10 Hacks For Organizing Your Coat Closet

Closets are valuable parts of our home. They work hard for us. They help us stay organized and tidy.

But sometimes they can get out of hand.

They can become more of a headache than a help. Rather than the closet serving our needs, we starting serving it. We start losing items, losing organization, and losing sanity. What was meant to be useful becomes a dumping ground in our homes, and we’re left feeling overwhelmed.

Today I want to share with you 10 Hacks For Organizing Your Coat Closet. These can help you stay organized and have what you need when you need it.

So let’s begin.

10 Organizational Hacks

1. Keep it simple.

In order to make your closet work FOR you and not the other way around, its organization needs to be simple. Keep items decluttered, and then use simple solutions to maintain order. You don’t have to go out and buy a dozen bins or a huge IKEA shelf in order to organize. You don’t have to develop an elaborate system to keep chaos at bay. The more basic the better.

2. Store like items together.

Put all your coats, hats and gloves, shoes, shopping bags, etc. together. This way you’ll always know where to find them when you need them! Unless you don’t have enough room in one closet or want to switch things out for the season, then by all means do what works! But it’s generally smart to group things into categories.

3. Utilize Storage Bins.

Once you’ve organized things by type, put them into bins and baskets. Make these containers accessible and functional (the correct size, location, etc.).

4. Have a place for seasonal gear.

Have a basket for hats and gloves. Or if it’s summer, create a spot for ball caps or sunglasses. Keep it as simple as possible, and find what works for you. If you have a small family, use one bin. If you have a larger crew, give everyone their own little basket. Just make sure everything has a home, so there’s no excuse for not cleaning up those mittens!

5. Store everyday essentials close.

Think through what you use on a regular basis. What do you always grab when you head out the door, or what do you always have when you come home again? Store as many of those things in your coat closet, so they are easy to grab or put away. This will help eliminate piles of things at the door that you just haven’t put away yet.

6. Buy a Shoe Rack.

Shoe racks are kind of life changing. They are so simple, and yet they make all the difference. Say goodbye to Mt. Shoe, and make use of vertical storage. Have easy access to the boots, sandals, and tennis shoes you need, and see what you have at a moment’s glance!

7. Stow lesser used items farther away.

Store things that you don’t use everyday either up high or in a hard to reach place. Or, if you have another place to put them altogether, get them out of your coat closet entirely. This will free up space for your more used items, and it will provide some helpful organization.

8. Keep a Returns Bag and Donation Bag.

You may want to keep a returns bag and donations bag in your coat closet, so that you can easily pop things inside and have it ready to go when you are. You could use a garbage bag, reusable bag or simply a spot on your shelf that is designated for items you need to get out of your house’s circulation. Have it tucked away but obvious enough that you notice it when you need to.

9. Don’t over-stack or over-fill.

As much as possible, create a little margin in your coat closet. Leave empty space if possible. This will make putting things away and finding needed items much easier. Just because you have the room doesn’t mean you have to use it!

10. Put things away after use.

Ultimately, you can have the best organization system in the world, but if you don’t maintain it and develop good habits to tidy your space, you will still feel overwhelmed and messy.

Start implementing the habit of putting your coat away right when you walk through the door. Start asking your toddler to put their hat in the bin or their shoes on the rack. Organization paired with good habits is a recipe for success!

Coat closets can be incredibly helpful, but they can also be a point of frustration if we lack proper systems and good habits. These two things are crucial for organizational success.

Let me know in the comments what tips you found most helpful! And happy organizing!

FAQ About Organizing

1. What are some tips for decluttering my coat closet?

Ask yourself, “Do I want or need this item? Will I use this item in the foreseeable future? Is it worth holding onto this item for the off chance I want it later?” If the answer to any of these questions is “no,” chances are you can get rid of it.

2. How do I know what to keep in my coat closet and what to store elsewhere?

Think about what you typically need to leave the house or what you have when you return. Try to house as much of that stuff as you reasonably can in your coat closet. That way it only take a minute or to to unload your items right when you walk through the door.

3. How do I develop the habit of putting coats and boots away right when I get home?

This is something I struggle with too! So I’m talking to myself when I say this.

Tell yourself it will only take a minute. Even if you’re in a rush, you probably have a minute, and that minute is well worth it compared to feeling stressed about the mess later.