I try to organize by sleeve length and color. However, I must say, it doesn't stay that way for long.

That is the challenge, isn't it? :)

I worked many years in retail in my youth. My permanent closet is 5' wide plus I have a canvas colored garment rack that is 48" wide. I dream of a big closet for all my lovely things. It will never happen in our vintage house.

Each section of my closet is organized by color. In addition they're organized by shortest to longest (sleeve/pant length). Dresses/Skirts/Blazers and thingsthatdontfitrightnow are by color only....light to dark.

I also organize by long/ short sleeve/no sleeve. Then group colors together.

By structure, use, function, colour is nearly moot as I gravitate towards similar colours over and over.

One section for casual shirts (those not washed on a delicate cycle) organized by sleeve length and purpose (shirts I wear around the house or out shopping organized by sleeve length, stuff I wear to the gym organized by sleeve length, and stuff I lounge around the house in the evening in, also organized by sleeve length) and then a whole separate section for dressier blouses (delicate cycle or dry clean) that is sort of organized by sleeve length but more by fabric weight/seasonal use. I’m blessed with a closet that is big enough so I don’t have to swap out for seasons if I’m good about purging regularly.

First, purge clothes worn infrequently. Then, sigh. Closet space and organization is not a problem for me. I don't own that many clothes that I have to organize. All my shirts take up no more than 2 feet of hanging space. Easy to eyeball all the tops. No need to organize by color since I rarely have more than 1 top of each color. One red top, one pink top, etc. The ultimate in organization is having fewer clothes.

A lot depends on the area you live. In Canada we go from very hot to very cold so to limit the wardrobe really is not an option. Sure you can have one winter jacket instead of 3, but I personally get tired of wearing the same thing over and over. Variety is the spice of life.

one closet is sleeveless to sleeves on half and button up on bottom all by color.
my mother closet (which is where my winter coats and jackets go- has sweaters that are hung, and other random colder weather clothes. both closets are like super small.

I sort by sleeve length, type of shirt, and color. For example, long sleeve t-shirts are a group, long sleeve dressier shirts are another.

I sort by color using ROYGBIV, but not by sleeve length.

I sort by color and pattern. I like wearing printed tops but have a lot of solid colors. My summer clothes are stored in boxes in winter and opposite when summer comes.

So far, I've been sorting by sleeve length and it's worked well but I can see how a closet arranged by color would be nicer to look at.

Sleeve length and TYPE. My closet is a sea of black. Cashmere is folded, and the few colors, easy to see. All silk shirts together......easy to see as well.

Winter gets cleaned ans stored free ( paid up front ) at the dry cleaners, summer goes to crates in the late fall, and remains until spring. Easy peasy. If I'm not wearing it, I don't want it HANGING around, unless it is totally seasonless. Bottoms are easy, they're blinding white or they are black, Yeah............you guessed it. One is in, the other is OUT.

Variety is nice, but most have far too much of it. Much like design.......it doesn't take that much variety to look good all the time. Nobody remembers what you had on, two weeks ago. Not even you. A friend and I had a joking laugh about Manhattan.... the streets a literal sea of black. " Ever wonder who wears all the colors in the STORES?? ................tourists?!"

Alas......... this climate goes winter summer, summer winter in a blink. So its darn easy to switch.

Mine:

From casual to dressy

No sleeve to short to long

From light color to dark

And that's just the shirt section!

When I take a piece of clothing, I either leave the hanger in its place OR leave an open space, so after I have worn and washed the item, it goes back right in its place.

I don't have summer/winter clothes I have cardigans for when its cold ..I just hang everything up .life's too short for buggering about in a wardrobe !

I fold everything I can and put in drawers - the drawers are organized by sleeve length - the only thing hanging are dresses and silks

Short sleeves to long sleeves.

In the winter, I push the short sleeves to the back ... in the summer, vice-versa. No color divisions.

My closet has 2 rods. Short sleeves (and lightweight long sleeves) on top, sweatshirts and heavier long-sleeved shirts on the bottom. In both cases, less frequently used in the back (in my case, that's dress clothes).

I have drawers for sweaters, shelves for pants and shoes. For winter, I move shorts to the top shelf, mostly out of reach, and replace them with fleece pullovers, which are to bulky to hang.

No hanging sweaters but after that waht ever works for you

Ummm....just hang 'em up where they will go, long sleeve, short sleeve, 3/4 sleeve, pants, jackets, all colors commingling together. Oh - the horror! But my winter coat, which is used about 3 times a year, is separate....on a hook by the front door.

I'm very organized with almost everything in my home, not because I like to waste time with them and not enjoy life, rather the opposite. When everything is organized you never have to waste time looking/searching for anything. Easier get up and go! :)