How To Organize Purses
in Your Closet
Key Takeaways
- Create a dedicated space for your everyday purse in an accessible area, like your home office, entryway, coat closet, or bedroom closet.
- Organize your purses by type, color, activity, style, size, or season, whatever feels personal to you.
- Use hooks, adjustable shelving, purse perches, or glass-front cabinets to accommodate different bag styles.
- Protect your handbags from damage by stuffing them to keep their shape, storing them in dust bags, and keeping them in cool, dry places.
They say purses are like friends; You can never have too many, and they’re always there when you need them, if you can actually find the one you’re looking for. Because they’re often dropped on the kitchen counter, hung on the back of a chair, or placed in the corner of a nearby couch, your favorite accessory can quickly become another frustration you don’t need.
Figuring out how to organize purses in your closet can be a challenge. From clutches and crossbodies to backpacks, bucket bags, and totes, many purses end up crammed on a shelf, piled in baskets, or hung on random doorknobs.
If you’re like us, your purse might even be sitting somewhere along the path from the car to the closet, never ending up in the same place twice. Without a dedicated spot, purse storage becomes a point of frustration at the most inconvenient time.
If you’re longing for a better way to organize handbags in your closet, it might be time to take the next step in your handbag organization game. Below are a few purse storage ideas to help you organize your closet and create a system that works for you.
First, find a home for your everyday purse
To keep track of your go-to, everyday purse, create a dedicated space in your home that’s easy to remember and easy to access. Here are some places to consider:
Home Office
Whether you have a dedicated home office or a desk that’s part of another room, your home office is a great, out-of-the-way place for purse storage, especially if your computer bag doubles as your everyday purse. Tucking it under your desk or hanging it from a nearby hook is a great way to stay organized.
Coat Closet
Coat closets aren’t just for coats: they’re a great option for closet handbag storage. A common feature in most homes, a coat closet is a convenient, easily accessible place to hang purses and store handbags
Family-ready Room
Found in many new homes, the family-ready room is, well, quite genius. Located between the garage and kitchen, these hard-working rooms often bring together the laundry room, entryway lockers, a second refrigerator, a pet washing station, and additional cabinets and countertop space for the items you need to set down on your way in, which includes your purse.
Pro Tip
Avoid hanging your purse on the backs of chairs or setting it on the kitchen counter or dining room table. While it may be tempting after a long day, it adds clutter and chaos to your space.
Entryway/Drop Zone
Keep it simple by storing your purse in your entryway. Hang your purse from already established coat hooks or create a dedicated nook for purse storage within a cabinet for quick and easy access.
Pro Tip
If you change purses regularly, perhaps daily, create a dedicated space for unpacking and repacking. For easy access, we recommend keeping your spare purses near your primary ones.
Bedroom Closet
One of the most convenient places to store handbags is in your bedroom closet, especially if your room is on the main floor. Whether you have a walk-in or reach-in closet, storing your handbag here can make it a one-stop shop for getting dressed and ready for the day.
Pro Tip
Creating a dedicated purse storage space is the first step, but consistency is how you achieve your long-term purse organization goals. No matter where you choose to store your purses and handbags at home, do your best to continue placing them there day after day and soon it will be part of your everyday routine.
Second, find the closet accessory organization method that’s right for you
Purse organization is very personal. What works for one may not work for another, and organizing handbags in a closet is no different. Regardless of the number of purses and handbags you own, finding a purse storage method that works best for you is the key to consistency, and it starts by thinking about how you think. Here are a few of the best ways to store purses.
By Type
The type of purses you own likely range from small, sophisticated clutches to big, all-purpose tote bags. If you often find yourself searching for “that one crossbody” or “that favorite saddle bag”, you’re likely someone who thinks about the type of purse you need first, which means organizing by type could be your best purse organization method.
By Color
Purse organization by color is another popular method. If color coordinating your purse with your outfit is important to you and color is what you think of first when choosing a purse from your closet, consider organizing your handbags in this way.
By Activity
If you tend to think about where you’re going and what you might need in that environment, then organizing your purses by activity or event will work best. Some of the more common activities are:
By Style
If things like shape and stitching or strap detail matter most to you when choosing which purse to use, then consider organizing purses in your closet by style. For example, keep all your crescent shaped purses together and all your purses with quilted styling or chain straps together.
By Size
If you think about size first, then purse organization from largest to smallest makes it easy to find the size that fits the need.
By Season
Changing purses seasonally is quite common, especially when transitioning from spring/summer to fall/winter. This is especially true for everyday purses or the ones you use most. To make it easy, organize by season. Bonus: Organizing by season can help you avoid buying a purse you may not need.
Third, Take a Multipronged Approach to Organizing Purses in a Closet
If you have the space to create a purse organizer for your closet, we recommend a multifaceted approach that accommodates the range of purses and handbags you own. Explore different closet layout ideas that can incorporate this approach to find what works best for your space.
Hanging from a Purse Hook
For the purse you’re currently using, we recommend using hooks near the closet door for easy, convenient storage.
Sitting on a Purse Perch
Ideal for keeping a smaller number of purses organized, upright, and separated from each other.
Lined on an Adjustable Shelves
Having multiple shelves is ideal for organizing a large purse collection and creating a dedicated zone for them in your closet. It also makes it less likely that you’ll set them down in different spots around the house.
In Glass-front Cabinets
Glass-front cabinets are an ideal way to store designer and heirloom purses, and to protect them from everyday wear and tear. They create both a beautiful display and an effective purse organization.
Helpful Handbag Storage Tips
Now that you’ve found your perfect handbag organization area and method, keep these helpful storage tips in mind to maintain cleanliness and keep your handbags in pristine condition:
Avoid
Stay away from large bins, totes or baskets to store your purses. By tossing your bags into one tote, you’re not only creating unnecessary organizational chaos, but potentially damaging the fabric and material of your purses and handbags.
Clean
Always wipe the inside and outside of your bag before storing it. Be sure to research the manufacturer’s care instructions before you clean your handbag to ensure you won’t damage the material.
Stuff
To help maintain your handbag’s natural shape, use soft cloths, old scarves or even clean paper towels to stuff your bag. However, be careful to not overstuff the bag to not add stress on the bag’s stitching and materials.
Tuck
Tuck any heavy accessories, chains, or straps into the purse’s inner compartment to prevent them from leaving marks on your handbag while in storage.
Cover
If you have it, be sure to store your bag in its dust bag to protect it from discoloration and debris. For your most sensitive, precious purses, store them in a box to protect them further.
Cool
Heat and humidity can warp and deteriorate the materials in your handbag. Be sure to store purses in a cool, dry, dark area like a closet to help retain your bag’s natural look and shape.
Once you have a purse organizer for your closet, consider tackling your shoe organization next to achieve a fully coordinated and organized space.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to store purses in a closet?
The best way to store your purses depends on your habits and how you shop for handbags. Whether you organize by type, color, activity, style, size, or season, the key is to find a purse organization method that works for you.
How do I keep my purses from losing their shape?
The key to keeping your purses from losing their shape is to fill the interior with something soft yet supportive, like clean paper towels, bubble wrap, or soft cloths. Store handbags upright on your closet shelf, and always tuck the straps and hardware inside to prevent creasing on the exterior.
Should I store designer handbags in dust bags?
Yes. If you have the original dust bag, always store your designer handbag in it to protect it from fading and getting dirty. For your most precious purses, consider storing them in a box for added protection.
How do I organize purses in a small closet?
Maximize your small closet space with hooks on the closet door, adjustable shelves, or a purse perch to keep bags organized. Our designers can help create a custom purse organizer for your closet that provides more space while reducing clutter.
Can I hang purses by their straps?
It’s fine to hang everyday purses by their straps, but this method isn’t ideal for long-term purse storage. Hanging a bag by the straps can stretch or weaken them over time. Use dedicated purse hooks or store bags on shelves instead.
Now You Know How to Organize Your Purses
Purse organization can be challenging, but with the help of the experts at Inspired Closets, it doesn’t have to be. With years of experience under our belts, we can help you create the right purse organization solution for the space you have and the handbags you own. Give us a call or complete this form to get started.
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