5 Tips to Declutter and Organize Your Closets
5 Tips to Declutter and Organize Your Closets
Is your closet a black hole that you are afraid to venture near? Most of us know what it is like to have a closet get out of hand. The only thing you need is a plan and the motivation to get rid of the clutter and mess. Once you have that, the process is really not all that tough. Here are five awesome tips to help you declutter and get organized closets throughout your home:
Clear It Out
It’s a big job getting a closet cleaned up and organized. Start by clearing everything out of it. Yep…empty your closet completely so you can start with a fresh, clean slate. Seeing it empty will help you to picture the possibilities.
Sort Everything
As you clean everything out of your closet, sort it all. Use boxes or baskets to create sorting piles. Use boxes for your clothing, your partner’s clothing, shoes, purses, belts and miscellaneous items. Put everything in the appropriate box and once the closet is empty and everything is sorted, you are ready to start. Don’t forget to set aside a box for items you will be getting rid of — this one will be especially important!
Get Rid of Unused Items
When it’s time to get rid of stuff, be very, very brutal. You will need to make room in your closet to create a new atmosphere and clothing is a great place to start. Throw anything you haven’t worn in the last year into the “get rid of” box. Clothing that doesn’t fit should be gotten rid of or stored away. If you have items that you just can’t bear to get rid of, but could store away, then do so. Set up a storage box for “keep” items that you just don’t want to keep in the closet.
Mark Hangers
When you start putting stuff back in the closet, here’s a little trick that can help you figure out what to keep and what to donate the next time: Let your hangers tell you what to keep and what not to keep. Put your clothing on hangers and then put the hangers on the rod backwards. When you wear something after this, you will put the hangers on the rod the correct way. Send yourself a calendar reminder on your phone or email to look through your closet in six months. Anything that is still hanging on the rod backwards hasn’t been worn in that time, and it’s fair game to get rid of!
Color Coordinate
When you organize your clothing on the closet rod, try color coordinating. Hang all clothing by color family (browns, blacks, whites/creams, reds/oranges/yellows, blues/greens). This will make it easier to know where to hang your clothing, know what you have, and find what you are looking for.
Getting your closet in order is a big project, but it’s worth it. Imagine being able to find exactly what you are looking for when you need it! Don’t let your closet stay scary — clean it out and get it organized!
If you are in need of better organization skills in general, then we have some things here that will be sure yo help you out! Check out our guide to Getting Organized! If you find that you are still having organization problems, then you might want to try this book on organizing inside and out!
