How do you organize clothes hangers?

Why is it important to organize clothes hangers?

Organizing clothes hangers is an essential part of keeping your closet tidy and making your morning routine smoother. When hangers are disorganized, it can be frustrating trying to find the right hanger or the item you want to wear. Taking the time to properly organize your hangers has many benefits:

  • Saves time getting dressed – When you know exactly where to find each hanger or clothing item, you’ll spend less time searching through a messy closet.
  • Prevents frustration – Digging through a tangled mess of hangers trying to find what you need can be stressful and annoying. Proper organization prevents this.
  • Makes laundry easier – It’s simpler to put clean clothes back in an organized closet where everything has a designated spot.
  • Maximizes closet space – Keeping hangers neatly organized helps utilize all the available space in your closet.
  • Improves appearance – Walking into an organized closet just feels good and starts your day off right.

The bottom line is that a properly organized hanger system reduces stress, saves precious time during your morning routine, and keeps your bedroom looking neat and tidy.

How to categorize clothes hangers

The first step in hanger organization is categorizing your hangers into groups. Here are some common ways to separate hangers:

  • By clothing item type – Group hangers for shirts together, dresses together, pants together, etc. This makes it easy to find a hanger for specific garments.
  • By clothing color – Separate hangers into color groups like blues, blacks, reds, etc. This method makes coordinating outfits easier.
  • By clothing season – Have sections for hangers holding winter clothes, summer clothes, year-round staples, etc. This helps access seasonal garments quickly.
  • By frequency of use – Keep hangers for your most-worn items in prime spots for easy access. Less common items can go in other areas.
  • By clothing owner – If sharing a closet, give each person their own hanger section for their clothes.

Choose a categorization strategy that makes the most sense for your needs and closet contents. You can also combine methods, like organizing by clothing type and frequency of use.

Hanger direction

Which direction should clothes hangers face? While there is no universally correct way, here are some pros for each direction:

Facing left:

  • Mimics the flow of reading left to right
  • Keeps hook of hanger and clothing tag hidden

Facing right:

  • Easier to see clothing options all facing the same direction
  • Outfits can be put back neatly in order worn

Again, choose the hanger direction that makes the most sense for your organizational style. Or make it easy with all hangers facing the same direction. Just be consistent.

Hanging space between clothing

When organizing hangers in your closet, it’s important to leave a bit of space between hanging items. This helps keep your clothes neat and wrinkle-free. Recommended spacing:

  • Shirts – 2 inches between each hanger
  • Pants – 3 inches between each hanger
  • Dresses – 4 inches between each hanger

Allow even more space between specialty garments like suits or delicate fabrics prone to wrinkling. Aim to utilize vertical space, while leaving enough room for everything to breathe.

Specialty hanger types and uses

Specialized hanger types are designed to properly hold and maintain certain garments. Here are some examples:

Hanger Type Best Uses
Suit hangers with bar or clips Suits, dress pants, blazers
Wide shoulder velvet hangers Silky blouses and delicate fabrics prone to slipping
Nonslip hangers with rubber grips Strapless dresses/tops
Hangers with multiple clips Skirts
Tiered hangers Multiple pants or belts
Lingerie hangers with clips Bras, underwear, camisoles
Hanging sweater shelves Foldable sweaters
Hanging shoe racks Shoes, accessories

Invest in quality specialty hangers to properly store delicate fabrics and specialty garments. This preserves your clothes and saves closet space.

Where to place certain hanger types

Strategically place specialty hanger types in specific areas of your closet for maximum organization:

  • Hang everyday shirts, dresses, pants on easy-access hangers near eye level.
  • Place delicates, formalwear, and less worn items on higher shelves.
  • Use lower levels for folded clothes, shoes, and accessories.
  • Install hanging shelves for sweaters, bags, and other items not suited to hangers.
  • Maximize vertical space with hanging cubes or shelves for hats, belts, purses.
  • Slide a slim hanger rack vertically behind a clothes rod for more hanger space.

Place garments smartly based on frequency of use and specialty hangers needed. Use vertical space wisely for things not suited to regular hangers.

Other tips for organizing clothes hangers

Here are some other quick tips for getting hangers perfectly organized:

  • Face all hangers the same direction for uniformity.
  • Use slim, velvet hangers to maximize space.
  • Utilize hanging shoe organizers to double closet space.
  • Designate spaces for clothes needing to be cleaned or altered.
  • Separate long-term storage and daily wear sections.
  • Use colorful hangers to brighten your closet.
  • Mount a mirror inside the closet door to easily view outfits.

Implementing these simple tips will keep your closet neat and all your hangers easily accessible and ready to use.

Maintaining organization

Creating a perfectly organized hanger system is satisfying, but maintaining organization is an ongoing process. Here are tips for keeping hangers neatly ordered:

  • Put clothes back properly after wearing – don’t just fling them onto the rod.
  • Do a quick straightening session after grabbing several items.
  • When seasons change, reorganize clothing by style and weight.
  • Get rid of hangers for clothes you no longer own to free up space.
  • Consider donating or selling clothes you haven’t worn in over a year.
  • Buy more specialty hangers as needed for new garments.
  • Reassess clothing categorization if it no longer works efficiently.

Like any system, closet organization requires minor maintenance and tweaking. But keeping hangers neatly ordered will become a natural habit over time.

Benefits of a clothing rack over hangers

Some people prefer using a freestanding clothing rack as an alternative to closet hangers. Here are some benefits of a clothing rack:

  • Provides additional hanging space if closet is full.
  • Can easily move around room or reposition as needed.
  • Gives a visible display of clothing options.
  • Allows air circulation to prevent mildew or moth infestations.
  • Offers flexibility – hang, drape or fold clothes from rack.
  • Comes in various sizes, finishes and price points to suit any space.

For those with small closets or who just appreciate furniture-like versatility, a clothes rack can supplement or replace closet hangers.

Best practices when using clothing racks

To maximize the usefulness of a clothing rack for organization:

  • Choose a sturdy rack with a wide, weighted base so it doesn’t tip over.
  • Select a size and height that fits available space and clothing needs.
  • Look for racks with adjustable height or shelving attachments for versatility.
  • Include a hanging bar and separate shelf for folding and additional storage.
  • Position the rack near a power outlet so you can use the lighted rods some come with.
  • Install multiple racks divided by clothing type or season.
  • Place racks perpendicular to walls to save space and allow walking between.

Proper selection and placement of racks creates an organized clothing display and storage zone.

Creative uses for extra hangers

Once you’ve organized your closet, you may find yourself with leftover hangers. Here are some creative ways to repurpose extra hangers around your home:

  • Use child-sized hangers to organize necklaces, bracelets or scarves in your closet.
  • Hang paint can openers or safety goggles from hooks on the garage or workshop wall.
  • Create a hanger spice rack to hold small spice jars.
  • Use hangers to organize pot lids vertically so you can easily see them.
  • Hang art or photos from hangers instead of nails to prevent wall damage.
  • Create a hanger drying rack for small cloth items like kitchen towels or delicates.
  • Use to organize grocery or plastic shopping bags.
  • Straighten out wire hangers to use for gardening or kabobs.

With a little creativity, you can find lots of handy uses for extra hangers throughout your home.

Conclusion

Organizing your clothes hangers may seem tedious, but the benefits are plentiful. Hanger organization saves huge amounts of time getting dressed, reduces stress, and keeps your bedroom neat and tidy. Categorize hangers based on clothing type, season, or color. Leave breathing room between garments. Use specialty hangers when needed. Maintain tidiness with minor tweaks. Consider clothing racks for extra space. And repurpose leftover hangers. With some planning and effort, you can implement a hanger organization system that makes your mornings easier and your closet a well-ordered sanctuary.