What are the benefits of a seasonal wardrobe change?

By separating your clothing by season, you can easily access the items you wear, making it much easier and quicker to get dressed. And, with many of us becoming more conscious about fast fashion, a seasonal wardrobe change is a great way to avoid overconsumption.

Even if you practise wardrobe rotation just twice a year, you’ll find you become more mindful of which clothing items you really need. Anything you don’t wear anymore can be set aside for charity or sold on for extra cash!

Sound good? Let’s get started.

Step 1. Store your summer clothes away

The first step to organising your winter wardrobe is to make space. Here in the UK, that means anything reserved for sunnier climes can be retired for the foreseeable. The only exception being items that lend themselves to layering.

When should I put my summer clothes away?

The UK is famed for its changeable climate, which is why layering is such a handy technique. That way, even if the temperature picks up again, you should still have some lighter items of clothing to hand. With this in mind, November is a good midpoint for switching your seasonal clothes over.

How to store summer clothes in winter

Seasonal clothes storage can be tricky, especially in small spaces. But there are some smart solutions to help you out...

A storage bed

Whether it’s a divan with drawers or an ottoman bed with lift-up top, say hello to the ultimate piece of clothes storage for summer and winter. Simply pack up your items and hide them away until next time. No square footage sacrificed!

Garment bags and boxes

Invest in some good quality garment bags or boxes that can easily slip into small spaces, like beneath your bed or on top of your wardrobe. Should you have room to spare inside, you could also store your summer clothes in boxes on the floor of your wardrobe.

A clothing rack

A simple clothing rack is a failsafe option, especially if you have a lot of delicate items which don’t take well to folding. Perfect for your spare room, clothes rails are generally slimmer than a traditional wardrobe. Many come with fitted covers to protect your garments, too.

Top tip: label your bags and boxes, so you can easily dig something out if you need to!

Step 2. Create a capsule wardrobe for winter

A capsule wardrobe consists of staple pieces that can be mixed and matched to create different looks.

By taking this approach, you won’t need as much space to store your clothes, and it’ll be much quicker to put your outfits together! This is an incredibly sustainable way to shop too, because when you’re buying less, you can afford to pay a bit more for better, longer lasting quality.

What do I need in my winter wardrobe?

Focus on the essentials – key items that can be worn again and again in different ways. When building your capsule wardrobe, try to put together at least three different outfits using one item of clothing. If you can’t, it’s probably not essential.

Think about your lifestyle and your taste too. Are your colourful knits absolutely key? Then perhaps you should stick to more neutral trousers or skirts for versatility. If you spend a lot of time at the office, consider how you might swap or remove layers from your work outfits to make them suitable for evening plans – and vice versa.

Step 3. Organise your wardrobe

Once you’ve settled on your winter wardrobe must-haves, you can move on to the organisation part. There’s no one-size-fits-all method, so it may take a little shuffling around to find out what works.

Here are some handy ideas for organising winter clothes…

How to organise your wardrobe by colour

Pretty self-explanatory, making it easy to locate a particular item if you need to. A great approach if your colour palette is very varied.

How to organise your wardrobe by outfit

To create a winter capsule wardrobe for work, simply group your outfits together. Then move on to casual outfits, occasion outfits and so on, separating them with rail organisers for ease.

How to organise a small wardrobe

One of the best ways to organise a small wardrobe is to prioritise by materials. For instance, a chunky wool jumper takes up a lot of space, but can be folded and stowed away without much harm. Anything jersey, linen, silk or satin should be hung up, or you’re looking at crease central.

Custom solutions

Many of our sliding wardrobes come with interior options, so you can choose a system that suits your needs. Just give us a call to find out more!

Alternatively, some designs feature adjustable parts. For example, you may be able to choose between having two hanging rails or only one. Others allow for a shelf inside, which is ideal for shoe boxes, or for knitwear which may stretch if placed on a hanger.

Wardrobe accessories

There are numerous accessories designed to maximise your wardrobe space, such as multi hangers. These can be handy for holding scarves, belts or bags, so everything is kept in one place. You may even fit a storage rack over the inside of your wardrobe door.