Organise your wardrobe so it actually stays organised
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I’ve organised every wardrobe in my house. Mine was the first one, then I did the hallway cupboard, the spare room and then my parents. Once you figure out a system that actually works, you start seeing mess everywhere but once you’ve organised it, the the wardrobe will maintain itself.
The IVORY Method is the simple system I use to organise every space in my home so it actually stays organised. Instead of just making things look tidy, it focuses on creating systems that work in real life.
It stands for:
Inventory – see exactly what you own
Visualise – design the space before organising
Organise – create clear zones and structure
Reset – build simple habits so it never gets chaotic again
You-proof – make it realistic and easy to maintain
Every guide on this blog follows this method, so you can use it in any room and get the amazing results.
Inventory
As always, before you buy organisers, remove what you don’t need.
When I first edited my wardrobe properly, I found things I didn’t even remember owning.
Go through and ask: Does this fit? Do I wear it? Is it damaged? Is it expired?
The less you have to organise, the better it will look.
Organisation works best when there’s breathing space. You can give your things to a charity shop or sell it on platforms like vinted so someone else can enjoy it.
Visualise
Before buying anything, decide how your wardrobe should work and how you get dressed. Do you want outfits easy to see? Do you prefer categories or colour? This step sounds simple planning this now stops you constantly reshuffling your wardrobe later.
When I redesigned mine, I focused on keeping things looking nice, while keeping it easy. This means that I hung up as many things as possible so they don’t crease and I can access them quickly.
Think about your mornings. Are you rushing? Do you want outfits pre-planned? Do you need workwear separate from weekends? Designing for this makes everything easier.
Organise
FIX YOUR HANGERS
If your hangers are wrong, nothing else matters. I used to think hangers didn’t make a difference. They absolutely do.
Why Plastic Hangers Are Awful
- They bend under weight.
- They snap.
- They make clothes sit unevenly.
- They look messy when mixed.
They’re flimsy, inconsistent, and they ruin the clean look of a wardrobe. If you already have plastic hangers, don’t just throw them away.
- Donate them to a local charity shop.
- Offer them on a local community page.
- Ask small businesses if they need extras.
- Send them to a tip to be recycled
That way they’re reused properly instead of ending up in landfill.
There are 3 types of other hangers: wooden, velvet and wire. I haven’t added a link of wire ones below because I’ve never tried them as I don’t like the look but I still want to give you a quick overview so you can decide for yourself. Here are some pros and cons:
Pros: They are cheaper and thinner.
Cons: They bend, distort clothes, and look messy fast.
Velvet hangers are the most popular. Here’s why people love them, along with a few downsides to consider:
Pros: Slimmer profile so great if your rail space is tight. Grip fabric so things don’t slide off.
Cons: Less structured than wood and could snap under heavy items such as coats.
My favourite are wooden hangers. They’re the most durable option, and here’s why:
Pros: Holds their shape, supports heavier items like blazers and coats, lasts for years
Cons: Take up more space and more expensive.
The key rule:
Pick one type and commit.
And make sure the size matches your clothes. If the hanger sticks out past the shoulder seam, it will stretch your tops over time. If you are a size small or extra small you may want kids hangers as they usually fit your clothes much better and help maintain their shape.
I find choosing hangers really difficult, so I added two of my favourite wooden hangers and two of my favourite velvet hangers below to make the decision easier.
Strong Wooden Hangers
These come in either a pack of 20 or 40 and are really sturdy. They are good value for money and will give your space a warm feel. However they are adult hangers so may stretch smaller clothes. Width: 44cm
Wood Children’s Hangers
These come in a pack of 20 and they are really sturdy like the other ones. The only difference is that these are for kids so better for smaller clothes. However they are more expensive. Width: 35cm.
Amazon Basics Velvet Hangers
These come in loads o different colours and pack size options. They are also the best value for money at under £40 for 100. Again as they are adult ones they may stretch your smaller clothes. Width: 44cm.
Premium Kids Velvet Hangers
These come in loads of different colour and pack size options. They are also not too expnsive at around 66 for £30. They are non slip and also slim so good for small wardrobes. Width: 35cm.
Organise by Colour
Once your hangers match, organise your clothes in rainbow order.
Group by category first, then arrange each section from light to dark or in full rainbow order.
It sounds small, but visually it:
- Makes everything look brighter
- Makes pieces easier to find
- Stops the wardrobe looking heavy
- Makes you actually want to keep it tidy
When you open it and it looks good, you naturally maintain it.
Drawer dividers
If you’re folding clothes into loose stacks, they will collapse. Drawer dividers fix that instantly. They:
- Separate categories
- Stop piles falling sideways
- Keep everything visible
- Prevent overfilling
Also I can’t always be bothered to roll everything up so if there is a divider there, just folding it still makes it so easy to find.
But as always MEASURE! Before I buy anything, I check three things: width, height and length. I always use a proper tape measure instead of a 30cm ruler. It’s quicker, more accurate, and it makes such a difference. If you want to know more about this see the blog page linked. And see below my favourite tape measure.
Bamboo 4 Pack Dresser Drawer Dividers
These come in multiple sizes and colours and they are adjustable; they also stay in place and make organisation easy. However, they are very expensive. At the moment its around £40 for four so I recommend going with one of the other options unless you have oddly shaped drawers.
12 Pack Drawer Dresser Clothes Organizer
Comes in grey, beige, black, pink or white. There are 3 different organiser sizes in the pack too. They are good value for money at around £25 but cheaper and more expensive for different colours. They are easy to assemble and I think they’re great because I have them!
Socks and Underwear Drawer Organizers
Keeps socks and underwear really neatly and nicely organised. They come with two organisers with either 16 cells or 24 cells. These will look the most aesthetically pleasing but they take a lot of maintenence to keep looking nice and may not fit well into your drawer.
Now for the shelves.
Random boxes are the reason most wardrobes look unstable.
If you’re stacking, the boxes must be the same brand and size, have flat lids and be strong enough to hold weight.
Comparing Storage Box Types
Clear Plastic Stackable Boxes – Great for visibility, best for shoes, seasonal items and accessories. Make sure they interlock or have structured lids.
Fabric Storage Cubes with Frames – Better for lighter items and they look softer, best for for scarves, hats, shoes and spare bedding.
Airtight Storage Boxes – Best for off-season clothes. and are very good at protecting against damp and moths.
I like the look of Fabric Storage cubes the best but if they are being hidden in a cupboard the others may be easier for visability.
Clear Plastic Storage Containers
These are perfect if your storing seasonal items, especially if they are going in a cupboard. They are very big and clear so you can see what you have. However I wouldn’t put them somewhere visible as they’re not the nicest to look at.
Fabric Storage Bags with Lids
These come in multiple colours and are the best value for money. They have a zip to prevent against moths. They also have a see through window so you can see what is in the bag. They are not as structured as the plastic ones though.
Set of Six Storage Boxes
These are the ones that I have seen in the picture and I find them super useful. They come in lots of sizes and colours and are easy to install, they also hold their shape really well. However, if you have a lot to put in them you can see it through the eyelet.
Fabric Cube Storage Boxes
These are very similar to the other ones and i also have these ones in a different part o my house. The differences are: you only get 4 yet they are more expensive, they have more size options and they have their handles on the outside so no eyelets.
Reset
I do a seasonal wardrobe reset. At the start of each season, I review what I wore and what I didn’t. This stops clutter building up again. I also bring more seasonal items into reach for example I often move my jumpers up and dresses down when summer is approaching although it doesn’t always work cause of the weather!
You Proof
I remember organising my wardrobe for the first time and i rolled everything up beautifully and guess what it stayed like that for less than 48 hours. If you know you could be bothered to roll everything up then your wardrobe will look amazing. But If you know you won’t maintain something, don’t build your system around it.
Hang more items, use dividers and keep it simple. Because the easier it is, the longer it lasts.
When you build the wardrobe properly, it maintains itself.
And once you’ve organised one wardrobe properly, you’ll start looking at every other one in the house thinking, “I can fix that.” Trust me — it spreads.
