Kim Craig, 26, admits that her closet, with its mateless shoes and skirtless suit jackets, was the source of her chronic tardiness. “I’m a single mom, but you’d think three people had their clothes in there,” say the public relations account executive. Small handbags and silkly sleeveless tops fallen from their hangers would disappear into a black hole of broken stilettos and shopping bags, never to be seen again.

That is, until Real Simple came up with solutions that saved Kim’s closet.

Step 1: Instant Shelving

Since most of us use our light wool and cotton sweaters year-round, keep them neatly folded on hanging canvas shelves — a much cheaper solution than hiring a carpenter to build custom shelves.

Step 2: Shoe In

Traded in your overburdened shoe rack for plastic boxes. They’re shorter and trimmer than standard shoe boxes, so they stack compactly on the shelf. And because they’re clear, you can find what you need without tripping on your own heels.

Step 3: Fold Everything

Limited drawer space forces people to hang clothes they otherwise wouldn’t — including heavy winter sweaters, which easily get stretched beyond recognition. Instead, organize and protect them in large canvas boxes readily available at most home stores.

Step 4: Hang It All

Use padded hangers for delicate sleeveless tops and plastic ones (with attachable clips for pants and skirts) for everything else.

Step 5: Clear and Present

Instead of rifling though an old oak bureau to find socks, underwear, and belts, try clear plastic drawers. A stack of five is low enough to hang tops above, but one with 15 3/4-by-19 3/4-by-8 1/8-inch drawers hold even more folded clothes than a bureau can.

For more ways to get your house in order, see the Fall Organizing Guide.