The Fall Wardrobe Swap – 5 Pro Tips to Streamline and Tidy Your Closet for the Colder Months

Whether you have a second wardrobe or not, a seasonal swap is one of the best ways to keep your closet organized for the colder months.

In fact, say our professional organizers, fall is the ideal time to reset, review, and get rid of any unworn clothing, too. This will make accessing your suitable clothes and putting together outfits easy, rather than stressful, all season long.

Here, they share their top closet organization ideas for transitioning your wardrobe from summer to fall and winter with ease.

5 Pro Tips to Declutter and Organize a Closet for the Colder Months

1. Start With a Reset

First things first, says Di Ter Avest, professional organizer and founder of Diisorganized, before you bring in all your cozy sweaters and boots and transition your wardrobe, give your closet a quick reset.

'Take out everything that's clearly summer-only – like swimsuits, tank tops, or sandals – and store them in bins or storage bags,' she advises, such as the Rosecliff Heights Bavan Rattan Basket available at Wayfair.

'This instantly creates space and makes it easier to see your fall pieces. A seasonal reset also helps you avoid that crowded, overwhelming closet feeling where nothing seems to fit or match.'

Tracy McCubbin, professional organizer, founder and CEO of dClutterfly, agrees, adding, 'If you have the luxury of a second closet, I love a seasonal swap. First thing is if you swap out for the seasons, when you bring out the winter clothes that you haven’t seen in six months, it’s like a brand new wardrobe.

'If you don’t have a second closet, even moving the out-of-season clothes to the back of the closet, thinning out your choices, can reduce decision fatigue, by only flipping through clothes you’ll wear.'

2. Then, Declutter

Importantly, says Tracy, 'Declutter as you swap it out! Till I'm blue in the face, if you didn't wear it last winter, you're not going to wear it this year. Let it go!'

For this, Ben Soreff, professional organizer at House to Home Organizing, suggests, 'Instead of being negative and saying I haven't worn it in a year or I don't need it, focus on why you haven't worn it – maybe you couldn't see it, or it was on the closet floor. Perhaps it is actually a keepsake like a college sweatshirt, or the size is aspirational for the future, or, in the case of shoes, maybe they look great but really hurt your feet.'

For those items, take out what you don't or won't use, and decide whether to sell or donate decluttered items later.

'If you have future clothes in your closet waiting for when you go up or down a size, consider how expensive they are and how hard they are to get again, and then donate them to someone who could wear them today,' continues Ben.

'Bin up the rest and place in remote storage like the basement or attic.' Durable storage bins, such as the Sterilite Large Storage Bin available at Walmart, are brilliant for this. 'Again, we don't want them taking up valuable space in our closet because the action or frequency of use is very low.'

You should also, adds Di, declutter with a seasonal lens. 'Fall is the perfect time to be honest with yourself about what you'll actually wear.

'I recommend this now because colder-weather items are bulkier and take up more space – so keeping only what you love and use will save you from stuffed drawers and jam-packed hangers. Before you put away the summer items, ask yourself the same questions, and purge items you didn't wear much, or that don't match your style,' which is a closet decluttering tip that pros love.

3. Check all your clothing is clean

'As things come out of storage, check that everything is clean,' says Tracy. 'Oftentimes, we skip the step of cleaning our clothes before storing, so when an item gets back in rotation, it might be dirty.'

The last thing you need during this busy season of socializing is to pull out an item you had in mind to wear, only to find it has food down the front.

Tracy adds, 'Take a minute, flip through your clothes, and make sure everything is clean for the new season.' For anything that isn't, check the relevant laundry symbols on the care label and wash accordingly.

'And while you’re taking the time to check for dirty clothes, swap out all the wire hangers,' continues Tracy. 'Matching hangers make a closet look 10 times more organized! These Non-Slip Velvet Suit Hangers available at The Container Store are my go-tos.'

4. Organize by Category

Once you've edited down your items, recommends Di, organize your closet with the colder months in mind.

'Keep everyday staples like jeans, sweaters, and boots easily accessible, while holiday outfits or dressier pieces can live further back,' she says. 'You'll thank yourself on those busy mornings when you can grab what you need without having to dig through the excess.

'Baskets or bins for accessories like scarves, hats, and gloves make them easy to grab on your way out the door.'

We recommend the Large Cotton Rope Basket available at Walmart for keeping in your entryway closet, filled with these winter essentials.

For other items you keep but don't wear often, like formal wear, keep these in a different closet where possible, like in a guest room or office, so they don't take up space in your primary closet, adds Ben. 'We want clothes to go in easily, and come out easily. Cramming everything in will lead to unhappiness.

5. Make it Mindful and Fun

Finally, says Di, 'Think of your closet swap as more than just clothes – it's a little self-care ritual. Play your favorite music, sip a warm drink, and take your time enjoying the process,' all of which help to make decluttering and organizing fun, just like the dopamine decluttering method.

'As you organize, notice which pieces make you feel confident and cozy,' she continues. 'A tidy, intentional closet isn't just practical – it's a boost to your mood and energy as you head into the new season.'

What to Shop

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Meet the Experts

Ben Soreff

The professional organizers at House to Home Organizing are passionate about decluttering and organizing, and focus on creating systems tailored to their individual clients' needs.

Di Ter Avest

After becoming a wife and a mother, Di quickly learned the importance of organization and regular decluttering. Since, she has helped hundreds of clients rethink their relationship with clutter, including how to successfully swap out their seasonal wardrobe.

Tracy McCubbin

Tracy has been professionally decluttering and organizing since 2006, providing hands-on experience for over 20 years to clients, including helping clients swap their clothes for the new seasons.

These closet organizing tweaks from a professional organizer will transform how you use yours for the better.