New Year, New Closet Make-Over

Out with the old 2020, in with the new closet organization for 2021!

New year, who dis? We hear this phrase constantly once January 1 hits every year. But with 2020 in the rearview, everybody is looking for a fresh start in 2021. While nothing is going to magically change overnight (fingers crossed it does!) coming into the new year with a new closet can help ease the pain just slightly, hopefully.

There’s something about the changing of a few numbers in the date and a shiny ball dropping in Times Square that inspires people to get their lives together… and this year I think everyone wants to throw out the year entirely. Maybe this year things will be different? Dare I say, social gatherings?

If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s our love for material things may not be as important. So why not give to those in need? The first step in closet organization is taking inventory of what all you have. That means taking everything out. Yes, I said everything and figuring out what fits and doesn’t fit. I mean, don’t tell me you don’t have time because you do. THERE IS NOTHING ELSE GOING ON.

Once you’ve cleaned out your closet and sorted through the items that don’t fit you anymore, will fit you once you lose that quarantine weight, or you’re planning to donate, you can really have fun organizing your ‘new’ closet.

I suggest choosing a method to your madness. Simply hanging up your clothes or folding them back into drawers with no specific plan or organization sort of defeats the purpose. Yes, you may have gotten rid of unwanted or unused clothing items, but you didn’t change anything about your closet function.

Here are five steps to get you started:

1. Try sorting your things by season, color, or occasion - or even a mixture of all three! i.e., orange special occasion fall clothes.
2. Items like socks, underwear, other undergarments, and bathing suits should receive their own section as well, so separate these out while you’re at it.
3. You know those little extra buttons in the tiny bags that come attached to any clothing item that has a button on it? If you’re a big ‘what if’ person as I am, you keep these even though literally never once in my life have I needed to sew on a new button. But hey – these need a spot too, so set these aside and we’ll get to them later.
4. Go through any boxes of miscellaneous objects or items you’ve been saving. Especially those hidden away boxes from your glory days that have no true sentimental value at this point in your life – you’re 25, it’s time to get rid of that movie ticket from that one date with that one person… what even was their name again? Moving on…
5. Shoes are a hard item to part with, but trust me, those old chucks that you don’t even remember what color they were to begin with, aren’t going to have hurt feelings if you toss them in the trash. Your feet with thank you.

After a thorough dusting and vacuuming, you’re ready to get started! Eek!

Everyone’s closet is set up differently. The number of shelves and storage racks will vary but following some easy general storage solution tips will go a long way to maximize the space you do have.

For your tops, pants, skirts, dresses, etc., after you’ve organized them into whatever sorting method you’ve chosen, hang them in order on your closet rods. Matching hangers are always a cute way to spruce up the area, too! Try hanging pants on shirt hangers, folded in half and in half again. This will prevent them from either hanging on the floor or hanging down below your other shelves if your closet is set up this way.

When it comes to more delicate items and bathing suits, try putting them into some mDesign storage bins with windows. The window makes it easy to see what’s inside when you’re sleepily trying to find your essentials in the morning, but the rest of the box is concealed enough to keep those private items, well, private. The bin has a small tab for you to pull down and slide the window open, providing access to the contents inside. These storage bins come in small, medium, and large so you can fit them into any size closet and shelf.

For the standard-opening lid that swings up from the top, still with the window feature, these new lidded storage boxes come in all different shapes and sizes to fit your needs and your space as well.

Shoes can be a really tricky item to store. They’re all different and you don’t want them touching other items, as they aren’t exactly the cleanest item in your wardrobe. Hanging shoe organizers from mDesign are space-efficient and clean. Two hooks at the top are for hanging on your closet rod and 20 compartments should be more than enough for your shoes! (Unless you’re me and have about 30 pairs for each season… guilty…) If you need more space, hang them side by side to create one large unit.

If you’re more of a floor standing organizer type of gal, mDesign has those, too! Each of the 12 cubbies in the tall grid shoe cubby can hold either one or two shoes. This design also comes in a wide style, having 16 compartments, it just depends on what level of shoe addict you are!

Shelving in closets is great because they give you some extra space for the things that don’t need hung but you still want to be stored in your closet. I find myself putting items such as sweatshirts, gym shorts, or pajama sets on these shelves between my hanging clothes.

On the highest shelf or the dust collector as I like to call it, there is tons of unused and wasted space. What a shame! Let’s make the most of that space with some shelf dividers with an added shelf! The shelf snaps into place on the existing rungs. The bottom section is perfect for those old yearbooks you’re holding onto, out of season clothes or your favorite hoodies. The top section can hold bins, boxes, additional clothing, and accessories.

Whatever you use it for, you have double the space to do it. As many of these as you want can be placed side by side to really make the most of your closet space.

Aside from shelves, racks, or rods, you may have drawers or a dresser inside your closet as well. Drawers can get messy – and I mean MESSY – quick. Digging through my drawers looking for a pair of socks when I’m running late is the last thing I need! I swear, unless these items are properly organized, I’d think I didn’t own half the items I bought, and they got swallowed up into oblivion.

This makes mDesign’s drawer organizers a great solution. The four-compartment organizers hold bras, socks, and/or underwear neatly and clearly separated from one another. Nine- and 12-compartment organizers have evenly sized slots for ties, scarves, and other delicates/small accessories like those extra buttons you’ve been saving in case of a button crisis.

The best part? They have LIDS! Not only does it keep your items sealed off, but it also prevents drawers from being difficult to open or close if you have stuffed as much as possible into them. The lids are clear on top, so you can see what’s inside before opening them, saving you a lot of digging around time.

You’ve got your clothes hung, your accessories sorted and contained, your random keepsakes and miscellaneous objects neatly stacked and organized. Ahhh, now how good does that feel?! Getting dressed in the morning and putting away laundry will be a part of your day/week that you will look forward to with a clean, good looking closet like yours.

Clean, donate, and organize. Boom. 2021 won’t know what hit it.

Shop the Look: Add stackable holders to your closet shelves to keep clutches and pocketbooks organized and easy to grab when needed.

Check out our full New Year blog series for more inspiration.

Laura Sirk is a Marketing Manager at mDesign
and loves all things organization and cats. I’m one cat away from being a cat lady. MEOW!

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