Why You Should Declutter Your Closet
Every single morning you have one important decision to make. What you’re going to wear. But if you have a closet that’s cluttered or overflowing that decision just got a lot harder. If that’s you then it’s time to Declutter Your Closet. So let’s take a look at how we can truly transform not only your space but your mindset: the two go hand in hand. Today, I’m going to share a few of my tried and true tricks for successful decluttering!
It’s that time of year when we make the slow transition from summer to fall with our wardrobes. I know, there’s still a lot of summer left until the calendar officially switches gears on September 21st. But, I’m always a little ahead of the game when it comes to my wardrobe and more importantly, my closet that houses my clothes. And it’s a great time of year to clean and organize my closet. Actually, I do decluttering twice a year - spring and fall. So today, I’ll walk you through some fun and effective tips to declutter your wardrobe and reclaim your style!
TL;DR
Beth shares Why You Should Declutter Your Closet
Look for tried and true tips and tricks for a successful closet decluttering
Plus, find Beth's favorite closet organization items
Why You Should Declutter Your Closet
Why You Should Declutter Your Closet
First things first, let’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 that’s just because your brain gets overwhelmed with too many choices. It doesn’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 that’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 person’s ability to focus, while making one less productive.
Decluttering my closet in my San Francisco days.
Years ago, from 1999 to 2008 I lived overseas. First on an Island in the South Pacific then in Saigon and let me tell you I did not have a lot of choices when it came to shopping. Whether that was grocery shopping or clothes shopping. And that wasn’t a bad thing for an American to experience with Consumerism with a capital C in my mindset. Those years taught me to be creative and resourceful. Those are the years I learned to shop wisely and create a curated closet. But I have to share that when I would come back to the States on summer vacation and venture into Target or the grocery store for the first time my mind went on overload when I stared at the shelves loaded with choices. I always called that reverse culture shock. And it was overwhelming to shift my brain back to overload.
But we don’t want that to happen when you open your closet and are greeted with cluttered chaos. We want to get to a peaceful state. And that means decluttering which is a skill that we can learn. When we simplify our choices, we create mental space for clarity and creativity. Plus, we get to showcase pieces we love, need and use! Because we have to get ready each and every day just like we have to take a shower or brush our teeth. So we might as well make that task easy and FUN!
How to Declutter Your Closet
Okay, so let’s get into the nitty-gritty! Here’s how to start your wardrobe decluttering process.
1. Set the Mood
We want to make this as fun as possible so play your favorite music or listen to a podcast. I’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 we’ve read. It’s fun and informative and before you know it an hour has gone by and you’ve made progress on your closet declutter. I hope you stop by and check us out.
2. 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.
3. Take Everything Out
Remove every piece of clothing from your wardrobe. 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. There’s nothing better than a spic and span closet.
How to Sort:
Now that everything is out, let’s sort it into categories, I have three:
1. Keep
These are the pieces you love and wear regularly
2. Donate or Sell
Items in good shape that you no longer wear but could benefit someone else.
3. Trash
Worn-out clothing that can’t be repaired or donated.
Closet Declutter Rules
Yes, there are rules when it comes to decluttering your closet. Or there should be because it will make your decision process easier:
1. The One-Year Rule.
This is the one I like best and use. It’s pretty straightforward if not a bit ruthless. If you haven’t worn it in the past year, it's time to let it go!
2. It Doesn’t Fit.
Pretty simple, right?! But don’t fool yourself into thinking you’ll lose ten pounds and “then” it’ll fit. Just remind yourself that you don’t have to change your body to fit your clothes.
3. The What-If Test.
If you find yourself saying 'what if I need this?, ask yourself if it’s worth the space it’s taking up.
Include clothes with tags still attached in your wardrobe declutter. I know there is always an exception but there is a reason you haven’t worn the items that still have tags on. Bye. Bye. Bye.
4. The Hanger Method.
This is an easy system to put into place after you’ve decluttered your closet. When it’s time to hang the items you’re keeping back in your closet just flip the hanger in reverse. Then when you wear that item and it’s time to put it back into your closet you’ll flip the hanger around to the right side. The next time you clean your closet (you should be doing this twice a year) you’ll instantly see the items you wear and the items you don’t.
5. You Don't Have to Totally Let Go.
I get it. Some items are just harder to part with than others and we think we’ll live with remorse and regret if we let go of it. If you’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 we’ve all experienced regrets when we’ve ditched an item prematurely. So this rule takes the sting out of it.
How to Organize Your Decluttered Closet
Now that you’ve sorted your wardrobe, let’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 from Target Closet Organization, or Lowes Closet Organization, and The Container Store Closet Organization has a wide variety of systems that you can add to over time.
Here are a few tips:
Use Uniform Hangers.
I like velvet hangers for blouses and dresses, wood hangers for blazers and jackets, skirt hangers with clips that can be stacked. Pants hangers so I can fold my pants and keep them in the closet and padded hangers that are perfect for delicate items. But having uniform hangers creates a cohesive look.
Categorize by Type and Color.
Light rinse denim, white denim, pink sweaters, blue blouses, etc.
When we arrange similar items together it creates easy access. This will help you find that white blouse or your black pants in seconds.
I fold my jeans and my sweaters and tees and stack them on my closet shelf. It helps to have an acrylic divider that keeps the stacks of clothes in place.
Invest in Boxes or Baskets.
These can help keep smaller items like accessories, belts, or shoes tidy. I can’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 what’s inside. I love wicker or rattan baskets for my closet storage and plastic boxes to store out-of-season items.
You can take it one step further and invest in a sunglass storage box. Necklace and bracelet stand, jewelry drawer organizer, bamboo drawer dividers. You can get as crazy as you want when it comes to organizing your closet.
How to Maintain your Decluttered Closet
Incorporating decluttering into your routine is key. Try to do a seasonal review where you reassess your wardrobe. This way, the clutter won’t build up! As I mentioned 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, you’ll have not only more closet space but more mind space too.
In Case You Missed It
Yesterday, Beth shared how to elevate your casual outfit with a little something extra. Click the title or image below to read the article.
Ollie is the bomb! How much fur does he contribute to your closet? My daughter’s dog is very generous with sharing her fur when she comes to visit, but at least she doesn’t park herself in my closet — LOL
I love my pets but boy do they create a lot of mess! Both Oscar and Ollie’s pet hair requires daily vacuuming. What would I do without my Dyson?
Love your closet I am always thinking about it.
But don’t like at all the back ground paper
Like everything but the back ground.
It’s bold and busy but a whole lot of fun! And it’s a cheerful space to work in.
Thanks for stopping by!
I envy your closet. I wish I had a room I could make into my closet. As it stands I have a regular ole closet that’s not very big. I’ve kind of made a section of our basement into another closet, which has an actual small closet and a hallway. Have loads of bins, carts and hanging racks to stay organized. It’s not ideal, but it’s what I have to work with. Most of my out of season clothes are stored there. In season is stored in the small closet in the master bedroom. I don’t clean out as often as you suggest, but do go through things as I change out seasons. You’ve offered some great tips here and I appreciate the post!
It can be a challenge to start a wardrobe declutter, but once you get going and see results you’ll pat yourself on the back!
Love your closet and your tips, Beth! Huge fan of the happy floral walls 🙂
Best thing we did when building our home 24 years ago was put in separate closets. Mine is ample (at least to me)… And I appreciate it daily!
Having lost 25 pounds in the past year (from size 8P to 2P), I am in the middle of decluttering my closet (due to clothing that no longer fits) so your post is VERY timely. It’s a big task but feels good. Makes me sad to say goodbye to some pieces I love but I am not holding on to fit into them again. Whether people are losing or gaining a good percentage of weight, it feels suffocating to keep items that no longer fit.
You’ve got this, Carolina Girl! It is a big task to declutter your closet but it sounds as if you’ve put in a lot of work to lose weight and now it’s time to build anew.
Love that you have his and hers closets. Sometimes it good to keep the “worlds” separate!
Absolutely (wink)!
Thank you for your support, Beth! (I have worked hard…)