Own a closet full of clothes but got nothing to wear? It's about time you give your wardrobe a spring-clean. Set aside one weekend, and follow these advices from wardrobe consultants to organize and put together a wardrobe that screams effortlessly effective.

1. Separate your clothing according to usage

Your wardrobe may be bulging with loads of clothes and accessories, but how many of these are you actually wearing on a regular basis? "There is nothing more distracting than a closet full of clothes that are never worn," says Lorraine Russo, fashion consultant and author of How To Make The Most Of Your Wardrobe, and they should be tossed out to clear the space.

The key is to pare down your wardrobe to the pieces that really work for you -- keep only the stuff you regularly use within easy view (and of course, reach). Otherwise, they'll be hidden under the piles and you will soon forget that you have them in the first place.

Start by sorting all your clothing into three piles:

1. Items you regularly wear and which you feel comfortable in. (to keep)
2. Unworn garments that you have a sentimental attachment to. (to store)
3. Clothes that need mending, don't fit, make you look fat or, for some other reason, haven't been worn for more than a year. (to alter or toss)

2. Hang your clothes by categories

Arrange your regularly used items in the front of your wardrobe so that they are easily accessible. Sort them in order and categorize them. "For instance, hang all suits, pants, skirts, and tops in their own areas of the closet," suggests Mary Lou Andre, wardrobe consultant and author of Ready To Wear. Your wardrobe order may go something like this:

• Tops from tube tops to sleeveless to short sleeves to long sleeves.
• Jackets from casual to work to dressy.
• Pants from short to long.
• Skirts from short to mid-length to long.
• Dresses from casual to cocktail to gowns.
• Suits, hanged together as opposed to breaking them up -- not only will you save room, you'll also get a better idea of how many "outfits" you have (as opposed to "separates"), according to Andre. And you can always mix and match them later.

3. Storing clothes that shouldn't be hung

For space efficiency and fabric care reasons, some clothes are best stored away folded.

• Foldable clothes. Keep foldable clothes like T-shirts, jeans and knits in shelves. As well as saving wardrobe space, folding -- instead of hanging -- delicate fabrics such as knits will keep them from stretching out of shape on the hanger. And remember, keep the pile minimal -- large piles tend to collapse very easily. If shelf space is a problem, you can easily get additional mini drawers and stackable boxes from DIY stores at affordable prices.
• Sentimental pieces. For those precious or expensive items that you rarely wear but want to keep, fold them away in drawers with chemical desiccants such as calcium chloride to absorb moisture and prevent mold and mildew. Take care not to let the desiccant touch the garments.

4. Deciding which to toss out

From the pile of 'unwearable' clothes, you can judge whether to keep or to throw:

• Simple mending. You know what to do with clothes that have fallen hems or missing buttons. Spend some time sewing them back and you'll have pieces that look as good as new.
• Ill-fitting clothes. Clothes that no longer fit, or never have. Bargain pieces that aren't flattering at all. Pants that can't zip shut unless you lose some weight. Send anything that needs alterations to a tailor. "If it's too small, be honest about whether or not it's ever going to fit," says Russo. If they're not worth altering, just toss them or give them away to your friends or family members.
• Outdated clothes. If you find the style dated, it probably is. Or it's just not you anymore. Give it away.

5. Extra storage ideas for your accessories

Now that you've successfully sorted out your 'keepers', here are more tips on how to organize your accessories.

• Belts. Get a men's tie rack and hang your belts on it.
• Handbags. Stuff the bags with smaller bags or crushed magazine pages (save trees -- don't use brand new paper for this) to retain their shape. Store them in a big see-through plastic zipper bag so that the dust won't get on them.
• Hats. Install hooks on the inside of closet doors to hang your hats.
• Scarves, stockings, and other accessories. Keep each category in a clear plastic stackable box, so you can see the items from the outside.
• Shoes. Store your shoes in a shoe organizer. Or keep them in their original shoe box, to store them in neat stacks. Write a description of the shoes with a marker pen on each box so you can easily find the right pair without needing to rummage for it.