How to Organize Your Closet for Fall + My Closet Tour

Organized neutral fall inspired closet tour

If the seasonal drop in temperatures has you rethinking your closet, look no further. Whether it's 85 or 55 degrees where you are, the pleasure of dressing for a new season is always fun. Today I'm showing you how to organize your closet for fall with my closet tour.

Purge from the summer season

Take a look at your wardrobe and notice what you wore and what you didn't. Pull anything you didn't wear all summer and ask yourself why you didn't wear it. Wrong size? Didn't look right on you? Didn't match anything else? Didn't have a reason to wear it? With the exception of special occasion items, if you didn't wear it this past season, there's a good chance you won't wear it next summer either. Ask yourself if it's worth taking up valuable real estate in your closet or if you'd rather have the space for things you truly wear, want and need.

I keep a bin for donations on the floor of my closet so I can easily toss in anything I'm ready to part with. When the bin is full, I head to Hope Chest Resale Shop. It's my favorite charity since the proceeds support our community.

Sort the keepers

For anything you decide to keep, sorting it now will help you next season when you shift your closet back for warmer weather. Grab some post-it notes and label them according to category. If you're keeping items even though you didn't wear them, label them according to why you didn't wear them too...that will help you decide if you still want to keep them when you pull them out next summer. Categories can be whatever works for you. We typically sort by sleeve or pant length and casual or dressy. We always use rod dividers help keep things where they belong. My husband made these custom in his wood shop for me.

Consider storing off-season items away from current season items, even if you have room to keep them together. Why? If you lean towards decision fatigue when getting ready in the morning like I do, this keeps you from looking at things you won't wear as you choose outfits each day. If you have room to keep them hanging, add a section for off-season clothes. Other options include under-bed bins or baskets on shelves.

If you did this step last season, you're ready to pull out your fall clothes. Simply swap the fall for summer items using the same storage bin and space.

Re-set for the current season

By now, everything in your closet will be season-appropriate. Take a fresh look at the contents and have a try-on session. Anything that looks dated, doesn't fit or you simply don't like can be pulled for donation.

As you try on, pull together outfits. This will help you determine if you're missing key pieces so you shop smart. I like to take photos of outfits I like during the try-on session. I group them in an album on my phone labeled Fall Clothes and refer to it when I start thinking I don't have anything to wear.

Don't forget to review shoes, bags and accessories.

Time to organize

If your closet already has an organization system in place, you're ready to drop the fall clothes right where they belong. If it doesn't yet have a system, now's the time to do it. Place like items together using the categories you've already determined.

This is also the time to consider what storage supplies you might need. Measure your shelves carefully, including length, width and height. Use the measurements when you shop so you know what fits and how many pieces to buy. We usually shop Container Store for the variety and quality of products. They keep many items stocked year after year so you can add or replace the same products as your needs change, maintaining a consistent look. We sometimes purchase storage pieces from Target and Amazon too. You can take a look at some of our favorites here: https://www.basketandbin.com/closet-favorites

Don't forget to label it all afterwards!

Style it

Because we believe any space is easier to keep tidy when it looks pretty, we use styling strategies to give off boutique vibes. Group items by color within their category for a streamlined aesthetic. Matching hangers really pull the look together. We prefer thin velvet hangers to save space and keep clothes from slipping. Neutral hangers in ivory or black are our go-to's since they don't compete with clothing colors.

Baskets and shadow boxes in organized closet

I like to store accessories where they're visible. I re-purposed my grandmother's vintage ashtray for rings I wear regularly and bought a black metal jewelry stand for bracelets and earrings. I hung shadow boxes for added jewelry storage. I love a little greenery and a photo or two in closets to make it feel even more special.