If you frequently encounter the struggle of a cluttered and overflowing clothing dresser drawer, it might be time to delve into the art of organization.
Addressing the following six questions will guide you in learning how to effectively organize your clothing drawers and reevaluate your wardrobe.
By implementing a reliable system, you’ll achieve a clean and tidy drawer that makes selecting the ideal outfit a breeze.
Thoroughly Assess and Organize Your Clothing Dresser Drawers
To effectively organize your clothing drawers, follow these steps:
Conduct a Comprehensive Inventory:
Empty out your entire dresser and sort the contents into piles.
Place similar items together on the bed or floor. At this stage, avoid making decisions about what to keep or discard.
Instead, focus on sorting and subcategorizing. For example, you can sort tops into categories like tanks, tees, and long sleeves.
Create labels as you go along. Although labeling may seem unnecessary, it helps eliminate overthinking and speeds up the decision-making process.
Ensure Drawer Functionality:
Once your dresser is empty, check that each drawer is sturdy and moves smoothly.
Tighten any loose corners with wood screws and run waxed paper over the sides and glides of the drawers for smooth operation.
Make Four Key Decisions:
Before you begin the editing process, make these four decisions for each item to determine what to keep and what to let go of:
a. Do I Love It? Keep anything you genuinely love and appreciate. You wouldn’t want to regret giving away something you truly cherish.
However, bear in mind that keeping special items may require letting go of others to make room.
b. Do I Use It? Consider how often you use each item. Keep anything you regularly use, and consider storing frequently used items in easily accessible places.
c. Do I Have More Than One? If you have duplicates of certain items, narrow it down to your favorites or the best ones. This applies to basics like t-shirts and socks as well.
d. Can I Easily Replace It? If you believe you may need an item suddenly or it might come back into style, remind yourself that you can usually purchase or borrow it again if needed.
Consider Alternative Storage Options:
While organizing clothing drawers, ask yourself if there are better places to store specific items.
Certain types of clothing might benefit from storage on hangers and hooks, such as workwear. Open shelves can be ideal for neatly folded garments that stack well, like jeans, sweaters, and sweatshirts.
Undergarments might be more conveniently stored in the bathroom. For children’s closets, cloth storage bins work well for items like pajamas or loungewear.
Relocate Bulky Items:
Move bulkier items out of your drawers.
Sweaters, sweatpants, and jeans are better suited for storage on shelves, white pants can be hung on hangers. Dedicate drawers to smaller items like t-shirts, underwear, and socks.
Assign Each Drawer a Specific Purpose:
Opt for assigning a single duty to each drawer.
For instance, designate drawers for specific garment types (accessories, undergarments, tops, bottoms). Alternatively, you can organize drawers based on purpose, such as work, workout, casual, dress-up, or seasonal.
To help establish these designations as a habit, use sticky notes for the first few weeks.
Maximize Visibility:
Aim to eliminate layers within the drawers.
Roll or fold clothing into packets that can stand upright. Utilize spring-loaded dividers, bookends, or boxes to keep clothing items standing tall.
When clothes are folded and stacked, items at the bottom often go unnoticed and unused. Additionally, remove spare button envelopes hidden at the bottom of drawers and repurpose them by donating them to teachers for math manipulatives or giving them to your dry cleaner.
Establish a Primping Station:
Consider creating a separate area for finishing touches outside of the bathroom or closet.
Utilize the topmost drawer and dresser top as your final primping station and place a mirror nearby. Use a drawer organizer to keep brushes, bottles, and creams in place.
Remember to return hair and beauty products to the drawer after use.
By following these steps, you can effectively organize and optimize your clothing drawers, ensuring that your garments are easily accessible and neatly arranged.
*The information is for reference only.
