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To rationally use the space at home, it is not enough to buy a wardrobe for clothes - you need to properly store them inside. There are several simple ways to compactly put things in your closet so that it is organized.
Before you begin to properly place things, you need to think about the internal organization of the wardrobe space. The ideal solution would be to design a product strictly to suit your needs. Every person knows what and where it is convenient for him to store. If there is no opportunity to make furniture to order, choose modular systems.
Here are some tips on how to beautifully and competently plan the interior space of your closet:
- give up old things. Review your entire wardrobe; most likely you will find a lot of unused clothes there;
- if there is no closet, try to zone the room. Allocate some space for storing clothes and place racks with shelves there. The best option is to organize such a place in the bedroom;
- access to shoe boxes should be quick. Place stickers on them, where the names of the shoes and their color will be written down;
- choose thin metal hangers to compactly put things on hangers. They will not take up much space and can withstand heavy loads;
- to beautifully fold T-shirts, bed linen or other things - sort them by color;
- Narrow-height shelves will help you compactly fold your bed linen.
Don't forget to equip the closet with lighting to make it easy to access. Most often, built-in spots are used on the ceiling of the product.
Rules for compact storage
It seems that neatly folding clothes is easy - you just fold them at the seams. But when it comes to practice, usually nothing comes of it, and things are sent to storage in a bulky form, taking up a huge amount of space. The result is that even a large closet cannot accommodate the entire arsenal of outfits. To correct the situation and learn how to put things in a closet compactly, let’s look at each type of clothing and how to store it separately.
Skirts
An accessible storage option is hanging skirts on hangers. This method will take up too much space and hangers. Let's look at tips for rational storage of skirts, relevant for girls who love this item of clothing:
- fold the skirt in half;
- roll it into a tight roll;
- Carefully place on the cabinet shelf next to products of the same type.
The rest of the skirts will still have to be placed on a hanger - long-length items, as well as options sewn from light, airy fabrics. It is better to store denim skirts in special organizers with cells, having previously sorted the products by color and material.
Socks
Many housewives are concerned about the question: how to fold socks so as not to lose a pair? This can be done in the manner described below:
- take 2 socks and fold them at the seams;
- starting from the toe side, roll the products, forming a tight roller;
- Having reached the toe, leave one sock untouched, and turn the other inside out;
- wrap both rollers into one, creating a compact sock ball.
You can also do the same with storing baby socks. When folded, socks are stored in a special linen drawer. Before you roller fold your socks, sort them correctly. This must be done after every wash.
T-shirts
Many people have tried folding T-shirts or T-shirts on their own so that they fit in a stack on a shelf. To do this quickly, we suggest watching the video below on compact folding of the product. It consists of the following stages:
- place the T-shirt in front of you so that the front part is down;
- wrap both sleeves alternately over the middle part of the product;
- Fold the bottom of the T-shirt about a third, then fold the item again.
The method is considered traditional and will allow you to place textiles on the closet shelf compactly. Practical plastic containers for storage will help solve the problem of quick access. It is better to place the products in them not in a stack, but in a row.
Sweaters, blouses and shirts
Formal shirts and blouses are used every day to attend school or work. It is impossible to do without business elements, so every person has them. Let's look at the main way to compactly put business things in a closet:
- buttons on clothes must be fastened;
- place the product face down on the table;
- carefully straighten the item at its base;
- bend one sleeve towards the other sleeve along with the main part;
- direct the bent sleeve to the bottom of the product;
- do the same manipulation with the opposite element;
- when all the sleeves are attached to the back, visually divide the blouse into 3 parts;
- First, fold the bottom of the product, then the second part, resulting in a neatly folded shirt.
Many users ask the question: how to fold bed linen so that it takes up less space in the wardrobe? You need to sew small covers for each set of linen yourself. Before folding bed linen, you need to iron it - this way it will not only be stored better, but also will not require additional processing before use.
Trousers and jeans
Most consumers store business-style trousers on a hanger, citing the fact that this way they wrinkle less. This is true, but when stored this way, the products take up a lot of space in the wardrobe. Therefore, it’s worth learning how to properly fold things like jeans and trousers:
- first, straighten all the pockets of the product - put your hands inside and distribute the fabric evenly over the jeans;
- smooth out any noticeable wrinkles;
- Next, you need to put one pant leg on the other, drawing a fastening line along the seams;
- fold the product in half, then bend part of the fabric inside the fold line;
- at the last stage, you need to fold the jeans again and put them in the closet.
The same method is used to fold trousers, shorts, capris and breeches. Packed items are perfectly stored in the wardrobe on a shelf in a stack.
Jackets
Traditionally, this item of clothing is stored on hangers. This is due to the dense sewing fabric, which is difficult to iron. As often happens, you need to put on a jacket quickly, so the easiest way is to remove the item from the hanger.
If there is not enough space in the closet to accommodate a large number of things, you should resort to compact storage of jackets. They are folded in the same way as shirts and blouses, folding the sleeves of the product behind the back. It is better to store jackets in a closet in a stack.
For careful long-term storage, fold the jacket according to the same principle as shirts, first turning the product inside out.
Using organizers
Recently, special organizers have been in demand. They are designed for compact storage of underwear, socks, shoes and even bedding. It is recommended to place such devices in a closet - how to put things in closets is rationally described below:
- It is most convenient to store a bra in an organizer: for this you do not need to fold it in half, you just need to put it in a special insert in the box;
- before putting towels and bath accessories in the organizer, sort them by material and size;
- Small containers made of plastic or metal, divided into cells, are suitable for socks;
- It is allowed to store a bra together with panties - in this case it is worth purchasing a special device for several compartments;
- It is good to place shoes without boxes in a hanging organizer, where each pocket is intended for one pair of shoes.
If the apartment has only one closet, try to put unused items in special compartments for the season. This is how you can maximally unload the internal space for convenient placement of frequently worn clothes.
In order to have the superpower of compactly arranging things in a closet, you need to have a fairy godmother or at least a decent amount of experience playing Tetris. Also for this quest we will need the following things: wardrobe / chest of drawers / dressing room - one piece (if you have more, you can put things at random, there is enough space); clothes/shoes/accessories – in any quantity; stool – one piece.
How to put things in a closet? Let's begin!
Method one: things according to the season
How to put things in a closet economically? To do this, divide them into seasons. Keep only what you are wearing now. Pack the rest of your things in boxes, which are easy to find in any hypermarket. The boxes have a rigid frame and a lid. You can easily place them on hard-to-reach cabinet shelves, thus increasing the usable area within reach of your hands.
Method two: organizers
In addition to boxes, organizers for things can come to your aid. This home accessory is very popular, as it helps to save money and properly organize space in your closet, and a variety of configurations and colors will allow you to choose the right option. The organizers have several compartments in which it is very convenient to store underwear, hosiery arsenal, knitted T-shirts, etc. In addition, they are both horizontal and vertical. The latter can be attached to a cross rod or a side hook inside the cabinet. With such a thing, you will not rack your brains about how to beautifully arrange things in the closet.
Method three: hangers
Hangers or hangers are a simple device for vertical storage of things. It is worth noting that often any things are hung on them for the sole purpose of ironing less. But this is not entirely the right approach, because it is better to store knitwear folded, so it stretches less. The same applies to sweaters. And things lavishly decorated with beads, chains or other elements are best stored in separate bags, preferably paper ones. Therefore, we leave on hangers only what is really needed. By the way, it is very important to choose the right hanger size. If you wear XS, large hangers will detract from the appearance of your items. And vice versa.
Method four: on top of each other
How to conveniently put things in a closet? Traditionally, when we put things together, we form piles, from which it is sometimes very difficult to remove the right thing. Try changing this method and folding things vertically rather than horizontally. The order in the closet will remain much longer.
Method five: suitcase
How to neatly put things in a closet? If you are not conservative when it comes to organizing things, we recommend paying attention to the suitcase method. It is often used when traveling when forming suitcases - things are not folded, but rolled into a tube, thus saving not only space, but also time, because such things do not have creases and do not need to be ironed. This option would be ideal for towels. And for bed linen, you can use the following trick - store the set in one of the pillowcases. This way you will save both space and time.
Method six: pay attention to shoes
If your shoes rest at the bottom of the closet, that is, on its lower shelves, then you should pay attention to shoe organizers. This device will help free up useful space. But this option is useful only for those who are indifferent to shoe boxes. For those who don’t think about storing shoes outside the box, we recommend signing each one or sticking a photo of the pair inside (this will take a lot of time).
Method seven: secret places
Beds, sofas, ottomans have a magical property - they have secret places hidden from prying eyes. Not for everyone, of course, but still. If you have any, you should use them to store clothes that you are not wearing yet. This will free up a good part of the closet and serve as an excuse for a new dress - there is somewhere to hang it!
Method eight: vacuum bags
If you are tired of racking your brains over the question: “How to compactly fold things in a closet?”, then you should pay attention to vacuum bags - special dense bags of different sizes, from which, after placing clothes there, excess air is removed using a vacuum cleaner. This is very convenient if a) you have a lot of bulky things; b) you have a vacuum cleaner.
Method nine: “builder” level
If you don’t want to bother with buying additional gadgets for an already finished closet, and you also have a level in Tetris, you can try putting things in high columns, tightly packed upwards. Most likely you will have four of them in the department (empirically tested, but not the point) and getting to the farthest two will be, to put it mildly, problematic! Do not give up!