I could talk all day about how clutter kills any positive vibes in a house. Just, for me, having shit everywhere, having to constantly move something out of the way to get to something else makes me nuts. I want to be able to move freely, at home, in my closet and in life. There's a reason people say "Every thing has it's place and every place has it's thing". One of the worst offenders is easily the closet. Organizing your closet may feel like a daunting task but it has so many benefits. It's so much easier to find the things your looking for, especially when you've maybe hit the snooze one too many times and your hustling to get to work. Not to mention your stuff will last longer if it's not crammed into the closet like a can of sardines. It can be a fun experience and I'm here to break it down for you in a few easy steps.
First things first and this is probably the hardest part. Parting with your stuff can be tough but it's also super liberating. So, what are you waiting for? Purge! Purge! Purge!! Start going through your pieces one by one. Honestly, if you haven't pulled it out of the drawer or closet all year, it's probably ready to go. If it doesn't fit properly, it's ready to go. If its torn or stained beyond repair....you guessed it; it's ready to go. Make a pile for donations and a pile for trash, because, really, let's be honest, some of it really is trash. If you have quality pieces you just don't wear anymore, make a pile to put up for sale. I tend to "spring clean" once a year and make donations to my local Boys & Girls Club of America. If you don't know where you can donate, check out this post by Good Housekeeping.
Tip: Hang hangers facing the wrong way in your closet. When you wear something and put it away, turn the hanger around. At the end of the year, anything on a hanger hanging the wrong way, is no longer bringing you joy.
Next you want to organize the keepers by category like, t-shirts, jeans, dress pants, sweaters, sweatshirts, sweatpants etc. If you want join me in the next level of crazy, take it a step further with categories like casual t-shirts, graphic t-shirts and fancy t-shirts or sweatpants, 7/8 leggings and cropped leggings. If you're super extra about these things, you can organize even further by color or fabric. Check out what sort of volume you have of each so you can plan accordingly when putting all this stuff back into the closet - hey, it can't live on your bed forever.
Now take a look at your closet. Do you want to paint? Do it. Do you want to add some sort of lighting so you can actually see in there? Do it. Change the doors? Do it. Now's the time. Next raise the hanging rod up as high as possible while still being accessible. I think the easiest way to add some additional storage space inside a closet is to add a shelf or two over the rod if you have the space. Take advantage of as much height as possible. This Ikea shelf is all you need (brackets sold separately so make sure you pick those babies up as well!)
Shelving is perfect for shoes (speaking of shoes, stop throwing out the boxes!) or baskets to hold smaller items like winter accessories, bathing suits or hats.
I love these Target Baskets because they have covers, making them perfect for stacking and keeping dust away from your clothes. Not to mention those cute little rope handles!
These other baskets are great for those chunky sweaters because they are so deep.
Tip: Try rolling your fluffiest sweaters and stacking them in a basket like this. You'll get lots more in there!
Clear boxes are perfect shoe storage. You can easily see what's inside without having to pull them off the shelf.
I know lots of people feel like you should keep floor space clear, but why waste the real estate? Slip a small drawer cart in for folded items and use the top for additional, easy to reach, shelving. I've actually had this Target cart for years and it's definitely held up better than I would have expected.
I like to use any remaining floor space on the other side of the closet for a hamper if you have it. I hate "seeing" the hamper - mostly because it reminds me I have to do laundry...again.
Time to put it all back into the closet. Start with hanging items such as blazers, delicate pieces like blouses, skirts, dresses and button downs. Personally, I like to hang my jeans. Mr. prefers to fold them but maybe that's because he has far less pairs of jeans than I do and I just think it's easier to find what I'm looking for without having to unfold and refold every pair. T-shirts, sweats, athleisure and sweaters all get folded and put into drawers. Anything that you won't use regularly goes into the bins and baskets on the shelves. Shoes should go into shoe boxes so that they can be easily stacked and not tossed all over the place.
Extras!
Don't forget the door!! Over the door hooks or organizers are great for additional storage. It's also a fantastic place to hang a mirror so we can always make sure we don't look like we got dressed in the dark.
Funny Story: I used to work for someone who wore two different shoes to a client meeting. We happened to be discussing flooring options that day! This is why we organize our closets, folks!!
Take a look at some of your accessories. Do you love handbags or hats? I bet some of them are beautiful!! Why not hang them outside your closet as home décor that truly reflects who you are?
Get yourself some hooks and hang them down the side wall of your closet. They are perfect for belts, ties and scarfs.
Invest in a set of hangers. Not only will they look better but they will fit in the closet better.
Hang chalkboard tags from your baskets so you know exactly what's inside. You can easily erase the label and add a new one the next time you organize your space.
There it is!! We just did a total overhaul on your closet and all it cost was a little time, energy and about $200.00. Can't beat that!
I know you can do this but if you feel you need professional help, you know where to find me!
