The smartest storage lessons never expire – a truth Martha Stewart reminds us of time and time again.
While we are firmly in the midst of a sun-drenched Martha Stewart summer, the celebrity style desk is equally obsessed with her archival clips. We recently畅unearthed an early 2000s gem packed with timeless home care advice that rings incredibly true for a 2026 wardrobe refresh.
In the clip, Martha dives into her top closet storage ideas alongside Kevin Sharkey, the Executive Vice President and Executive Director of Design for the Martha Stewart brand. It provides the perfect inspiration for swapping out heavy winter layers for breezy summer attire.
'Kevin's must-haves will make any closet more manageable,' Martha says, before introducing a seasonal game-changer everyone needs. Whether you are rotating heavy coats into storage or organizing your favorite summer dresses, a collapsible clothes rack (like this one on Amazon) is essential.
An (almost) identical match to the rack loved by Martha and Kevin. This foldable rack is so smart and multifunctional, serving as extra closet space, a place for guests' coats, and space to hang wet clothes. It's clever, collapsible design folds in half for compact storage when it's not needed.
'We start here with the collapsible coat hanger that I got at the Container Store, which everybody should have. I lived off these for a couple of years,' Kevin says.
'I live off of these,' Martha responds.
'They're great. It folds up so I can put it in the closet, which is really convenient. If we have a party or something similar, and I don't want to throw coats on the bed, I can use it instead. It's a great option for drying things on,' Kevin adds. It also doubles as an ideal station for air-drying delicate linens under the summer sun.
To this, Martha agrees: 'Everybody should have one of these somewhere in their home.'
'[The rack] is useful, and then you can put things across the bottom like bins, which is what I did with the bins,' Kevin adds, offering a clever tip for stowing away seasonal footwear like sandals or winter boots.
Next, the duo addresses which clothes you should always hang up and the specific hangers needed to keep your clothes pristine through every seasonal transition.
'No matter what kind of closet you have, having the right hanger for the right piece of clothing is really important,' Kevin explains, showcasing an angled suit hanger, like these on Amazon.
'It’s angled to hold a suit or a shirt, but it's for a suit. This has a [rod] over it, and I put my jeans over that one, so I don’t really use it for suits,' he says.
'Then here we have another suit hanger that's angled, and it has this bar, which is really good. It's a locking bar, so when you put the pants in it, it locks in so they don't slip out,' Kevin explains.
We love this locking bar feature – it ensures your sharpest summer suits or trousers won't slip, crease, or end up on the closet floor before your next seasonal event.
Shop Closet Organization Essentials
These hangers are made from strong, solid wood and feature natural wood grain that makes each one look unique. They're sturdy enough to hold heavier clothing like suits and shirts for a long time, and the stylish design also makes your closet look chicer.
Expensive suits need proper hangers to maintain their shape and appearance, and these premium wooden hangers are designed for that purpose. They include the locking bar that Kevin talks about in his video with Martha, making them a classic and reliable way to store clothing.
Crafted from upgraded premium-grade natural wood, these hangers are built to securely support even heavy coats and suits, with a weight capacity of up to 18 lbs. The 360° swivel hooks make it easy to organize your wardrobe, the Martha way.
These collapsible storage cubes are a stylish way to keep smaller items neatly organized and clutter out of sight. I love the way they look lined up along the top shelf. They're perfect for storing accessories while adding a clean, polished feel to your closet.
I haven't found a more attractive way to tame everyday clutter. These storage pieces offer a smart solution for keeping things organized. And with Martha's trusted name behind them, you can count on lasting quality and timeless style.
Crafted from crystal-clear, thick acrylic, this organizer features a stackable design with four separate compartments that keep items neatly upright, helping them maintain their shape while keeping everything easily accessible.
Over a decade later, Martha and Kevin's organizational wisdom remains unmatched. Plus, at under $32, there is no risk in following this space-saving closet technique. It's stood the test of time for a reason.
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