Your Wardrobe, Sorted

Have you ever opened your wardrobe looking for something you know is in there – somewhere? Yet, just when you need it, it seems to have vanished. Fortunately, a few clever adjustments can make quite a difference. Elfa’s storage expert Frida Swanson shares her tips for making your clothes easier to see, easier to find and much more enjoyable to wear.

That dream wardrobe – where everything is neat and tidy and you can easily find what you need – may sound like a rather ambitious project. But it doesn’t have to mean a complete overhaul. A few thoughtful changes can make it easier to see what you own, find what you need and enjoy getting dressed.

Elfa’s storage expert Frida Swanson shares five simple principles: plan around what you own, use the whole space, make everything easy to see, organise around everyday life and leave room for change. First, let’s take a closer look at what is already in your wardrobe.

Plan Around What You Own

“A well-planned wardrobe starts with what you want to store, rather than a standard combination of rails and shelves,” says Frida.

Two wardrobes of exactly the same size may need very different interiors. If you mostly wear shirts, jackets and dresses, prioritise hanging space. If jeans, knitwear and T-shirts dominate, you will need more shelves or drawers. Shoes, bags, accessories, sportswear and seasonal clothes need to be considered too.

Start with a quick inventory and divide what you own into five categories: hanging clothes, folded clothes, shoes, accessories and items used less often. As a simple rule, hang garments that crease easily, fold knitwear to help it keep its shape and give smaller items a defined space of their own.

Use the Whole Space

“One of the most commonly overlooked areas is the space above and below our clothes,” says Frida. “When we plan a wardrobe, we look at the space in three dimensions. Width is only one of them – height and depth matter just as much.”

Long garments need full-length hanging space, while shirts and jackets leave useful room above and below. Bags and seasonal clothes can be stored higher up, freeing the most accessible areas for everyday favourites.

Looking at the wardrobe as a whole can reveal a surprising amount of usable space – without taking up a single extra centimetre of floor.

Make Everything Easy to See

Frida’s advice is simple: give the best space to the clothes you use most.

Keep everyday items between roughly knee and eye level, where they are easy to see and reach. Pull-out storage can reveal what would otherwise disappear at the back, while smaller compartments keep accessories from becoming one miscellaneous collection.

Deep shelves and tall piles may hold plenty, but they can also hide it rather effectively. What disappears from view has a habit of disappearing from the weekly rotation too.

Organise for an Ordinary Tuesday

“Good storage should follow our habits, not require us to create new ones,” says Frida.

Give each broad category a clear and convenient place, but resist creating too many of them. If you have to stop and consider exactly where every item belongs, the system is unlikely to survive a busy weekday morning.

And if your exercise clothes regularly end up on a chair, the answer may not be a sudden burst of discipline. An easily reached place for them, close to where you naturally leave them, is likely to work rather better.

Leave Room for Life to Change

“The aim is not to fit in as much as possible, but to create storage that works for the person using it,” says Frida.

A wardrobe is easier to use when it has a little breathing room. Leaving some space makes clothes easier to see, reach and put back – and gives the wardrobe room to adapt as your needs change.

Adjustable shelves, rails and drawers can follow new routines, interests and clothing choices. Plan for what you need today, while leaving a little room for whatever comes next.

“A really good wardrobe is one you barely have to think about. You can find what you need, see everything at a glance and keep it organised with ease.”

— Frida Swanson, Storage Expert at Elfa

Want to Read More? Discover more expert advice and inspiration for planning storage that makes everyday life easier on our website.