A cluttered and disorganized coat closet can be an eyesore and make it frustrating to find what you need. Applying some simple organizational tips can transform your coat closet into a functional, tidy space. Here are the 17 best tips to organize your coat closet:
Categorize and Group Similar Items
The first step in organizing your coat closet is to take everything out and categorize the contents. Group together similar items like:
- Coats
- Jackets
- Hats, gloves and scarves
- Purses and bags
- Umbrellas
- Boots and shoes
Categorizing like items makes it easier to designate areas or containers specifically for each category. This avoids everything being thrown together randomly.
Use Shelving to Double Your Space
Install shelving high up in your coat closet to double your vertical storage space. Use this shelving to store:
- Sweaters, folded pants and other clothing items
- Extra blankets and linens
- Off-season hats, mittens and scarves
- Shoes or accessories you don’t use often
High shelving keeps these seasonal or occasional use items accessible but up and out of the way.
Add Sturdy Hooks
Install several rows of sturdy hooks inside the coat closet doors and on the walls. Hooks provide hanging space for coats, jackets, robes, bags and more. Stagger hooks in multiple rows, placing them at different heights to maximize vertical storage.
Look for strong, steel hooks that can hold heavy coats without pulling out of the wall.
Use Specialty Hangers
Invest in specialty hangers designed to hold specific items in your closet:
- Skirt and pants hangers – These have clips to neatly hold skirts, pants or multiple shirts on one hanger.
- Purse hangers – Small hooks that insert in a purse strap to hang from the closet rod.
- Jacket hangers – Wide, felt-lined hangers keep jackets in shape.
- Scarf hangers – Hangers with multiple pegs to hang scarves vertically.
- Tie or belt hangers – Hangers with loops to neatly organize ties and belts.
- Multi-item hangers – Horizontal bars hold multiple pairs of pants, scarves or accessories on one hanger.
Use Over-the-Door Storage
Install over-the-door hangers or storage bins to maximize the back of the door. These can hold:
- Shoes, mittens, hats and scarves
- Purses, bags or backpacks
- Umbrellas
- First aid supplies or other household items
Look for over-the-door storage specific to what you want to organize.
Add a Mirror
Having a full length mirror inside the coat closet is useful for giving yourself a final check before heading out. Opt for a sturdy, distortion-free hanging mirror.
Install a hook next to the mirror to conveniently hang purses, bags or clothes while getting ready.
Use Bins for Containment
Clear plastic bins are ideal for corralling smaller items in your coat closet. Label bins and use them to organize:
- Hats, mittens, gloves and scarves
- Handbags, purses and totes
- Umbrellas
- Flashlights, batteries and tools
- Pet leashes, collars or jackets
- Sewing kits, first aid supplies, etc.
Bins keep these items visible but neatly contained.
Store Out-of-Season Items Elsewhere
Remove coats, accessories and gear you won’t use anytime soon to another storage space. This clears room in your coat closet for in-season essentials.
Store off-season items in:
- Underbed boxes
- Low cabinets or drawers
- Basement or attic storage
- Vacuum storage bags
Use breathable fabric storage bins, not plastic, for off-season clothes.
Create Designated Spaces
Give every category its own spot in your freshly organized coat closet using baskets, shelving and dividers. For example:
- Scarf pegs by the door for grabbing one on your way out
- Baskets for mittens, hats and gloves
- Floor space for umbrellas and bags
- Upper shelf for sweaters and folded clothes
- Rod space divided by family member
Having a designated spot makes putting items away and finding them easy.
Sort by Frequency of Use
On shelves or hanging rods, keep most frequently used coats, jackets, bags and accessories closest to eye-level for quick grab-and-go access. Less frequently used items can go up higher or down lower.
This system also trains family members to put frequently used items away in their proper accessible spots.
Use Tension Rods for More Hanging Space
Lack of closet rod space? Install tension rods horizontally at different heights to double or triple your hanging room. Tension rods easily install inside a closet and instantly expand your storage capacity.
Use tension rods for off-season coats, little-used jackets or clothing overflow. When not needed, simply slide the rods out.
Add a Shoe Organizer
Preserve floor space by using a hanging shoe organizer inside your closet. These come with individual pouches to store shoes vertically.
Alternatively, install shelves or shoe cubbies for neatly stacking shoe pairs. Just be sure to measure your closet first so shelving doesn’t crowd coats and jackets.
Maximize Floor Space
The floor is prime real estate in a coat closet. Use it wisely to store:
- Shoes lined up neatly along one wall
- Umbrellas in a tall basket or bucket
- Crates for mittens, gloves, hats and scarves
- Larger bags and totes for beach, sports, or travel
Limit floor items to those you access frequently. Keep additional items in other storage areas.
Use Strategic Lighting
Outfit your coat closet with lighting that makes finding items easy:
- Motion sensor light – Illuminates closet when doors open.
- Battery operated tap lights – Adhere inside closet for illumination.
- Door-mounted light – Discreet light attached to top of door frame.
- Keyhole light – Tiny LED shines light through keyhole.
Avoid overhead lighting that creates shadows. Go for lighting inside the closet to see contents clearly.
Add a Shelf for Keys, Gloves and Sunglasses
Install a small shelf or tray by the entrance to your coat closet. Use this as a drop zone for items you take off when entering the house like:
- Keys
- Sunglasses
- Gloves or mittens
- Face masks
- Hats or scarves
Having a designated landing spot keeps these small everyday items from ending up on the floor.
Use Retractable Key Hooks
Adhere retractable key hooks inside closet doors or walls. Extend hooks before going out and drop keys on them. Retract hooks when not in use to keep key zone tidy.
Retractable hooks are also handy by the entrance to hang coats, pet leashes or umbrellas as you enter.
Add Separators Between Family Members
If everyone shares one coat closet, use dividers to designate sections for each family member’s coats, jackets and accessories.
Dividers keep items organized by person. Options include:
- Hanging canvas shelves with integrated rods
- Hanging shoe organizers as sectioned cubbies
- Tension rods with curtains clipped on
- Tall lidded baskets for each person
Sectioning prevents arguing over whose belongings are whose!
Maintain with Purges and Quick Fixes
Once organized, do regular quick purges of your coat closet to maintain order. Also do periodic deep cleanings.
- Daily: Straighten fallen items and return things to proper spots
- Weekly: Toss unnecessary items and broken hangers
- Monthly: Deep clean interior and wipe down shelves
- Yearly: Donate unused items, purge and categorize again
A few minutes spent purging and tidying frequently prevents coat closet chaos!
Conclusion
There you have it – 17 tips to transform your messy, cramped coat closet into an organized space! Start by categorizing contents, installing sturdy storage fixtures, purging unused items and creating designated homes for everything.
Remember to keep frequently used coats, bags and accessories at eye-level for easy access. Utilize vertical space with shelves and hanging rods, and use bins and dividers to keep categories separated. Maintaining organization is easy with quick daily tidying and regular deep cleanouts.
With some creativity and commitment to stay tidy, your new organized coat closet will keep all your outerwear, accessories and seasonal gear in its place! No more torn pockets, missing gloves or mathematic equations to Tetris everything into the space. Just follow these tips and enjoy coat closet bliss.
Frequently Asked Questions About Organizing Your Coat Closet
How often should you declutter your coat closet?
Aim to declutter your coat closet thoroughly at least once a year. When the seasons change is an ideal time to purge unused items and get organized. You can also do quick 5-minute tidying sessions more frequently to maintain order.
Should you use cedar in a coat closet?
Cedar is naturally moth repelling. Lining the walls or shelves with cedar boards can help keep coats protected. But cedar takes up space. As an alternative, use cedar balls or strips in bins and storage containers. This gives moth protection without sacrificing closet capacity.
What temperature should you keep your coat closet?
Ideally, keep coat closets around 50-55°F to prevent mold or mildew growth. Avoid temperatures above 70°F. You can add a vent to circulate fresh air. Use a dehumidifier in damp climates.
Should you hang coats on the rod or fold them?
For structured coats, hang them on hooks or a closet rod to keep their shape. Fold softer cardigans and jackets neatly on shelves. Store off-season coats in breathable fabric bins, not plastic. Hanging helps heavy wool coats maintain shoulders and prevents creasing.
Where should you put boots in a coat closet?
Give boots their own designated spot on the floor or a shelf. A boot tray, wire rack or over the door organizer keeps pairs upright and contained. Just be sure to measure the closet first so boot storage doesn’t crowd out coats and jackets. Keeping boots by the door makes it easy to slip them on when heading out.
What items should not be stored in a coat closet?
Avoid storing anything that could be damaged by slight humidity or fluctuations in temperature inside your coat closet. This includes electronics, leather goods, photographs, musical instruments, wood furniture and valuables like jewelry boxes. Also avoid flammable chemicals or cleaning products that could react with wool coats.
How do you maximize vertical space in a coat closet?
Use the entire vertical space in your coat closet with:
- Shelving high up for storage bins, sweaters, shoes, etc
- Multiple rows of hooks at varying heights for coats, bags, robes, leashes
- Hanging rods installed at different levels for short and long coats
- Over the door storage for shoes, accessories, hats, umbrellas
Measuring first allows you to install storage fixtures that make the most of all available vertical room.
Where should you put purses in a coat closet?
Use purse hangers that hook over the closet rod or strong hooks installed inside the door to hang purses vertically. Alternatively, contain purses in labeled bins on shelves. For purses you use daily, install shelves by the entrance to stash them as you walk in. Avoid just throwing purses on the closet floor.
What size rods work best in a coat closet?
12 to 18 inches deep closet rods can hold coats and jackets without cramming. Install rods high enough that coats clear the floor and any shoe storage. Sturdy steel or wood rods hold more weight than flimsy tiny closet rods before bending. Extend rods the full width of the closet to maximize hanging capacity.
Where should you put scarves in a coat closet?
Scarves are lightweight but bulky. Options for neatly storing include:
- Scarf hangers with multiple pegs to hang vertically
- Rolling scarf organizer tucked on a shelf
- Slotted wall-mounted mailbox
- Folding neatly inside bins or boxes
Avoid just stuffing scarves on a shelf or they become a jumbled mess. Contain them or hang them up.
What kind of hooks should you use in a coat closet?
Look for sturdy steel or cast iron hooks with screw-in attachments. Avoid adhesive hooks which can fail and cause items to fall. Stagger hooks in rows at various heights. Hooks are great for coats, robes, bags, pet leashes, and over-the-door storage options. Hooks maximize hanging space in a small coat closet.
How do you organize gloves, mittens and hats?
These small items easily get jumbled and lost in a coat closet. Keep them neat with:
- Labeled bins or baskets on shelves
- Hooks installed inside the door
- Hanging fabric cubbies
- Over the door shoe organizers with pouches
Store one category per container. Having designated spots makes keeping them organized simple.
Conclusion
A coat closet should be functional and keep your outerwear accessible. By categorizing contents, maximizing vertical space, and designating zones for everything, you can transform an overstuffed mess into an organized haven. Maintain order with periodic purging and daily tidy-up sessions. With these tips, you can finally see all your coats, jackets, and accessories – and actually find them when rushing out the door!