Many Americans have reach-in closets they use on a daily basis.  Unfortunately, it’s quite common for these reach-in closets to become confused messes, causing frustration and time lost, especially if you’re trying to jam multiple seasons’ worth of clothes into one cramped space.

As the Fall chill starts to take effect, now is a good time to clean out your reach-in closet and make it more functional for your cold-weather wardrobe.  A quality closet system and a few time-honored organization principles can help you create more ease and calm for the short, cold days that will soon be here. 

If you’d like an upgraded reach-in closet that’s ready for Winter, try these organization tips:

1. Purge what you won’t use.

The first step in making your home more organized is to clear out everything you no longer need.

Now is the time to go through your current closet contents and decide what you will keep and what you can either donate or throw out.  Make sure to go through everything, including your summer clothes too, and challenge yourself to purge as much as you can.

2. Create a dedicated space for bulky knits and sweaters.

One of the big Winter organizational challenges is deciding what to do with your sweaters and other bulky knit clothes.  These items can’t be put on hangers, as they can lose their shape.  But folding them all into one big pile isn’t efficient either.

Consider adding more shelves into your reach-in closet so that you can create a dedicated space just for folded Winter wear.  Ideally, you should be able to sort your sweaters into multiple short piles.  This way, you will be able to both see and reach any sweater quite easily.

3. Put your summer shoes in drawers.

Winter time is boot season.  While boots are both practical and stylish this time of year, they also take up a lot of space.

In order to make room for your boots, consider storing summer shoes in a drawer. Flip flops and flat sandals are typically slim and easily stacked in a closed drawer or cubby until the warm weather returns. 

4. Use a different closet for outerwear.

Reach-in closets can quickly start to overflow, especially if you try to use them to store big coats or lots of accessories like scarves, hats, and gloves.

In order to free-up space in your reach-in closet, try to keep all of your outerwear in a different closet, ideally in your entryway or mudroom.  You may want to add custom shelves, drawers, or hanging rods in these spaces to keep all your outerwear organized.

5. Add extra lighting

Many reach-in closets only have one small light source.  This can make the space seem even smaller than it is.  And, as the days get shorter, it can become difficult to see what you have stored in the dark places of your closet.

Consider adding extra lighting to illuminate your reach-in closet.  Even small battery-operated or plug-in lights can transform the space and make it feel more welcoming during the dark days.

6. Consider a custom storage solution.

If you really want to make the most of your reach-in closet during any season, you should consider a custom storage solution that is personalized to your closet needs.

Installing shelves, drawers, hanging rods, and other closet accessories can help you organize your unique wardrobe while adding value to your home.

Modular Closets is a pioneer in the modular solution to custom storage. Our quality-made modular closet pieces make it possible to get all the benefits of a high-end custom closet at an affordable price.  You can even get a free closet design on our website.