How to Organize Your Clothing Accessories

Accessories can be some of the hardest things to keep organized because they come in so many shapes and sizes. Belts get tangled, sunglasses wander around the house, and the necklace you want is somehow always underneath five other necklaces. Start by sorting your accessories into categories and getting rid of what you no longer use. Then, use tension rods, hangers, hooks, trays, and other simple storage solutions to give everything a designated spot. 

Key takeaways 

• Sort accessories into categories, such as belts, scarves, hats, jewelry, sunglasses, and handbags, before organizing them. 
• Donate, sell, or give away accessories you no longer wear, and toss anything that’s damaged beyond repair. 
• Use tension rods and pants hangers to take advantage of unused hanging space. 
• Add hooks, pegboards, and over-the-door organizers to make use of vertical space in a small closet. 
• Keep jewelry separated and visible to prevent tangles and make pieces easier to find. 
• Store sunglasses where they won’t get scratched, and keep expensive or delicate pairs in their cases. 
• Keep frequently used handbags and accessories within easy reach. 
• Create an everyday accessory station for the items you grab most often. 
• Move clean, completely dry seasonal accessories into labeled containers when you don’t need them. 

Start by sorting your accessories 

Before buying organizers, figure out what you’re actually trying to organize. Pull together similar accessories and make categories such as: 

• Belts 
• Scarves 
• Hats 
• Jewelry 
• Watches 
• Sunglasses 
• Handbags 
• Wallets 
• Ties 
• Hair accessories 
• Gloves and mittens 
• Winter hats 
• Other seasonal accessories 

Now, go through each category. Get rid of anything that’s broken beyond repair. Donate, sell, or give away accessories that are still in good condition, but you don’t wear anymore. 

If you aren’t sure about something, ask yourself when you last wore it. You don’t necessarily need to get rid of an accessory just because you haven’t used it recently. A sparkly evening bag probably isn’t going to get as much use as your everyday purse. The question is whether you still have a reason to keep it. 

Drap them 

A tension rod placed in an open area of your closet, like above a shelf or below your shirts, can serve as a place to drape belts, scarves and ties.  If you find that they slip off, you can secure them with a clothespin. Make sure to use a padded clothespin for delicate materials like silk.  

Clip them 

A pants hanger (a hanger with multiple clips) can be a huge space saver for accessories. You can clip just about any type of accessory to it (including hats) and hang it on a hook or on a clothing rod in your closet. Use a different hanger for each type of accessory to keep everything organized and tidy. 

Use the back of the closet door 

If your closet is short on shelves and drawers, look at the door. An over-the-door organizer can add storage without taking up floor or hanging space. Depending on the organizer, you can use it for: 

• Scarves 
• Belts 
• Hats 
• Sunglasses 
• Hair accessories 
• Small purses 
• Gloves 
• Other lightweight accessories 

You can also add hooks if your door and lease or home setup allow it. 

Just make sure the organizer isn’t so full that you can’t easily close the door. 

Use empty wall space 

Don’t overlook small sections of wall inside or near your closet. Hooks can hold belts, hats, scarves, lightweight bags, and other accessories. Pegboards and wall-mounted organizers can also give you flexible storage that you can change as your collection changes. 

Vertical storage is especially useful in a small closet because it doesn’t take up additional floor space. 

How to wrangle jewelry 

Jewelry is much easier to wear when you can actually see it. Separate necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings, and watches. Then, give each category its own space. 

Use a jewelry box, divided tray, drawer organizer, or small containers for earrings and rings. Hang necklaces individually or leave enough space between them to prevent tangles. 

Frequently worn pieces can go in a small tray or dish on your dresser. Keep the rest in your main jewelry storage. 

For valuable jewelry, consider a more secure storage location rather than leaving it sitting out in the open. 

How to organize sunglasses 

Sunglasses have an annoying habit of ending up everywhere. Keep everyday pairs in a designated tray, drawer, basket, or organizer near where you get dressed. If you usually grab sunglasses as you’re leaving the house, you could also keep a pair near the door. 

For a larger collection, use a divided drawer or organizer that lets you see each pair without stacking them on top of one another. Another option is to fold the frames around the bottom of a clothes hanger and hang it on a hook near where you get dressed. 

Keep delicate or expensive sunglasses in their cases to help protect the lenses from scratches. 

How to store handbags 

Start by emptying your handbags. Throw away receipts and trash, and put loose items back in their proper homes. Then, decide which bags need to stay within easy reach. 

Keep frequently used purses on a closet shelf, cubby, or sturdy hook near where you get ready in the mornings.  

Tip: Avoid hanging heavy handbags from their straps for long periods if doing so could stretch or damage them. 

Larger bags can sometimes hold smaller bags, but don’t pack them so tightly that they lose their shape. 

For structured handbags, consider stuffing them with clean tissue paper or another material recommended for the bag to help them maintain their shape. 

Special-occasion handbags can go on a higher shelf or in protective bags or containers. 

Create an everyday accessory station 

If you wear the same handful of accessories regularly, keep them together. Create a small everyday accessory station on a dresser, closet shelf, or vanity. Use a tray, dish, basket, or small organizer for your watch, favorite jewelry, belt, sunglasses, and other items you grab frequently. This keeps you from digging through your entire collection every morning. 

Just don’t let the station turn into a dumping ground. Once something stops being part of your regular rotation, return it to its regular storage spot. 

Also consider a purse bowl. This container lets you dump your purse contents out at the end of the day, making it easier to switch purses. Everything you need to load up your purse is in one location. 

Store seasonal accessories 

You don’t need wool scarves, mittens, and winter hats taking up your easiest-to-reach drawer in July. At the end of the season, clean everything according to its care instructions and make sure it’s completely dry. 

Place seasonal accessories in labeled containers and store them on a high shelf, under a bed, in another closet, or in a storage unit. When the seasons change, swap them with the accessories you no longer need. 

This gives your everyday accessories more room and makes it easier to see what you actually have. 

Clothing accessory organization FAQ 

What is the best way to organize clothing accessories? 

Separate accessories into categories, then choose storage based on the size and type of each collection. Hooks work well for many belts and hats, while drawers and divided trays can keep smaller accessories organized. 

How do you organize accessories in a small closet? 

Use vertical space. Add hooks, over-the-door storage, shelf organizers, and drawer dividers to make use of areas that might otherwise sit empty. Move seasonal accessories somewhere else when you don’t need them. 

How do you organize accessories without drawers? 

Use hooks, baskets, bins, wall-mounted organizers, closet shelves, and over-the-door organizers. You can also use small containers on shelves to keep categories separated. 

How do you organize a lot of accessories? 

Start by separating everything into categories. If a category is particularly large, divide it again by color, season, style, or how frequently you use each item. Keep frequently worn pieces easiest to reach. 

Should accessories be stored with clothes? 

They can be, especially if keeping accessories near your clothing makes it easier to put outfits together. However, you can store accessories on a dresser, vanity, wall, or elsewhere if your closet doesn’t have enough room. 

How should you store accessories you rarely wear? 

Put special-occasion and rarely used accessories on higher shelves, toward the back of your closet, or in labeled containers. Keep delicate pieces protected so they don’t get crushed, tangled, or scratched. 

How do you keep accessories from getting cluttered again? 

Give every category a designated home and return items after wearing them. Keep frequently used pieces easy to reach, and periodically clear overcrowded categories to remove accessories you no longer wear. 

Where should you store seasonal accessories? 

Store clean, completely dry seasonal accessories in labeled containers on high shelves, under a bed, in another closet, or in a storage unit. Rotate them back into your main closet when the season changes.