Assess Your Closet Space
Starting your project is usually the hardest part, so that’s why we make it easy. When you work with Inspired Closets, we begin with a free consultation where one of our design experts comes to your home to chat through your current men’s closet storage pain points (like how much shelf space vs. hanging space you need for your wardrobe, whether or not you’d like dedicated accessory storage, etc.) and how you’d like the new storage solution to function. They’ll help you take inventory of your wardrobe and even measure your space so you can feel confident about the accuracy of your design.
Next, you can visit a showroom to see our product in person, walk through fully-transformed spaces, try things out for yourself, and even see your own design come to life with Envision, our first-of-its-kind augmented reality (AR) design tool. All you have to do is slip on the Envision headset, and our AR technology will recreate a full-scale version of your men’s closet design so you can actually walk through your new closet before it’s built and get a feel for how it will function in your space. This allows you to validate your design decisions before you purchase anything so you can feel completely confident knowing you’ll absolutely love the closet.
Once your design decisions have been finalized and your new men’s closet is ordered and on the way, it can be a good time to do some decluttering. Consider which items you get regular use out of and you want to keep, which items you may not use regularly but you still want to keep on-hand in storage, and which items you’re ready to donate. Taking some time to work through this process will help you feel totally prepared to embrace your new storage system and start with a fresh, streamlined, expertly designed slate.
Best Men’s Closet Organization Ideas
Utilize Vertical Space
A closet can never have too much storage space. No matter the size of your men’s closet, our designers always recommend using any available vertical space to get the absolute most out of the closet’s storage capabilities. From adjustable shelving that can be reconfigured as needed to shelves or cubbies near the top of the closet for things you don’t regularly reach for, a floor-to-ceiling design with features chosen for your specific needs will ensure you have enough room for every item in your wardrobe.
Maximize Drawer and Shelf Storage
Get more use out of your shelves and drawers by adding dividers to keep everything in a separate, designated section. Dividing up your storage space like this will not only prevent clutter–and therefore create room to store more things–it also prevents stuff from getting tangled up or misplaced. Using bins or boxes to store smaller items also goes a long way to protect your things, make them easier to find, and stop mess from accumulating.
Choose the Right Hangers
Selecting the best hangers for your clothes is a men’s closet idea that makes a huge difference both aesthetically and functionally. Slim hangers allow you to fit more clothes onto one rail, while velvet hangers or wooden options with grips prevent things from slipping and falling onto the floor. Wood and velvet hangers are also our favorite choice for creating a more elevated look, and we always recommend sticking to one hanger style for the most uniform and best overall appearance.
Incorporate Shoe Storage
Whether you’re a shoe fanatic or you have just as many pairs as you need, there are a lot of men’s closet ideas our designers can work with to keep your footwear organized and easy to access. From traditional options like regular shelves, cubbies, and hidden storage behind cabinet doors, to more display-worthy options like slanted shelves with a shoe fence or our adjustable Shoe Shrine® backed by integrated lighting, custom dedicated space just for your footwear goes a long way to prevent chaos from accumulating in your closet.
Select Colors and Finishes That Feel Like You
The colors and finishes you choose for your closet have a huge impact on how your space looks and feels. Darker tones like Charcoal and Navy create a sporty, masculine vibe, while natural shades like Fort and Seared Brown give your space a sleek, sophisticated feel that will never go out of style. Whether you gravitate toward modern or traditional design, we offer a wide range of color options so each homeowner can work with their designer to select the palette that works best for their personality and their home.
How to Organize a Man’s Closet for Daily Use
Categorize Clothing
Make finding and putting away clothes intuitive by dividing your closet into separate categories. You can base these categories on clothing type, season, frequency of use, color–whatever feels the most natural to you. Within your chosen categories, we recommend separating casual clothes from work and special occasion clothes. For example, keeping vests and ¾ zip pullovers near athletic apparel, and slacks and button-ups close to dress shoes and ties, will save you time and create a more seamless experience any time you need to get ready or pick out an outfit.
When it comes to what to hang vs. what to fold in a men’s closet, refer to our quick checklist below.
- Pants
- Dress Shirts
- Vests
- Jackets
- Jerseys
- Items that wrinkle
- T-shirts
- Sweaters
- Jeans
- Shorts
- Activewear
- Loungewear
Organizing Accessories and Essentials
The smallest things in a man’s closet are often the most challenging to store and organize. To make it easier, we offer all kinds of organization features to support any accessory you can think of. From velvet-lined drawer inserts for watches, cufflinks, and sunglasses, to wall-mounted organizers for hat collections, to space-saving tech like tie, belt, and pant racks, your design expert will help you select the custom closet accessories that make the most sense for you.
Aside from upping your organization game, closet customizations like an island for added storage and convenience, or a valet rod to help you plan out tomorrow’s outfit, will genuinely make your life simpler and less stressful.
Smart Lighting
Solid lighting is key to any successful men’s closet design. Whether you want integrated lighting to run along your shelves, illuminate the underside of cabinets, or backlight your shoes and other accessories to make them the focal point of your closet, our design experts will help you select options that make the most sense for your space. If there are any lighting options we don’t offer or tackle ourselves, we partner with local electricians to make it happen.
Maintenance Tips
There are a few things our designers recommend to keep your closet clean, tidy, and easy to maintain. First, you can add a hidden pull-out hamper to your closet design for a quick and out-of-sight spot to throw dirty clothes so they don’t pile up on the floor. Next, having a folding surface, like a custom island or counter space, along with a fold-out ironing board makes tidying your laundry and putting it away immediately after it’s done more convenient. Plus, these design additions make it so much easier to keep your clothes wrinkle-free.
We also recommend establishing a monthly decluttering routine so you can stay on top of messes before they build up. Pick fallen down clothes off the floor, get rid of anything you no longer need, and return items that made their way to the closet–but don’t actually belong there–back to their proper homes. It doesn’t have to take long, but setting aside regular time to do this is worth it in the long run.
Making Your Men’s Closet Work for You
Are you ready to upgrade your space so it truly reflects you and showcases your unique style? Maybe you want to cut down on your stress levels, make your house easier to keep clean, and possibly prevent arguments in your relationship before they happen. No matter your men’s closet goals, we’re here and ready to help.
If you’re looking for more design inspiration, make sure you download our digital brochure to get even more ideas for your own project. If you’re ready to get started, schedule your free design consultation to work with one of our design experts. We’ll make things simple and stress-free so you end up with a men’s closet you truly love.
