The goal for organizing your closet (or any space, really) is creating a system that saves you time and requires minimal effort to maintain. Ready for change, but not sure where to begin? Follow these steps to get your closet setup to serve you.
First, do laundry.
Fundamentals of Organizing 101…you need to see EVERYTHING you own before you can decide what you want to keep. Having things clean and in your bedroom is the best way to start this process.
(Bonus: then anything you decide to donate or sell will be ready for a new home.)
Once your clothing is laundered and rounded up, sort it out. Remember to pull things from the dresser as well.
Sort every item into categories that make sense. Jeans, slacks, skirts, dresses, blouses, sweaters, coats, T-shirts, yoga pants—create piles for all the types of clothing you have.
You’ll want to also group your shoes, purses, and accessories (like belts, scarves, hats). Remember to sort out your socks, bras, undies, swimsuits, and pajamas, too!
Then, once everything is sorted into categories, pare down.
This process is always telling because now you can see just how much stuff you have!
As you go through things, decide if you really need six little black dresses and eight holiday sweaters before you allocate space in your closet to store them.
Get rid of items that are out of style, don’t fit, or don’t make you feel good (think scratchy fabric or fussy designs), in addition to anything that is stained or torn. If an item needs mending, only keep it if you love it and wear it (and you’re willing to get it repaired!).
Donate or consign items that don't flatter your figure or coloring. If you haven't worn it in the past 12 months, let someone else enjoy it!
Be ruthless here. It’s important to let go of the past and create space for new things to come into your life.
Now, figure out where everything will go and create space for it.
Look at your closet and/or dresser(s) and map out where you are going to store your items. Designate a shelf, section of the closet, or drawer for each category of clothing.
Group hanging items like dresses, skirts, pants, button-down shirts, short-sleeve blouses, etc. so you can quickly see and assess your options when you look in your closet.
Dressers are a good option for your folded casual clothing, such as T-shirts, shorts, and yoga pants, as are shelves in your closet.
Consider, too, where you will store off-season clothing. If your main closet doesn’t have capacity, shift seasonal items to another storage space.
Reconfigure your closet if necessary.
Far too many closets offer only one hanging rod with one shelf. (Ugh—terrible design!!)
If your closet is like this, think of ways to better utilize your space. And make use of all vertical space available! I can go on for days about how installing Elfa shelving is worth the cost, but you can certainly implement less expensive options.
Maybe you can rearrange your shelves and rods to offer more storage with a different layout. Or perhaps you can add a second rod to double your hanging space or add drawers under hanging blouses to store folded items.
f you are moving shelves or adding additional storage solutions, this might be the time to re-paint your closet. At the very least, dust and vacuum before you move on to the next step.
Finally, return clothing to the closet.
Organize your clothes in a way that works for you. Divide items by type, then by color, so you can easily see your options.
Hang pants, jackets, button-down shirts, dresses, and skirts. T-shirts, pajamas, sweaters, yoga pants and undergarments should be folded and put in dresser drawers, on shelves, or in bins.
Arrange clothes so the things you wear the most often are easily accessible.
And…make use of storage containers and organizers when needed.
I don’t advocate for spending money when it’s not required, but sometimes a few sturdy bins or boxes are worth the expense to create order in your closet. Sweaters line up nicely on shelves with the help of vertical shelf dividers or when placed in clear plastic boxes. Accessories such as purses, scarves, and belts can be placed in clear boxes on open shelves.
Affordable products can be found online or in discount stores like HomeGoods and even at Lowe’s.
Celebrate
Organizing your closet might not be the most exiting thing you can do on the weekend, but it will be worth it. Cheers to the process—and the rewards!
