How to Organize a Closet

Learning how to organize a closet is a skill that encompasses not only how the closet LOOKS, but how you feel about everything in there.




I love the word edit, don't you?

(Probably because it reminds me of reading and writing and I love both of them, but I'm getting off topic here...)

Your closet, just like the first rough draft of the newest novel by your favorite author, could probably use a tiny little bit (or maybe a LOT) of editing.

Here's my definition of editing your closet (which is the first step in how to organize a closet):


Anything less is doing yourself a huge disservice.

Your closet is where you start each day. It's where you get your first sense of who you are presenting to the world, and who you are presenting to yourself.

You simply can't be your best if you don't feel great about what you are wearing. It's like having a bad hair day, and you know what that feels like (we ALL do).

Most closets have about 10-20% of clothes and accessories that you actually wear, and the rest sits in there gathering dust and taking up space.

And keeping all the rest of the stuff that you're not using creates the illusion that you have a full wardrobe that will take you anywhere you need to go, even when it isn't true.

So learning how to organize a closet is a skill that goes beyond making everything neat and tidy...you are also getting to know yourself better, and what makes you look and feel great.

For detailed steps on how to organize a closet and clear out what no longer works:

Clearing Out Your Closet:  Step 1 - Getting Started
Clearing Out Your Closet:  Step 2 - Bras, Panties, and Socks
Clearing Out Your Closet:  Step 3 - Pajamas, Robes, and Lingerie
Clearing Out Your Closet:  Step 4 - Shoes, Boots, and Footwear
Clearing Out Your Closet:  Step 5 - Workout Clothes
Clearing Out Your Closet:  Step 6 - Accessories
Clearing Out Your Closet:  Step 7 - Clothes


In a nutshell:

1. Take out everything that doesn't fit the body you have right at this moment. You're not wearing that stuff right now anyway, so it doesn't belong in your closet.

(And you'll never, ever, ever convince me that it's motivating to have smaller clothes in your closet to keep you on your diet. Those too-small clothes just make you feel bad.)

2. Next take out everything that is worn out, out of style, you never liked anyway, and that doesn't flatter you. You deserve to have every single thing in your closet delight you. If you're wondering how to tell if your clothes have passed their expiration date, maybe it's time for a review of your clothes wardrobe.

3. Look at what's left.

What?

You only have three things left in there?

Good. Now you know what you have actually been wearing (even when you spend 15 minutes in the morning trying to decide what to wear). And imagine how easy it will be to keep three things organized.

4. Go and get yourself matching hangers for your three lovely items. I prefer the white tubular hangers because you can always find more of them when you need more and they don't take up nearly as much room as wooden hangers (although you don't have that problem now that you only have three things in your closet, do you?)

5. Vacuum out all the dust bunnies you knew were in there but hadn't been able to see for the forest of clothes that needed to be edited.

6. Can you say, "organize my closets ?" Organize what's left by style (pants with pants, shirts with shirts), and by color (lighter to darker). 

7. Enjoy your clean, cleared-out, beautifully edited closet...preferably with wine and dark chocolate.

Learning how to organize a closet wasn't so bad, was it? :)

And here are some more closet organizing ideas.

---