How to Organize Your New Custom Closet
Installing a custom closet can completely transform how your space looks and functions. Whether you’re adding a walk-in closet, updating an older closet design, or investing in a brand-new closet system in your New Orleans home, the installation itself is usually only part of the process.
One thing many people don’t realize until afterward is that once everything is emptied out for the closet installation, you still have to sort through everything and put it all back in a way that actually works long-term.
As Professional Organizers in New Orleans, we help clients with this all the time after custom closet projects are finished.
Before Your Custom Closet Installation, Try to Declutter First
Before the closet company arrives, one of the best things you can do is declutter your belongings beforehand, if possible.
Some people understandably just place everything into boxes quickly so the contractors can begin the closet installation process, and that’s completely okay, too. But ideally, this can actually be a great opportunity for a fresh start.
Since you’re already emptying the closet out anyway, it’s often the perfect time to figure out what’s worth keeping, donating, tossing, or packing away.
If you recently went through your closet and already feel good about everything you own, then there’s absolutely nothing wrong with skipping this step. But if there are items you no longer wear, use, or realistically need, this is usually one of the best times to address it before everything goes back into the new closet system.
If you need help with this process, you can also learn more about our decluttering services and what to expect when hiring a professional organizer.
Not Everyone Has Time to Organize Before the Closet Install
Realistically, not everyone has the time or energy to carefully sort and organize everything before a custom closet company comes in.
Sometimes people are busy with work, kids, renovations, moving, or simply trying to keep up with everyday life. In many cases, people simply place everything into boxes temporarily just to clear the space for the installers, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that either.
If that’s the case, the best thing to do once the closet installation is complete is simply to go back through everything afterward and organize it then.
1) Once the New Closet Is Finished, Start by Unpacking & Sorting Your Items Into Categories
Once the new custom closet is fully installed, the next step is usually to organize everything in a way that makes the new closet system functional day to day.
We typically recommend starting by sorting everything into categories before putting items back into the closet.
For example:
- Everyday clothing
- Shoes
- Bags and purses
- Belts and accessories
- Seasonal items
- Storage bins
- Keepsakes or miscellaneous storage items
In smaller New Orleans homes, especially shotgun homes with limited storage space, closets sometimes end up holding much more than just clothing.
It’s common for them to also become overflow storage areas for seasonal items, keepsakes, household supplies, and miscellaneous belongings that don’t really have another designated place to go.
If you live in this type of layout, you can also check out our tips for organizing a New Orleans shotgun home.
Sorting everything into categories first can make it much easier to decide where items should realistically live inside the new closet layout.
2) Lightly Clean the Closet Before Putting Everything Back
Once the closet installation is finished, it can also help to lightly wipe down shelves, vacuum the floor, and do a quick clean before putting everything back inside.
Sometimes the closet company already handles this, but other times there may still be dust or debris left behind from the installation process.
Starting with a clean space can help the entire closet feel fresher and more organized from the beginning.
3) Organize Everything Back Into the Closet
Once everything has been sorted into categories, you can start putting items back into the new custom closet in a way that feels neat, functional, and realistic for your daily life.
As you’re organizing everything back in, the biggest thing to focus on is creating systems that will actually be easy for you to maintain long-term. One thing we’ve found is that even the most beautiful custom closet design still needs systems that realistically work for how you live day to day.
For example, everyday clothing should usually be easy to access, while seasonal items or less frequently used belongings can often be stored higher up or farther out of the way. The goal is to make it easier to:
- Put things away
- Find items quickly
- Keep the closet maintained over time
- Prevent clutter from building back up
Sometimes that means bringing in matching hangers, bins, baskets, drawer dividers, or other closet organizers. Other times, simpler systems honestly work better depending on the person and the space.
If setting everything up feels overwhelming, or you simply want help creating organized systems that work for your daily life, you can also learn more about our closet organization services. P.S. We organize all areas of the home, from closets to kitchens, through our organizing services.
The most important thing is creating a setup that works for your routine, rather than focusing only on making the closet look aesthetically pleasing.
Professional Organizers Can Help After a Custom Closet Installation
Many people invest a lot in custom closets or closet design projects, but still feel overwhelmed when it’s time to unpack everything and properly organize the new space.
That’s where working with a professional organizer can really help.
We help clients sort through belongings, organize items into categories, create realistic systems, and set everything up in a way that feels functional and maintainable over the long term.
Decluttering is always optional, and clients are involved in those decisions throughout the process. But once decisions are made, we can help handle the organizing side and get the closet fully set up beautifully and efficiently.
If you need help with the earlier part of the process as well, we can also help pack everything up before the closet installation begins.
Our packing services can help make the process feel much less overwhelming by packing everything neatly and organizing it beforehand, which also makes unpacking and setting up the new closet afterward much easier.
DIY vs. Hiring a Professional Closet Organizer to Organize Your New Custom Closet System
| DIY | Hiring a Professional Closet Organizer |
|---|---|
| You sort through your belongings and decide what to keep, donate, or throw away on your own. | We guide you through the decluttering process so you only put back the items you use, need, and love, helping you make the most of your new closet. |
| You’re responsible for every decluttering decision. | Receive professional guidance, support, accountability, and practical advice throughout the entire process. |
| You purchase boxes, packing materials, labels, and other supplies yourself. | We bring the packing supplies needed to safely pack your closet before the renovation begins. |
| You pack your entire closet before the renovation. | We carefully pack your clothing, shoes, handbags, accessories, and other belongings for you. |
| Donations are your responsibility. | We can remove your donations and take them to a local donation center, saving you an extra trip. |
| You organize, label, and keep track of everything yourself. | We categorize and label your belongings, making unpacking much easier once the renovation is complete. |
| You handle all of the lifting, packing, and moving. | We take care of the physical work from beginning to end. |
| You need to coordinate the project around your own schedule. | Work alongside us or leave while we take care of everything for you. |
| Once the renovation is finished, you unpack every box yourself. | We unpack everything and put it away in your new closet. |
| You decide where everything belongs. | We create functional organizing systems that maximize your new closet and make it easy to maintain. |
| You search for storage products on your own. | We recommend bins, baskets, drawer dividers, shelf organizers, and other products when they’ll improve your space. |
| You clean up boxes and packing materials when you’re finished. | We break down boxes, clean up packing materials, and leave your closet ready to enjoy. |
| The project can stretch out over several days or weeks. | Get back to using your closet much sooner with everything unpacked, organized, and ready to go. |
| You invest your own time, energy, and effort every step of the way. | Save time, reduce stress, and let experienced professional organizers manage the entire process from packing to unpacking. |
What Professional Closet Organizers Can’t Help With
- Hanging pictures or mirrors in your closet
- Installing or building shelving in your closet
- Painting or adding wallpaper to your closet
- Moving large pieces of furniture or decor in your closet
- Removing rugs or adding new rugs in your closet
- And more
Professional Closet Organizer vs. Custom Closet Design & Installation Company
| Professional Closet Organizer | Custom Closet Design & Installation Company |
|---|---|
| Helps you declutter and organize your belongings before, during, or after a closet renovation. | Designs, builds, and installs custom closet systems. |
| Can help declutter, organize, and pack your closet before the renovation begins. | Removes your existing closet (if needed) and installs your new custom closet. |
| Can unpack your belongings and organize everything after the new closet is installed. | Installation is typically complete once the new closet system is finished. |
| Creates organizing systems based on your wardrobe, daily routine, and lifestyle. | Creates the physical layout of your closet, including shelving, drawers, hanging rods, and storage features. |
| Organizes both existing closets and newly installed custom closets. | Specializes in designing and installing new custom closets or remodeling existing ones. |
| Organizes clothing, shoes, handbags, jewelry, accessories, and other personal items. | Doesn’t typically organize your clothing, shoes, or accessories after installation. |
| Helps with decluttering, packing, unpacking, folding, categorizing, labeling, and maintaining organization. | Focuses on construction, installation, cabinetry, and storage design. |
| Can organize walk-in closets, reach-in closets, children’s closets, linen closets, hallway closets, storage closets, pantries, and more. | Primarily specializes in custom closet design and installation projects. |
Can They Work Together?
Yes. Many clients hire both services during a closet renovation.
A professional closet organizer can help before your custom closet installation by decluttering, organizing, and packing up your belongings so the closet installation company has a clear space to work.
Once your new closet is installed, the organizer can return to unpack everything, organize your clothing, shoes, and accessories, and create customized systems that make your new closet functional and easy to maintain.
And if you’re not installing a custom closet, a professional closet organizer can still help maximize your existing closet by creating organized systems that work with the space you already have.
Get a Quote
If you’d like to get a quote to organize your closet(s) in New Orleans, you can give us a call at (504) 321-6792 or fill out our online contact form.
Learn More About Professional Organizer New Orleans
If you’d like to learn more about our home organizing services and how it all works, feel free to check out:
- Our FAQ page – where we answer some of the most common questions about our services and process
- Our Before & After page – where you can see real organizing projects and client transformations
- Our About Us page – where you can learn more about our team and approach to organizing
Helpful Closet Organizing Resources
- How to prepare for a closet renovation in New Orleans?
- How we helped a New Orleans client declutter her closet
- How we organized our client’s closet in New Orleans
FAQ
How Do I Know What Organizing Products I Need for My Custom Closet?
One of the most common questions we get is whether you should buy organizing products before organizing your custom closet. Our recommendation is no. Whether you’re organizing your closet yourself or hiring a professional organizer, it’s usually best to wait until everything has been sorted and put away before purchasing organizing products.
At Professional Organizer New Orleans, we organize your closet first using the storage you already have. Once everything has been sorted, folded, hung, and put into its proper place, we’re able to see exactly what products, if any, would actually improve the space.
This allows us to recommend the right size, quantity, and type of organizing products based on your specific closet and the number of items you own.
If you purchase organizing products too early, you may end up buying containers that don’t fit your shelves, purchasing too many or too few, or spending money on products you don’t actually need. Waiting until after your closet is organized helps avoid unnecessary purchases and the hassle of returns.
If you’re organizing your custom closet on your own, we recommend following the same approach. Put everything away where you think it belongs first, then evaluate what additional products would make the space more functional.
Once you can clearly see how much you have of each category, it’s much easier to choose organizing products that fit your closet and support a system that’s easy to maintain long-term.
How Long Does It Take to Organize a Custom Closet?
How long it takes to organize a custom closet depends on several factors, including the size of the closet, the number of items that need to be put away, and how everything was packed before your new closet was installed.
For example, if your clothing and accessories were neatly packed by category and folded in boxes, the organizing process is typically much faster than if everything was packed loosely or mixed together and needs to be sorted and refolded first. If you also want help decluttering before organizing, that will add additional time to the project.
For most walk-in custom closets, our professional organizers are typically able to complete the project in one to two organizing sessions. Our sessions are either 5 or 5½ hours, and depending on the size of your closet and how many items need to be organized, we may recommend either one organizer or multiple organizers to complete the project more efficiently.
Once we see photos of your custom closet and learn more about your project, we’ll be able to give you a much more accurate estimate of how many sessions and organizers we recommend. Every closet is different, so the timeline ultimately depends on the amount of work involved.
If you’re organizing your custom closet on your own, it’s not uncommon for the process to take several days or even a week or more, especially if you’re still deciding where everything should go or decluttering as you organize.
Professional organizers help streamline the process by creating organized, functional systems quickly, while taking care of the sorting, folding, hanging, and physical work for you.
Our goal is to make the process as stress-free as possible while creating a closet that’s easy to maintain long after we’re finished.
How Much Does It Cost to Get a Custom Closet Professionally Organized?
If you’ve recently had a custom closet installed, or you’re planning to have one installed soon, you may be thinking about hiring a professional organizer to help unpack and organize everything once it’s finished.
One of the first questions we get is:
“How much does it cost to organize a custom closet?”
The answer depends on a few things.
The biggest factor is the size of the closet and how much needs to be organized. Another important factor is how everything was packed before the installation.
For example, if your clothes, shoes, handbags, and accessories were already packed neatly by category, the organizing process is usually much quicker. On the other hand, if everything was packed into miscellaneous boxes without much organization, it takes longer to sort through everything before it can be put away.
Some clients also ask us to help declutter before we begin organizing. If we need to sort through what to keep, donate, or throw away before putting everything back into the closet, that can increase the size of the project as well.
Our closet organizing services pricing starts at $795. Most clients fall somewhere between $795 and $2,500, depending on the size of the closet, the number of belongings, how organized everything already is, and whether decluttering is part of the project.
The best way to get an accurate price is to contact us for a consultation so we can learn more about your closet and what you’d like help with.
Do Custom Closets Help Keep Your Closet Organized?
Yes. A custom closet can absolutely make it easier to stay organized, but it’s not a guarantee.
A well-designed custom closet can give you more hanging space, drawers, shelving, and storage that’s designed around your needs. That makes it easier to find what you’re looking for, put things away, and make better use of the available space.
That said, you don’t necessarily need a custom closet to have an organized one. A standard closet with basic shelving can work just as well if it’s organized in a way that fits how you use it.
At the end of the day, staying organized comes down to your habits. Even the nicest custom closet can become cluttered if clothes pile up on the floor, items aren’t put back where they belong, or you never take the time to declutter. On the other hand, a simple closet can stay organized for years with a functional system and regular maintenance.
If your current closet doesn’t have enough shelving, hanging space, drawers, or storage for your belongings, a custom closet can definitely help you maximize the space. But once it’s installed, creating an organization system that’s easy to maintain is just as important as the closet itself.
