The Art of Organizing Your Closet System for the Winter Season

Heather Towner • November 20, 2024

Winter is here, and although the days are shorter, it’s far from all doom and gloom. This is the time of year for holiday gatherings, snuggling up under the covers watching movies, and sipping plenty of hot drinks. Oh, and you’ll want to include some seasonal wardrobe shifts as well, no doubt. ‘Tis the time for a well-organized closet system that makes your winter clothing and accessories easily accessible.

So, how can you artfully organize your closet system to seamlessly transition from fall to winter? Here are the top custom closet prep tips for wintertime:

Assess and declutter: Make space for winter essentials
Prioritize winter-ready zones: Set up seasonal categories
Consider vacuum-sealed bags for off-season clothes
Use clear bins and labels for seasonal accessories
Rotate outfits and keep essentials easily accessible
Add a touch of winter décor to enhance the closet’s atmosphere
Maintenance tips to keep your winter closet organized all season

Gear up, as it’s time to craft a closet space that’s as practical as it is aesthetically pleasing. The pointers above will help you do it, so you can enjoy your winter with an organized closet.

Assess and Declutter: Make Space for Winter Essentials

Before you can begin heaping winter items into your custom closet, you need to declutter what’s already in there. This seasonal reset, so to speak, will keep your closet organized and prevent overcrowding.

Here are a few tips you can implement to clean up your space:

Remove and store off-season items: If you still have spring and summer clothing mingling with your cold-weather gear, it’s time for those lightweight fabrics to go. Pack them up separately, and then put them in the back of your closet.
Evaluate winter items: Are the items you want to put in your closet worth keeping? If they’re in poor condition, no longer fit, don’t get used much, or are unnecessary, then the answer is no.
Create more space: Ruthlessly assess what should be in your closet, taking out off-season items. This will help you create more space for bulkier, heavier winter items.

Decluttering your custom closet now saves you time and stress as winter progresses, so you can kick back and chill.

Prioritize Winter-Ready Zones: Set Up Seasonal Categories

Now that you have an emptier space to work with, it’s time to craft a winter zone in your closet system. This space will house all your frequently used items for this special time of year. Here are some suggestions for what to add to your winter zone, but please feel free to modify this list to suit your needs:

Outerwear and coats: Put your jackets and coats on sturdy hangers, so they won’t fall off, then hang them in an accessible area.
Sweaters and knits: Consider folded storage for knits and sweaters, as this organization solution will prevent unwanted stretching.
Cold-weather accessories: Drawer dividers, baskets, and bins are great ways to separate your winter essentials, like hats, gloves, and scarves, so you can grab what you need and go play in the snow.

Dedicated zones keep winter items organized, preventing them from getting mixed up with other seasons’ clothes.

Consider Vacuum-Sealed Bags for Off-Season Clothes

We think we’ve made it fairly clear that winter clothes are rather bulky, but we’ll reiterate it again just in case. The problem with winter clothing storage compared to spring and summer storage is that you have the same closet space, but all the clothes are bigger.

This is where vacuum sealing comes in. You can shrink down the bulkiness of any gear you’re not currently using. U-Haul recommends cleaning and sufficiently drying your clothes first. Fold them carefully, then seal them.

Use the printed line on the vacuum-sealed bag as your indicator. Overfilling your bags will create too much bulk, thus defeating the purpose. Vacuum sealing safeguards your clothes from pests, moisture, and dust, making it a win-win-win.

Use Clear Bins and Labels for Seasonal Accessories

Perhaps no season is more reliant on accessories than winter. You can use scarves to stay warm or to punch up an otherwise ordinary sweater. However, where you keep these items is another matter entirely.

Not anymore. Use labeled containers or clear bins for winter-specific items, like seasonal accessories, thermal layers, and wool socks. We recommend labels because they’re excellent at maintaining order and helping you quickly identify the items you need.

If you really want to have fun with it, use color-coded labels or even winter-themed labels. This extra touch promotes easy access with a dash of seasonal charm.

Rotate Outfits and Keep Essentials Easily Accessible

Our next pointer is this: rotate your winter wardrobe! We like this tip for closet systems because it keeps your favorite essentials within easy reach and naturally allows those lesser-used items to gravitate toward the back.

Use your winter zone for holiday wear, or create a formal winter apparel nook, so you’re always event-ready, even if someone invites you to a last-minute soiree.

Rotating your closet about weekly will keep your most-needed, favorite items nearer the front for quick access. Your custom closet will feel much more efficient and organized.

Add a Touch of Winter Décor to Enhance the Closet’s Atmosphere

Your custom closet should be anything but drab. As the days end faster and more darkness sets in, fight off the winter blues by jazzing up your winter vibe. You have plenty of simple décor ideas that don’t contribute to clutter, such as winter-themed drawer liners or a subtle wreath.

You can also insert a few scented sachets with winter fragrances, like cinnamon or cedar, to freshen up your closets and put you in a cozy mindset each time you open the cabinet doors. Small touches, like these, create a warm, inviting atmosphere without detracting from your space’s functionality.

Maintenance Tips to Keep Your Winter Closet Organized All Season

Let’s wrap up with a handful of practical tips for maintaining closet system organization all winter long:

Refresh weekly: The best way to keep your closet clean and your items in designated zones is to dedicate 10 or 20 minutes to a weekly closet refresh.
Regularly rotate items: Remember, item rotation makes your day-to-day so much more convenient while maintaining an organized space. Make sure you wash the items that enter your seasonal rotation.
Prepare for the end of winter: If winter just started, it may be too soon to think of spring already, but it never hurts to be ready early. Consider which items you might keep and which you might decide to throw away or donate.

Consistent maintenance is key in preventing clutter buildup, so you can rely on your closet any day you need to throughout the winter.

Conclusion

A well-organized winter closet system is advantageous in many ways: it provides easy access to your essentials, keeps your space tidy and functional, and adds a touch of seasonal warmth. Use this time to enjoy the seasonal shift, and plan for a stress-free winter by prioritizing your closet organization.