CLOTHING

How to create a stylish and functional closet

Is your wardrobe filled with clothes you never use? A good place to start living a more sustainable lifestyle is in your closet. Clothes you never use any more can be sold or donated and damaged garments can be sent to a tailor for mending – prolonging the life of these items. Even wearing an item a few more times before washing it can increase the life of a garment and lower carbon emissions. By keeping your clothes in a place that is easy to access in a solution with a sensible layout, the risk of saying “I have nothing to wear!” decreases dramatically – and reduces the likelihood of impulse shopping. 


  1. THINK “FLEXIBLE” when buying storage. Choose a solution that is simple to rearrange and expand on when changes are needed.
  2. QUALITY AND TIMELESSNESS is preferred over buying cheap, poor-quality items. This goes both for the closet itself as well as the clothes in it.
  3. PLAN FOR SUSTAINABLE HABITS by sorting out clothes when the seasons change. Choose fixtures that allow for a good overview of your clothes. That way you can easily see which clothes you’ve used and those you haven’t. Donate, sell or swap with a friend those items you no longer use.
  4. EXTEND THE LIFE OF YOUR GARMENTS by storing them properly. Ventilated shelves and unique fixtures for trousers and shoes keep your clothes separated and fresh.

Tips for sustainable wardrobe habits

Here are some valuable tips to keep in mind when planning a functional closet to optimise the available space, create an efficient layout and a get an airy closet solution.


A wardrobe with a practical layout and garments sorted by colour or type makes finding an outfit easier and reduces the urge for impulse shopping.


Knitted sweaters can lose their shape on a hanger, so use mesh drawers with dividers to keep them fresh and neatly organised.


Recommended spacing between each shelf is 35 cm, when storing folded clothes. This will keep your closet from feeling congested.


Ever considered renting clothes? Save both money and closet space by purchasing timeless and basic garments – add rented items to spice up your outfits.


Care for your shoes by storing them on shelves and racks instead of in a pile on the floor.


Every load in the washing machine wears on your clothes and produce carbon dioxide. Reduce the number of washes and prolong the life of your clothes by using them multiple times. Hang your clothes on hooks or on the back of the door to let them air out.


Dare to let go! Your unused clothes can make someone else happy. Donate, sell or swap your clothes. A smart way to extend the life of clothes.

Organising my closet, where do I start?

Getting started is half the job as the saying goes. That is also true when it comes to planning you clothing storage. We think designing a well-organised closet can be a lot of fun. However, before you get started planning for how many shelves, drawers, hooks, shoe racks, etc. you will need, we have a few step-by-step tips we’d like to share with you.

1. Take a before picture 
It’s a good idea to take a picture before you get started and bring it along with you when planning with a retailer. Furthermore, you’ll have something to compare with the before and after results.

2. Write down the dimensions 
Take note of the height and width of the room and write down the measurements – remember to include all doors, window, radiators, etc. Make a sketch, too and bring that with you. 
How to measure

3. Sort out unused clothes
Can you sell, swap with friends or donate to charity?
 
4. Catalogue your clothes
Catalogue your clothes by taking an inventory and write down how many blouses, shirts, trousers, skirts, dresses and shoes you have. This will make planning of your storage easier.

5. Now you are ready to plan! 
Choose from our range of ready-made solutions, design it on our online panning tool or book an appointment with your nearest Elfa dealer, who will gladly help you design your storage solution.

Wouldn’t better flow improve your daily life?

There are many people that experience that their clothes seem to get scattered around the house and never quite end up in the right place. By taking control of this endless clutter, you save time and create a more efficient flow to your daily life.

Visualise your gym bag hanging proudly on a hook in the closet instead of the floor. Now, imagine that your jumper finds its way back to its place in the wardrobe instead of the back of a chair before it goes in the laundry. The dirty laundry doesn’t get mixed in with clean clothes. Wouldn’t that be lovely? Locate where the mess starts and adapt your storage to your clothes’ movement throughout your home.

Here are our tips for how to organise your clothing storage in a smart way, to help you find your clothes more easily – the ones you use every day as well as the ones you use less frequently. The goal: no more piles on the floor, chair or bed.

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Efficient clothing storage

Get easy access to everything you need for your workout – one space for recently used sportswear that can be worn again, and another space for the rest of your gear.

Make room for your workout clothes

Does your family have a lot of training gear? Give each person their own storage space: in the wardrobe, hallway, laundry room or whatever works best for you.

Visualise your gym bag hanging proudly on a hook in the closet instead of the floor. Now, imagine that your jumper finds its way back to its place in the wardrobe instead of the back of a chair before it goes in the laundry. The dirty laundry doesn’t get mixed in with clean clothes. Wouldn’t that be lovely? Locate where the mess starts and adapt your storage to your clothes’ movement throughout your home.

Clothes storage accessories
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Clothing storage under sloped ceilings

There are more good places for clothing storage than just the bedroom. Why not use the space under the stairs or a sloped ceiling as a wardrobe?

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