Organizing The Closet
Uniform clothes hangers: Use the same type for each category.
Additional clothes storage: Not all garments are meant to be hung, and depending on closet space, it may make more sense to store them in a small dresser, stackable drawers, or shelves. I love a small chest of drawers in the closet!
Shoe solutions: Find a good way to store shoes where they are visible, easily accessed, take up less room, and keep their shape.
Storing Accessories Properly: Purses, belts, scarves, and jewelry are all essential components to an outfit, so it makes sense to keep them in the closet.
Process: Clothes on Hangers
Step 1: DeclutterHanging Clothes
Rehang each garment neatly, making sure that they're all facing the same direction. (Swivel hook hangers are great, because you can easily turn the hook to either direction).
Decide how these will be stored, then fold, place in selected storage solution, and label. These items will stay stored for six months, mark you calendar to remember. If they've not been retrieved in that time, get rid of them.
Important Note: Before proceeding, visit the "Hanging Methods" Pinterest board (link) and consider some unique ways to hang various items.
Once all items are on hangers correctly, you'll sort in categories, keeping all shirts together by type, (tank top, tee shirt, button shirt, collared shirt, sweat shirt, for example). Next, sort each category of shirt by sleeve length (sleeveless, short sleeved, three-quarter sleeved, long sleeved), and then by color according to preference. Follow with jeans, (ex: shorts, capri, ankle length, leg style), and any other type that should be categorized to maintain ease of finding the right ones. Do the same for each type of clothing...slacks, skirts, dresses, sweaters, jackets, and so forth.
Step 3: Pack up all clothing in the Keep 2 pile
Step 4: Box or bag all items in the donate pile, and mark "To Donate"
Step 5: Bag up the Throw Away pile and take to the bin.
Rest and Reward!
Congratulations on all your hard work! Doesn't your closet already looks better! Sit down and have a cup of something hot, put your feet up, call a friend, or go for a car ride, or however else you reward yourself!
First, clean off an area to work, preferably the bed. A portable hanging cart is ideal, if you have one or can borrow one. Gather as many hangers of clothes from the closet as comfortable, and lay on the bed. Evaluate each garment at a time by asking when you last wore it, whether you like it, if it is out of style, is it in poor shape (missing a button, faded, stretched out, stained). You'll create four piles as you work, KEEP 1 (Keep, and return to closet): KEEP 2 (Keep, but store elsewhere) : DONATE : THROW AWAY
Step 2: Rehang all clothing in the Keep 1 pile
Consider some essential storage and organization tools before getting started...
These are items I’ve purchased, researched, or would consider for my own home. Having the proper supplies on hand is essential when undertaking a reset of storage areas. *I may earn a small commission on some products shown.
Drawer Organizers: Keep items easy to access with drawer organizers.
Process: Drawers
Step 5: Bag up the Throw Away pile and take to the bin.
Rest and Reward!
Congratulations on all your hard work! You are FINISHED with the closet declutter and organize! Take some pictures to share online and send some to a close friend! Find reasons to keep going back to the closet just to admire how very beautiful it is now. Reward yourself, and yes, if you have successfully decluttered and organized, there probably is room for just one more cute outfit, or one splurge purse!
Consider some essential storage and organization tools before getting started...
These are items I’ve purchased, researched, or would consider for my own home. Having the proper supplies on hand is essential when undertaking a reset of storage areas. *I may earn a small commission on some products shown.
Step 1: Declutter Drawers
First, clean off an area to work, with plenty of room to sort through items and refold clothes. If possible, bring in a portable table. Remove all clothes from a drawer. Evaluate each garment at a time by asking when you last wore it, whether you like it, if it is out of style, is it in poor shape (missing a button, faded, stretched out, stained). You'll create the same four piles as you work, KEEP 1 (Keep, and return to closet): KEEP 2 (Keep, but store elsewhere) : DONATE : THROW AWAY.
Decide whether to go through all drawers at once, or one drawer at a time. The process is the same, either way.
Important Note: Before proceeding, visit the "Folding Methods" (link) on Pinterest. I cannot stress enough how learning to fold clothes properly saves so much space, and even time, considering items don't come unfolded when placed in the drawer. Although this section is under "Closet Organization", (assuming there are drawers in the closet), it is the same method used for all dressers.
Organizing The Closet, Day 2
Step 2: Refold all clothes in the Keep 1 pile
Refold each item, following the same folding style for all like clothing, then return to the drawer, or drawer organizer first, if you have one, then to the drawer. Keep similar items in the same drawer if possible, and place the most often used items in the easier drawer to access, which the lesser used items in the bottom drawers.
Continue until all drawers have been cleaned out, and clothes returned, folded neatly, and organized.
Step 3: Pack up all clothing in the Keep 2 pile
Decide how these will be stored, then fold, place in selected storage solution, and label. These items will stay stored for six months, mark you calendar to remember. If they've not been retrieved in that time, get rid of them.
Process: Shoes
Step 1: DeclutterShoes
Consider some essential shoe storage solutions as seen at the top of this page.
First, clean off an area to work, with plenty of room for all pairs of shoes. Remove all shoes from closet and spread on the floor. Evaluate each pair at a time by asking when you last wore them, whether you like them, are they comfortable, are they in poor shape (cracked soles, worn through, discolored, fabric peeling). You'll create the same four piles as you work, KEEP 1 (Keep, and return to closet): KEEP 2 (Keep, but store elsewhere) : DONATE : THROW AWAY. If desired, add one more pile, SELL, since slightly used expensive shoes might be worth it.
Step 2: Return shoes in the Keep 1 pile to the closet
Wipe all shoe pairs with clean cloth to remove dust. If the soles are mud caked, clean them off before returning to closet. For boots, consider stuffing the tops with paper or waded grocery bags so they'll retain their shape, and look better in the closet. As you return shoes, organize them by category, (athletic shoes, tennis shoes, sandals, flats, low heeled, high heeled, ankle boots, tall boots).
Step 3: Pack up all the shoes in the Keep 2 pile
Place shoes in the selected storage solution, and label. These items will stay stored for six months, mark you calendar to remember. If they've not been retrieved in that time, get rid of them.
Step 4: Box or bag all items in the donate pile, and mark "To Donate"
Step 4: Box or bag all items in the donate pile, and mark "To Donate"
Step 5: Bag up the Throw Away pile and take to the bin.
Process: Accessories; Purses, Belts, Scarves, Jewelry, Hats
It's time to deal with the accessories that create distinction for your outfits. You'll want to consider some of the accessory storage solutions as shares at the top of this page.
Step 1: DeclutterAccessories
Purses: Decluttering purses is a challenge because of their brand value, specific occasion type, and personal attachment. Some prefer to change purses often, while others seem to carry only the more useful and practical ones. For the purpose of decluttering, eliminate the need for closet storage by one third, especially if there are a lot of them to store. By putting as many as tolerable in the "keep and store elsewhere" pile, the process will be more successful.
Gather all purses to go through one by one, asking how often you carry it, what sort of shape it is in, and whether it's worth taking up space in the closet. Sort in the the appropriate piles, KEEP 1 (Keep, and return to closet): KEEP 2 (Keep, but store elsewhere) : DONATE : THROW AWAY. If desired, add one more pile, SELL, since purses often hold their value.
Belts: Unlike purses, belts are pretty easy to go through and eliminate. Does it still fit? When's the last time worn? Is it fraying, or woefully uncomfortable? Sort into the standard piles (KEEP 1 (Keep, and return to closet): KEEP 2 (Keep, but store elsewhere) : DONATE : THROW AWAY.)
Scarves: Once so popular, scarves are no longer trending, so likely there are a lot to sort through. First, address the utilitarian ones...winter scarves. Keep the most used, most comfortable, and most likely to go with your coat. Next, move on to the fashion ones, brutally evaluating each one. Eliminate down to ten, or less, if possible. Sort into your pile, (KEEP 1 (Keep, and return to closet): KEEP 2 (Keep, but store elsewhere) : DONATE : THROW AWAY.)
Jewelry: Are you still storing all your jewelry in one of those large standing chests? If so, it's time to move on. How much of it do you really wear? The goal is to keep only your most worn pieces in the closet to have easy access as your getting dress. Start with the inexpensive fashion jewelry, a lot of which has probably long gone out of style. Keep only a few of your favorite pieces of this type. Next, choose five of your most worn necklaces for each category, (ex. sterling, white gold, yellow gold). Repeat the process for each item of jewelry, from bracelets, to earrings, and so forth. Sort into the appropriate piles and you move through each piece. KEEP 1 (Keep, and return to closet): KEEP 2 (Keep, but store elsewhere) : DONATE : THROW AWAY, SELL.
Step 2: Return accessories from the Keep 1 pile to the closet in an appropriate storage area
Purses: Go through all the pockets and sections of each purse to clean them out, snap or zip shut all compartments and pockets, consider stuffing them with waded paper or shopping bags, wipe them off with a soft cloth, and return to closet.
Belts: Hang or roll to fit in selected storage solution and return to closet.
Scarves: Hang or fold in selected storage solution in closet.
Jewelry: Untangle necklaces and secure the clasp. Wipe off earrings. Wipe and clasp bracelets, and return to the closet storage solution selected.
Hats: Reshape and return to the selected area in the closet.
Hats: Remove all hats and caps. Make it a goal to keep only two or three of each type. Go through your stack and sort into the pile, KEEP 1 (Keep, and return to closet): KEEP 2 (Keep, but store elsewhere) : DONATE : THROW AWAY.