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Clothes Storage Ideas: 12 Ways To Stash What You Wear Neatly

Clothes Storage Ideas

Revolutionary approaches to clothes storage can truly optimize the space within your closet. When mornings are rushed and the race to prepare is on, few things are more frustrating than the hunt for a beloved sweater or that perfect pair of shoes.

The secret to organizing a bedroom is to use clothing storage solutions. By rearranging the furniture and finding new homes for your old clothes and shoes, you’ll find that it’s not only simpler to find what you need quickly but also that it emerges from the closet undamaged.

Therefore, these clothing storage ideas will revamp your space regardless of your bedroom storage plans.

Ideas for Clothing Storage

Since extra space doesn’t always equate to more storage, ideas for organizing your closet should definitely come first.

‘Getting the configuration right is what makes or breaks a closet and its functionality,’ says Rachal Hutcheson, National Retail Manager at Sharps. ‘A sensible place to start is by assessing your clothing storage needs. We all organize differently, so think about the volume of clothes and shoes that you have, whether you might need storage areas for bedding and towels and how much space you might need in the future.’

These are the clothing storage ideas to start with, whether you’re dreaming of a walk-in closet, his and hers dressing rooms, or methods to improve your current design.

1. To make the most of your space, use fitted furniture

Clothes Storage Ideas

Fitted clothes storage solutions provide a custom option that can be modified to better suit the space and size requirements, unlike a freestanding closet or vintage armoire, which can bring character to a bedroom. Built-in closets are useful in older homes where awkward alcoves, nooks, and corners might be an issue since they can be made to meet the exact dimensions of a space without wasting any space.

But when it comes to organizing clothes, it’s all about what’s inside. Additionally, a built-in closet can provide customized clothing storage within to meet individual demands. A combination of interior storage with rails, shelves, and drawers can provide a more practical mix where single rails were once the norm.

‘Once you have considered the capacity, start to think broadly about the design element of the interior fit out and what you might like to include,’ continues bedroom storage expert Rachal Hutcheson. ‘There are many options for personalizing a fitted wardrobe, to ensure it works perfectly for your lifestyle, for example combining hanging rails with pigeonhole shelving. Internal drawers and shoe storage will help keep you organized whilst allowing easy access to the clothes you need, when you need them.’ Consider, too, whether you want space in which to organize jewelry and organize makeup.

2. Discover A Clever Solution For Difficult Spaces

When full-height furniture is not an option because to sloping ceilings or uncomfortable under-eaves situations, make good use of the space. With angled doors that glide easily in and out, cubbyhole shelving can be set up to stretch from floor to ceiling to the greatest extent possible and the whole height of the room. Bulky sweaters or shoe storage can benefit greatly from this method.

‘Many of us have lots of shoes and bags to store. If they are housed in their boxes or bags, and stored two or three deep, it’s difficult to see what you have at a glance. Installing open storage is far more practical,’ adds Rachel Hutcheson.

3. Knitwear Can Be Stacked for Easy Access

A excellent idea to utilize the space above clothes rails that could otherwise go unused is to install shelves at the top of closets. When storing bulky goods like sweaters and chunky knitwear that could snag or strain if strung on a hanger, use shelves instead. When heaped in a pile, heavier goods fold more easily, retain their shape, and are easier to obtain than when hidden in drawers.

If your closet lacks built-in bedroom organizers, you can make your own partitions by purchasing plastic ones that can be easily installed on top of shelves. Instead of building too-high heaps that could tumble, go for shorter piles that are well-stacked.

4. Spend time neatly folding your clothes.

The way you store clothing can be completely rethought; consider filing instead of stacking. Marie Kondo, a storage expert, asserts that

“by neatly folding your clothes, you can almost always solve any storage problem.”

According to the KonMari method, you may conserve space and make it much simpler to retrieve items by organizing your clothes so that they stand vertically rather than folding and piling them on top of one another.

‘The act of folding is far more than making clothes compact for storage,’ says Kondo. ‘It is an act of caring, an expression of love and appreciation for the way these clothes support your lifestyle.’

Kondo also suggests using drawer dividers and boxes to store items neatly in their place after the clothing have been folded with care.

5. Enjoy A Specialized Dressing Room

A separate dressing room is perfect for utilizing a variety of clothing storage alternatives if you have the luxury of a little extra space. Consider converting a seldom-used guest bedroom into a dressing room or a long, narrow room into a walk-in closet if you have the space.

Choose elegant built-ins along just one wall to give the impression of more space. These will leave plenty of room for doors to open. Alternatively, think about using sliding doors that take up less room. Mirrored doors and glossy, light-reflective surfaces will reflect light and help the room feel larger. Mirrors are also helpful for trying on clothes.

6. Access Everywhere

Consider creating a separate dressing room or tiny walk-in closet by dividing off a portion of an upper landing. To enjoy the greatest storage, utilize the height of the ceiling by using built-in joinery to extend a cabinet or a set of shelves from the floor to the ceiling. Glass doors retain the look open and spacious, give the impression of room, and let you quickly gaze inside.

‘Where possible, think about adding a ladder for access,’ recommends Annie Ebenston, designer at Blakes London. ‘Ladders work particularly well in period conversions, why waste all that high-level storage potential when you can design in a ladder? And aside from the obvious practical benefits they add character and a focal point to the room.’

7. Double-down and cram in more

‘The most important thing to do when planning clothing storage ideas is to look at everything you own – clothes, shoes and accessories – and work out what storage you need,’ says designer Nathalie de Leval. ‘Thinking about how you store clothes – whether you prefer hanging or folding – helps define what you need.’

Instead of wasting room with a single full-height clothes rail if you don’t have many full-length dresses or coats, think about switching. You can fit more shorter things in, such skirts, blouses, and trousers, with two double-height rails. Alternately, combine many hanging rails of various heights to cover all your bases.

Take note of how effective closet lighting solutions can assist you in identifying different garment storage options and swiftly locating what you need.

8. Create The Ideal Walk-In

With some creative clothing storage solutions, a walk-in closet can feel just as opulent as a dressing room while taking up a little less room. A walk-in closet, in contrast to a dedicated dressing room, is frequently a smaller space adjacent to or divided off from the main bedroom and is outfitted with open clothing storage rather than fitted cupboards.

When designing a built-in arrangement, corners can be tricky to work with, but rather than leaving the area empty, think about using corner-shaped units that fit neatly into an angled recess to make the most of the uncomfortable space while still offering plenty of storage.

‘Walk-in wardrobes are a good choice for those looking to display certain items of clothing, accessories, or shoes,’ says Simon Tcherniak at Neville Johnson. ‘This more glamorous option elevates your day-to-day routine into something more special and meaningful.

‘Consider ingenious and space-saving storage solutions, such as roll-out shoe trays that make footwear easy to view and sort, or adjustable clothes hanging racks and rails, which are a must if you want to future-proof your storage requirements.’

9. Locate a Location for All Your Clothing Storage Needs

To make the most of every square inch of space, outfit a walk-in closet with floor to ceiling clothing storage. Combine double and full-length hanging rails, shoe racks that slide out, and pigeon-hole storage for folded shirts and sweaters. Keep out-of-season things in overhead storage if you don’t need to use them as regularly.

‘We ask our clients to do a big clear out and count every piece in their wardrobes,’ says Irene Gunter of Gunter & Co. ‘We then have a great basis to work out what takes priority in your wardrobe – is it shelving, hanging space, or the shoe collection that are the key drivers? Measuring arm spans establishes how much hanging space can be included. For instance, shirts with double cuffs need a lot more hanging space than a lady’s row of skirts.’

10. Utilize Slimline Shoe Storage to Save Space

Built-ins let you cram useful extra clothing storage ideas into restricted areas like hallways or attic landings. Shoe storage works well in shallow nooks that don’t take up a lot of floor area. Think about installing glass doors to add a sense of openness and shield shoes from dust. Shoe shelves that are tilted allow you to more quickly recognize favorites while taking up less inside space.

11. Design Your Own DIY Clothes Storage System

There is an alternative to a custom walk-in wardrobe that you can use off-the-shelf fixtures and fittings to build if you are wondering how much fitted wardrobes cost to install and possibly want to use your funds elsewhere. Think about utilizing a modular storage system like Elfa’s, which consists of a base structure and additional rails, shelves, drawers, and baskets that you can arrange to create a personalized configuration.

If you have sufficient space, you can install the system in existing closets or use it in an open-plan fashion within a walk-in area. Systems like this offer complete flexibility and allow for redesign and relocation if future needs change.

12. Allow for light

When designing a room for clothing storage, people often overlook lighting, but incorporating lighting can greatly enhance the functionality of walk-in or closet interiors.

To highlight the interior of cabinets, think about strategically positioning downlighters around their upper border. You may also attempt recessed areas to illuminate the baseline. LED strip lights offer a straightforward alternative that you can attach to rails, behind doors, and along shelves. You may also think about running strip lights vertically to illuminate the entire length of hanging clothing.

What Clothes Storage Method Is Most Effective?

Clothes Storage Ideas

The easiest way to improve your closet’s efficiency is by organizing it to avoid overcrowding with excess clothing. Decluttering holds significance because, based on the 80/20 rule, the average person primarily wears 20% of their clothes 80% of the time. This suggests that numerous garments take up the majority of closet space despite not being worn.

If you have trouble determining what to keep and what to throw away, use the method that experts in organizing suggest. Turn every hanger in your closet backward at the start of each season. After that, move each hanger ahead as you wear, clean, and put the item back in the closet. Take the clothing off any hooks that are still facing backward at the end of the season and donate it to clear up closet space.

How to Maintain Clothing Over Time

Before storing your clothes, wash them

Before storing, wash and iron your clothing. Surface stains and grime gradually penetrate the fabric, making them difficult to remove when you finally take the clothes out of storage to use it again. Additionally, dirty clothing may draw pests and insects that could harm your clothes. Wash all clothing following the care instructions, and dry clean any pieces that can be before storing. Before drying and storing the clothing, make sure to thoroughly rinse it to remove all bleach, chemicals, and detergents. This will ensure that your garments are clean and ready to wear when you need them, in addition to keeping them secure during storage.

Is Vacuum Sealing Required?

Vacuum seal bags, which are excellent space savers, come in a wide variety. However, there is a lot of conjecture that putting your clothing in these bags for an extended period of time could harm your apparel. According to this logic, the majority of natural fiber clothing requires air to keep its shape and integrity, thus by sucking all of the air out of the bag, you are squeezing the clothing and its fibers.

One person with a PhD in Fibre and Polymer Science even suggested that the item will take the same amount of time to uncompressed to the amount of time it was in the space saver bag. It takes a long time for the fibers to uncompressed when removed from these bags. I’ve used these bags in the past to store seasonal clothing, so the items are only in the bag for a few months instead of several years, and I haven’t encountered any issues.

I probably wouldn’t take the chance with any sentimental, pricey, or heirloom-quality objects.

Say “NO” to cardboard boxes and plastic bags

Pack your garments in airtight plastic containers with lids. In most circumstances, this will keep your garments dry and prevent the growth of mold and mildew. Make sure plastic containers are clean, dry, and lined with old (but clean) cotton sheets if you must use them.

Avoid using plastic bags since they can retain moisture, lead to the growth of mildew, or cause materials to turn yellow. Packing your garments in a cardboard box won’t provide protection from vermin, as rats and mice can easily chew through the cardboard.

When it comes to heirloom items, consider the cost and sentimental value when selecting between acid-free boxes and tissue paper. Keep in mind that not all plastic boxes are safe, as they can release chemicals that may harm the garment, ranging from mild to severe effects.

Mothballs

In addition to leaving your clothes smelling awful, mothballs are not always effective and may be harmful if found by children or animals.

The natural wooden cedar balls are a far more appealing option. They not only smell better, but they also work just as well as moth balls and, when combined with the other suggestions, work even better.

Make sure to use either moth balls or wooden camphor at the top of your storage container for additional protection rather than directly on the clothing.

Pristine, Chilly, Dark, and Dry

Extreme meteorological conditions or the setting in which you are storing your belongings may harm them.

Experts recommend maintaining clothing storage conditions at temperatures not exceeding 23°C and humidity levels around 55%. However, if I were preserving any pricey sentimental objects or heirlooms, I would only adhere to this guideline. The objects will remain safe as long as you keep the area clean and protect the box housing the items from the weather.

Always keep in mind that attics and garages, unlike self-storage facilities, can house flammable items like fuels and grease, and they may also be damp and prone to pests if you’re storing items in your personal space.

Verify again

No matter where or what you are storing, it is crucial to keep an eye on your possessions. Reducing the risk of objects getting destroyed involves checking them annually, potentially allowing you to salvage them. Memory lapse makes this aspect vital to me, as I even forget storing clothes.

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Clothes Storage Ideas: 12 Ways To Stash What You Wear Neatly