Should I Hang or Fold My Clothes in My Custom Closet?

Mike Beard • Aug 25, 2022

A common mistake that many homeowners make after installing a new custom closet is to not put just as much effort into how they put away their things. The last thing you want is persistent wrinkles in your clothes or stretched-out garments.

Let’s take a look at the best way to categorize your clothing, how to address any storage space issues, the proper ways to fold and hang your garments, and more.

Once you’re ready to put away your clothes in your brand new custom closet, you should:

Properly categorize all of your clothing.
Address and handle any storage space issues.
Use the right folding method for ease of access.
Invest in hangers that suit your specific needs.
Be sure to try out organization tools.

Now that you understand the basics, let’s dive into the specifics of how to properly store your garments in your custom closet.

Properly Categorize All of Your Clothing

As Better Homes & Gardens explains, a good closet organization system starts with proper categorization. As a general rule, garments that are flowy or made of linen should be hung up. You should also hang up any slacks, dress pants, jackets, or dresses that you may have.

Sweaters are generally better to fold, as are shorts and workout clothes. Jeans and T-shirts can either fold or hang, depending on the space you have available as well as your personal preferences.

Address and Handle Any Storage Space Issues

After categorizing all of your clothes, you should start planning out how you’ll store everything, keeping in mind any storage space issues you might have. If you have far more hangable clothes than foldable clothes, try to find garments that can also fold to help free up your hangable space.

You can also make use of adjustable shelving units or sliding racks to free up even more space if storage is an issue for you. Drawer dividers can increase your available space while also helping to keep things properly categorized and easily accessible.

Use the Right Folding Method for Ease of Access

If you’re like many homeowners, you struggle with keeping track of all of your clothes, especially folded garments. You dig through drawers and sift through clothes until you find what you’re looking for, in the process undoing all the work you’ve already done. One quick way to solve this problem is to fold your clothes vertically.

Not only will this make it easier to see specific items you’re looking for at a glance, but it will also free up considerable folding space.

Invest in Hangers That Suit Your Specific Needs

The next step in properly sorting your clothes is to upgrade from basic plastic hangers. To start, wooden hangers work well for heavy garments like coats and jackets, and they can also absorb odors and keep your closet smelling fresh. Satin hangers are excellent for delicate garments, as their non-slip surface holds them in place better than other types.

Metal hangers can stand in for thicker wooden hangers in order to hang heavy items while saving space, and bamboo hangers work great for lighter garments.

Be Sure to Try Out Organization Tools

If you’ve categorized all of your clothes by type, dealt with any storage issues you might have, optimized your folding style, invested in the right hangers, and still have issues with keeping things organized, don’t be afraid to invest in some organization tools.

Hanging and folding dividers can quickly turn a disorganized space into a tidy one, and color-coded bins can also help with keeping your categories clear and easy to spot. A door organizer can also free up some space by giving you a place to keep ties, scarves, and other miscellaneous items that might be taking up space elsewhere.

Conclusion

Once you’ve installed the brand new custom closet of your dreams, the work toward organizing all of your clothes has only just begun. By following these tips and tricks, though, you should be well on your way toward having a custom closet that’s as beautiful as it is tidy!