How To Color Block Your Closet
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Did you know that before I was a spreadsheet wielding, account checking, employee in Accounts Receivable, I was a manager of the Men’s Department at Robinson’s-May/Macy’s?
That’s right. I spent my days organizing ties, suits and a lot of men’s chonies. Glamorous, I know!
I won’t bore you with the details or share any retail horror stories (yes, people poop in fitting rooms and yes, a customer screamed at me on Christmas Eve and my friend James found me crying under a folding table).
Retail is not for the faint of heart.
One of my favorite organizing tools I learned while navigating the world of retail sales was color blocking! This method of displaying merchandise makes a table or fixture look like a color wheel and oh-so pretty.
Color blocking is something I have done in my own closet for the last 12 years and I find it keeps my stress level low when everything is organized and easy to find as I get ready in the morning. (Hello OCD). I got a ton of comments from friends about my organization when I did my closet tour right after I moved and when I posted this photo on Instagram.
So, how do you color block YOUR closet? Allow me to explain.
1. Sort your clothes. Yes, all of them. Pull everything out of your closet and start with a blank slate. You can sort clothes by season, popularity or any common style. – I have chosen the latter. I have sections in my closet for the following:
- Long sleeved sweaters and blouses
- Tank tops
- T-shirts
- Dresses
- Pants
- Skirts
- Other – Jackets, robes, etc.
2. Decide on a color block. This step is easy… all you have to decide is whether you want white on the left and black on the right or vice versa. Worst case scenario? You don’t like your first pick and decide to change it later.
3. Put your clothes away. Not rocket science, I know, but this is where you actually color block. Put your clothes away in their respective categories in color order working from left to right. Now, repeat with each category of clothing as necessary. I only have dark pants and skirts, so it makes for easy sorting of those items. I have this
awesome space saver in my closet that allows me to have sweaters on the top row and tees and tanks underneath them. Best apartment/tiny closet investment ever!
4. Upkeep. Now this is the tricky part… once your closet is an organized rainbow, you have to keep it that way! That means that after you do laundry you have to actually hang the clothing where it belongs and not just where there is available space. It takes an extra two seconds, but I promise it is worth it!
Extra closet organizing tips:
- When you wear something, place the empty hanger to the side – it makes space in the closet for your clean clothes and gives you organized hangers for more laundry.
- Try to keep all the clothes facing the same way – it will help them “nest” inside each other.
- Tank tops are best on hangers with notches in the top (so they don’t slide off).
Good luck with your color blocking, friends! Send me your before and after pictures and use hashtag #pdbjayColorBlock. I would love to see them!
This post contains affiliate links which result in an affiliate commission. All thoughts and opinions are honest and my own, as I only recommend items I personally love.
16 Comments
Summer Gieser
Great post! I always try to color block but it eventually ends up looking like a return rack in a fitting room! I need to get better at it.
elise.j.jay@gmail.com
Thanks Summer… maintenance is definitely the hard part!
Heather Sherwood
Love this! I try to color block too but then I get lazy….! However my closet is so much more exciting when it is color blocked. Also people actually poop in dressing rooms?!!? #forreal
elise.j.jay@gmail.com
Yes, they totally DO! We had a saying when someone would leave the clothes in a pile on the floor: "Never scoop 'cuz there might be poop! EEEwwwww.
Jenna Griffin
I reallllly need to do this! I think it would help picking outfits so much easier. I love that polka dot top I see in there!
elise.j.jay@gmail.com
It does make getting dressed in the morning easier – no running around looking for my black cami. It is either in the closet or the hamper.
Craftivity Designs
I've done this for years & completely agree — it is soooo worth it. I also try to keep them facing the same direction and sort by type {for me it's dressy tops vs. casual tops}. It makes it so much easier to pick out what I want to wear.
– Lora
elise.j.jay@gmail.com
Getting ready in less time means more sleep for me = Win!
sarah
cool! i love when things get organized! nice post. 🙂
elise.j.jay@gmail.com
Thank you Sarah – organized is best, in my opinion.
Lana
I've never thought of color blocking my closet. Gotta try it. Thanks for the idea!
elise.j.jay@gmail.com
Lana – Let me know how it works. I would love to see photos!
Ashley LaMar
Yep, I totally do this too! I do every bit of it exactly like you said all the way down to pushing empty hangers off to the side. 🙂 Makes getting dressed so much easier.
elise.j.jay@gmail.com
Great minds think/organize alike, Ashley! ;0)
Jennifer Jones
I always love a good color coded closet! Makes getting ready in the morning so much easier! Great post!!
elise.j.jay@gmail.com
Thanks Jennifer! – I gladly trade time getting ready for more sleep, so organized clothes is a MUST! Thanks for stopping by.