Everything you need to know about hangers.
“Shotgun BANG! What’s up with that thang? I wanna know, how does it hang?” Seriously, Salt-N-Pepa was in my head everytime I typed hanger (and I typed it a lot).
Who knew that talking about hangers would be such a hot topic. In all honesty, we all use hangers every single day of our lives but there is very little thought into the types, quantities and structure of the hangers that we choose. Often times we use several different types at once without paying attention to if they’re damaging or protecting our clothing, and if they’re enhancing or cheapening our whole wardrobe aesthetic.
Below, you will find my thoughts as a professional organizer on different types of hangers and the best ones for each space.
Wood Hangers
Unless you have more closet space than clothes, wooden hangers have absolutely no business being in an every day wardrobe. They are bulky and hoard the space before your clothes even have a chance to. Lightweight shirts, button downs, sweaters, and pants, do not require the support of a bulky wood hanger. Reserve wooden hangers for structured pieces like blazers and heavier items like outerwear. Aesthetically, they are beautiful to look at, but the juice ain’t worth the squeeze in an every day closet. Save wooden hangers for your outerwear closet, guest room closet, and open rods in laundry, rooms. These are my fave wooden hangers in black, white, and tan. If you insist on wooden hangers in your primary wardrobe, these slim ones are your best bet.
Pant Hangers
In my opinion, pant hangers are the most under-utilized and underrated hanger out there. They make it so easy to create a uniform vibe in your closet, and reduce slippage, and creases. You can get a variety of colours to complement the main hanger in your space, which will still give you a really streamlined and cohesive aesthetic. Most pant hangers have a rubber coating to ensure pants stay put so you don’t have to constantly adjust them on the hanger or worse, have to steam out the wrinkles when you’d rather be running out the door. Who has time for that anyways? Here are the pant hangers I swear by.
Velvet Hangers
Rubber Hangers
However, there is a slim rubber alternate to velvet worth discussing. These low-profile hangers are excellent for shirts to reduce pulling at the neckline. They take up very little space in your closet, and still provide a beautiful and streamlined aesthetic.
No Shoulder Bump Hangers
Gone are the days where you have to walk around with little sweater pimples on your shoulders. These non-slip no shoulder bump hangers are great if you choose to hang knits and softer blends that have a tendency to take on the shape of your hanger.
HANGERS TO AVOID
As a professional organizer, the following are hangers I try to avoid at all costs:
Belt hangers
Scarf hangers
Multi-bag hangers
Kids hangers (for adult spaces)
Multi-item hangers*
They tend to look bulky and make a space feel congested, and really don’t save that much space to begin with. Too often people skip the step of using matching hangers, not realizing the impact it has on the overall look of your closet. Mismatched hangers create visual clutter the second you open your closet doors. Not inspiring, not calming, and I can ignite stress release in your brain, which is not how you need to start your day.
*If you’re looking to hang coordinating pieces together, using clips like these allows you to keep the cohesive aesthetic of your hangers, while making it easier to locate sets.
When you go shopping, it's always a good practice to consider sustainable choices that reduce waste. One easy step you can take is to avoid taking clothing hangers home with you. By leaving them at the store for recycling, you not only prevent unnecessary clutter in your wardrobe but also contribute to a more environmentally friendly shopping experience. It's worth noting that hangers often come in various shapes, sizes, and materials, so assuming they will match your existing collection might not be the most reliable expectation. By leaving them behind, you allow the store to properly sort and reuse these hangers, ensuring a more efficient and sustainable cycle for these often overlooked items.
Lastly, when deciding how many hangers to buy, make sure to first delcutter and edit your space. Don't buy hangers for clothes you plan to donate, and avoid buying an extra 50 hangers that will tempt you to buy more items. This will only make your space crowded and require you to start over sooner. Instead, keep 10 to 15 hangers for new clothes and regularly clean out your space. It's best to keep half an inch of space between hangers on the rod.
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