I Tried the “Closet Swap” Method and It Doubled My Wardrobe Space (for Free!)

If you’ve ever lived in a dorm, you know the pain of trying to cram your entire life into such a tiny room. Between textbooks, snacks, knickknacks, and accessories, storage space is limited, and my closet is no exception. I often struggle to close my closet door as I rush out for class. Sometimes, my closet is so full it pops open in the middle of the night, waking me up in a small panic. Fun!

I go to college in Burlington, Vermont, and as this winter approached and my clothes got bulkier, I knew I needed to get creative. Enter the “closet swap” method: a simple, budget-friendly way to maximize closet space. All you have to do is pack clothing away when it’s off-season! I decided to give this method a try, and here’s how it went.

The “closet swap” method involves switching out your wardrobe to match the current season. The idea is to store out-of-season clothes elsewhere to maximize space in your closet for your in-season clothing. This technique not only saves space but also makes it easier to find the clothing you actually want to wear — a useful time-saver when you’re running late for your next lecture.

For example, this winter, I packed away my bathing suits, sundresses, tank tops, jean shorts, and sandals. This left me with more room in my closet for my chunky sweatshirts, jackets, scarves, and boots! Storage solutions for off-season clothes can vary based on what is available to you, but include:

• Under-bed storage bins or vacuum-sealed bags
• Taking clothes home during breaks if you live within driving distance of your college
• An off-campus storage unit split with a friend
• Campus storage lockers if they’re available

Because I drive home for breaks, I took a lot of my summer clothes home and swapped them for more winter options. I also packed a small bin with my favorite warm weather options to store under my dorm bed — just in case!

I started by confronting my overstuffed closet. Boots and flip-flops laid jumbled together, creating a disastrous shoe pile beneath my hanging clothes. All of my cute little dresses were tangled in with my bulky hoodies, making it impossible to see all my options.

My first step was to sort my wardrobe into two piles: “keep” and “store.” This was simple enough — the winter weather in Vermont made it easy for me to opt to store anything without sleeves. Once I had my “store” pile, I chose my favorite pieces from it to stash away in a suitcase under my bed, and the rest of the clothes went straight home to Rhode Island when I left for winter break!

For the first time, I could see every winter item I owned, and my closet doors closed with ease. I even rediscovered some of my favorite but forgotten winter pieces, like my vintage patterned Patagonia fleece, which will definitely come in handy when I hit the slopes with my friends. 

I expected to love having a neater room and a closet door that actually closes, but doing this closet swap had some unexpected benefits, too. For one, since I have fewer options staring back at me, getting dressed has become way less of an ordeal, saving me at least a few minutes of precious time each morning. Similarly, I’ve noticed that I’m more likely to wear all the pieces I own, since I’m not so overwhelmed by clutter. It’s helped me appreciate my wardrobe even more, and I’ve felt less tempted to shop for new clothing.

In the end, the “closet swap” method exceeded my expectations. It was admittedly a tiring process, but worth every second. Not only did it free up space in my tiny dorm closet, but it has made my daily routine simpler and more enjoyable. When the next season rolls around, I’ll be ready to do it all over again, saving time and money and cherishing my wardrobe at the same time.