We’ve all had an overflowing closet at some point in our lifetime. One day, you find out you have very little to no space left, then struggle to shimmy a new dress on your closet rack or squeeze in a new pair of jeans on one of the shelves.
Then, there are days when you feel like quoting Carrie Bradshaw: “A closet full of clothes, nothing to wear.”
If these sound familiar and accurate, it might be time to finally organize your closet.
How do I know when it’s time to clean out my closet?
Here are some tell-tale signs:
- You struggle to find items you actually want to wear.
- Your closet is so full that closing the doors is an everyday challenge.
- You have several damaged clothes that no longer fit.
What should I prepare for my closet clean-out?
- Boxes and bins – For all the clothes you want to donate, recycle, or sell.
- Extra hangers – If your closet is filled to the brim, chances are some have worn down from being cramped together. It’s best to have extra hangers handy in case you need to replace any.
- Water and snacks – Organizing your closet takes time. Don’t forget to take a quick snack and water break in between!
Useful closet organization tips
Organizing your closet can be daunting, but it gets easier with a solid plan and strategy. Keep scrolling for tips that will help you streamline your wardrobe and make dressing up a total breeze!
Pick your favorites
It all begins with narrowing down your favorites.
What do you always wear? Is it the vintage dress you thrifted from Decades? Or maybe it’s that Uniqlo T-shirt that goes with everything? Pile them all up together and separate them from the rest of your wardrobe.
Put keepers back in the closet
When everything’s out of the closet for a thorough audit, it’s easy to accidentally place a favorite skirt on a different pile. To avoid giving something away by mistake, secure your faves ASAP by putting them in separate “keep” boxes.
Be honest
While going through your wardrobe, ask yourself these questions:
- Does it still fit you?
- How do you feel when you wear it?
- Do you plan to wear it in the next 3-6 months?
If you answered “no” to at least two, it’s time to toss them in the donate or sell pile.
Get rid of items that don’t fit or have holes and tears
It’s time to part ways with clothes that no longer fit or are plagued by significant wear and tear. Don’t hesitate to bid them farewell, especially if it’s been quite some time since you wore them.
Embrace the liberating feeling of making room for new pieces that make you feel fantastic. Your future self will thank you for it!
Remove any excess or duplicate pieces
While it’s perfectly okay to have backups, there may be times when you don’t need that many extras. Fortunately, you can quickly sell any doubles from your closet on platforms like Poshmark or Facebook Marketplace and even get a few bucks back!
If you find yourself overwhelmed with organizing duplicates, consider hiring a Tasker to assist you in decluttering so you can cut the sorting time in half.
Color code your wardrobe
Sticking to a color scheme is fun, especially if you tend to go for monochromatic looks or like adding vibrant pops of color to your outfits.
By color coding, you can add or remove as many shades and include patterns, too! Just make sure each item goes with at least three other colors. That way, you can create as many outfit combinations as possible!
Sort your clothes according to the seasons
Speaking of color coding, you can also try sorting your wardrobe based on the season! Light pastel dresses for spring, bright neon tops for summer, cozy terracotta sweaters for fall, and festive jewel tones for the holidays.
This will also make it easier to quickly see what you can wear for the day, especially if you love coordinating your fits with the weather.
Be selective about fashion trend items
Whether you love throwing it back to 70s fashion or Y2K styles reminiscent of Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie, it’s always a good idea to be selective about certain fashion trend items.
If you have several statement pieces, try to figure out if there’s a way to incorporate them into your daily rotations! This way, you get to re-wear them and jazz up your outfits for years to come (and not just during Halloween or themed parties).
Utilize closet organizers for extra storage
Dealing with limited closet space? Utilize space-saving hacks using closet organizers that come with multiple compartments.
This is also a nifty way to keep your clothes organized, from smaller items like socks and undergarments to trickier ones that tend to hog a lot of space, such as denim jeans and thick sweaters.
Use the 6-month rule
Is there anything in your closet you haven’t worn in the last six months? If you constantly don’t feel the need (or want) to wear that blouse you impulsively bought or a denim skirt that just doesn’t fit right, it might be time to boot them out of your wardrobe.
You can easily donate or resell items that no longer spark joy, and they will be someone else’s favorite find!
Feeling a little sentimental? Allow yourself to keep a valuable trinket or two. It will help you stick to decluttering goals while still holding memories that are near and dear.
Organize your closet today!
Whether you’re planning to reset your wardrobe or get rid of a few old, I-haven’t-worn-that-in-ages pieces to make more room for new ones, we hope these closet organization tips help you create a collection of staples that will carry you from season to season.
Good luck!
