If your wardrobe is bursting at the seams and you can’t seem to locate your favorite white blouse – it might be time to declutter the clothes in your closet. Finding the motivation to declutter your closet isn’t always easy, though. The thought alone sounds overwhelming, and to add, it can be a pretty emotional process too.
Declutter your clothes for more head space (and closet space!)
As hard as it is to get started, decluttering the clothes in your closet can be a spiritual and much needed project. We tend to hold on to thoughts and emotions through material things (like our clothes), so by decluttering your wardrobe, you free your mind (and a bit of extra space in your closet, too!).
But downsizing your wardrobe doesn’t have to be as strenuous as it sounds. Here are 5 simple steps to declutter the clothes in your closet.
Step 1: Sort your items
Start by taking all of the items out of your closet and dresser. Then, start sorting.
Group together all similar items and start creating piles of your clothes. Here are a few categories for sorting to get you started:
- Sweaters
- Blouses
- Jeans
- Skirts
- Shorts
- Purses
- Jackets
- Dresses
- Tops
Step 2: Declutter your clothes
Once you’ve sorted all the clothes in your closet, your next step is the exciting one: time to declutter.
When decluttering, you want to create a few new piles:
- What you’re going to keep
- Clothes you’re going to donate
- What you need to throw out (old, ratty clothes that can’t be reworn)
Decluttering can be emotional, and determining what you should keep and get rid of can be tough. Here’s how to decide what clothes to keep. Ask yourself the following questions everytime you pick up an item:
- When was the last time I wore this item?
- Could I really see myself picking out this item to wear in the future?
- Do I love this item?
- Do I feel good wearing this item?
A general rule of thumb for sentimental items: keep at most 1-3 pieces of sentimental clothing. The key is to detach, so take a photo if you need it for memory’s sake.
Put the clothes you’ve decided not to keep in either the donation or throwaway pile.
Step 3: Clean your closet
Next, clean your closet from top to bottom.
Dust off the shelves, vacuum the floors, remove any dust bunnies lingering in the corners. Disinfect any areas that are frequently touched (like door handles and hangers), and you’re ready to start the next step.
Step 4: Organize the clothes you’re keeping
Now that you’re starting fresh with a blank canvas, properly organizing your clothes is an important step. Well-executed organization today will help you maintain a clean closet (and make it way easier to find things you’re looking for) in the future.
There are a few ways to organize the clothes hanging in your closet. Choose the method that works best for you and your usual styling habits.
- Color: hang clothes up in groups of the same color to easily spot an article when you’re looking for something to match
- Size: hang clothes by their size, from smallest to large to help with the overall shape of your closet
- Type: hang clothes up by their category. All shirts are together, all jeans are together, all skirts are together.
Pro tip: Upgrade your hangers so that they all match. Uniform hangers make a closet look more organized immediately. If you’re wondering what type of hangers to get, velvet is the way to go. Velvet hangers secure your clothes in place so they don’t slip off and end up in a pile on the closet floor.
As you start organizing your closet, make sure that it’s functional and that every item has a spot. You need to easily be able to grab things out of your closet without a jumble of clothes falling on your head.
Optimize your dresser space so that you’re folding any items that don’t need to be hung up. Designate areas for each article of clothing, so you know where everything belongs when it comes time to put clothes back after laundry day.
Step 5: Maintain your new clutter free closet!
Congratulations! You’ve decluttered your closet and are likely feeling on top of the world.
The last and final step, is to make sure that you maintain your newly decluttered closet. Follow principles like the “one in, one out” rule (everytime you get something new, something old has to go).
This will help you keep your wardrobe to a minimum, and you can avoid the major decluttering process you just endured.
Declutter your closet, declutter your life
Decluttering our closets is a great start to decluttering many of the things we have in our homes. Holding onto items over a long period of time adds up fast, so be sure to declutter your entire home on the regular.
Clear space, clear mind.
Read more: 5 Simple Tips for the Most Organized Kitchen Ever
