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Wardrobe Detox: Tips for Decluttering Your Closet in 2025

As we usher in 2025, itโ€™s the perfect opportunity to refresh not only our minds but also our wardrobes. A wardrobe detox can bring clarity, reduce stress when getting dressed, and allow us to truly appreciate the pieces we love. Here are some simple yet effective tips for decluttering your closet this year!

First things first, letโ€™s talk about why decluttering is essential. Not only will you be decluttering your closet but you will be decluttering your mind. When you walk into your closet or open your closet doors and are met with a cluttered wardrobe that can lead to decision fatigue and stress. And thatโ€™s just because your brain gets overwhelmed with too many choices. It doesnโ€™t know what to pay attention to and what to ignore. The result is that your baseline level is always stressed but you might not even know it anymore because thatโ€™s what you see every time you get ready for the day. Research conducted in the United States using fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) showed that clutter can increase anxiety levels, cause insomnia, and affect a personโ€™s ability to focus, while making one less productive.

How to Start Your Wardrobe Detox

Set Clear Goals

Before diving into your closet, take a moment to set specific goals. Ask yourself what you want to achieve through your detox. Are you looking to create a capsule wardrobe, shift to more versatile pieces, or make space for new items? Knowing your intentions will guide your decision-making process.

Set the Mood

We want to make this as fun as possible so play your favorite music or listen to a podcast. Iโ€™ll shamelessly plug my new podcast Message from Mom that I co-host with two of my DILs. We talk about a wide variety of topics that relate to women from Age Appropriate Style to books weโ€™ve read. Itโ€™s fun and informative and before you know it an hour has gone by and youโ€™ve made progress on your closet declutter. I hope you stop by and check us out.

Clear a Space

Lay out a large area, like your bed or the floor, so you have plenty of room to sort through your clothes. If you want to go one step further I highly recommend purchasing a rolling garment rack. It will make your life so much easier as you just transfer all the hanging clothes to the rack so you can visually see each piece of clothing. Then transferring everything back to your closet is a very smooth process.

Take Everything Out

Remove every piece of clothing from your wardrobe. If space is an issue, go section-by-section. This will give you a complete overview of what you have. It will also give you an opportunity to wipe down closet shelves and vacuum. Thereโ€™s nothing better than a spic-and-span closet.

Create Categories

Organizing your closet into categories can make the decluttering process more manageable. Sort items by typeโ€”such as tops, bottoms, dresses, and outerwearโ€”and further categorize within those groups by color or occasion. This structured approach helps you see what you have and what you might be missing.

The One-Year Rule

If you havenโ€™t worn an item in the past year, itโ€™s time to consider letting it go. This rule helps eliminate pieces that are simply taking up valuable space without being utilized. If youโ€™re sentimentally attached or unsure, try setting it aside for a few weeks. If you donโ€™t miss it, itโ€™s likely time to part ways.

Assess Each Piece

As you sift through your clothing, evaluate each piece with a critical eye. Consider the following questions:

– Do I love this item?

– Does it fit well and make me feel confident?

– Is it versatile enough to wear on multiple occasions?

If you answer ‘no’ to any of these, it may be best to move it out of your closet.

Sort your Clothing

Sort your clothing into three categories:

Keep: These are the pieces you love and wear regularly

Donate: Create a designated donation box for items you decide to part with. Consider charities or organizations that align with your values and can benefit from your gently used clothing. Not only does this make decluttering easier, but it also feels rewarding to know youโ€™re making a positive impact.

Toss: Worn-out clothing that canโ€™t be repaired or donated.

You Don’t have to Totally Let Go…

I get it. Some items are just harder to part with than others and we think weโ€™ll live with remorse and regret if we let go of it. If youโ€™re really having a hard time deciding whether to keep an item or not keep it just place it in a box and store it in the basement or underneath your bed or wherever it will be out of sight. That way, if you do kick yourself for getting rid of it you can retrieve it from storage. 

The more ruthless you are with culling your closet the better because we all have clothes that no longer serve a purpose. Honesty is the best policy especially if your closet is out of control. But weโ€™ve all experienced regrets when weโ€™ve ditched an item prematurely. So this rule takes the sting out of it.

Wardrobe Detox: Make Use of Storage Solutions

Now that youโ€™ve sorted your wardrobe, letโ€™s talk about organizing it! This is the fun part. If your closet is in need of a facelift, consider a closet shelving and design system. You have a number of options, I like the configurations fromย Target Closet Organization orย Lowes Closet Organization, andย The Container Store Closet Organizationย has a wide variety of systems that you can add to over time.ย Several years ago, I worked with Inspired Closets of Athens and Lake Oconee to transform my spare bedroom into a custom closet. The result was life-changing!

Less than a facelift, but no less important, are the space-saving storage solutions that work with your existing space. Invest in slim hangers, drawer organizers, and under-bed storage to keep your wardrobe tidy. Clear shoe boxes are stackable and can make transitioning your closet with the seasons a cinch! A well-organized closet not only looks appealing, but it’s easier to find what you need.

Shop Space-Saving Options

These can help keep smaller items like accessories, belts, or shoes tidy. I canโ€™t tell you how investing in boxes or baskets will streamline your closet. You can take the extra step and label the boxes and baskets so you know exactly whatโ€™s inside. I love wicker or rattan baskets for my closet storage and plastic boxes to store out-of-season items.

Shop Elegant Organization Options

  1. Jewelry Tower 2. Glass Lid Jewelry Organizer 3. Velvet Bracelet Holder 4. Handbag Display Stand 5. Sunglass Drawer Storage  6. Clutch Handbag Stand

Create a beautiful and functional space with clever organization solutions for your jewelry, sunglasses, and handbags.

Schedule Regular Wardrobe Detox Sessions

A successful wardrobe detox isnโ€™t just a one-time event. Schedule regular sessions every few months to keep your closet in check. This ongoing practice will help you maintain an organized space and allow you to stay updated on your personal style.

Closing Thoughts

Incorporating a wardrobe detox into your routine is key. Try to do a seasonal review where you reassess your wardrobe. This way, the clutter wonโ€™t build up! I incorporate a twice-yearly closet cleanse that keeps my closet organized and in tip-top condition. Remember, you should always keep in mind that an organized closet will make getting dressed in the morning that much easier. With a decluttered closet, youโ€™ll have not only more closet space but more mind space too.

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  1. Barbara

    If I had followed guidance to regularly discard garments that were no longer fashionable, but that still fit, either because the pant legs were too wide or the coats were too long or the shape of the sweaters I had gone out of style, I would not have been able to dress as well as I do. Only clothing that are in sizes I know I will never wear again or styles I dislike, go out the door.

    A good tailor can assist with pant or skirt lengths. And I recently pulled out from the back of my closet a long wool coat that only needed shortening by about 6 inches and a few pairs of wider legged pants that were so well made in the past that I could never have afforded to replace the same quality today assuming I could find it given the state of clothing manufacturing today.

    My tailor marvels at them. I carefully store well-made items that still fit and are simply cut differently than what’s currently fashionable. I know in another year or two, given how quickly fashion changes, I know they will be relevant again. In fact, Beth, I use you and other fashion influencers as a guide for how two reuse what’s already in my closet.

    If you have the space, it’s definitely worth buying a few under bed rolling storage containers and cedar blocks to carefully store out of date, fashion styles you love that fit. Chances are you’ll be delighted to find them in thefuture. If not. . . donate or consign.

  2. Rhonda

    I’ve always admired your closet. Mine is what you’ve called “out of control,” as everything since September with no place to call home has been dumped in my closet. (To be fair to myself, we’ve had hurricane repairs and the entire house has been semi-dismantled.). So clothes have gotten tossed, rather than put away properly, along with shoes and purses. It’s a mess. Tackling it is on the to do list for this week. One thing that I would never do again–we built this house, and my husband and I share a fairly large closet. It would have been so much better to have made two smaller closets, so we each had our own space. My daughters agree! Ok… I’ll keep your suggestions in mind! Wish me luck!! Lol!!

  3. Lisa Hays

    I love your closet! I have something similar I think; before my husband became ill with lung cancer, he converted a bedroom into our closet/dressing area. This is MY year to “girlie it up”! Love the wallpaper and the ottoman especially in yours.

  4. Carolina Girl

    This is such a useful post! I try to do this twice a year also…and really watch what I bring in / versus what exits my closet. All great comments from other SACA friends! Rhonda, I have a separate closet from my husband and it’s one of the smartest attributes of our home.

    How about a post about “Defining a Capsule Wardrobe”? What is it and if one is creating this, what happens with existing items?

  5. Shaun Smith

    Hi Beth,
    Your closet is gorgeous. Curious to know if you keep your leather handbags out on shelves all the time? If you do, do you find that they become dusty. I keep mine in dust bags, which are not as pretty to display.
    Shaun

Navy Coat winter outfit

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