HOW TO DECLUTTER YOUR CLOSET IN 8 SIMPLE STEPS
I recently did a spring wardrobe refresh. It felt so good to purge my closet and get rid of all the clothes I am no longer wearing. I also made a couple of budget friendly updates to help maximize my closet space and make my clothes look better and last longer. I am sharing the whole process of how to declutter your closet in 8 simple steps with you today, including how to maximize your closet space and get the most out of your wardrobe.
1) TAKE EVERYTHING OUT
First, I took everything out of my closet and made 4 piles. Do not skip this step. It is so helpful to go through everything and touch each item and try it on before you decide what to do with it. Then, I put each item into one of these 4 piles:
- Keep
- Donate
- Seasonal
- Throw away
In the next step, I outlined some questions to help you with this process and move on, which can be harder than you think. It is amazing, how we can get emotionally attached to clothing and it can be hard to let go. But, the next step is so important in creating a functional wardrobe that works for you.
2) PURGE
Next, I purged and this time, I was ruthless. In the past I have always held on to stuff, because I may wear it again some day. Not this time. I got rid of everything I didn’t love and donated over 4 large trash bags full of clothes. Here are some helpful guidelines:
- Does it fit?
- Have I worn it in the last 12 months?
- Is the style current?
- Does it represent me and my style?
- Would I buy it gain?
- Is it in good condition? Not damaged or stained?
- Do I feel good, when I wear it?
If the answer is a NO to any of these, it needs to leave your closet. Stick to this! It can seem wasteful to get rid of perfectly good clothes, I get it. However, by selling or donating them, you are passing along clothes that no longer serve you, to other people that they WILL serve.
3) Sort and organize what is left
Now, comes the fun part. Put everything that you love you back into your closet in an organized fashion. Figure out what works for you and how to best organize your pieces. I do change my wardrobe seasonally, so I put my out of season clothes in a couple of big rubbermaid bins in the attic. The rest goes back into my closet.
PRO TIP: One of my best tips is to get matching hangers. They will make everything look so much more streamlined. I love these. They are super thin and made lots extra room in my closet. Also, everything stays put and doesn’t slide off, including my cold shoulder tops. I paid around $20.00 for 50 hangers on Amazon. Such a deal.
4) Make a list of things you need in your closet.
Then, I ordered this storage cube to put on the bottom of my closet, underneath the second railing. I hung all of my stuff on the top and folded t-shirts, jeans, shorts and sweaters into my new cubbies. My clutches and hat went on the top. I just LOVE it. It made my closet so much more functional and it looks a little like a boutique now. These cubes come in all shapes and sizes, so you can really go crazy and really customize your closet. I hung this mirror on my door and the transformation was complete. All of my shoes are on a rack behind the door and my dresses are hanging on the left.
I usually get new white tees every season and a few fun seasonal items to update my wardrobe. These are my current favorite white tees. A list helps you figure out what you need and shop with purpose. No more money wasted on perusing the sales rack for things you don’t need.
(please pardon my vacuum attachments on the shelf 😳)
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Now, my closet is filled with things I love and getting dressed in the morning is easy and fun. I purge twice a year, in the Spring and in the Fall.
I also wanted to share a couple of gadgets that help keep my clothes looking their best.
This garment steamer is awesome and also great for travel. It heats up in a jiffy and gets clothes wrinkle free in minutes. It is also leak resistant and can be sued horizontally as an Iron. I love mine.
This de-fuzzer comes in really handy in the fall. I use it on all of my sweaters. I have tried many different ways to de-fuzz a sweater and this one is by far the best. It makes them look brand new. Just remember to empty the chamber after each use to maximize efficency.
I hope this helps! I find the process so soothing and calming and I promise, you will love walking into a clean and organized closet every morning.
XO,
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Beautiful photos! I really need one of those de-fuzzers! I’ll look into that, thank you! 🙂
Love this post!!! Actually glad I came across this because this is exactly what I’m going to do right now! Kind of sucks in my case though because half of my clothes (especially my summer clothes) are in another state 😩. With you on the matching hangers though. And I’ve been wanting some storage cubes for the longest. Maybe I’ll finally order some
Xx Shaydee
http://www.theshaydeelife.com
I absolutely love this! I also did this not too long ago!
I totally need to do this!!! I love the part where I ask myself the questions it is so true! Thank you for the tips 🙂
~Janelle
I know, those questions really help. Glad you enjoyed the post. xo
wow, i love the organized look!!! that storage cube is amazing, wish we could get it here in my area!!! And I love all the key points to consider when sticking to our wardrobe !!!
Im in the middle of this process and this post gives me hope!
This post gave me inspiration. I need to get my closet together. Thanks
You are welcome. I am glad you found it helpful.
Really great post, the tips are all clear and applicable! Just wanted to say a couple of weeks ago I bought the exact same hangers you’re recommendingo, and they’ve completely changed my wardrobe! It’s all so much cleaner, more streamlined- and they’ve saved a lot of space too.
I am so glad you found it helpful. Those hangers are lifesavers….