Organizing Winter Clothes in the Hallway: Where to Store Winter Items

The closer we get to winter, the more warm clothing appears in the hallway. How to organize storage for down jackets and hats so they don't take up all the space? We explore this with an expert.

Oльga Kuleshova is a space organizer. She creates personalized storage systems, organizes relocations, and develops furniture placement plans. She shares tips on her Instagram @korolevskiy_poryadok

Where to start? Inspect all seasonal clothing. Begin with your own items and then move on to family members' clothes. To make organizing and decluttering (or even donating) easier, ask yourself a few questions.

• Can I wear all the coats in the closet in this weather?
• Can I move them to another closet?
• Do I love this item?
• Do I wear this item?
• Do I have a better version of this item?

Hanging the remaining items

Now that only necessary clothing remains in the hallway, it's time to hang it up. It's better to store outerwear on hangers with wide edges so that the items don't get deformed.

If you have a fur coat that you wear only a few times a month, store it in a cover — this way you'll preserve its appearance longer.

Child's coat hangers should be arranged at the child's height — this can be either a freestanding hanger or hooks on the wall or in the closet.

Not all coats will be on the same level, which means they'll take up less space. Children will also become more independent and organized.

What about accessories?

Hats, scarves, gloves, and mittens should also be sorted out and asked if you'll wear them. Everything that remains can be folded into a separate organizer — each family member should have their own.

If someone, for example, has many hats, it's better to fold them into a separate organizer. Also, don't forget to label everything so that it's immediately clear whose organizer it is and what's inside.

Children's accessories should be stored at the child's height, just like clothing. One more tip: set aside a separate organizer and space in the closet for your guests. That way, you won't have to think about what to hang where when they arrive.

What about shoes?

Shoes should be sorted out using the same method: answer questions and see what remains. To free up space in the hallway or entryway, move seasonal shoes into a closet or organizer that you rarely wear.

If you store shoes on the floor, buy or make a shelf yourself — it won't take up much space and will keep your hallway tidy. It will also make cleaning easier.

Important note: for tall boots, it's better to buy special inserts so the boot shaft retains its shape and doesn't lie flat on the floor. These can be found in large supermarkets and online stores.