Best Ways To Fold Clothes To Save Closet Space

On a list of the most tedious house chores, folding laundry may rank number one. But it’s a crucial task that shouldn’t be rushed—even though it may feel like you’re saving time at the moment.  

With some practice, you can learn how to strategically fold your clothes quickly and neatly to prevent wrinkles while maximizing space inside drawers and shelves.

Try these clever folding methods and techniques to keep all your t-shirts, jeans, socks, and more tidy and organized within your closet. Plus, learn how the Closet by Liberty systems are uniquely designed to accommodate your folded items.

How to Fold T-Shirts

Discover the joy of folding with the Marie Kondo Folding Method: KonMari. Instead of stacking your t-shirts, this method lets shirts stand upright so you can see your entire collection at once. Repeat these steps a few times, and you’ll become a folding pro in no time.

• Step 1: Lay the shirt flat and smooth out the wrinkles.
• Step 2: Fold one side toward the center of the shirt and flip the sleeve back away from the center.
• Step 3: Repeat on the other side.
• Step 4: Take the collar and flip up to the bottom hem, making a rectangle.
• Step 5: Fold the shirt in half again and stand it upright to store.

When using this file folding technique, you can fold your t-shirts to the exact height of your drawers. Closets by Liberty’s deep drawers provide a 9” depth that supplies enough vertical space so your clothes fit perfectly.

How to Fold Dress Shirts

Folding a dress shirt is very similar to the t-shirt fold, but has a few extra steps to accommodate the long sleeves.

• Step 1: Ensure the shirt is completely buttoned to avoid wrinkles.
• Step 2: Lay the shirt facedown with the sleeves extended.
• Step 3: Bring the right sleeve toward the center, folding along the armpit seam.
• Step 4: Fold the right sleeve at about a 45-degree angle down toward the hem.
• Step 5: Repeat this step 3 and 4 on the left side so both sides are symmetrical.
• Step 6: Fold the hem halfway through the shirt.
• Step 7: Fold again so the second folded portion reaches the bottom of the collar.
• Step 8: Turn your dress shirt over.

Like the t-shirts, you can store these items in your Closets by Liberty™ deep drawers. We recommend dedicating separate drawers to the different shirt styles. Our open shelving makes another great home for folded dress shirts.

How to Fold Jeans and Pants

To keep your jeans and pants neatly stacked in drawers or on shelves, follow this basic yet super-efficient folding technique.

• Step 1: Lay the pants flat and remove bulk and bumps from the pockets.
• Step 2: Fold the pants in half, aligning the legs with the back pockets facing out.
• Step 3: Fold in half lengthwise to the top of the waist, forming a long rectangle
• Step 4: Tuck the crotch under the folded portion to create a straight edge. 
• Step 5: Fold the pants upwards into thirds.

If you prefer to stack your jeans on shelves, a Closet by Liberty system allows you to easily adjust the height of your shelves to customize space as you purchase or donate pants. With just a click you can raise a shelf to allow room for more pairs of pants during the winter months. Then lower the shelf back down if you store them away in the summer.

How to Fold Sweaters and Jackets

During the cooler months, don’t let bulky sweaters and jackets take up all of your drawer and shelf space. With this quick, 3-step process, you can stack your garments with ease.

• Step 1: Lay the sweater flat with the arms extended.
• Step 2: Fold the sleeves toward the center, parallel to the hem.
• Step 3: Fold each side inward across the sweater, only part way.
• Step 4: Fold in half lengthwise.

Don’t forget to adjust your shelves to allow more vertical space for these large items, too! When out of season, store these items out of reach on top of your system.

How to Fold Socks

Rolled-up socks waste so much space in your drawers. Instead of balling them up, fold them into compact squares that are easy to stack.

• Step 1: Form a T with one sock over the other.
• Step 2: Fold the toe of the bottom sock over the top of the top sock.
• Step 3: Repeat for the heel side of the bottom sock.
• Step 4: Flip up the top sock so it overhangs on top.
• Step 5: Tuck the overhang portion inside the folded layers of the bottom sock, forming a square.

While deep drawers are great for storing bulkier clothing, they tend to swallow up smaller folded items like socks. Add variety to your drawer depth with shallow drawers. Their shorter height provides the perfect space to vertically pack more socks inside so you can see them all at a glance.

Store More with a Flexible Closet Organizer

Taming the closet chaos goes beyond just learning a few smart, space-saving folding hacks. You should also invest in a closet system that’s completely customizable to your needs and maximizes your closet. 

Closets by Liberty™ systems come in a variety of sizes to fit any reach-in and walk-in closet and can be customized with additional accessories like drawers, shelves and hanging rods.

Shop our systems today to find options that maximize shelf and drawer space for all your folded clothing needs!