We’re not the first to take notes from Gwyneth Paltrow’s closet, but this time, it goes beyond its contents. While the lifestyle expert is no stranger to setting standards in the fashion industry, professional organizers say we should also take inspiration from the storage system in her Montecito home.
“I heard you wanted a little tour of my closet, is that true?” Gwyneth asks as she opens the door to the surprisingly spacious space. And yes the rumors are true. We wanted so badly to tour.
There’s, of course, a lot to discuss when it comes to organizing Gwyneth’s closet, most notably the way she hangs long clothes. but, H&G Interior therapist Susan Roynon points out that the closet also has a surprising feng shui feature.
First, Susan notices the floral mural seen behind Gwyneth as she introduces us inside her closet.
‘Blossom is one of those incredibly inspiring themes; In feng shui, it is seen as a representation of abundance due to its countless petals and the promise of a fruitful harvest to come. “The only way to improve the image is to have the branches grow upwards rather than hanging down toward the ground.”
Once inside the main section of the closet, the lessons on organizing clothes begin, starting with the clothes that are often the hardest to master: dresses. “Gwyneth explains that this section is all about her dresses, and it’s clear that this compact space is only a small part of the much larger dressing room space,” says Susan.
“One thing we can all learn from is hanging items of the same type together, so it’s easy to identify a particular dress, skirt, or combo. This is exactly what Gwyneth does, and you’ll notice that all of her shirt dresses are on the same hanging rail while her suits have In a special place where it can be hung at its full length without creasing.’
Susan is an experienced internal therapist and book author Welcome home to how things make or break your relationship – Available on Amazon. She has spent over 25 years in corporate and charity roles, using her ability as a therapist and public speaker to help people understand their relationship with their homes and possessions.
Aside from clothes, Susan says we can also learn from stocking up on Gwyneth’s accessories.
“Also notice the way Gwyneth’s purses are stored neatly and in an accessible manner; in particular, the clutches are neatly laid out in a single row so you can identify exactly the bag you want at a glance.” Additionally, since the dressing room has doors, there is less risk of anything in the space becoming dust, which is definitely something to be aware of in a larger, more open space.”
While we can’t all have a closet as spacious as Gwyneth’s, the foundation of these lessons turns on spaces of all sizes — but no item is quite as accessible as her hangers.
“Gwyneth chose to use wooden hangers, and where hanging space is not an issue, they can be a good option, especially if they are made of moth-repellent cedar,” notes Susan.
These lightweight hangers are strong enough to hang up to 12 pounds of clothing, maximizing space in our closet or freestanding shelves.
However, in especially small bedrooms, we should also consider velvet-covered hangers (such as those on Amazon) which are slimmer and therefore more compact.
Whether we follow Gwyneth’s unexpected Feng Shui lesson or focus more on her storage solutions, there’s much more to this closet than the clothes hanging inside. Although, of course, it never hurts to admire a Birkin bag from time to time.
