Can’t find anything to wear? Maybe it’s not your wardrobe but your closet organization that’s the problem. A messy, unorganized closet can cause headaches when you are trying to get ready for work, or dressed for a special night out. When you organize your closet, you’ll find out you have more wearable clothes than you could have imagined.
Empty your closet
Professional celebrity organizer Jill Pollack says with closet organization you need to start with a clean slate, “Take all your clothes out of the closet so you know what you’re working with.”
Purge what you don’t wear
If your closet is overflowing and you have limited space, the key to closet organization is to get rid of some of the clothes you don’t wear. “If you haven’t worn clothing in over six months, it’s time to get rid of them,” says Pollack. “This includes clothing that no longer fits, no longer matches your style, or doesn’t make you feel great when you wear them.”
Categorize your clothes
When you organize your closet, in addition to separating your clothes by type (shirts, pants, etc.), you then need to organize them by occasion, then by length, and finally by color. Getting dressed in the morning will be a snap if all your black, short-sleeved work blouses are in one place.
Maximize your space
Professional organizer Tanya Sinovec of Functioning Spaces explains, “It doesn’t matter what size your closet is, the most important thing to remember is to compartmentalize. Always save your shoe boxes and keep your shoes in them. Shoe boxes stack easily and neatly and help to free up a lot of useful space. If you have a lot of shoes, take a picture of each pair and tape the photo to the outside of the box. This will keep you from doing the frantic search when looking for a particular pair and keep your closet free of the unnecessary mess that usually occurs after you’ve been desperately looking.”
Continue to purge
Julie Isaacs of Uncluttered Home says you should continuously purge clothes that you don’t wear. Closet organization is an ongoing process. Isaacs says, “Keep a good-sized shopping bag in the back of each closet in your home. Each time you discover a garment, coat, or accessory that you no longer use and love, drop it in the bag. When the bag is full, get it to a donation site as soon as you can.”
Install shelving or hooks
Even if you can’t afford an expensive closet organizing system, you can clean things up and organize your closet nicely. Isaacs says, “Many people are frustrated with their closet because it’s not designed to accommodate the clothing they actually wear. If you wear lots of casual clothing, shelving may be more helpful than hanging space. If you don’t like folding, you may need lots of hooks in your closet.” These items are readily available at your local home improvement store.
Closet organization is easy when you keep these tips in mind. When you organize your closet, getting dressed in the morning will be hassle free.
More closet organization tips
- Simple steps to a closet makeover
- Spring clean your closet
- Closet organization must haves
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