Hanger Types You Need For Every Item Of Clothing In Your Closet

You might think a hanger is just a hanger — a tool for easily dealing with the clothes you can't or don't want to fold. Surely it can't be more complicated than that? While there are quirky specialty hangers for hanging everything from bras and belts to swimwear and workout clothes, what we're talking about here isn't gimmicky or complicated. It's about practicality. Most of us will benefit from four different hanger types to suit everything from shirts to pants to delicate items. Using one style of hanger and making sure they all face the same way can go a long way to cutting down the visual clutter in your closet. But keep in mind that your clothes aren't all the same, so your hangers shouldn't be either. 

How do you achieve a streamlined look and have different hangers for different clothing types? It's actually easier than you think. The key is in the hanger neck. So long as that detail is the same (and they're facing the same direction), your closet will still have a cohesive look. So, instead of switching to all wooden hangers from IKEA to create the Instagrammable wardrobe of your dreams, try a simple but more effective approach: choose the right hanger for each item, but keep the overall look consistent.

Clothes hangers have been around since 1903, keeping our garments neat and organized ever since. We've come a long way and seen many iterations of this unassuming invention, but the classic hanger (the original triangular shape we all know so well) remains a firm fixture in today's modern wardrobes. Designed to mimic the natural slope of human shoulders, classic hangers are ideal for shirts, blouses, and lightweight items like linen jackets, as they help garments keep their shape. Just make sure the hanger you choose has rounded shoulders to prevent pointy bits from forming at the top of the shirt sleeves. And check that the hanger's width matches your shoulders. (Yes, hangers actually come in different sizes.)

Regardless of style, you'll find most hangers are available in a variety of materials, including wood, metal, plastic, and more. And they all come with their own price tag. So you might be wondering why it's worth investing in quality hangers instead of the super cheap variety you typically find at big-box outlets. The answer is simple: you spent a lot of money on your clothes, so it's worth hanging them on something that will help maintain them. Quality wood hangers are a great option, and you can find them in a range of premium finishes, but if that doesn't suit your budget, plastic or metal can work too.

Sometimes referred to as felt hangers, these options are not only slim, but they also do an excellent job of keeping clothes from slipping off. However, for some clothing items, they're a little too grippy, which can be frustrating when trying to hang certain fabrics. If you hang wet clothes on them, you also run the risk of dye transfer. And then there's the fluff issue. While the texture may add to their aesthetic, it tends to attract, well, more fluff.

Padded canvas hangers take up more room on the rod, but the extra cushioning helps protect your clothes from shoulder bumps, stretching, and those dreaded hanger marks. They work particularly well for silk blouses, light knits, and anything with a delicate drape. Even though they're bulkier, the trade-off is worth it (and your clothes will probably agree). Plus, they lend a more elevated, boutique-like feel to your space – imagine opening your wardrobe or closet to that every morning. As for where to buy them, Hangerbee's Padded Hangers are perfect for a wedding dress or ball gown. You'll also find decorative options on Etsy if you're after something less mainstream and more you. Finally, Only Hangers' Natural Canvas Padded Hangers are simple, yet stylish.

Shirts and sleeveless tops are fine on classic hangers, but strappy clothes benefit from ones with notches to keep them from slipping off. Typically located about three-quarters of the way down from the hanger neck, those little indents are where you place your garment's shoulder straps to keep the item securely in place. If you've ever hung a camisole on a regular hanger only to have it slide off in the closet, you'll appreciate what notched hangers bring to the table.

And that's not all they're good for. (Although that alone is reason enough to invest in a few.) If you have a two-piece outfit, notched hangers make it easy to store both pieces together. You can also use them to keep scarves and other accessories neat and visible. As with classic hangers, notched hangers come in a variety of materials. Often, they're identical to their classic counterparts, aside from the small dips on the shoulders, which make it easy to maintain a uniform look in your closet.

When it comes to bottoms like pants and skirts, clip hangers are your best bet. They let you hang garments by the waistband rather than folding them over a trouser bar, which can lead to unwanted creases. One potential downside is that the clips may leave marks on softer fabrics. A handy pro tip is to clip two items on one hanger, but from the inside. If you're trying to maximize storage space in a small apartment, this hack can be a game-changer. 

Amazon has a huge selection of hangers, with a broad price range and the convenience of shopping in one spot. They carry chrome and black clip hangers with rubber padding (great for avoiding marks), as well as wood and colorful options if you want to add a little flair. IKEA's BUMERANG Skirt Hangers (also great for pants) are another solid choice if you're going for that clean wood look without the premium price tag. As for your old hangers, there are plenty of genius ways to repurpose them in the garden if you don't want to toss them in the trash.