Welcome inside my closet! :)
I’m so excited to share this with you today! My goal was to keep this post real and also fun to look at. So just keep in mind, this is my closet, but on a really good day — like school picture day. It’s not always this clean and organized. :)
Ready to jump in? Today we’ll look at my closet, my chest of drawers, my garment rack, and my off-season storage.
THE CLOSET
This is my closet! The space, clothing rod, doors, and top shelf were all existing — we simply added the four extra shelves to customize it a bit. The whole thing cost about $40 for particle board and L-brackets. Nice!
Want to know my favorite thing about my closet? Those folding louvre doors. Swoon. They are original to our house and I freaking love that about them.
Anyway, my closet is where my capsule lives. I’ve got a shelf for jeans up top, a clothing rod, and two shelves for shoes. I’ve even got room for my laundry basket — which is tiny, I know, but I’ve been using it for years and I like it because laundry can’t pile up with a basket that small. Literally, hah.
I’ve also got three canvas bins up top. I don’t reach for them very often and I should probably repurpose them to be more useful. Right now they are holding random athletic gear and seasonal accessories.
My hanging clothes are kind of organized by color, kind of organized by type. You can see I’ve got dresses on one side, outer layers on the other side, and tops sandwiched in the middle. If I’ve got a delicate knit that shouldn’t be on a hanger, I either fold it over a hanger, like a pair of pants, or I can stash it on the shelf above my shoes.
I use wooden hangers from IKEA for just about everything, but I also have a few velvet hangers for camisoles or tanks that might slip off a wooden hanger.
THE DRAWERS
My chest of drawers is from IKEA. I’ve had it since 2013, and somehow it’s survived many moves — IKEA for the win! I use their Skubb drawer cubes to keep it all organized and I use the Konmari folding method so I can see everything at a glance.
My drawers house my non-capsule items. I’ve got one drawer for PJ’s + loungewear, one for workout gear, one for undies + socks, and one for garment care (like my travel steamer, lint roller, and depilling sweater comb). But today I wanted to give you an in-depth look at one drawer in particular: my home life drawer.
I’ve been keeping a home life drawer for about two months now, and it’s going so well that I can’t believe I didn’t do it sooner.
This drawer contains “home clothes” that are a step up from PJ’s or loungewear (my PJ’s and loungewear are one and the same and you can see more about them here.) These clothes are cute enough that I feel dressed, but none of them are precious — I can clean the house or do yard work in ’em and they’ll be just fine.
The point of this drawer is to repurpose and extend the life of older clothes — clothes that are in great condition but maybe shrunk up in the wash or just don’t feel like my style anymore — so every piece is sourced from earlier capsules.
Keeping a home life drawer also means that my nicer capsule clothes don’t get worn out prematurely — yay!
In the box on the left, I’ve got long sleeve tops. In the middle cube, I’ve got tank top base layers. In the right box, I’ve got short sleeve tops. And then I’ve got a pair of jeans and a few sweaters scattered around, so it works all year round.
If you’ve got kids, coupling a regular capsule with a separate home drawer could be an excellent solution when you need a nice wardrobe, but also need clothes that can handle spit up, sticky fingers, and lots of washing.
THE GARMENT RACK
I never knew how much I’d love having a garment rack — it’s shockingly useful (and it looks pretty sitting out in a room). Now, I don’t think I could do without one. Mine serves as a:
- SEASONAL TRANSITION AREA: I hold pieces here as I’m transitioning from season to season. You can see I’ve got a pair of booties and a few outer layers there, just in case the weather swings. It’s nice having them close by, but separate from my wardrobe.
- LAUNDRY DRYING STATION: Many of my clothes can’t go in the dryer, so I air dry them here. In this photo, the grey tee you see in the back is currently drying.
- PACKING SPOT: When it’s time to pack, I clear the rack, start adding what I might bring, and edit down. Once it’s all gathered and ready, packing is a breeze.
- PURCHASE DECISION SPOT: See that pink tee? I ordered it online, but the jury’s still out. So I’m keeping it visible and out of my closet to remind me to take action on it — either decide to keep it or send it back.
You can also use a garment rack to experiment with a smaller wardrobe — without cleaning out your closet or doing a capsule. Leave your closet as-is, close the door, and just move a small collection to your garment rack. Pretend it’s all you’ve got for a week and observe how you feel.
My bamboo garment rack is from Amazon ($45). But if you’re looking for options, here’s a rack with a cool, minimalist design ($189), and an industrial style rack ($60), and a modern white rack ($98). And if you’re looking for something a little bigger, here’s an cool open wardrobe ($99).
OFF SEASON STORAGE
A lot of you have been asking about my off season storage, and I’m excited to share it!
Currently, I store off season clothes in two medium sized plastic bins — the most basic bins you can find. In the past I’ve separated them into warm weather stuff and cold weather stuff, but right now I’m trying out a box of clothes and a box of shoes.
You can see I use the Konmari folding method here too, so I can see everything at a glance and I don’t forget about stuff.
I take a basic approach to storing clothes: I give them a good cleaning before I store them and I keep fresh lavender satchels inside each box to naturally repel moths. I know there are plenty of ways to upgrade my storage situation, like swapping my plastic bins for cedar or linen boxes, wrapping clothes in tissue paper or linen bags, etc. But so far, this basic system has worked well for me.
It’s important to me to keep my off season clothes accessible, so I keep these bins in the closet next door, with the gift wrap, cleaning supplies, home decor, and guest linens. They’re circled in white below:
• • •
And there you have it — my closet, chest of drawers, garment rack, and off season storage. I hope you enjoyed seeing it all because I had a blast putting this post together! My plan is to give you a (much shorter) closet tour each season, so you can see how it changes from season to season. Cool? Cool.
Now I want to hear from you! Think you might try a home life drawer or a garment rack any time soon? Got any clothes organizing tips to share? I’d love to hear ’em — share away in the comments.
Tomorrow is the last day of capsule week! We’ll be chatting some capsule FAQ, including how to make a capsule work when the weather is all over the place. See you then!
xo,
What a great post! I’m so glad you mentioned a sweater de-piller because it’s been on my wishlist for forever! I also love the idea of a clothing rack. I’ve always wanted one but never knew if it would serve a purpose. Your tips really inspired me! I also think I’ll be grabbing a few of the drawer organizers you mentioned! Thank you for sharing! You’re the bomb!
Off topic but I’m obsessed with the GIF! In any case, I really love your closet and I don’t know how you keep your clothes so neat – mine are everywhere!
AVOCADO THEORY
Thanks, Caroline, really useful to see. We live in an old house with old built in cupboards that I keep out of season clothes in (in vacuum bags to help stop moths). Really, the cupboards need a proper rebuild as you can’t reach the top, and eventually I would like to make them the wardrobes in place of the wooden one I use for current clothes. Like you my out of season stuff is not too far away.
It has been quite mild in the UK this week, but I’ve only pulled out a few spring pieces to mix in, as it could easily get cold again. I agree that it makes you more creative, to limit your choices, and I still have more spring clothes to get out later and enjoy.
Thanks for sharing your closet!
I grew up with the concept of ‘home clothes’ and I still incorporate it into my life today. When I come home I change into my ‘home clothes’ and it just feels right and it works now that I am a mom … I have been thinking of a garment rack. It is both functional and stylish.
One question. Does anyone have tips for accessory storage? I have a collection of scarves, headwraps, necklaces etc. that has been edited down to what I love, tips for organizing accessories would be great …
I find clothes hangers very useful to hang scarves, however there is a clever hanger/macrame circular thing in Ikea that looks very tempting!
I have the circular thing from Ikea, and it’s great, but it does encourage having lots of scarves!
I definitely need help/advice in storing accessories too!
I have been using these Jokari hanger holders ..and trying to put together outfits with accessories for the week. If I leave it to each morning, I don’t do as well coordinating things.
I use one of those hanging shoe organizers on the back of my door for belts, scarves, headbands, sunglasses etc. Works great!
I do this too! I keep everything from hairspray to scarves to clothespins in there.
I have 3M hooks on a closet wall for necklaces & bracelets. Scarves are in a plastic drawer at the bottom of my closet, folded in the konmari method. Earrings & rings are in a pretty jewelry box.
I’ve started using the Konmari method for folding my scarves in a drawer. Works a treat!
Great and inspiring post! Been looking for garment rack,check! “Home Life” clothes-eek! I have my share. Creating a capsule has helped me realize the need for less clothes and less dressy clothes,don’t use them enough to invest in them.I like that you like cognac! I do too, I think it is a timeless and year round color. Thank You for sharing!
Thanks for such a great post, Caroline! The first thing I noticed is that you hang your sweaters and tees. I keep mine in my dresser. I have a 5 drawer dresser. The top drawer is a horrible junk drawer. The second is for underwear and socks. The next two are for sweaters and tees. The bottom drawer is for jeans, crop pants and sleepwear. Shoes go on a bookshelf. Workout wear goes on another bookshelf. Off season clothes goes in a closet and dresser in the guest bedroom. After I move, my walk-in closet will have pull-out drawers and a shoe rack. Everything that is currently in the guest bedroom and on bookshelves should be able to fit in the closet. Here’s hoping. :)
Very nice! I liked your closet-book end idea, with the tops sandwiched in between. The visual is great. Light bulb moment with the home drawer. Too, gotta get a hanging rack! Going to wait until we move! Well, gotta run and go organize. Thanks!!!
Your closet is definate inspiration. It looks like a boutique! I’m slowing getting there but seeing this just reaffirms why I follow your site. I didn’t grow up with much money so when I became an adult I overcompensated by buying things because I could and it’s taking years to whittle it down and crawl out from under it all. I can proudly brag however, that I now have the least amount of clothing in my family ?. But oh my gosh seeing this is the kick I needed to whittle it down even more and store off season things away. Thanks for sharing!
I would love to know whether you use any type of mechanism to help you fold your clothing!
Have you read The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo? Or look up Konmari method on Pinterest or YouTube. It’s easy but takes time. The results are incredible though!
I love this and can’t stop looking at the closet gif haha! I love how you’ve made a small-ish closet look so large and luxurious. I am sure the Capsule wardrobe helps, but it’s really a great idea. I love the idea of a garment rack. I can’t fit it in my current master bedroom (and we just one huge open space room outside of the bedrooms so it wouldn’t be practical in our current home) but we are moving later this year, so I will tag this idea. I think it would be great for my husband and me when we pick out our clothes for the next day, or the week, or special occasions. Plus it looks like a good place to steam things.
I am super curious as to where your husband’s stuff is located? Is this wall of closets in your bedroom or a different room/hallway?
Good question! :) Aaron’s clothes are in the closet in our bedroom — my closet is in our guest bedroom/office.
Love this Caroline!! So inspiring. So achievable. So pretty too! love love love… off I trot home to de-clutter and organise some more.
I’ve started not buying/keeping something if it’s not an immediate hard-felt yes. I find that if I keep clothes that I debate then they just don’t get worn. Maybe a different blush tee for you?
Hi! I loved seeing your closet and dresser. Organization makes me so happy! :) Would you mind telling me where your laundry basket is from? Thanks!
Hey Julia, it’s from IKEA. :)
OMG! This was simply awesome! I am so glad you decided to write this article and show us so many useful ideas about storage and capsules and organizing stuff.
I love the idea of keeping your storage accessible.
I have a big dressing that I share with my boyfriend, half is with hangers, half with shelfs. I like to keep the tops on a hanger and the bottoms on the shelfs. I use Ikea cubes for lingeries and accessories (inlcuding one for seasonal accessories like now I stored all the gloves, thick beanies and knitted scarfs).
For shoes I like not to keep them closed with the clothes because from my point of view the fabrics are totally different and therefore the smell. So even I keep indeed little lavender bags, olive soaps, perfumes, etc in the closet, I prefer to store the shoes separately.
We currently bought a big shoe drawer similar to this one but bigger: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50178091/ and we both use it. I actually managed to store all my shoes there except the elegant ones (high heel shoes, which are in the boxes as I use them occasionally).
So in case it gets cold outside I have my boots in handy.
I love your garment rack! and yes, I use one.
I used to have all my coats and jackets there hanged but now I like to keep it in the room with clothes I would like to wear this week for example, like a small week capsule. And I agree it looks great, like a room accessory!
Drawers, same here. PJ`s and hanging around the house + cleaning clothes.
Thank you for this week!
I enjoyed reading all this and see your little secrets, thank you for sharing!
Andreea
I love changing out of my “real” outfit when I get home from work and settle in for the night – something about switching clothes helps me transition from work to relaxing. I used to focus my wardrobe on things that were nice enough to wear to work or out with friends, but I didn’t like tossing things when they were a little bit worn or just feeling a bit stale. So now I keep them as “home life” clothes as well. It’s a nice transition in between regular clothes and straight-up pajamas.
My requirements for “home life” clothes are that they have to be nice enough that I wouldn’t be too embarrassed to run to the store in them, they have to be comfy enough that I don’t tug or fuss with them when they’re on, and they aren’t the same as my pajamas. They’re mostly a blend of leggings, worn-in jeans and t-shirts, button-downs, comfy socks, etc.
Mine are just mixed up with my wardrobe and I do account for them when I write up my seasonal “capsule” but I can see the value in keeping them separate so they don’t become clutter or make it hard to see what you can wear out.
Caroline – love everything you do! So inspiring. Also feeling serious child-free orderly home envy at these pics.
wow. this organization is amazing.
-Kirsten // http://www.porkandcookies.com
I have a home wardrobe spot too!!! Gave away my dresser and installed an Elfa closet with drawers and one of the large drawers is reserved for my stay at home wardrobe!
HI Caroline.
LOVE your closet – having some major closet envy! But I’ll turn that into inspiration……
One question – where are all your purses / bags? I know you don’t have a ton, but I don’t see any, except on your garment rack?
Thanks,
Monica
Hey Monica, I don’t have very many, so I really do keep them on my garment rack! :)
I definitely have a home clothes section. For me, I feel just fine in and around the house in yoga pants and tshirts. I at least know that I match and they’re clean. It’s not PJ pants so most days that is good enough of an upgrade for me!
This is so motivating! I’m definitely going to consider purchasing a garment rack. I’ve bought several items recently that I’m just iffy about. Looking at them regularly would be really helpful! Thanks for the great tips, Caroline!
http://www.madsmuses.com
this post was so helpful! my closet is in major need of organization and I love all your ideas! I’ve been eyeing a garment rack from ikea so that I can set out my outfits for the upcoming week in advance. I think it would really help keep me organized and save time in the mornings!
XO Lo
thoseprettypieces.com
This is awesome! What an inspiring post! I have been hesitant to start my own capsulish wardrobe, but seeing it in action like this is very helpful in my “taking the plunge.” Thank you!
LOVED this post! LOVED your closet! It makes me want to update my own closet like yours. I will definitely be trying your idea for a home life drawer, it will be the perfect thing as I’m a new mom to an almost 3 month old & life is messy to say the least.
I love the home wardrobe idea… I think I wear the same things at home, but it’d be nice to have them in the same spot so it’s a step up from loungewear. Thanks for the inspiration! Your closets are huge compared to my little studio; I have closet-size envy. :)
Love the way you store and organise things! Makes me wish my flat had big open spaces like that and integrated closets. Where/how do you store your winter coats?
Hey Veera, First, give it a good cleaning. Cleaning is by far the best way to prevent any damage. Moths and bugs are drawn to food particles and even body oils, so if it’s not clean, it’s likely to get damaged. Once it’s clean, hang it in a closet and loop a lavender satchel or cedar plank around the hanger, for further moth repellant. Done and done! :)
This was fuuuun!!!! :) so interesting that looking in your closet could be that much fun ;) question though…does Aaron still have a capsule? I bet he is super thrilled to have such an organized wife! <3
Hey Brittany, I’m planning to write a post on this soon, but he doesn’t really keep a capsule anymore. :)
Wow – thanks for getting vulnerable and real! I love the way you think. I discovered a few years ago that I never reach for things in my dresser drawers, so one of the reasons I had so many clothing items was that in my mind, half of my wardrobe didn’t even exist. Out of sight, out of mind. How fascinating!
So I moved all my Wear Them Now clothes to hangers and put all my out of season and out of love things “in storage” in my dresser drawers. I recently did the same thing with special occasion things – slips, pantyhose, dance shorts – moving them from a clear drawer in my closet to the dresser and moving the camisoles and pajamas I wear almost every single day (especially in winter) from my dresser to the clear drawers in the closet. Now all of the clothes I need to get dressed for the day are in the closet, and the dresser holds the activewear, special occasion things, swimwear, super cold weather base layers, and the out of season things. I can’t believe it took me this long to figure this out, but I’m so happy I did the work to get me there!
Bravo on your closet system!
I still do have one question and something I have yet to figure out. I tend to have a “docking station” in my closet – really, it’s just a place where I lay things I wore recently and plan to wear again tomorrow – and by lay, I mean it’s kind of a pile. Sometimes it’s where things land when I’m getting ready and make a sudden last minute switch to a different top. Perhaps this is a great use for a clothes rack, but do you even have this problem? Storing things that have been worn but aren’t ready to launder yet? My worry is that if I hang them back up, I’ll lose track of how many wears they have gone before it’s time to launder them. Or do you have the system of “when it’s time, you know?” I’m sure I’m way overthinking this. :P
Thanks again for all the hard work that went into today’s post!
https://everydayjoys.blog/
Good question! My husband is always heaping clothes in a chair, telling me that they’re not dirty enough to wash, but not clean enough to put away and he’ll wear them again. Only, of course, the pile grows and grows until I just gather it all and wash it… Any ideas how to solve this would be great!
P.S. I either use the smell-test (when it doesn’t smell fresh, wash it), or I hang it inside-out so i know it’s been worn.
I have this problem too! I usually have a couple of items rotating during a two week period, then they’re in the laundry and I move on. Now everything is on a chair and on hangers which looks like clutter. When I have just too many ‘worn but not dirty’ clothes I occassionaly put them back,in the closet with the hanger turned around so I can recognize them. Would love a clothes rack as a more elegant solution but with a tiny bedroom I worry it would still look cluttered. Plus I haven’t found a nice and practical and affordable one yet!
Hey Anna! I wear my clothes several times between washing, so even in between wears, everything goes back into my closet. I don’t really count the wears, I just wash it if it smells or looks dirty. :)
I’ve almost always had a coat tree in a corner of my room that I use for those in-between wear items. It’s maybe not the most visually “clean” look, but super functional. I’ve also done one of those over the door bars with four or so hooks when I had a closet with a standard size door, and that way it’s on the inside and right next to everything else. Alternatively, depending on the shape/size of your closet, screw in hooks work well too, and you can put them wherever works. Lastly, I have an accordion peg rack that’s great for putting up behind a bedroom door that opens into a wall for scarves/bags or day old clothes.
These are all great ideas!
I have a walk in closet and have 2 hooks on the wall for hanging those clothes like jeans I’m going to wear again or my lounge clothes. I also have a designated space on the closet bar for hanging sweaters that I’m going to wear again so that they can air.
Great advice so far friends – thank you, and keep it coming! This community is so brilliant and inspiring!
I use a quilt ladder, it works great.
I have this challenge, too. Mine tends to be in the bathroom from when I get ready for bed at night. Things that don’t need to go in the laundry basket but can can be worn again.
This is an excellent question for me as well. I have several “docking stations” and get frustrated with myself when I let them go long enough that they tip over when I’m trying to retrieve something from them. Partly it’s the “not ready to launder yet” thing, partly the “I changed my mind and didn’t take the time to hang it back up” thing, and partly the “I haven’t got any place to fold things to put away where they won’t pick up cat hair” thing. ;)
Very much enjoying this post and intending to use all from this week as inspiration!
Hello Anna-
Saw your comment…and all of the great replies!
I had the same experience with my ‘wear again’ clothes. I now keep a fabric lined, rectangular basket in my closet. It’s tucked away under the hanging clothes…on top of my shoe shelves. At the end of the day, I ‘loosely fold’ the clothing I plan to wear again in the next day or two and place it in the basket. It’s out of sight, but not mixed in with the clean, yet-unworn clothing. Hope that helps you:-)
Just peeked at your blog. Looking forward to going back for a longer look:-)
Kristin – Thanks for the suggestion! And for checking out my blog. It’s a baby blog, just two weeks old, but I’m excited about the endeavor! Any support or interest is very much appreciated <3
Bleh autocorrect…
Kristen* :)
No worries:-)
A baby blog is an exciting thing. We’ve all been there. I look forward to watching it grow.
Happy Weekend!
Kristen
I keep an over-the door clothes hanger (a horizontal row with several hooks) in my bathroom for any clothes I’ve already worn and can wear again before they need to be cleaned. I do laundry once a week and I try to wear only a few items until my next laundry day (1-2 sweaters and jeans for when I’m out and about, plus 1 set of house clothes and 1 set of PJs). I hang this “weekly capsule” on my over-the-door pegs when I’m not wearing them, which keeps them off the floor, off the furniture, and vertically displayed in a single area so I can see everything. Most importantly, I close the door when I shower so the steam fills the bathroom and refreshes my clothes, prolonging their wearability until my next laundry day when I clear the rack and start over. This also works with my office suits and reduces the frequency of those expensive dry-cleaning drop-offs. Hope this helps!
Love your blog (which I have been following for a few months) and especially this post!! I am at work right now and thinking….”I can hardly wait to get home and get organized”. My garment rack is in the cart ready to purchase after I finish this note. A BIG THANK YOU!!
I’ve been looking for a valet/clothing rack for a while, and I just ordered the bamboo rack from your link. It’s exactly what I’ve been searching for, and at $45, it’s a no-brainer. :)
I have sort of been using the “home clothing” idea for a while but never thought of it formally. Just the stuff I wear at home but not out of the house. I am going to give it its own drawer! Love it all. So tidy. Lots Of ideas to get me started. Thank you!
Cool system. Where are your husband’s clothes?
That was the first thing that I thought, Kindha!
Me too! LOL
Good question! :) Aaron’s clothes are in the closet in our bedroom — my closet is in our guest bedroom/office.
Thank you for sharing your clothes solution. It was very inspiering for me.
You know your magical, right? Ok, so now that that’s out of the way, I’ve got a question. I have probably 3-4 more formal dresses, nothing overly fancy, just things I’d wear to weddings and more formal events. I’d love to not store them with my capsule, and iI don’t happen to spy anything like that hanging in your closet, either. Personally, I’ve got about 24″ of closet rod space to work with-family of five in a 1,000 square foot 1958 house over here ?- but I can’t picture boxing them, either. Where do you store those types of items?
Caroline, this is so lovely. It almost makes me want to move to the middle of nowhere where I’d have a closet wider than a doorway. *Almost.* ;)
I have a few questions!
1. How did you make that dope .gif of your closet?!
2. Do you have a good video of the KonMari folding method I could share with my followers?
3. I haven’t seen a skirt in your capsule in years, cuz you’re a jeans gal. But for skirts and shorts, how do you store them? They’d either need tab hangers, which break up the flow of your shirt hangers (and then what do you do about colors? ahhhh I’m so OCD…), or to be folded, which would be kind of strange for a big poofy maxi skirt. Ideas?
4. Also curious about bags. Where do the bags go? I have one everyday crossbody, one tote, one backpack.
5. And belts. I have about 10 belts, very critical to my wardrobe. How to hang?
6. Lastly: tall boots. You don’t own any, but they’re critical in New England! But if put in your beautiful closet, their post-snow-grossness would come up and hit your tops guaranteed. Ideas?
Thanks so much! Can’t wait to do one of these myself for my blog… in like a month… when all the snow melts… ;)
http://aspiringminimalist.tumblr.com
I got a belt hanger at Ross that I just hang on the bar in my closet between the shirts & skirts. I think it was under $5.
Hey Jen Marie —
1. There are some cool .gif maker apps on the iPhone, and it’s possible in Photoshop as well.
2. Here’s a good source: http://goop.com/the-illustrated-guide-to-the-kondo-mari-method/
3. For skirts, I’d use hangers with little clips on them.
4. Bags are kept on my garment rack. I don’t have many and they are used for all seasons, so it works!
5. For belts, I’d put them on a hook on the wall for easy access, or, if you don’t use them much, I’d put them in a bin like at the top of my closet.
6. I won’t be much help on the tall boots — I haven’t had a pair in years. Anyone else want to chime in?
Love this post. Thank you!!
This is fantastic! Thank you so much for doing this; there are many little things you’ve said which make so much more sense, now.
Some items I have in my closet, which I don’t see you’ve mentioned: all my coats (winter, spring, summer, work, dress, etc.), bags, backpacks, clutches, wallets, scarves, belts.
My closet is much larger than yours, but it is one of only two in our house, and it serves both me and my husband, plus a lot of things other than clothes. Still, I’m inspired to revisit our system & tweak it a bit. :-)
Your system of “home life clothing” reminds me of the old books in which women would buy one dress a year. The first year it was their best dress; the second year their second best; after that it was a house dress; and then, finally, it served for very messy work around the house or farm. It’s a good system, really.
Finally, I LOVE your garment rack! I’d never thought about something like that, but it makes so much sense. I’ve thought I would like a row of pegs in my bedroom for quick access of robe, pjs, etc. But I hadn’t considered the usefulness of a small place to keep a few hanging clothes within easy reach. It’s brilliant!
I’m about to rotate my spring wardrobe in and this post was the inspiration I needed!
….
what kind of tree is next to your garment rack? It’s beautiful!
Hey Caralee, I honestly have no idea. :) I found it a Lowes.
This is so encouraging to me! Might even print out one of the images and stick it in my closet to remind myself that mine can be like that too!
your closet is beautiful (both sides). i’m inspired to reorganize mine.
and i love that you’re extending the life of your home clothes. i’ve been exploring transitioning to a zero-waste lifestyle and clothes are a big waster in our society.
ox
oooh that home life drawer is an excellent idea. I work from home and although I love dressing up, it’s not save the wear and tear from my capsule clothes as much as I can. I just might have to try this.
Hi Caroline, I was curious if your closet is in your bedroom or in a different part of the house, as you have the other closet with storage right next door?
Thanks!
Hey Tess, my closet is in our guest bedroom/office.
LOVED this post! Keep ’em coming.
Fantastic post! I think this is the best I’ve ever seen on the topic! Thank you…you have inspired me in so many ways with the capsule wardrobe and your organization methods!
Loved this post! I just moved into a new house and am contemplating a very spacious closet and how to organize it. I have a lot of the same structures in place- rotating hanging pieces seasonally and keeping storage boxes of off season clothing- but I also have a box of clothes that I love and don’t want to get rid of. Mostly thrift finds that I think would make great dress up pieces for my kids someday, or vintage pieces that I could sell eventually if I wanted. Also just clothes that I love but can’t wear right now for one reason or another.
I have to ask… where are Aaron’s clothes?! haha! I thought for a while there that he must have another closet identical to yours, until you showed the one right next to it full of storage items!!
Thanks for sharing so many helpful tips!! So inspired by how you organized everything and love how you added simple shelves to give it a much more custom look and make it so much more functional! :)
First of all, I LOVE the way you added those shelves for shoes and stuff! If I’m ever in a house for more than a year, I will definitely consider doing something similar!
I also really love the clothing rack — not just the idea of one, but that specific one. My next several months are going to be a bit transient, but I’m definitely adding that to my wish list and will be picking one up when things are stable again. I think it will be especially helpful as I’m shifting to air dry more of my clothing items now. :)
This is beautiful, Caroline. I’m a little more than jealous about how tidy it all is, but trying to approach all of the beautiful Internet-ready photos with lightness of heart, and not get too judgey at myself. I just switched my clothes to the KonMarie sideways stack and love it so far.
Also, did anyone else know the picture at the top of the post moves? Mind: blown. I’m just so impressed that you could make the picture move…loved it all. Keep the posts coming.
BLW // http://www.radiantearthart.com
This is lovely. Your home seems so peaceful and beautiful… the parts I’ve seen are so inspiring. I feel like I’d be in heaven if you posted any kind of home tour!
A home life drawer?! How have I never heard of this before? I love the idea. I’m also painting, or refinishing furniture, or searching something to wear while cleaning (or cooking spaghetti sauce!)
I need to get on making one of my own (and investigating that folding method. I unfortunately never made it through the Art of Tidying Up!)
Loved the post! It’s funny I had a home life drawer way before I started and transitioned to capsule wardrobe.
A+ my girl! You show the ultimate example of how to house all your versatile wardrobe favorites in such cool ways. For years I have used a clothing rack too. In our current home it is the “guts” of the guest room closet and travels all over the house on laundry days, travel packing days and purge days. You are right…once you get used to it we can’t live without one. We posted your photo with credit to you and a shout out to follow your blog on our instagram a few minutes ago. You inspire us daily! -Laurel
This is insanely gorgeous!!
Thank you so much for sharing this! We have a closet really similar to this one and you have inspired me to add a few shelves! Where did you find your particle board?
Hey Tiffany, you can probably find it at most hardware stores. I got mine at Lowe’s :)
Just wondering…what are you storing in those big blue boxes underneath your wrapping paper????
Your closet and garment rack are just absolutely beautiful. Serious closet door envy going on over here!! I’m pinning this on several boards and saving up for a garment rack and shelving for my own tiny closet! THANK YOU for such a beautiful and inspirational post!
Everything looks so tidy, minimal and clean <3
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Thank you Caroline for this tour, this is so inspiring!
I have a really tiny closet but managed to put everything in it after I took advantage of the Ikea recall of the Malm chests of drawers.
Now, all my clothes (including PJs, accessories, athletic gear and underwear) fit in that closet and my shoes and off season clothes are in the pantry/mud/laundry room (clothes in a bin, shoes on a shelf).
I love the idea of the rack, but my bedroom seems too small for this (I’m considering a floating rack, hanging from the ceiling).
I love how organized the closet in the other bedroom is as well, good job on this! I feel like we’re pretty much as OCD as the awesome women from The Home Edit, do you follow their Insta? Pretty insane!
Hi! Can you share the source of the canvas bins? I’ve been looking for simple ones like that with labels for a while. thanks!
Agree!! Would love to know where those are from.
Hey ladies, I think the bins are from Bed Bath and Beyond but they are so old, I’m not really sure.
Stay at home mom of two here ?? gosh, the home drawer is so smart, why didn’t I think of that.
Makes it so much easier when you do leave the house and want to put a nice shirt on. Smarty pants you are.
Your home looks so beautiful ! I’d love to see more !
And such a dreamy closet :) I keep my “off-season” clothes in my suitcase and the rest in a great wardrobe from my husband grand-mother. He redesigned the inside for us and it’s perfect.
Really like your blog :)
Mathilde
I loved seeing that you have a real-life sized closet…not another small bedroom for a closet! My home also has small reach in closets and I always feel like walk in closets with a sitting area are dreamy, yet overrated! I never thought to have a home life drawer or to store my clothes the KonMari way either! Fun!
awesome idea about the home life drawer! i’d love to do one but then i think i would deb “saving” all of my favorites and not really wearing them since most days i am cleaning or around messy baby hands. any other stay-at-home mom’s have any ideas how to balance that idea with not “saving” all your clothes for occasions that rarely happen? at this point most of my clothes just need to be pretty hardy in terms of frequent washing.
What I do is wear my nice clothes when I am out running errands and doing things outside the home. When I come home, I change into my lounge around the house clothes, which I keep draped on the back of a chair in my bedroom, honestly. If I go out again, I will change back into the nice clothes. It only takes a few seconds to change. Also, if you have clothes for special occasions that rarely happen, then you may want to rethink your wardrobe and get rid of those items.
Oh, and my current organization is very minimal but my husband I use different closets. I keep my socks separate, too, so they’re just easier to find! I’m in the process of working to downsize my wardrobe, just started filling a garbage bag for donation!
-Kirsten // pork & cookies
Thank you, thank you for this post! I have been struggling with how to do my capsule, seeing as I am a stay at home mom who cleans and works in the yard, a lot! The home drawer is amazing! I will definitely be doing this! I love the idea of the garment rack and will try to incorporate it into my new home when I move next month. Thanks for the inspiration!!
For EVERYTHING!!! Thank YOU!
So many “ah-ha” keys you presented!
Never have been so enlightened!
PTL for you…. your time, energy, commitment, creativity, & BEAUTY.
Great options for hangers and clothing rack…. will be ordering when I catch my breath! AND… love the “home life” drawer…. cubes….. and Both closets….. visuals are amazing for teaching… grateful???
Love, love, love it! So many good ideas I’m going to copy this weekend.
Great post! I’ve had a garment rack in the past, but it was kept in the laundry area and used while I was hanging clothes straight from the dryer. May have to rethink things.
Ahhhh, your closet photo is pleasing to look at. Everything has breathing room and all of the hangers match! I swear, one day I will upgrade to wooden hangers… they just make everything look much more high-end. :) Thank you for sharing!
That home life drawer idea is genius! Love, love, love your style and systems, Caroline!
Beautiful! I share a close about that size with my BF. It’s also our ONLY closet, no coat closet and no linen closet. So that closet has to hold everything for both of us. I don’t even have a dresser, just a few drawers inside the lower part of the closet. I’d love to have a closet like yours where I can actually see things. I have to double up items per hanger most of the time, so things easily get forgotten. I haven’t found any good solutions for my closet outside of moving, which I have no particular plans for because outside of the lack of closets, I love my place!
How do you keep clean the shoes in the closet?
omg your closet is so organised and it looks so neat, I love how everything has its place! x
Ariadna || RAWR BOWS
I live in Houston, so I don’t really have off-season clothing.
The best I can do is divide my tiny walk-in closet into sections.
I purchased 2 hanging rods to double my hanging space.
Top left is for Tops & sweaters. Bottom left is Pants & jeans. Top right is tanks, Sleeveless Tops, cardigans, a few light jackets, jumpsuits, dresses & Maxi dresses. Bottom right is skirts & travel/heavier jackets. Hats & Purses are on the top shelf.
I don’t really need a heavy coat, but I can’t part with my vintage cashmere coat, so it lives in the guest closet. Shoes have their own smaller closet.
I fantasize about a larger closet, but it really is better to live with less & appreciate & actually use what I have.
Thanks for the tour!
Now I need to weed through my dresser AGAIN & purge some more…Tshirts, workout wear, bathing suits, pajamas…
That home life drawer thing is a brilliant idea! Though I don’t have any drawers myself, I’m going to try this with a shelf in my closet. How could I have never thought about it? Thanks, Caroline :)
My aha moment is the home drawer.
The capsule is your ‘leaving the house’ clothes. That makes more sense to me. Plus I was wondering where your workout comfy clothes was. Aha!!!! Thanks for opening things up to me.
This is such an important piece of the puzzle for me! My clothing needs to fit my life– and that includes my home! I love the garment rack idea and I’m thinking of getting one to hang up my outfit for the next day every night to save time and have more fun with my outfits. Thanks for including storage information! That’s helpful too!
The home life drawer is brilliant, and I adore how organized you are.
After I first found you, I began my pare-down effort on my walk-in closet, plus another small stash or two! (Don’t ask!!!) I have now donated seven large black bags of clothes, and one white (compactor) bag of shoes. I will begin my third pass through everything in order to finish this “purge” … and to get things stored, hung, and into drawers, folded konmarie style! I have to move fairly slowly because of some physical issues, but I’m thrilled with the great progress I feel I’ve made.
Nothing is as encouraging to me, however, as actually seeing these photos of your capsule plan in practice!
Thanks for this post, Caroline ~ you’ve enabled my next steps with these pics/ideas!
I have a question for you: Now that you have ended your seasonal shopping fasts, I’m wondering how you handle shopping outings. What percentage of your purchases are planned vs spontaneous? Do you have a separate budget for spontaneous purchases? I’ve tried only purchasing items that I’ve considered and planned, which has really helped me get my closet under control, but I’ve found that I’ve missed that thrill of finding something you love when you’re out shopping and purchasing it on the spot. Then again, that thrill is what got me into my cluttered wardrobe in the first place… ;) Just wondering.
Also, I can’t wait to see how you style that boho dress! xx
Hey Whitney, Now that I live in a small town, I do almost all of my shopping online. I do very little browsing, and instead I keep a loose wish list to keep me on track. But I also love holding space for those surprise pieces that inspire me (I usually find those surprise pieces via travel, my friends, or on Instagram). All in all, I’d say it’s about 80% planned, 20% spontaneous.
I know a lot of people who deal with the lack of thrill by thrifting. It’s affordable, it sends you on a scavenger hunt of sorts, and it doesn’t add any waste by recycling clothes. Just a thought! :)
You are so organised. I love having an extra rack as well, it helps me to either sort the looks I have planned to shoot or just the clothes I am reaching for the most that season. We don’t have room for drawers in our tiny apartment, which after reading the Konmarie book I wanted to try. Next place! It certainly would make finding things easier. I have a section for my around the house clothes, but folded in piles, they get messy and hard to access.
xx Jenelle
http://www.inspiringwit.com
What a beautiful closet and system you have. You make it look so easy and effortless, although I’m sure tons of hard thought and work went into creating this masterpiece. I’m part of the camp that would love to hear how you have minimized your whole house, how you came to part with things to keep the clutter non-existent…or maybe you never accumulated much to begin with. But all the pictures of your house are so appealing, so peaceful and clean. Please come to our rescue, it would be such a gift. Obviously, many of us are not born with your organizational skills – organizing for me is blood, sweat and tears, but still, it must be done…somehow. I have a big paper problem and I’m on the verge of a giant toss but would love a pep talk from you on how you decided to do it and had the strength/courage to do it. Meanwhile, I’m going to aim for having a delicious looking closet and drawers. Thank you so much! You’re a treasure!
Hi Caroline, this is great, it is so well organised it almost looks like in a shop! love it!
xx Petra
http://www.bagvibes.com
Perfect post! I really enjoy seeing your closet and how you organize it. I read your blog for a year now (I think) and I’m still not sure if the capsule wardrobe will suit me and my lifestyle (long process..) Kind of complicated to mix working life and home life. Sooo, your idea of a home drawer can be the solution for me!
Thank you for this great post and all the ideas you gave me :)
Ps: your closet looks perfect to me, I’ll probably try to have the same kind when I will have my own house :)
OMG!!! I really really love your closet you have such a good eye for style girl! Thanks for the organizer tips truly useful
NEW POST: https://lotofdots.wordpress.com/2017/03/16/ruffles-inspo/
xx
Love your closet! I’m curious, where are your husband clothes?
I’m curious about this too!
Aaron’s clothes are in the closet in our bedroom — my closet is in our guest bedroom/office. :)
oh I wish I could be this organized. I have way too many for the space that is avaible to me hahah I love the pictures!
I loved this post – and am blown away by how affordably you’ve developed your space and system. I’d love a more in-depth look at your House Clothes drawer sometime! Also, I’ve always admired the black and white speckled sweater in your banner, which I now spot in your house clothes drawer. Where is it from? I’m sure it’s long gone, but I’d love to browse the line that makes it!
Hey Anna, it’s a thrifted sweater — the brand is Theory. :)
Wow! I wish my closet was this organized. I will definitely be taking some of your organizational skills with this post!
Alexis|| https://lidsandtricks.com/
Hi, one of the best posts ever! I love to see how other people organize their closets. And looking forward to seeing you style the boho dress
Excellent suggestions all! My two cents: I keep an over-the-door clothes hanger (a horizontal row with several hooks) in the bathroom for any clothes I’ve already worn and can wear again before they need to be cleaned. After I do laundry (once a week), I choose a few off-duty clothes (1-2 outside sweaters and jeans, plus 1 set of house clothes and PJs) and I try to wear just those clothes during the week. I hang my “weekly capsule” on those pegs and I shut the door when I shower so the steam fills the bathroom and gives the clothes on the hooks a quick refresh! This approach also works with my business suits and reduces the frequency of those expensive dry-cleaning drop-offs.
I do something similar. I pick out my clothes for the week based on the weather forecast and my meeting schedule and after ironing what needs to be ironed, I hang them up separate on a hook in a separate room. It makes getting dressed in the morning so easy and I know I am not wearing anything that has a hole/stain or is wrinkled because I already inspected the item and ironed it. I like the bathroom steaming idea to freshen up the clothes. Sometimes I do that when I have a sweater or something that is a little wrinkled or creased but I don’t feel like ironing.
love these tips (and pics), i definitely need to master the out of season storage trick, I just always end up forgetting about them. haha.
Mel x
mediamarmalade.com
Wow, your closet I seriously GOALS! Mine is nothing close to being this organized. Do you know where I could find a nice rack? it seems like it’s very useful and I would enjoy a bit of extra space for my thicker pieces.Oh, and feel free to check out my little blog! :)
Hi Katie, I linked to a few garment rack options in the post. :)
I think I clicked on every link! LOVE this post! I need all the help I can get with my small closet!
Amanda
http://girlaboutcolumbus.com
I am sooo jealous of this level of organisation. I seriously makes me want to go through my own closet, which always seems like such a mess! Like Mel said, I always forget about the off season clothes I put away in storage and end up buying new clothes, it’s such a waste! Thanks for the tips!
Seriously in love with this post. I’ve thought about getting a sweater de-piller thing after using it at my friend’s place but wasn’t sure if it was worth buying. But I’m def gonna go check it out again now!
I am so glad you talked about the home life clothes. I think more bloggers need to talk about this. Usually when I get home I change into an old running t-shirt and sweatpants/athletic shorts. They are not the kind of clothes I want people to see me in. Last fall I had to stay home to have a leak repaired and I realized I had nothing appropriate to wear. I didn’t want the plumbers to see me in my grungy t-shirt/sweatpants combo and I didn’t want to sit around the house all day in my “good” clothes (namely the ones I wear to work). That is when someone suggested to me that I keep some slightly work clothes instead of donating them like I normally would, and turning them into home life clothes. So now this is what I do. Except you have to be careful that you don’t keep too many home life clothes or it can get out of hand. I try not to keep more than five to seven, which would get me through a week of being home without doing laundry.
Just love this post! You’ve inspired me to spruce up my own closet shelving a bit :) I love organizing and always enjoy seeing how other people do it. Thanks for sharing!
Loved the post. I know that you are doing a loose version of a capsule which is great and your closet, well let’s just say #goals. I would be interested in knowing the total number of clothing items you own including shoes. I did a closet assessment and have far too much, but with the rotating that you do I was having a hard time figuring out a rough number to shoot for! Also how many clothes do you keep for “at home” wear?
Thanks so much!
Warmly,
Lori Halton
Hey Lori, I haven’t counted! And to me it’s not really about the numbers anymore. :) You can see all of my “at home” clothes in that picture of my home drawer.
I just want to say thank you for the advice that you share – it is really making a difference in my life at a time when I need it the most. I am a minimalist and organizer at heart so your blog has been perfect for me. Recently I have been in the postpartum slump as I just had my second baby and have lost most of my free time. My closet is mostly maternity leggings (which I wore all winter and would like to burn!) and large frumpy sweaters. I did your capsule worksheet this week looking ahead to spring and it gave me such a lift! The short amount of time it took to do some reflection and understand what I like about my wardrobe and what pieces I’m drawn to has made shopping so much easier. Once I finally got out of the house and got a chance for a little shopping/”me” time this weekend I was able to go to the store and feel really confident about the *TWO* pieces I took home, because I knew what colors/fabrics/weather I was looking for from the get-go.
Oh how I love a well organized closet! This is inspiring. Maybe you have shared this already, but I am loving some of the pieces in your wardrobe ~ booties, striped and printed tops…can you share links? Thanks for all.
Hey Jill! You can see these items (or links to similar pieces) in this post: http://bit.ly/2oaNE8z
This is sooooo organized and tidy that I am almost embarrassed to even get near my cluttered and full closet. I’m currently on a shopping ban and am constantly editing my closet trying to reduce but it seems like I am a long way from getting to where you are !
I’m pretty sure you just changed my life by distinguishing loungewear/pj’s from “home clothes”. I can’t wait to organize my “home clothes” drawer.
I loved the peak into your closet! Also, I always see drawer cubes at Ikea, but never really thought about them – I will have to give them a shot!
-D
http://www.styledtour.blogspot.com
Can you please link the folding method? I’d like to try it out.
Heart eyes!! What a post. You’re closet is dreamy. Can’t wait to copycat what you’ve done here! Never thought about how useful a garment rack would be! I’m all over that! Thanks so much!
I absolutely loved the idea of the garment rack so much that I purchased this exact one from amazon. After a little over an hour of trying to assemble it myself, it finally came together and I couldn’t be happier! I’ve been planning my weekly outfits and only hanging those items on the rack and it has drastically cut down my morning clothing shuffle. Love all of your posts!
What dividers do you use for your drawers?
Thanks!
Dana
http://www.somethinggoodblog.com
Hi Dana, they are dividers from IKEA: http://bit.ly/2jpPaEl :)
I love the idea of having a home clothes drawer and a garment rack. That means I can stop using the door jamb to my bathroom, which means having to duck every time I enter :-)
I love seeing your wardrobe!! Thanks!! :)
How do you store your out-of-season shoes?
Thank you!! :)
I just ordered the garment rack you have! Thanks for posting where I could find it. Love that you took the wheels off-it looks so much better without them! I am going to try really hard this weekend to plan out my 10×10 challenge too!
Love Love Love this!!! And I can see so many other applications of capsul-ing (my office supply drawer, supper menus). Anyhow, just a question, do you own skirts? Do you hang them, I can’t tell from the pics how you store your shorts/skirts, flowy pants?
Hey Caroline! I only own a couple skirts, and none in my current capsule so they are tucked away in storage for now. When I have them in my closet, I try to use the hangers with little clips. :)
You have my EXACT closet and I love what you have done! Where did you purchase the rod and actual shelving you used? Any links available? Thank you!
I’d love to know where that baseball cap is from. I’ve been searching for a minimal cap in natural materials. Thanks!
Hey Wendy, it’s from Topman — the wool ball cap. :)
In love with your closet and style!
Just curious, what is in your sixth drawer? ;-)
Love the creativity and practicality of this post. In my last home, my closet was in a corner of my bedroom with no closet/natural light. I had several pairs of jeans hanging folded on hangers, but had a hard time distinguishing which was which. I decided to label them using squares I cut out from a heavy duty cardboard box. I punched a hole in the top , ran brown jute twine through the home and hung it over the top of the hanger. The best part was I made up names for my jeans that I would connect to and wrote them out in black marker. One was Old School for an older, faded pair. One was Fancy Pockets for a pair with decorative back pockets. I have moved and now have a bigger, well-lit closet, but still use my labels and make a new one for any jean purchase. Seeing the labels makes me smile.
Love the “Home Life” drawer, i’d never even thought of that! I always felt like a section of my wardrobe was out of place and now I have a name for it. So pumped to get organized. Thanks for the inspiration!
Love your site. Your style is so much like mine…rather, what I want mine to be.
I notice that you never seem to wear belts. Why is that? Is it for simplicity? Just curious.
I found your site from a book…….. and I’m in love! This is so inspiring and hope to someday get a handle on all my clothes and do this too!
Absolutely love this post! I will be using some of your tips in the near future as my husband and I do some remodeling. I am so glad my nutritionist recommended your site to me.
I grew up with the ‘ home clothes’ concept as to not spoil and therefore make the clothes that I wore out last longer. I don’t really have any loungewear section separate from ‘home clothes’ and don’t own any night wear sleep in a vest and knickers!