September 29, 2026
Fall Closet Swap: 4 Easy Steps to Organize Your Closet for the Season
Get your closet ready for cooler weather with four easy fall closet swap steps, plus simple seasonal clothing storage and closet organization ideas.
When the weather starts to cool down, it is time for a fall closet swap to make some room in your closet for sweaters, jackets, boots, and all those other bulky fall and winter clothes.
Packing away sundresses, bathing suits, cover-ups, and other warm-weather clothes frees up valuable closet space. It also makes it much easier to find what you are looking for when you get dressed.
If closet space is tight, a seasonal closet swap can make a big difference. And it does not need to turn into an all-day project. Follow these four steps to clean out your closet and quickly get organized.
Step 1: Empty Your Closet and Sort Your Clothes
Start by taking everything out of your closet and sorting through it. This is a good time to get rid of the things you have been hanging onto but no longer wear. Sort your clothes, shoes, and accessories into four piles: Keep, Donate, Sell or Toss (Recycle). If you have not worn something in a long time, it does not fit, or you just do not like it anymore, consider whether it is worth giving up closet space to keep it.
Learn how to sort through clutter with the Ultimate Decluttering Guide.
Step 2: Clean Your Clothes and Closet
Before packing away your spring and summer clothes, wash anything that needs it and check for stains or odors. Make sure everything is completely dry before putting it into storage. When warm weather rolls around again, your clothes will be clean and ready to wear.
With everything out of the closet, you also have a great chance to fully clean the space. Dust the shelves and closet rods, wipe down any surfaces, and sweep or vacuum the floor.
Once the closet is clean, you are ready to start putting things back.
Step 3: Pack and Store Warm-Weather Clothes
Now it is time to pack away the clothes, shoes, and accessories you will not need for the next several months.
Depending on how much space you have, underbed storage bins, stackable bins, or vacuum storage bags can all work well for seasonal clothing storage. Clear bins make it easier to see what is inside. If you already have solid containers, add labels so you do not have to open several boxes to find what you need.
Before buying any new storage containers, figure out where you plan to keep them and measure the space. There is nothing worse than buying an underbed bin only to discover it is an inch too tall to slide under your bed.
It also helps to store similar things together. Keep bathing suits in one place, summer dresses in another, and sandals together. That will make your next seasonal closet swap a lot easier.
Step 4: Unpack and Arrange Your Fall and Winter Clothes
With the summer clothes out of the way, you can bring back your fall and winter wardrobe.
Start with the items you wear most often and put them where they are easy to see and reach. Save the less convenient spots for things you only use occasionally, such as holiday sweaters and dressy shoes.
If you need to create more room, a few simple closet organizers can help:
Space-saving hangers for clothing
Hanging shelves for folded sweaters
Shelf bins or cubbies for sweaters, scarves, hats, and accessories
Over-the-door hooks for jackets, bags, and other items
Over-the-door organizers for shoes
Stackable floor bins for shoes, boots, or folded clothing
You do not have to use all of these. Choose the organizers that solve the storage problems you actually have.
Storage Ideas for Your Fall Closet Swap
If you are short on closet space, the right closet storage products can help you use your space more efficiently.
Some useful options include:
Underbed storage bins
Stackable storage bins
Vacuum storage bags
Space-saving hangers
Hanging closet shelves
Shelf bins
Over-the-door hooks
Over-the-door shoe organizers
Stackable floor bins
Before buying anything, take a look at what is making your closet crowded. If sweaters are taking over your hanging space, hanging shelves may help. If shoes are covering the floor, try an over-the-door organizer or stackable shoe bins. For clothes you will not need again until spring, underbed bins or vacuum storage bags can keep them out of the way.
Make Your Seasonal Closet Swap a Twice-a-Year Routine
Most of us do not have unlimited closet space, especially when fall and winter clothes are so much bulkier than summer ones. Swapping clothes seasonally gives you more room for the things you are actually wearing right now.
Try doing a closet swap twice a year: once when the cooler weather arrives and again in the spring. It is also a good reminder to go through what you own, get rid of things you no longer use, and give the closet a good cleaning.
A couple of hours spent organizing now can save you from digging through summer dresses to find your favorite sweater when the cold weather hits.