How to Organise Your Clothes on a Hanging Rail
21st Oct 2025
Every season brings fresh fashion trends, and there’s something really satisfying about finding that perfect winter coat or stocking up on some new basics like a comfy t-shirt. Updating your wardrobe can be fun, but digging through a jumble of clothes to find that one shirt? Not so much.
You might wonder if it’s really worth the time and effort to organise your rail. Not only will it make it much easier to find what you’re looking for, but it’ll also help keep your clothes in better shape. Plus, it really won’t take long at all - it’s a quick and easy win.
So, grab an hour or two (depending on whether your wardrobe is more compact or it looks like you could open a mini boutique) and get your clothes organised on that hanging rail!
To Start – Clear the Rail
Before you start organising, you’ll need to take everything off the rail first. That way, you can see exactly what you’ve got.
And while you’re at it, it’s the perfect chance to go through anything you don’t wear anymore. Getting rid of those will free up some extra space, and give you a few more hangers to work with too.
A hanging rail isn't just for the wardrobe. Add a hanging rail or clothes rail to the utility room to help with drying and organising, or under the stairs to make it easy to grab your jacket when you're on the go.
Step 1 – Group Clothing Types
Now that your rail is clear, start by sorting your clothes into groups, like shirts, dresses, jackets, and so on, and check which ones are actually suitable for hanging, as not everything belongs on a hanger! Chunky, heavy knitwear or stretchy sportswear can lose their shape if they hang too long, so it’s better to fold them and pop them in a drawer or on a shelf.
On the other hand, delicate pieces or anything that creases easily, like dresses, blouses, and suits, are perfect for hanging and will stay looking their best that way.
As a general rule of thumb, heavy or stretchy items should be stored in a drawer and structured or delicate garments are better hung up to maintain their shape.
Step 2 – Put onto Hangers
Okay, we know it might sound like we’re overthinking things a bit here, but trust us, hangers can actually make a big difference! And we know a thing or two about hangers.
If your rail was feeling a little crammed, switching to slimline hangers can help save space and squeeze in a bit more storage. Got a mix of clothing types? Using different styles of hangers really helps too.
Broad shoulder hangers are perfect for things like suit jackets and heavy coats, as they give them the support they need. For floaty pieces like skirts, dresses, or blouses, go for hangers with notches to keep those little hanger straps in place and stop anything from sliding off. And of course, hangers with trouser bars are ideal for, yep, you guessed it - trousers!
Need some extra hangers? Check out our clothes hangers to find the best ones for your clothes.
Step 3 – Hang Up Clothes
Now that you’ve got your clothes neatly hung up, it’s time to pop them back onto the rail, and here’s where you can have a bit of fun with it.
You can organise them in whatever way works best for you. Want to keep it practical? Sort by clothing type, like jackets, shirts, and dresses. Or, if you’ve got an open rail that’s on display, you might want to go for a colour-coded setup for that super satisfying, Insta-worthy look.
If you're not fussed about sorting your clothes by colour for presentation, just organising them by type, such as work clothes, jackets, formalwear etc. can still make it much easier to find what you need. Product featured above: Clothes Racks
Want more style tips and tricks? Have a look at these posts:
Create Your Own Wardrobe Space