5 easy steps to organize your closet by function - the "GRAB & GO" method.

 How I organize my closet 

(I’ve never heard anyone use this method before!)

How to start organizing your closet? It can be a daunting task, and there is a lot of advice out there about the best way to do it. But to me it seems like this advice is based on what will make your closet look good, but that is not my #1 priority! My closet is there to store my clothes to make MY life easier not for someone else to look at, it’s not an art instillation! So I have my own method that built around function and use,
I call it the “Grab ‘n Go” method. Keep reading to see how I do it!

I organize my clothes into ready made outfits and then store them by category, “coffee outing”, “office work” etc.….Grouping your clothes by activities can make it a lot easier and more efficient to be dressed appropriately for your day. By categorizing your clothes into different outfits for specific activities, you can easily find what you need and get dressed quickly without having to sort through piles of clothes or make decision before you have had coffee!

Here are some tips on how to organize your closet by grouping clothes into activities/use/function:

1. Identify Your Activities: The first step is to identify the activities that you dress for on a regular basis. This could include work, exercise, social events, or casual outings. You can be as vague or specific as you like, I have my “monthly book club outfit” which is hung up nicely and includes jewelry and also just a general “house clothes container” which is just chucked into a plastic organizer bin. Extra points if you think about how often you do these activities and try to have a representative number of outfits. For example I run errands once per week, so it makes sense to have one outfit for that. I do yoga every morning but only have one pair of yoga pants I like (why girl? Why?). I got out for “girls night out” once a year so why do I have 28 sparkly black outfits for clubbing? You get the idea.

2. Sort Your Clothes: Go through your closet and sort your clothes into piles based on the categories you created. For example, if you have a category for work, then all of your work clothes should be in one pile. If you have a category for exercise, then all of your workout clothes should be in another pile. Or if you are like me, then you can just set up the hangers, bin and boxes with labels ready to go and as you wear and wash outfits put them back into their new spots over several weeks. Then I get all the stuff I have not worn can get packed away to be worn in another season (like those bulky winter coats) or in another life season (like when I am pregnant again). This also works well to show me what I actually wear and not just what I want to think I wear. Left to my own devices I often create a wardrobe for fictional Saffron who seems to have a much fancier life than real me, filled with party dresses and high heels.

3. Create Outfits/Grab and Go bundles: 

Once you have sorted your clothes into piles or have decided to do the as you wash method, start creating outfits or “Grab and Go” bundles for each activity. For my nicer outfits this includes jewelry, handbag, stockings, the bra that actually works with this blouse, shoes...everything!! This makes it SOOO much easier for me to get dressed in the morning because have pre-planned outfits ready to go. My not so nice outfits for cleaning, gardening, relaxing at home, PJ’s etc. are just thrown in a plastic bin or cardboard box in a draw, no need for matching shoes or jewelry or to even fold this stuff!

4. Use containers and Labels: To keep your closet organized, use a container that is appropriate to the outfit. For example my office power suits need to be steam cleaned and hung up on hangers so I have designated hangers with a label for those, but my “cleaning outfit” just gets chucked into a plastic bin in my draw that has “clean” written on it. Labels make it easy to find what you need and keep everything in its place and the correct storage method keeps your clothes and accessories in tip top condition so you can wear them for longer.

5. Keep It Up: The key to maintaining an organized closet is to stay on top of it. Make sure to put away clothes after wearing them, do a swap out when the weather changes and regularly go through your closet to get rid of items that you no longer wear. For example, If you get a new hobby like cycling you will need to get rid of that party frock to make space and labels for your new spandex and cleats.

By grouping your clothes into activity outfits, you can easily find what you need and get dressed quickly without having to sort through piles of clothes. I find this method very efficient and user friendly, I have been using it for over 8 years now. How do you organize your closet? Please comment below!