How to Deal with the Disorganized Closet

Nothing detracts from a beautiful custom closet like overly full shelves, little piles of this and that, and racks so messy those luxury hangers can barely do their job. Every homeowner’s closet has been there at some time or other. As people come out of sheltering-in-place from COVID -19, as they don something other than leggings or pajamas, and begin to trickle slowly back into the workplace, what better time to reexamine those cluttered closets? What better time to clear things out, clean things up, and decide that only the items that bring joy get to go back on those lovely wooden hangers .

But decluttering that wardrobe, sorting through all those closet accessories, can feel like a daunting task. Luckily, the online world is replete with suggestions for how to accomplish this task. As you tackle this project, here are some suggestions to get you started.

Preparing to Declutter:

This is one step many people don’t think about but taking a few minutes to prepare for your closet sort will not only keep the process more organized but will also get you in the purging mindset. This is important because often the mental and emotional aspect of letting items go can be the very hardest part.

First: Gather your supplies. You’ll need:

1. 5-6 boxes or plain old trash bags will work too
2. A dust cloth and maybe a vacuum

Second:  Label your boxes or bags. Labels such as, ‘give to family/friends,’ ‘Donate,’ Trash/Recycle,’ ‘Put away elsewhere,’ and ‘Sell,’ will help you keep focused on the task and might even make letting go of some items easier.

Third:  Determine where the things you are not keeping are going to go next. For example, what charity, thrift, or consignment store will you take your things to? Which family member or friend would appreciate receiving some gently used clothing and accessories? Deciding ahead of time will help you avoid keeping bags of clothes in your garage and then in a week or two, second-guessing your decision to let them go. 

Fourth:  Turn this chore into some fun by putting on your favorite playlist or downloading that podcast you haven’t had time for. 

Practical Steps:

After the preparation comes to the progress. Follow these concise steps to get started.

The Quick Purge:

This should only take 5-10 minutes depending on the size of your closet. But the idea is to make a fast first sweep of your closet to weed out the items you already know are going. Follow your first impulse in this step, if you have a second thought about an item leave it for the next round.

The Deep Sort:

This is where the real fun starts. Remove all the items you are sorting from your closet. You can do your entire collection at once. Or if that feels too daunting or you are short on time, sort by category, i.e. tops, pants, skirts, etc. Sort through the items asking yourself these honest questions: 

1. 1. Do I love it?
   2. How often do I wear it?
   3. How do I feel when I wear it?

Your answers to these questions will let you know when it’s time to let go of a wardrobe item. 

*If you are not sure about a piece or feel hesitant to let it go even if it doesn’t pass the question test, just hang on to it for now and try some of the suggestions for sentimental items below

1.The Clean-Up:

After the sorting is done, take a few minutes to wipe down and clean up the closet space before putting your things back. You might be surprised how much dust can accumulate in a closet over time.

2.The Return:

Return your clothing and accessories to their happy home and take a minute to stand back and appreciate the beauty of a newly organized closet. 

*For some tips on organizing, take a look at How to Organize that Beautiful Closet. 

The Emotional Side of Letting it Go

If in your purging and sorting you find that some items are very hard to let go of, you are not alone. If you have the closet space, hanging on to that wedding dress or that top you wore the day you met your partner is wonderful. But if you need to make space or just want to let go but are not sure how, consider trying these ideas.

• Find alternate storage for your special items that are worth keeping but don’t need to take up closet space. under-the-bed storage might be a good option and you could always rent a small storage unit if your items are worth paying for.
• Take photos of your special items before donating or selling them and keep a digital memory album you can refer to when you’re in a sentimental mood.
• Have that one really honest friend come and help you sort. This can be helpful for those items that aren’t sentimental, but that you may be saving because you love the idea of them. Having a friend tell you when something is working for you and when it’s not, can be very helpful. 
• Finding ways to make money from those high-end designer label items that you just never use can help you let go. Even donating them can give you a tax break, so keep that in mind too.
• And for items that you just can’t decide about, try putting them in a box, tape it up, and label it with the date. Commit to leaving those things in the box for two weeks and if after that time you haven’t missed them, then let them go.
• Decluttering your closet and wardrobe doesn’t have to be a painful mess and with these suggestions, you just might have fun while you’re at it.