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Keep your clothes in perfect condition for next year

Hooray, after the disappointing weather the last few weeks, it seems things are finally on the turn and we are going to get a proper summer after all. So, touch wood, that means we can finally start digging out our little skirts and floaty tops from the back of the wardrobe – and put away our wintery woolies for another eight months. After all, there's no point in losing precious wardrobe real estate on clothes you know you're not going to be using for ages – you're never going to reach for your heavy faux-fur coat in July.

But if you're worried about keeping your beloved cashmere sweater dirt and dust (and moth hole) free until next season, don't worry – there are plenty of other ways to keep your clothes fresh and clean throughout their hibernation, so they'll be good as new once it's time to wrap up warm again. Just remember to put them away freshly laundered and ironed to keep them in tip top condition.

Here are some of our favourite clothes storage ideas so you can leave your wardrobe free for your new summer dress collection.

Stacks of wintery clothes, like piles of thick, woolly jumpers, can take up a lot of space. A vacuum bag will help shrink them down so they're more manageable to store. These are reusable and can be repurposed too – I always use one when I'm going on holiday to ensure I can squeeze in as many just-in-case outfits into my case as possible.

Be warned that clothes do tend to be a little wrinkly when you take them out of the bags – but all in all, the space they save makes it worth it. Once you've sucked the air out of the packages (and marvelled at how much smaller the piles of clothes look) pack them neatly away into a storage box or bag and pop it under your bed or at the top of your wardrobe.

Clothes storage bags will keep everything neat and tidy while protecting your clothes from dust (especially useful if you're keeping them in the attic) and any dreaded moth attacks. If you're short on built-in cupboard space, opt for more brightly coloured options to tuck on top of the wardrobe to turn your storage into an attractive feature that's worthy of display.

The space under your bed is the perfect place to keep your high-tog duvet and cold weather outfits safe while they're unneeded. Some under-bed boxes come with segmented compartments, which is handy in case you do need to dig something out without destroying your diligently folded piles. Others have clear panels, so you can check what's in each case at a glance.

So many homes lack appropriate storage, so it's worth investing in something that looks good to remedy this. A blanket box or trunk can be kept at the end of your bed and used to house those items that you don't need to hand at the moment. Smaller trunks or boxes can also double up as a side table, should you need your furniture to work harder or you're short on space.

If you are stashing winter coats in a wardrobe or on a clothes rail, ensure they stay fresh for next year by keeping them under a cover. Again, a moth deterrent spray or some cedar rings will help keep your beloved garments free of those telltale little holes, so you can enjoy them for longer.

If you don't have the space to pack everything into your bedroom, this Ikea pop-up wardrobe would make a good addition to your loft – and it's a bargain at just £10. It zips up to keep everything inside dry and dust-free and, as it's waterproof, you can take it with you on your next camping trip too.

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