The Most Important Rule

"Getting dressed in the morning is not the time for me to be creative," says Ronnie Eisenberg, author of Organize Yourself! Instead, Eisenberg relies on practical routines and an organized closet to streamline her relationship with her clothes. Follow the experts' advice and watch your getting-dressed stress disappear, your purchasing decisions improve, and your overall outlook lighten.

The first law of organization is to group like items, as this closet view demonstrates. To begin, separate casual clothing from work and formal wear. From there, group garments by type, such as jackets and dresses. (Overachievers can earn bonus points by subdividing according to color or fiber content.) This "ultimate closet" uses compartments sized to fit the garments being stored and includes open shelves to hold smaller and seasonal items. A glide-out unit stores belts and ties.

Storage boxes slide into open shelving, eliminating clutter and keeping smaller items orderly. Transparent boxes make finding things easier. Make the best use of containers by organizing articles by theme, such as winter gear or hair accessories. Note that wire baskets and open bins are good for items that must breathe (shoes and sweaters).

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