Submitted by Jon Elliott of Tailored Living of Indy

Every fall we swap summer’s shorts and T-shirts for fall’s corduroys and sweaters. This is a perfect opportunity to square away your closet. Here are some tips for making your fall wardrobe fit – no dieting required.

You’ll need:

• Two to three hours for a small closet, three to four hours for a larger closet or walk-in closet and one to two hours for each dresser.
• A vacuum
• Damp cloths
• Baskets or bags for sorting
• A table (optional)
• A hanging rod (optional)

Getting started

Start by emptying your closet. Place folded items on the table and hanging items on the rack. Find other homes for items that are not clothes. Put photo albums and books in a bookcase. Seasonal decorations can be placed into labeled storage bins and housed elsewhere. Broken items should be tossed or recycled. Items that you no longer use but are still usable can be donated to your favorite charity. This will free up precious space for your wardrobe.

Vacuum your closet thoroughly. Get into the nooks and crannies. This is probably the one time you are able to get into all the tight corners, so take advantage of it. Wipe the rods with the damp cloth, and inspect any hooks to make sure they aren’t rusting and damaging your clothing.

Start sorting

Sort your clothes into four categories – keep, donate, throw away and repair.
Take the throw away pile to the trash bin. Place the items to be donated into the donation bin. Move the items to be repaired to the appropriate area. Put a date on the pile, because if you haven’t repaired them in six months’ time, chances are slim you ever will. They should then be donated.

Collect all the hangers. If you have a rainbow of colors, separate the hangers by color. The goal is to use only one color hanger per person or per wardrobe. Perhaps use black for your fall/winter wardrobe, gray for transitional items and white for your summer wardrobe. Why? Using one color of hanger through a whole closet will make your closet look neater and more organized immediately.

Now, turn your energy to the items that you wish to keep.

Separate these into three categories:

• Fall/winter: Chunky sweaters, boots and woolens
• Transitional: Camisoles, T-shirts and other items that can be layered or worn alone
• Spring/summer: Shorts, lightweight cottons, etc.

Pack the spring/summer items in appropriate storage containers and store in a dark, cool and dry area. Feel free to store them in the closet if you have the space.

Evaluate your space

Count how many of each item you have – shirts, pants, sweaters, boots, shoes, etc. Map out your closet. Consider folding sweaters and placing on a shelf rather than stuffing them into a drawer or hanging them in the closet. Consider where your shoes should go – back on the floor or in a shoe rack or shoe shelf.

Once you have the right storage solution in place, put your seasonal wardrobe back and enjoy the satisfaction of your perfectly organized closet. If this seems daunting or you determine that you really need a closet organizer, then call a professional to help.

Tailored Living of Indy is owned and operated by Elliott and Tom Fleming. It began operating in 2007 and is a multiple-year recipient of the Angie’s List Super Service Award. The company serves homeowners and businesses in Central Indiana and offers storage solutions for garages, closets, pantries, mudrooms and home offices. Tailored Living provides complimentary in-home consultations, professional design and installation.

As of Aug. 19, 2011, this service provider was highly rated on Angie’s List. Ratings are subject to change based on consumer feedback, so check AngiesList.com for the most up-to-date reviews. The views expressed by this author do not necessarily reflect those of Angie’s List.