It’s that special time of year when a slight chill descends at night, signaling that I should get my winter clothing out of storage and put my summer clothes away. By doing this cozy closet refresh, of course, I practically guarantee that it will be 80 degrees for the next two weeks. Sorry, Los Angeles!
Still, I’m going to make the seasonal switch in my closet and take the opportunity to reset, declutter, and get excited about revisiting my cold-weather favorites. It’s like shopping in my own closet! If you are also about to start that process, these are my tips for making your cozy closet refresh go as smoothly as possible.
1. Start with a Clean Slate
I’m not going to lie. I hate this part. My clothing closet is also in my office because my brain can’t handle the idea of sharing a closet. This means that when I decide it’s time for a seasonal switch, everything in my closet migrates to the tops of all the furniture in my office. Ugh. I know it’s temporary, but the journey to completing the cozy closet refresh involves mess.
Still, before I swap anything, I remove everything from my closet and give the space a quick tidy. I dust the shelf and wash down the hardwood floor.
2. Don’t Forget the Drawers
I have a set of drawers in the office that also has an assortment of shorts and light t-shirts. While it is tempting to leave them in there and forget them until the spring, I’m going to pull all of that stuff out, too. This gives me a chance to see what I’ve got, what I still love, and what I didn’t wear at all.
3. Declutter as You Go
If something doesn’t fit, hasn’t been worn two summers in a row, or is too damaged to repair, I’m going to add those summer clothes to my 30 Bags in 30 Days challenge. Things that are in great condition but don’t fit (literally) or don’t fit my life may get the Poshmark treatment. Although I’m not happy about their new shipping policy, it might not be worth the time.
The same is true for when I pull out my cold-weather clothing. Don’t put things that you don’t like or won’t wear into your closet during your closet refresh. Do the same assessment you are doing for your summer clothing and then donate, repair, sell, or recycle responsibly.
4. Wash or Dry Clean Summer Items Before Storing
I’m always happy when I manage to do the dry cleaning tasks before storing away the summer clothing, and yet, it often doesn’t happen. I vow to make it happen this year. I am good at doing laundry before storage. I’d like to say that it’s because I’m super organized and love cleaning the house, but in reality, it’s because we have a 900-square-foot cottage, and letting laundry pile up simply means less room and more visual clutter, as well as more dirt and the chance that undiscovered stains will set if left too long.
5. Use Smart Storage Solutions
If you are short on space, as we are, I recommend breathable storage bins, fabric bags, or under-bed containers to keep off-season clothing organized and protected from dust and moisture. We use the under-bed, breathable storage bins from The Container Store, but there are tons of options available.
6. Sort Cold-Weather Clothes by Type
My cold-weather clothing was stored in a fairly organized manner under the bed and in a cedar chest. But, as things get pulled out of storage, they don’t always stay that way. I like sorting things into categories when I pull them out: sweaters, pants, long sleeves, jackets, scarves, etc. In fact, we have a special bin exclusively for cloves, scarves, hats, and earmuffs (yes, I do have a maroon pair from when I was a teen in Ohio, and I still love them). Categories make it easier to see what we have and how I want to organize them during the cozy closet refresh.
7. Layer Your Closet
What are your daily necessities? For me, sweaters, long-sleeve shirts, and jeans are in the daily rotation, so I keep them front and center in my closet. While some people have many shelves in their closets (jealous!!), I only have one. So, I tend to hang up nearly everything. Bulky coats go to one end of the closet. More formal clothing, such as dresses, goes to the other end.
I don’t have ski gear or seasonal sporting equipment, but if I did, I’d place them on the one shelf that runs the length of the small closet, if they were small items. However, honestly, if we did occasionally ski or snowboard, we might be tempted to rent rather than buy, because we would use the equipment too rarely to justify the investment or dedicate space to storing it.
8. Add Hooks or Baskets for Accessories
We have hooks by the front door for cold-weather jackets, and we bring the bin of scarves up near the front of the house for easy access. The hooks have been a great addition. We only have two closets in the entire house, so the hooks make everything we really need accessible and keep us from over-stuffing the closets we do have with something we use every day.
9. Give Your Shoes a Switch-Up Too
Store away sandals and lightweight sneakers, and bring out your boots, waterproof shoes, and warm socks. A shoe rack or boot tray near the entryway can help manage the seasonal shoe shuffle. I have a hanging shoe rack on the back of my office door so that the floor of my closet isn’t cluttered. Andy has a shoe rack for the shoes he doesn’t wear every day.
I am seriously thinking about adding a shoe or boot tray under the jacket hooks in the front when the rainy weather arrives. In Los Angeles, the rainy season doesn’t last very long (if it arrives at all), so I’m hesitating to buy something with a relatively short seasonal need. Still, it would organize our daily shoes throughout the year, stop me from tripping over them, and possibly help keep the floor cleaner. Pondering….
10. Freshen It Up
Add a few cedar blocks or lavender sachets to your closet for a natural, fresh scent that also deters moths. We’re lucky in that our lavender plant is still producing, so we could actually make our own sachets this year.
Bonus Tip: Take Inventory!
Now’s a great time to take note of any cold-weather items you might need. I’m not a shopper, but my thermal leggings have a hole in them, are getting thin, and have bleach stains at the bottom from a cleaning mishap. So, “leggings that don’t suck” are literally on my list for the colder weather months. I’d rather buy them now than face the holiday rush and higher prices.
