It’s that time of year again: time to come out of hibernation—out from under those cozy cashmere turtlenecks and comfy coats—and start preparing for spring. Of course, that also means giving your closet an overhaul. It seems like a daunting task, sure, but if you do it right from the start, having an organized closet will pay off all season long. The hardest part is getting motivated to begin. So take a look at decorating magazines and Websites for inspiration. Once you see how fabulous the clutter-free closets look, you’ll be raring to go. Then, follow these tips and dig in.

To Keep or Not to Keep
Depending on your schedule, devote a whole day to the process of switching your cold- and warm-weather wardrobes or simply tackle one category at a time, like tops, bottoms, shoes, and accessories. Go through your closet systematically, removing everything piece by piece and placing the contents in two neat piles. The first pile, your “keep” pile, should include garments you love and wear often. The second pile, your “maybe” pile, should include any items you have mixed feelings about or haven’t worn in at least two seasons. Naturally, anything that is irreversibly worn or damaged should be discarded.

Now try on everything in your “maybe” pile in front of a full-length mirror and evaluate each garment honestly. If you would buy the piece all over again, place it with the “keep” items. If it no longer fits properly or simply doesn’t rock your world, consider selling it on eBay or at a consignment shop (if it’s a designer or high-value item), or donating it to a local thrift shop. Thrift shops and charities are excellent avenues for jettisoning unwanted clothing and accessories; not only do you get a tax deduction, but someone else can make good use of your castoffs and a worthy cause benefits as well. Bag up those items to be donated and drop them off as soon as possible, so you won’t be tempted to sneak them back into your closet.

Afterward only the “keep” pile should remain with items that you love to wear, that fit well, and are in style. Now it’s time to store them for next season.

Out With the Cold ...
To guarantee your winter wardrobe emerges from storage in tip-top shape, everything should be clean and properly packaged. Check pockets—this is especially important for coats—and remove all of those plastic dry-cleaning sheaths since fumes emitted by decomposing plastic can cause light-colored garments to yellow. If you’re lucky enough to have a large, tiered closet (meaning high and low storage), stow off-season items on the highest hanging bars and shelves and the current season’s wardrobe in the most convenient areas. This also makes sense if you travel frequently to different climates and need easy access to off-season clothes.

If your closet is too small to store your off-season clothes, look for a space that is cool, dark, and dry since many fabrics are affected by temperature and humidity. This unfortunately means that garages, unfinished basements, and attics are a no-no. The ideal spot would be under your bed in containers designed to protect clothes from dust and pests. If the space under your bed is already spoken for, New York–based professional organizer Jodi Starr advises placing off-season garments in large storage bags and keeping them in your luggage at the top of the closet.

Always separate to-be-stored clothes by fabric, packing together all your cashmere, wool, silk, suede, and leather, since they are more fragile and vulnerable to pests. Pack durable cotton, linen, and rayon together in a separate bin. To further discourage pests, choose cedar moth repellents instead of mothballs, which are toxic to children and pets (and their foul odor is almost impossible to eliminate). Last but not least, place winter shoes and boots in felt shoe bags.

Although this may seem like a lot of work—especially when you’re responsible not only for your own closet but for other family members’ as well—Starr tells her clients that the effort is worth it. “If you organize what’s going out of your closet,” she explains, “you'll find it so much easier to get it all back in later.”

In With the New
At last you’re set for the happy task of putting warm-weather wear into your closet. If you haven’t already done so, consider splurging on new, quality hangers. Wire and plastic tubular hangers bend easily and can leave clothes misshapen, sometimes beyond repair. Instead, choose hangers with long hooks (to support collars) and a fabric covering to prevent clothes from snagging or slipping off. You should also be sure that skirt and pant hangers have fabric guards to shield clothing from clamps. Many home organizing stores even sell special hangers for belts and scarves. Check out Joy Mangano’s Huggable Hangers, available from the Home Shopping Network, which are designed not only to pamper your clothes but to increase closet space as well.

Starr offers her clients several options for grouping clothing in their closets. “It all depends on what feels right for you,” she says. “You can separate clothes by category, like tops and bottoms; by color; by work and play; or by thickness, with heavier-weight garments grouped separately from lighter ones.”
If you’re like most women, your biggest closet concern is for your shoes. “When you’re dealing with a lot of shoes, I like to keep them in boxes,” says Starr, “and stack them in groups, like ballet flats, pumps, sandals, and so on.” You can utilize regular store shoeboxes, which often have a picture of the shoe on the side, or you can stick labels on them to let you know instantly what’s inside. If your budget allows, you can opt for clear plastic shoeboxes that stack together neatly from shops like The Container Store.

Handbags, especially ones you don’t use everyday, should also be covered to protect them from dust. “Keep handbags in the felt pouches they came with when you purchased them,” says Starr. “And if they didn’t come with a dust pouch, use an extra-large Ziploc bag instead.” This is also a great solution for collections of smaller bags, like evening purses, so when you need one, the entire inventory is at your fingertips.

In the end, a well-organized wardrobe isn’t just user-friendly and lovely to behold, it can also save you money. Eliminating clutter and staying organized will help you keep track of what you have and minimize unnecessary purchases—like that seventh pair of black pumps. Then you can focus your attention on finding and buying things you will truly use and enjoy.