I was just catching up on the blogs in my reader, and I was reading one on how to organize your closet. It got me thinking, because I disagreed with one part of it. The part that said to organize everything by color. Can you please explain to me how that is supposed to work for everyone? That has never worked for me. Do you want to know how my closet is organized? Do you?
I do agree with the experts that suggest keeping slacks separate from shirts and keeping other like items together. That certainly makes things easier to find. But when I get dressed, I don’t think that I want to wear a certain color. I’d never be able to put together an outfit if I had to think like that because I am so freaking indecisive about things like that. No, the first thing I think about is what the weather is. Therefore, my shirts are organized first and foremost by sleeve length. Yep, you heard me right. I get up, see that it’s only going to be in the 50s, and think, gee, I might get cold today. Better go for a long sleeved shirt. Isn’t that how most people start putting together their outfit? I would think that thought process is especially popular in places like New England where you never know what the weather will be like from one minute to the next.
So after sleeve length, I organize my shirts by style. I’m one of those people who finds something she likes and buys it in every color, so this makes it easy to find them all. My t-shirts are together, my button down shirts, and my frilly shirts (yeah, right. I don’t do frilly!) That way I can put together an outfit by mood – do I want to have a fancy outfit, or casual? See, this method of organizing is much more logical than organizing by color.
I can understand why the “experts” tell you to do this – so you won’t clash. There’s a way to combat this as well. It’s super easy. Turn the light on when you pick out your clothes. If your closet doesn’t have a light, get one. There’s lots of stick up lights that don’t need to be wired.
I’ve never been one to do things the way everyone things they should be done. I never wanted to be like everyone else (even though I might look it in my uniform of jeans and a t-shirt). I like to go against the grain sometimes – not to prove that I can or anything like that, but because it just makes more sense to me.
I don’t really organize, other than by winter and summer (drastic difference in Canada!) and by skirts, pants, jeans etc.
I do it the exact same way. It just makes sense!
Zhu, I used to live in New England and didn’t have space to store off-season clothing, so that’s how I got in the habit of organizing by sleeve length. No need to look at short sleeved shirts when it’s below freezing!
Amy, I’m glad I’m not the only one who can see the logic in it. Now we just need to get all the organizers on board!
I so totally agree with you. I, too, have my closet neatly organized much the same way as you so it’s no wonder you’re my kid. The hardest thing is that transition phase from heavy winter clothes to ones that don’t wrap around my neck and aren’t made of wool. New England weather is so sporadic!
Mommy, that’s why I never understood why people have to have so many clothes that they have to put half of it in storage when it’s not in season. Either get a house with a bigger closet or get rid of some clothes.
When I lived in a small apartment, as I did for more years than I care to think about, I was happy to get the clothes into the closet, let alone organize them.
Now, however, with a nice walk in, I actually can organize. I have dresses and long (to the floor) items on one side, pants separate skirts separate, tops and jackets/blazers.
All of these items are organized further into sub categories, i.e. summer or short sleeved blouses apart from the long sleeved, and jackets separate from the blazers and winter blazers separate from the summer blazers, and so on.
kaila
That’s pretty much how I do it too. But when I lived in places with less closet space, I was careful not to exceed the space I had because I simply had nowhere to store the excess. It forced me to make better choices when I was out shopping.
Organizing by color is a very poor way to go about things in my opinion. It is always good to match but all the same color is not the way to go. Mixing and matching will get you looking better than a single color. Eww.
Hilary, I think the point of organizing by color is to be able to find the colors you want, but it totally does not take into account what you are dressing for – work? formal event? gardening? a snowstorm or heat wave? But if you are so inclined, monochromatic outfits can be lovely.
Yes, I’ve got a bunch of stuff I know I am not going to wear. Time to clean out the closet!
With the economy the way it is, better choices will be the rule.
Ooh, decluttering the closet? You never know if it will lead to decluttering outside the closet as well. Check out Unclutterer if the fever hits you (it’s on my blogroll page).
The first division in my wardrobe in the winter and summer clothes. The second division is the elegant and sports clothes. The third division is on Blouses with long and Blouses and short sleeves. Suit are separate in the second part of wardrobe. This division of clothing is ideal and practical.
Maria, whatever works for you is what is best! Categories are a great way to organize clothes, and I still think that organizing by color is the worst way to go.