While your closet might be perfectly organized with matching hangers and each item sorted by color or season, one of the biggest challenges is behind closed drawers. Dressers can be tricky to organize. The main reason for this is that most of us are always on the go, which can lead to rushing when putting clothes back in our drawers or quickly folding laundry and placing clothes wherever they fit.

So, what's the solution? It’s about creating a system that works for you and is easy to maintain. Once your system is in place and zones are created, commit to maintaining them. Each time you put away your laundry, do a quick tidy-up if needed. Organized drawers bring a sense of peace and calm and make getting dressed so easy that you'll never want your drawers to look messy again. Here’s how to organize your dresser drawers—and keep them that way—for good.

Store T-Shirts the Right Way

Whether you wear them with jeans or shorts, most of us stock our dressers with a fair amount of T-shirts. Organizing by color is recommended so you have what you need in front of you regardless of the occasion, weather, or time constraints. Then, "file fold" them so they are easy to see. With the file fold method, you fold your sleeves into the middle of the shirt, creating a long rectangle. Fold the shirt in half or thirds, depending on the height of your drawer, and line them up like files in a filing cabinet for easy visibility.

Separate Your Socks

It’s best to group socks by type, keeping dress socks away from athletic socks. If these are all in the same drawer, it's helpful to have a drawer divider to keep them separated. If you want to go the extra mile, you could fold these neatly into rows so you see each sock when you open up, but keep in mind that will take more time to maintain.

How to Store Underwear

Underwear can be challenging to store, but that doesn’t mean it is impossible. Keep it simple by separating underwear by type. Some people fold their underwear, but separating them by type is functional enough and doesn't require a lot of time to upkeep.

How to Store Activewear

Activewear is one of the most frustrating things to fold. It’s not recommended to file fold activewear as most tops and bottoms are so flimsy due to the performance fabric material that it simply doesn't work well or hold shape in the drawer. Instead, roll these items and line them up in your drawer in rows, similar to how you would set up file-folded T-shirts. Use drawer dividers to categorize items like tennis outfits, running shorts, and workout tanks. For example, if you have multiple pairs of black leggings, categorize them by use, such as yoga, lounging, weight training, or running.

Edit Quarterly

If your drawers always feel stuffed, it’s a smart idea to edit your wardrobe once a season. If you feel like your drawers are getting too difficult to maintain, it might be that you are trying to fit too many clothes in your drawers. That's when you know it's time to edit. Once a quarter, go through your clothes to see if there's anything you'd like to donate to a local charity.

If You Only Do One Thing

If you are too busy to do a major dresser reorganization project right now, adding some drawer dividers can make a big difference. One of the best organizational products you can purchase to maintain an organized home is drawer dividers. They really do make a huge difference, and if you want to take it to the next level, add subtle labels on the inside lip of your drawer so you know exactly what each section is.