For millennia, humans have performed their own rituals to welcome the new seasons: both the winter and summer solstices, as well as the spring and fall equinoxes, have traditionally been important dates marking these changes. In fact, in Spain we still observe some of these celebrations, such as San Juan to welcome summer, or even Christmas, which is also closely linked to the arrival of winter.

However, today in CULMIA , we’re not going to talk about history or traditional and popular celebrations. We do, however, want to discuss a ritual common in many homes whenever one season ends and another begins: getting your clothes ready for the new temperatures ahead.

Spring, summer, fall, and winter. Four seasons, each with its own climate characteristics; so it’s very likely that you have specific clothes for each one. So today we want to give you some tips on how to organize your closets for each seasonal change.

Tips for Organizing Closets as the Seasons Change

Choose the perfect date

The first step in organizing your closets for the change of seasons is to pick a day to do it. Keep in mind that this is a process that will take some time, so try to set aside a full morning or afternoon to get started.

Also, and although you were probably already planning to do this, remember that it’s best to get started right before the season changes or during the first few weeks of the new season. That way, your new closet organization will last longer, and you’ll be able to quickly find the clothes you need to wear right from the start.

Clear out your closet to start from “scratch”

When it’s time to organize your closet for the change of seasons, don’t hold back—empty it out completely. If you do, it’ll be much easier to get rid of the clothes you won’t need in the near future and get your new-season outfits ready.

This way, you’ll also be able to better sort and organize your clothes based on the space you have available. This will save you time, since it will most likely take longer if you empty it little by little and organize it by sections only.

Clean out your closet

Your closet needs proper maintenance, so a great time to do this is when you empty it completely. Keep in mind that, since it’s a space that’s usually closed off, it’s prone to trapping moisture and dust—with all that entails: dirt, dust mites, etc.

To clean it, wipe down the walls, doors, and drawers with a damp cloth. Then, let the surface dry before you start organizing the inside. What’s more, while you’re waiting for it to dry, you can also take this opportunity to get rid of old clothes from last season that you no longer want to wear. Especially if you haven’t worn them at all in the last few months. If you get rid of them, you’ll save space when storing your clothes and avoid having to throw them away later!

And finally, it also check the condition of the closet. You may need to make some repairs inside, such as replacing a light bulb that’s stopped working, lining a shelf, rearranging the layout, or even painting it or applying a coat of varnish.

Go through and set aside clothes from the previous season

Once you’ve sorted out your old clothes and decided what to do with them (throw them away, give them away, etc.), you can move on to the next step: setting aside the clothes from the season that just ended. For example, if summer is just beginning, when you’re clearing out your closet, you’ll need to set aside your winter and spring clothes.

This will not only allow you to tell it apart from the one you’ll start using from now on, but it will also help you get it ready for storage. Mainly because it’s a good idea to wash it first and, in the case of coats, suits, etc., take it to the dry cleaner. And if you find any damage, have it repaired—from sewing on a button to mending a tear. That way, it’ll be in perfect condition when you take it out again in a few months.

Put away the clothes you won’t be wearing

Let’s move on. Where are we going to store last season’s clothes? Ideally, you should put the clothes in a breathable box so they don’t smell when you take them out later. There are boxes specially designed for this purpose, which perfectly combine fabric and plastic. And if you don’t have much storage space, opt for vacuum-sealed bags, because they’re perfect for reducing especially bulky items, such as comforters and blankets, to a minimum.

And finally, consider adding items to these storage areas that will help keep your clothes in good condition—both to protect them from moths and to give them a pleasant scent—such as sachets of lavender, cedar, etc.

Choose a place to store last season’s clothes

Once you’ve sorted, cleaned, and set aside the clothes you won’t need in the coming months, it’s time to put them away. But… where? If you have a large closet, you can set aside a dedicated space for them in an area you use less often. If not, you can opt for another closet or a different storage area, such as a chest, shelves, under the bed, or a lift-up storage bed. The important thing here is that it’s kept in ideal temperature and humidity conditions so it doesn’t get damaged.

Sort and organize your clothes

It’s time to organize your closet for the new season’s clothes! Pick out the items you’ll need from now on and use your own organizational methods. For example, a very common approach is to sort them by type: T-shirts, sweaters, pants, skirts, underwear, socks…

In fact, each type of clothing has its own ideal storage method. Jackets, sweaters, shirts, dress pants, and coats are best hung on hangers. And if possible, hang only one garment per hanger so you can see and find each one more easily. Don’t forget to use garment bags to protect your most delicate and valuable clothing, such as suits.

In addition, for smaller items, such as T-shirts, socks, or underwear, you can use storage boxes, vacuum-sealed bags, or the closet drawers themselves. Try to fold them vertically, in the style of Marie Kondo, because that way you’ll make better use of the space and be able to grab what you need quickly. You might even consider organizing them by color, size, etc., so you always know where to find what you’re looking for.

Don’t forget to choose some transitional-season clothes

Finally, keep in mind the climate where you live. There will likely be hot days in winter and cold, rainy days in summer, so be sure to choose versatile clothing to complement your seasonal wardrobe. That way, you won’t have to dig out the clothes you’ve stored away when the weather changes suddenly.

Organize your closet properly with the help of CULMIA

That wraps up our recommendations on how to organize your closets at the start of each season. However, if you’d like more information, we invite you to check out this blog post, where we explain everything you need to know to get your closet ready whenever you need to rearrange and tidy it up.

We hope all these tips will be a big help to you!

We recommend:

• The Best Tips for Organizing a Room
• Tips for Keeping Your Home Clean and Tidy