Ever wonder if you should organize your clothes seasonally? The answer is yes! This strategy provides less clutter, reduces stress, and adds more space to your closet!
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WHY YOU SHOULD ORGANIZE YOUR CLOTHES SEASONALLy
There are so many benefits to this strategy!
Organizing your clothes seasonally keeps your closet clutter-free, makes it easier to purge your clothes, reduces stress, helps keep your clothes in good condition, and, most importantly, you feel like you get a whole new wardrobe for free!!!
I want to discuss each point in more detail so you can see what I mean.
Clutter-free closet
No matter the size of your closet, it’s probably stuffed full of clothes (and who knows what else).
If you remove ½ to ¾ of the items, it gives your clothes room to breathe.
Since you will not wear a winter coat in summer, don’t store it in your closet, as it takes up valuable space.
At our previous home, I had a walk-in closet.
Below is a picture of the closet with my winter clothes.
If you want to see a post about switching from summer to winter clothes, click here!
We sold our home and are currently living at my dad’s house.
The country is locked down because of Covid 19 and we plan to move to Florida as soon as possible.
The closet for my clothes is small.
There is no way I could store out-of-season clothes in this size closet.
My spring clothes just barely fit.
I am so glad I used this method because all I had to do was grab the tub marked spring and put the clothes in the closet!
Easier to Purge clothes
If you switch clothes each season, you will be more likely to purge items you don’t wear, are no longer in style, don’t fit, or don’t like anymore.
You should only plan to store one tub per season, and if everything doesn’t fit inside, make it a rule to donate the leftover pieces.
Stress-reducing
When you have a smaller number of items to choose from, it reduces the stress of having to figure out what to wear.
Have you ever stood in front of your closet full of clothes and thought, “I have nothing to wear”?
I know it must sound silly to you.
But having fewer clothes in the closet makes it easier to choose what to wear, but it’s true for me!!
If your clothes are crammed inside the closet, you can’t see what you have or what items match and go together.
With fewer clothes, it’s easier to see if there are items that you need.
If you have a shirt that doesn’t match any pants, you can decide whether to donate it or purchase an item to go with it.
It makes it easier to stay within your clothing budget, which also reduces stress.
Clothes stay in better condition
I notice that a lot of people tend to wear their favorite items over and over.
When you wear and then wash the same item every week for a year, it wears out quickly.
If you wear it every week for one season, it will last longer.
Your clothes will stay in good condition if you make it a priority to store your clothes properly.
I use plastic tubs and label them with the name of the person they belong to and the season they are for.
Wash or dry clean before putting away.
If an item needs to be mended, take care of it now.
Don’t procrastinate.
If you have kids, this method makes it easy to store hand-me-downs.
Just label who the bin is for and what season to pull it out.
New Wardrobe
Would you love getting a new wardrobe each season?
Well, that’s what it feels like when you organize your clothes seasonally.
When you get them out of the tub for the upcoming season, it’s like Christmas again!!!
Imagine how you’ll feel when you pull out that cute top you love but had forgotten about!!!
You’ll be so excited that you’ll want to try each item on to see how it fits.
If it doesn’t fit, then you have another opportunity to donate your clothes!
HOW TO organize your clothes seasonally
There are two approaches you can take when doing a seasonal clothes switch.
You can switch every season, four times a year, or you can do it twice a year, changing out warm and cold weather clothes.
Below are instructions for both ways.
You can decide what works best for you!
Four Season Switch
If you choose to make a switch each season, as I do with my clothes, you will need to do the following.
Make four signs and label them for each season.
Place on four corners of your bed.
Grab two large trash bags.
Remove all clothes from your closet and put each item in one of the four categories.
- Spring
- Summer
- Winter
- Fall
Discard any item that is worn out in the trash.
Any items you no longer want but are still in good shape should be put in the other bag to be donated.
Warm and Cold Season Switch
If you only want to switch your clothes out twice a year, as I do with my kid’s clothes, do the following.
Make two signs labeled warm and cold, and put them on opposite ends of the bed.
Find two large garbage bags.
Remove the clothes from the closet and place them in one of the two categories.
- Warm
- Cold
Discard any items that are worn out in the bag designated for trash.
Donate any items in good shape that you no longer need in the other bag.
Tips to help you organize your clothes seasonally
How to purge clothes
Many people use the one-year rule.
If you did not wear it during the past year, you probably never will wear it.
I recommend discarding it if you didn’t wear it during the last season.
If it’s out of style, get rid of it.
If it does not fit, it needs to go.
This does not mean you must get rid of it but don’t keep it in your closet.
Make a tub for your “skinny” or “baggy” clothes.
If you have clothes that are not comfortable or you don’t like how you look in them, say goodbye and donate them.
Sentimental items should not take up space in the closet.
If you can’t store them, take a picture so you’ll remember it.
How to Replace clothes in the closet
Hang your clothes by type.
For example, put all shorts together, separate dress pants from casual jeans, and separate short-sleeved shirts from long-sleeved shirts.
If you’re feeling motivated, go one step further and organize your clothes by color.
If you don’t have room to hang your clothes in the closet, determine which items can be folded and put on the shelves.
You can use cloth bins to store clothing items as well.
My friend, Shelly, gave me a great tip that helps her purge her clothes.
She hangs her clothes in the closet with the hanger facing backward.
After she wears an item, she places it back on the hanger and then hangs it on the rod.
At the end of the season, if she still has hangers facing the opposite direction, she knows she did not wear that item and then donates it.
How to store out-of-season clothing
Here are four ideas for storing out-of-season clothing:
- Store clothes in plastic tubs
- Use cloth cubes on shelves in your closet
- Store clothes under the bed in plastic rolling bins
- If you’re short on space, use vacuum bags to shrink clothes
I hope this post has been helpful to you and has motivated you to come up with a plan for organizing your clothes seasonally!
Since I will hopefully live in Florida by this Fall, I may have to change how I organize my clothes since I won’t need so many winter items!
Only time will tell!
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Blessings, Donna and Rich
More organization inspiration
- The Perks of Switching Out Clothes for the Seasons
- Organize Your Laundry Room
- Great Ideas to Organize Linen and Cleaning Closets
- Easy Tips to Organize a Kids Bedroom and Closet
- How to Organize a Master Closet on a Budget
**Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. We appreciate your support. (disclosure policy)
I love this idea of keeping seasonal wardrobes and rotating them out. Where I live we can have snow every month but July and August so I initially thought this method wouldn’t make much sense for me. However, after reading this blog I realize there are more reasons to do it than changes in weather and so I am going to give it a try. Thanks Donna!
Hi Dawn, let me know how it goes! I still think I will do this when we move to Florida, I’ll just divide my shorts and t-shirts into spring, summer and fall colors and then pull out my jeans and long sleeve shirts for winter LOL!!