As the bad weather approaches, the seasonal wardrobe change can begin! That means it’s time to pack away the out-of-season clothes and pull out the warmer pieces. Here are some possible ways to store clothes you’re not using!
Do you really need seasonal wardrobe change?
Seasonal wardrobe change has many advantages. By packing away almost half of your wardrobe for a few months, you free up a lot of space in your closet. Hence the closet organization. It also makes your wardrobe more accessible. During winter time you don’t have to scour the racks for dresses when you’re looking for something.
It’s also a good idea to organise your wardrobe in a way, that you don’t have to keep your turtleneck sweaters and spaghetti strap tops in the same drawer as your outerwear, for example. Although it’s possible to separate different types of clothes with a drawer organizer, I generally don’t recommend storing them in the same place. The categories next to / near each other should make sense somehow.
So for those with a smaller wardrobe, a seasonal wardrobe change is a must, but for those who can fit comfortably, it’s also recommended to start organizing seasonal clothes, just in a slightly different way. Even just thinking about putting summer shorts to a higher shelf for winter, and when season change comes swap it with the warm jumpers to be able to access clothes you would wear that season more frequently.
The first step: seasonal wardrobe change
Seasonal wardrobe change always starts with sorting through your wardrobe. In other way think about the change as a closet organization project twice a year. Why decluttering? What’s the point of storing and putting away pieces you never wore once during the previous season? If you don’t wear an outfit because it’s uncomfortable, you don’t like it, there’s something else that replaces it or it’s hard to combine with something else, get rid of it! It’s pointless to keep it packed away for several months because it takes up a lot of space and would sooner or later be destined to be in the declutter pile.
1, If you already have separated storage for the seasons
In this case, declutter clothes you currently keep in your wardrobe first, and whatever you feel like keeping it’s time to pack them away. Edit any clothes and accessories you didn’t wear last season. Once you’ve done that, put them away, clearing out your closet.
Then unpack this season’s clothes and sort through them too. Even if you edited them 6 month ago, your style, weight, circumstances might have changed as well. This will ensure you only have clothes in your wardrobe that you’re happy to wear, and you won’t be putting away things that should be in the donation box or bin.
2, If you haven’t stored you clothes seasonally until now
If now is the time to split your wardrobe into seasonal clothes, put everything in one giant pile and sort through it all at once! When editing, don’t just group what you keep and what you don’t, but separate your winter and summer season clothes into separate categories. That way you’ll easily see what you need to pack away and what you need to organize and put it into your closet.
Don’t forget your laundry in the hamper! Before editing, it’s a good idea to wash everything so that none of your clothes are left out and you’re sure to find their place!
Editing out-of-season clothes: good and not so good solutions
When you know how big your pile of clothes you are keeping is, I’ll show you what solutions can help! I’ve tried to put together a selection of storage solutions without being exhaustive. Using a 5-point system, I’ve tried to give you an idea of the good and not so good storage solutions for off-season closet organization.
The following criteria should be taken into account when choosing a clothes storage system: freedom from moths, space saving, aesthetics, and the degree to which clothes can be wrinkled, dusted and aired.
1, Cardboard box (closet organization nightmare)
Leftover cardboard boxes are a popular storage item in many households. I won’t say they’re really handy when moving, but I don’t think they’re the best long-term solution for storing clothes. You indeed can fit a lot of clothes into them, but they are difficult to close, not airtight at all, so it’s easy for them to get dusty.
If you put your boxed clothes on the top or even the bottom of the wardrobe, it can detract from the aesthetics of your wardrobe. On the top shelves of a seldom-used built-in wardrobe, however, it’s a good idea. If you keep your clothes in a closed garage or attic, I would not recommend cardboard boxes, as moths can easily chew through them and the box can get wet and damp, which can lead to mould.
- Space-saving: 2/5,
- Wrinkle-free: 5/5,
- Dust-free: 2/5,
- Damp-free: 1/5,
- Aesthetic: 2/5,
- Moth-free? No
2, Plastic storage box
A plastic storage box can also be an alternative to packing away clothes during a seasonal wardrobe change. Like cardboard, you can fold clothes neatly into it in large quantities. Because it has a buckle top, it closes very well and can protect clothes from dust, moths and moisture.
Space wise it is big, and has fix sides, but it won’t harm your clothes even if they are stored in the attic. A clear box will also look good on the bottom or top shelf of a wardrobe, but a pond-coloured plastic storage box is less aesthetically pleasing in a wardrobe, but perfect for the attic.
They are airtight, so in one way good, other ways you might need to refresh your clothes every 6 month or so. Please do not put your baby clothes away for couple of years and not let it aired at all. It is not good for the clothes and your baby as well.
- Space-saving: 2/5,
- Wrinkle-free: 5/5,
- Dust-free: 5/5,
- Dust-free: 5/5,
- Aesthetics: 3/5,
- Mothproof? Yes
3, Vacuum bags
The vacuum bag was once very popular because we could store a lot of clothes in a very small space. The idea is to suck all the air out of the clothes in the bag with a vacuum cleaner, so that the bag shrinks down to a very small size. So there’s a reason why smaller households might prefer this alternative. However, the bag is not very durable and often needs to be replaced after a season, because if it gets a tiny hole in it, vacuuming will no longer be possible. For this reason, it does not provide maximum protection against moths.
It takes up smaller spaces than the previous alternatives, so you can even put it in the linen rack, but it is not aesthetically pleasing on the shelves of the wardrobe.
The downside is that it doesn’t ventilate clothes and the vacuum causes them to get very wrinkled, so I wouldn’t recommend this type of storage for delicate items. Also you need to let air in every 6 month or so, so they are only “good”, if you open them 2 times a year.
- Space-saving: 5/5,
- Wrinkle-free: 1/5,
- Dust-free: 4/5,
- Damp-free: 4/5,
- Aesthetics: 1/5,
- Mothproof? No
4, Garbage bags
Garbage bags are another common way to store off-season clothes. It’s practical in that it can hold a lot of clothes and fits in a relatively large space, as it doesn’t have a rigid wall like a box. A good quality, hard-wearing bin bag is less likely to tear, protecting your clothes from dust, but it does not offer adequate protection against moths.
You can keep your clothes safe in a bin bag in the linen closet, but bagging them in the attic or garage is definitely not a good option.
And in a less accessible area of your wardrobe, it won’t look aesthetically pleasing at all. If you do not have the money for other alternatives these can be a good last resort.
- Space-saving: 4/5,
- Wrinkle-free: 1/5,
- Dust-free: 4/5,
- Non-damp: 3/5,
- Aesthetic: 1/5,
- Mothproof? No
5, Mesh storage containers
A variety of zippered textile and mesh storage containers, such as a suitcase organizers, are a good solution for storing clothes if you’re hiding them in a linen closet or on a shelf in your closet. You can fold your clothes neatly into this and store them safely in the warmth of your home. However, the smaller versions cannot hold large amounts of clothes, while the larger textile containers cannot fit comfortably in your wardrobe.
The mesh sections can create dust, but clothes can still ventilate well. As it has no protection against moths, it is not recommended for use in the attic or garage.
- Space-saving: 3/5,
- Wrinkle-free: 5/5,
- Dust-free: 2/5,
- Damp-free: 2/5,
- Aesthetic: 4/5,
- Moth-free? No
+1, In furniture
I’ve just shown you different storage options for your seasonal wardrobe change off-season clothes. However, you don’t necessarily have to pack away your clothes in these, there are other ways to store them. I also mentioned earlier that you can place individual bags or boxes on the top or bottom shelves of your wardrobe. This doesn’t take up any extra space, but it does make it easier to keep things neat and tidy if you only have the clothes on the selves you are actually using that season.
So if space saving isn’t an issue for you, you can even use a number of larger storage baskets to keep out of sight out-of-season clothes at the bottom, top or ends of deep shelves. This won’t detract from the aesthetics of your wardrobe, and you can quickly change the clothes in them at the next seasonal change. Label them so you’ll know clearly what’s in which shirts and what’s in which trousers.
I also mentioned the linen rack for bags and fabric storage. You can put your big coats in an empty linen bin without the need for any storage, while you can put your sweaters and thick pants somewhere else entirely with a box or bag. Because let’s face it, a really thick coat can take up half the storage box, making practical storage difficult.
But to avoid dust and wrinkles, I don’t recommend throwing all your clothes into one big linen bin without a system.
You can also hang large coats in the wardrobe where you can’t see them, and thinner jackets and coats can find a place in the hallway. A general assessment of storage in different furniture is as follows:
- Space-saving: 3/5,
- Wrinkle-free: 4/5,
- Dust-free: 4/5,
- Damp-free: 5/5,
- Aesthetics: 4/5,
- Mothproof? Yes
A seasonal wardrobe change can help you see through your clothes better, keep things tidier and make it easier to squeeze in space for new clothes. Make sure your wardrobe is never at maximum capacity and keep all your current favourites to hand!
