6 Key Tips to Help You Organize Dresser Drawers Efficiently

Do a Thorough Inventory

To learn how to organize clothing drawers, begin with a thorough inventory. Empty the entire dresser and sort it all into piles. Put like with like on the bed or floor. Avoid editing at this point, which will slow you down. Instead, look at your largest piles and sort and subcategorize some more. For example, you might sort tops into tanks, tees, and long sleeves. Make labels as you work. Although labeling piles may seem silly, knowing all your options eliminates overthinking and speeds up decision-making.

Identify What You Actually Wear

Now you can start editing. But first, make these four decisions for each item to figure out what to keep and what to let go of:

1. Do I Love It? Keep anything you truly love. You'll never forget (and probably regret) giving away something you love. But be aware that keeping a special item might mean eliminating something else to make room.

2. Do I Use It? And if so, how often? Keep anything you use—and start storing the stuff you use most frequently in the most accessible places.

3. Do I Have More than One? If so, edit down to your favorites or best (in the case of basics like t-shirts and socks).

4. Can I Get Another? If you think you might suddenly need an item or it could miraculously come back in style, remind yourself you can usually buy or borrow one.

Consider Whether a Dresser Drawer Is the Best Place to Store Each Item

When considering how to organize clothing drawers, a good question is, "Do I have a better place to store this?" You may want storage spots for specific types of clothing—or perhaps all your clothes. Consider hangers and hooks for work clothing. Try open shelves for folded garments that stack well, such as jeans, sweaters, and sweatshirts. It may be more convenient to stash undergarments in the bathroom. For a kid's closet, cloth storage bins are a great option for pajamas or loungewear.

Assign Each Drawer a Duty

A helpful idea for how to organize clothing drawers is to assign one duty only to each drawer. For example, designate drawers for each type of garment (accessories, undergarments, tops, bottoms). Or it might make more sense to establish drawers by purpose like work, workout, casual, dress-up, or seasonal. Use sticky notes for the first few weeks to help your designations become habitual.

Make Sure You Can See Everything in One Look

Do everything you can to eliminate layers in drawers. Roll or refold clothing into packets that stand on end. Use spring-loaded dividers, bookends, and boxes to keep clothing standing tall. When clothes are folded and stacked in piles, the items at the bottom are often forgotten and rarely seen.

Figure Out Where You Check Your Look

Consider moving finishing touches out of the bath or closet and establish a final primping station, using the topmost drawer and dresser top and placing a mirror nearby. Use a drawer organizer to keep brushes, bottles, and creams in place. Remember to return hair and beauty products to the drawer when you're done.