Wardrobe Declutter
Closets and wardrobes are an area that many people want to declutter. A common feeling is that you have plenty of clothes but nothing to wear! If this is the case, it’s time for a closet declutter.
Closet storage system? Nope!
An initial gut reaction to closet chaos is thinking you need to purchase a closet organizing system such as from Ikea or the Container Store. This may not actually be true. When I watch home makeover shows on HGTV I always notice at the reveal that the interior decorators have only put back half or a quarter of the homeowners belongings. Of course things look fabulous, there is lots of space between and around items. Most modern homes have sufficient storage space but we are like goldfish growing to the size of our tank. Most of us wear only 20% of our wardrobe the majority of the time. Once we have bought items, most of us do not have a routine way to remove items that are still in good, usable condition. The key to mastering closet chaos is to start with getting rid of the clothes that don’t suit you.
Empty your closet
The quickest way to make a big dent is to spend a full day on this project. You may want to get a friend to help you and have plenty of water and snacks. Decision fatigue is real. Start by emptying everything from your closet and drawers onto your bed. You will probably be shocked at the amount of clothes you own!
Keep your favorites
Pick up each piece, hold it up and pay attention to how your body feels. Most of us know right away if an item is a favorite, if we love wearing it and reach for it often, or if we love wearing it but are saving it for a special occasion. Keep those items. We also know the items that we wish were a little different color, fit a little too tightly, or used to be a favorite until they got a small stain. Place all of those in a donate pile. Many of us know which clothes we don’t like but feel worried that we won’t have anything left if we get rid of those. You will likely still have plenty left and you need less than you think. After you declutter you may realize that you need to purchase a few quality pieces that fit you well. Invest in yourself.
Dress the body you have
Sometimes we are holding on to items thinking our bodies will change and we will fit back into something from before. Dress the body you have today! This can be a very freeing thought in our culture obsessed with dieting. Unless you have something specific and significant going on that you should save another size of clothing for, such as pregnancy or a medical condition, it probably doesn’t make sense to continue saving those clothes. If your body does change in the future, the clothes you saved may be out of style and many new options are usually readily available nearby for a reasonable price. If you really think you will use a different size and want to save it, you still need to box it up and get it out of your daily living space. This is an appropriate use of your long-term storage space.
Want to spend less time decluttering?
If that type of closet cleanout sounds stressful, here are two more ways you can declutter your wardrobe that may be easier. One way is to hang everything you wear. Turn the hangars backwards in your wardrobe so that the open end is pointing out towards you. When you wear something hang it back up the regular way. In a few months, you will be able to easily see what items you wear and get rid of the rest.
Another strategy is similar and especially works well with kids clothes. You allow your children (or yourself) to wear their clothes for about 2 weeks. Even if you do laundry during that time, you put it aside instead of back in their drawer or closet. At the end of the 2 weeks you know everything they prefer to wear and can comfortably box up and donate the rest.
Feel great every morning
It is an amazing feeling to open your drawers and closet and only see items that you love wearing and feel confident in. We all deserve to look and feel our best. Getting rid of the rest is a gift to your self every day. Items that you love so much that you save for special occasions should be brought into the daily, weekly or monthly rotation. Use your favorites instead of saving them for a day that may never come. Reducing morning stress and the amount of decisions you have to make will free up your mind to be more successful the rest of the day.
Experiment with Less
If you have enjoyed the benefits of decluttering your wardrobe and want to push yourself further try Project 333 or some variation of it. Joshua Becker makes the point that we all know when we have too much: the closet is overflowing, the drawers are stuffed, and we feel overwhelmed…but how much is too little? Experiment with less to find the perfect fit for you and your life. Project 333 by Courtney Carver is a challenge to wear only 33 items out for 3 months.
Hopefully some of these ideas can help you on your way to an organized closet, reducing clutter and increasing how often you have a great start to your day!