Reorganizing Your Walk-in Closet for Winter

Doug Haines • October 12, 2022

Winter brings with it a host of preparation, from salt and shovels for the snow, hot cocoa for cozy nights inside, and hauling up winter clothes that haven’t been worn in months. Before you grab all of your winter garments, though, it’s best to get your walk-in closet in order.

With some planning and a bit of customization to suit your specific needs, you should soon have a walk-in closet that’s as neat and organized as it is nice to look at.

Once you’re ready to reorganize your walk-in closet and get it prepared for all of your winter clothes, you should:

Make an inventory of all your clothes.
Prepare all of your summer clothes for storage.
Get a categorization system in place for hanging clothes.
Find a separate place for your heavy coats and boots.
Make liberal use of cubbies and easy-access options.
Use hooks and wall-mounted shelves for accessories.

Now that we’ve got an idea as to what goes into reorganizing a walk-in closet, let’s take a closer look at how to get this to work in your home.

Make an Inventory of All Your Clothes

As with any other organization project, the best place to start with reorganizing for winter is with a blank slate. The easiest categorization step will be to sort by season. From there, you can create ‘keep,’ ‘toss,’ and ‘give away’ piles.

This will not only free up space in your closet but in your long-term storage as well. It will also make it that much easier for you to categorize your clothes once you put them back in the closet.

Prepare All of Your Summer Clothes for Storage

Now that you’ve got all of your warm-weather clothes separated from your winter wardrobe, it’s time to get them ready for long-term storage. It’s best to clean all of your clothes before putting them away for the winter, as any stains will be far harder to remove if they’ve been sitting for months.

When it comes time to actually put them away, a sturdy plastic container with a sealing lid should work wonders here.

Get a Categorization System in Place for Hanging Clothes

More than any other season, winter is a time for hanging clothes. From sweaters to hoodies to jackets, scarves, and more, you’ll likely have no shortage of garments to hang in your walk-in closet.

It’s best to categorize garments by type to make it easier to find what you need in a pinch. Sweaters can get one section, pullovers another, and so on. Future-you will thank you for being so organized.

Find a Separate Place for Your Heavy Coats and Boots

This next tip has less to do with your walk-in closet and more to do with the organization of the rest of your home. The last thing you’ll want is for the snow on a winter coat to melt in your nice closet and attract mildew and mold, so it’s best to find a separate place for any boots and coats that get regular use.

You can put them somewhere that gets plenty of airflow and even spring for a waterproof mat to keep water and salt from getting tracked in.

Make Liberal Use of Cubbies and Easy-Access Options

Bob Vila points out that storage bins have a place in any walk-in closet thanks to their convenience and ease of use. Categorize according to your preferences and needs and you’ll no longer have the problem of digging through dresser drawers to find what you’re looking for. The added airflow with cubbies will also help keep your items fresh.

Use Hooks and Wall-Mounted Shelves for Accessories

Simplicity is always a positive, but nowhere else is this as obvious as in wintertime. You’ll already have to add plenty of time to your morning routine once snow is on the ground, so having all of your things at arms’ reach will help to put a little bit more time back into your day.

Conclusion

Along with colder temps and more time spent inside, winter also brings with it the opportunity to reorganize your home. By following these super simple steps and getting everything to suit your needs exactly, you should have a beautiful, tidy, and efficient walk-in closet in no time at all.