Organizing the Wardrobe After Winter: Tips from a Professional Space Organizer

Room temperature is slowly but steadily rising. This means it's time to tidy up your wardrobe after winter. You may have already gotten rid of some items, but our task is not just to sort them out, but also to assess their quality and decide whether you will use them again in the next season. And, of course, to organize a convenient storage system that minimizes the volume and space occupied by your belongings.

Where to store winter clothing, how to fold jackets, where to put shoes – these seasonal questions will be addressed in this article by a professional space organizer from St. Petersburg, Polina Mal'kina.

Polina Mal'kina – Space Organizer

Sorting Outerwear

The main goal is to conduct a review and get rid of items you won't use in the upcoming season and which have become outdated. It's possible that you don't have such items, but usually, we don't have too much outerwear. Still, you should inspect and fold the items you will still use.

The first step is to gather all your jackets and coats in one place. Some items may need repair or cleaning so that they're ready for autumn wear. Thus, you can divide them into four categories: "KEEP", "GIVE AWAY/SELL", "DISCARD", and "REPAIR/CLEANING".

Secondly, it's best to store all outerwear in one place. There are several options for storing them.

Storage in Boxes as a Way to Add Decor

The most popular option is storing them in boxes with lids. These are usually placed on upper shelves or at the bottom of the wardrobe. It's preferable that all boxes are the same style and size. Choose collections of boxes in various sizes to accommodate both large and small items for convenience. This way, you maintain a neat line and avoid a chaotic mix of boxes and plastic containers. Additionally, it’s an opportunity for extra décor that complements the room’s interior.

Vacuum Storage to Save Space in the Wardrobe

If you use vacuum storage, several items can fit into one box. This minimizes the storage space required – very useful when there is limited room in the wardrobe. The only exception is items filled with down, as feathers can break and alter the item’s appearance.

Some items should be stored vertically only. Special cases use protective cases for this purpose. Today, there are also vacuum cases designed for vertical storage that help save space in the wardrobe.

Storing Seasonal Footwear

Place all footwear on a free surface and, following our principle, do a thorough review – check for relevance and quality (how much longer it can serve you in the next season), and get rid of worn-out items. If some footwear is uncomfortable, sell or give it away.

Choose storage solutions based on your specific conditions. Everything is individual and depends on the available space and storage options. Here, I also recommend following a unified style when selecting organizers for storage.

Organizers can be selected based on the size of the footwear or tall boots. They are compact and can be arranged either horizontally or vertically. You can see what's stored, and the handles allow you to pull out footwear from the bottom without rearranging everything.

Compact Folding Technique for Any Jacket

To neatly fold any jacket, use the bottom part as a pocket. Simply zip it up and turn the bottom inside out so that you can fold in sleeves and hood. This results in a flat rectangular jacket that takes up little space. If your jackets are suitable for vacuum storage, you can make several layers and store them in a box.

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