The Stylish Closet Organizer That Keeps Daily Essentials Neat & At The Ready

Whether you own a roomy walk-in or a small wardrobe, keeping an organized closet is key to starting the day on the right foot. As we consult our closets first thing in the morning and last thing at night, being confronted with the chaos of a messy closet won't do us any favors. According to a study on the average American family's material culture by UCLA's Center on Everyday Lives of Families, excessive clutter fuels a spike in cortisol, the dreaded stress hormone. This drives home the importance of decluttering and organizing every cabinet drawer in our homes, and maintaining a sense of orderliness as much as possible.

Experts can weigh in on the best way to organize your closet, but keep in mind that the best system is what works for you and your daily routine. If you are the type who changes bags every so often, creating a dedicated area in your closet to store your essentials – that is, the items you lug around in your handbag on a daily basis — is a clever way to streamline your daily routine while keeping clutter at bay.

Any bin, box, or basket you have lying around the house will suffice — you can even DIY your own storage basket if you're feeling particularly crafty. Establish a routine of emptying the contents of your purse into this dedicated box or basket at the end of the day. This leaves you free the next morning to handpick and curate the items you'll be needing that day without the chaos of transferring your essentials from one bag to another. Making a habit of depositing your purse essentials – coins, hand sanitizers, tampons, cosmetics, wallets, or headphones – into a dedicated storage bin every evening will prompt you to properly store your bags away as well, reducing even more clutter in your closet.

If you want to bring this hack closer to your front door, allot an entryway cabinet drawer or basket where all your essentials can go at the end of the day, ready to be picked up the next morning. This allows you the time to contemplate what you need just before stepping out the front door, saving you a closet detour if you happen to forget something. Edit your storage box according to seasons: Add a pair of gloves or lip balm to the box during winter, a small foldable umbrella and allergy medicines during spring and fall, or a small tube of sunscreen and a selection of your favorite sunglasses during the summer.