Happy fall! When the temperature starts to drop and it’s time to move your hats, gloves, and scarves back into “prime real estate”, take the opportunity to give your coat closet a makeover. Here are 7 steps to help you refresh your closet for fall.
Edit your belongings – Sort like items and let go of anything you no longer need or love. British designer, poet, and novelist, William Morris said it best “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” If something has sentimental value consider storing it in an archival garment storage box to free up space in your closet.
Use matching hangers –or rather use good matching hangers. This will give your coat closet a clean look, a stylish feel and protect your garments. For your heaviest coats we recommend the walnut superior coat hanger with a ribbed bar and for lighter coats and jackets we like the basic walnut hanger with a ribbed bar. Organize garments by fabric, color, style, and length.
Corral hats, gloves and scarves– depending on your closet space and style, there are a lot of options. If you have shelves we recommend using open baskets or bins. One of our favorites is the Montauk bin in grey from the Container Store. If you have extra hanging space, you might want to go with a hanging sweater organizer like this 6-compartment linen organizer. Use the open shelves for folded scarves and add drawers for hats and gloves!
Add shoe racks – shoes naturally gather in the entryway and can quickly pile up. Keep shoes organized and in good shape with shoe racks. Our go-to shoe rack is the walnut 2-tier stackable shoe shelf. It also comes in white.
Maximize vertical space – The top of the closet is often either overstuffed or overlooked. The key is to maximize that nice height by using it for luggage, memorabilia, holiday decorations and seasonal items. To maintain a clean look, opt for matching, decorative boxes that can be stacked. One of our favorites is the Bigso woodgrain storage box in grey or oak.
Add cedar and lavender and let your clothing breathe – According to couture garment care experts at Garde Robe, a luxury and seasonal wardrobe storage company, it’s essential to leave the door to your closet open every so often, especially when you are going out of town, to let your clothing and closet breathe. They also recommend cedar and lavender to keep pests away. We like the cedar and lavender blocks from the Container Store.
Be prepared for inclement weather – Keep umbrellas easily accessible in a bin in the closet or in an umbrella stand by the door. Use a tray at the entrance to keep wet boots, shoes, and umbrellas off the floor. Use hooks or a coat rack for wet coats and scarves. Restoration Hardware and the Container Store have great selections of hooks from fun and whimsical to classically elegant.
Use the 7 steps above to give your coat closet a fall refresh and remember to let your closet and clothing breathe!