Store and Organize Sweaters for Maximum Space

Written by Caitlin Jaymes | Edited by Savannah Vold

Last Updated: January 15, 2023 References

Nothing beats throwing on a cozy sweater when it starts to get chilly out, but storing them can be a real pain. Your sweaters might be hard to get to, or with the tug of a sweater from the pile, avalanche! Not to worry, frustrating sweater storage is a thing of the past because, in this article, we’ll provide you with plenty of great options for storing and folding your beloved knits so you’ll never have sweater struggles again.

This article is based on an interview with our closet organizer and fashion stylist, Caitlin Jaymes. Check out the full interview here.

Things You Should Know

Lay your sweater on a solid surface, front facing up, and fold the arms across opposite sides of the sweater. Then roll up the sweater from the bottom to the top.
Fold your sweater in half vertically, and lay it over the hanger bar instead of putting the hanger inside the neck.
Organize sweaters in acrylic cubbies and open shelves by stacking them on top of one another to easily see what you have.
Store and stack sweaters horizontally in under-the-bed containers and vacuum-sealed bags during off-seasons to free up closet space.

Section 1 of 4:

What’s the best way to store sweaters?

Folding your sweaters is the best way to store them. The best way to store your sweaters is by folding and storing them in your dresser, cubbies, plastic containers, or in under-the-bed boxes for off-season space-saving. Hanging your sweaters increases the likelihood of your sweater pulling and stretching as a result of gravity, though this can be avoided if done properly.^{[1]
X
Research source}

Section 2 of 4:

Folding a Sweater for Storage

1
Roll bulky sweaters to maximize space. Lay your sweater on a solid surface, front facing up, and fold the arms across opposite sides of the sweater. Once the arms are crossed, simply reach for the bottom hem and roll the sweater up.
- Rolling sweaters can be time-consuming, but if this technique appeals to you, go for it!
- Keep your sweater roll neat and tidy by putting a rubber band around it or tie it up with twine or ribbon if you’re feeling fancy.
2
For a no-fuss approach, go for a classic fold. Bring your sweater to your chest with its front facing you and cross the sleeves across the sweater’s back. Finish by folding the sweater in half horizontally, and you’re ready to get stacking.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- This classic fold isn’t as space-saving as other folding methods, such as rolling or the KonMari fold. Use this method for thinner sweaters like cashmere, depending on your available space.
3
Try the KonMari fold for ultra-compact space maximization. Grab your sweater and fold in the arms parallel to the hem. After folding in the arms, evenly fold the sides of the sweater to the middle. To finish, fold the sweater in half lengthwise, and you’re good to go!^{[3]
X
Research source}
- Using this folding method ensures that all your sweaters have the same width, so they stack better.

Section 3 of 4:

Hanging Sweaters Properly

1
Use wooden or padded hangers. If you’re set on hanging your sweaters, make sure to use wooden or padded hangers to support your knits better. Knitted or woven fabrics are more likely to get stretched from hanging than solid paneled fabrics.
- You might be surprised by the many hanger options there are ranging in color and fabric varieties like silk!
2
Fold your sweater over a hanger. Start by folding your sweater in half vertically with the arms facing the same direction. Then, lay it over the hanger bar and pull the sweater through instead of putting the hanger inside the neck. Now you're ready to neatly hang that puppy in the closet with ease! ^{[4]
X
Research source}
3
Avoid hanging bulky sweaters to prevent stretching. If you can, hang lighter sweaters with fabrics such as cashmere or merino wool over chunky cable knits. Plus, the bulkier the sweater is, the harder to fold it over a hanger properly. These lighter knits and cardigans are better able to support themselves and don’t risk the development of the dreaded slinky sweater!^{[5]
X
Research source}
- Remember, hanging sweaters cause pulling and stretching of the fabric, but if you wear your sweaters frequently, potential damage to your sweater reduces the less time you keep it hanging.

Section 4 of 4:

Sweater Storage Options

1
Dresser drawers Give your sweaters their own drawer in your dresser to keep things organized. Use the space-saving file method to store your sweaters by first folding your sweater in half vertically with the arms lined up. Then, bring both sleeves in towards the middle of the sweater. Finally, grab the bottom of the sweater and fold it in half horizontally, and you’re ready to stand your newly folded sweater in your dresser.^{[6]
X
Research source}
- When used in drawers, the vertical file method allows you to easily see all your sweater options, whereas horizontal stacking works better for open shelves.
2
Closet shelves Storing your sweaters on open shelving is an excellent way to see what and where the sweater you want to pull for the day is.^{[7]
X
Research source} Organize similar sweaters together by material and or color for easy access and some added visual zen.
- Keep your sweater stacks perfectly symmetrical by cutting a piece of cardboard about the size of your folded sweater to lie between each sweater. That way, when you go to pull one out, your stack remains perfect!
- Plastic shelf dividers are a great way to add support between your sweater stacks so they don’t fall or merge together.
3
Cubbies Cubbies work fabulously to store and separate your sweaters.^{[8]
X
Research source} Clear, stand-alone acrylic cubbies and dresser-top cubbies make it super easy to see what you have, rather than forgetting about your favorite sweaters in a closed drawer.
- There are multiple types of storage cubbies. If clear isn’t your thing, there are opaque plastic containers of all shades as well as cubbies with stackable and pull-out drawers, so no matter what, you’ll find an option that suits your needs.
4
Sweater bags Think packing cubes but chicer. Sweater bags are a great way to store and preserve your sweaters, so you don’t have to worry about pesky moths eating away at your prized cashmere—the ultimate sweater tragedy! Simply fold and stack or use the file method to store your knits in the sweater bags, which can then be placed under beds, in your dresser, on shelves—anywhere you see fit!^{[9]
X
Research source}
- Plastic storage bags don’t allow your sweaters to breathe as well as cotton bags, but plastic storage bags offer more protection from dust and moisture.
5
Under-the-bed storage boxes If you only wear your sweaters seasonally, free up space in your closet by storing your sweaters in an under-the-bed container. Depending on how much room you have beneath your bed, you can use plastic-lidded bins, cardboard boxes, or garment boxes made specifically for easy pull-out storage situations.
- Fabric storage boxes with cardboard inserts allow you to organize by sweater type and let your sweaters breathe.
6
Vacuum-sealed bags If you have a lot of sweaters to store and traditional storage methods aren’t cutting it, the vacuum-sealed bag is the holy grail of storage maximization and is particularly useful for extra chunky knits. Fill your vacuum-sealed bag with sweaters and use your vacuum to suck the air out of your garments, resulting in a compressed palette, easily stacked in dressers, cabinets, you name it!^{[10]
X
Research source}
- Be careful not to overstuff your vacuum-sealed bag. Otherwise, it won’t decompress properly.
- Don’t be afraid to donate what you no longer like. When it comes to organizing, start by taking out the clothing type you’re decluttering as a group so you can get a clear view of what you have.