Overhauling our master bedroom closet organization was one of the last home improvement projects Justin and I completed before Jack was born. Isn’t it funny the things your brain gets hung up on when you’re nesting?

Having better, more functional storage in our closet was definitely one of those weird fixations I couldn’t get out of my head.

The new storage solutions include the addition of shelves on the back wall of the closet (an otherwise under utilized space). And baskets. Lots and lots of baskets.

Last year, we redid our closet by ripping out the builder-grade wire shelves and installing new shelving. You can read all about that here. 

Since we completed that project, though, I came to realize that the updated closet didn’t provide as much storage as I would like. Well, it didn’t maximize the potential storage our closet offered. 

This was the state of our closet before I tackled better organization:

We live in a fairly small home, so maximizing storage is crucial. And it’s something I feel I’m battling weekly. 

However, living in close quarters has taught me a lot about how to organize and stay organized.

The most important thing I’ve learned and whole-heartedly adopted is the idea that LESS IS ENOUGH. 

Clutter creates sensory overload for me and results in the feeling of panic, stress, and anxiety. So, adjusting my mindset to the idea that having fewer things (fewer towels, fewer Tupperware containers, fewer clothes, fewer shoes, etc.) actually helps keep the house tidy and running more smoothly. Which results in less stress toward housekeeping.

Why?

It’s simple. When you can learn to live with fewer things, you instinctively learn to keep what you have in full working order. 

For example, the fewer towels and clothes you have, the more often you have to wash them. Therefore, your laundry isn’t constantly piling up.

Do you have a problem of letting your clean laundry sit in the laundry basket after it comes out of the dryer? That’s easy. Only keep one laundry basket in your home. That way you have to put your laundry away to be able to use the basket for the next load. 

We only keep enough Tupperware that fits on one shelf in one of our cabinets.

Why? Because doing so helps us keep our fridge cleaned out. 

If you have so much Tupperware that you’re constantly putting leftovers in them and putting them in the fridge — and if you’re like us, forgetting to eat the leftovers — then your fridge is going to stay full of said Tupperware. You’re not cleaning your fridge out as often when you have oodles of Tupperware to keep putting food in. If you have less Tupperware, you’ll be cleaning out your fridge more often to be able to wash the containers that are in there.

The less is enough mentality is essential to creating and maintaining organization in your home, and it is certainly the framework to my master closet organization tips and tricks.

So, without further ado, here’s how I organize our closet and keep it organized.

Tip No. 1 /// At least once a year, take everything out of your closet and lay it out so you can see everything you’ve been hoarding. I did this earlier this week and ended up filling three garbage bags of clothes to donate.

Tip No. 2 /// Keep a basket in the back of your closet to toss clothes, shoes, and accessories into that you no longer wear throughout the year. Once the basket is full, donate it. 

Tip No. 3 /// Invest in good hangers. It makes your closet space look uniform and tidy. We prefer wooden hangers (the ones from IKEA are inexpensive and great quality), but velvet ones are great, too. Instead of shelling out the money on a ton of new hangers at once, we buy a couple of packs each time we go to IKEA.

Tip No. 4 /// Measure shelves and floor space so you can buy properly sized storage baskets. 

Tip No. 5 /// Have a basket / container for everything that sits on your closet shelves. Baskets and containers help keep everything organized and tidy. It also helps you get in the mindset that you will only keep what fits into the basket or container, which in turn helps you keep your hoarding habit at bay (if you have one). For example, I have a basket in our closet that holds my shorts for summer. Right now, the basket is full and can’t hold anymore shorts, which means I can’t buy more shorts unless I get rid of a few pairs that I already have. I follow this rule for everything (T-shirts, jeans, leggings, etc.)

Tip No. 6 /// Label the outside of the baskets / containers so you and your closet partner know exactly what goes in each one. It makes putting away laundry much easier and more efficient.

Tip No. 7 /// Organize your hanging clothes into categories. For our closet, I have my long dresses and jumpsuits on one end, then my shorter dresses. My long-sleeved and short-sleeved blouses hang together with cardigans. Jackets and coats are on a lower rack, along with skirts and trousers.

Tip No. 8 /// Always, always put things back where they belong (having labels on your baskets and organizing your hanging clothes will help with this). Justin and I are both horrible about coming home in the evenings, changing clothes, and not putting jackets, pants, sweaters, etc. in the space within the closet that is designated for them.

SHOP OUR CLOSET ORGANIZATION TOOLS: