If the kitchen is the heart of the home, then the closet can be seen as the heart of the bedroom. You could argue for something else being the heart here, but this is not that kind of post! Here are some amazing tips to help you organize your closet and make your morning routines seamless!
Our closet is where we spend a lot of time figuring out how we will present ourselves to the world. So many decisions are made in this space! That is why organizing your closet is so essential to having a more streamlined and simplified life.
I have to admit, keeping my closet organized has not always been easy. As I tried to try to figure out why, I got to the heart of some of the issues I was up against. My biggest issue, and one that is hard to admit, is that my weight fluctuates. I was keeping a lot of clothes that just didn’t fit in hopes that after the next fad diet, they would. Diving into that bombshell I will save for another post. Let’s focus on the task at hand, organizing your closet! Here are some key things to think about when you tackle this!
assess each item in your closet
Like I mentioned above, when I began the process of organizing my closet, I had to take a long hard look at each item that I was holding on to. What I realized quickly was that looking at my jeans that just didn’t fit any more was causing me a lot more distress than I realized. Getting dressed in the morning was such a drag as I filtered through clothes that didn’t fit. I would end up leaving my closet depressed and anxious. Not a great way to start the day!
So the first step is to assess each item in your closet by figuring out how it makes you feel. Are those jeans comfortable? Does that top fit you just right? Do you love wearing that skirt? Asking these questions when you are organizing your closet are essential because there are so many emotions tied up with how our clothes make us look and feel.
Now, I will be honest. I got rid of clothes that I realistically just knew I would most likely not fit in again. You know the clothes I am talking about. The jeans from before having kids when you were training for that half marathon? The party skirt you wore when you used to go out after work? Be honest with yourself. Holding on to these items can honestly do more harm than good to your overall well being.
When I made the difficult decision to say goodbye to these items, I realized that not seeing them every day was much better for me! My organized closet is a reflection of where I am in my life now, not where I used to be 20 years ago!
Use a Maybe bin For To Further Organize Your CLoset
That being said, I do have a maybe storage bin in my garage. What is a maybe storage bin? I am so glad you asked! A maybe bin is a plastic bin I store in my garage that has some items that are maybe a size or two down. The reality is that I may wear these clothes again. But the important thing here is that these items are not taking up space in my closet. I also put some of the items that I kind of like, but I am just not so sure about in this spot. If after 6 months these items are unworn and not missed, it is time to donate them!
Take Time to Sort the CLothes in Your CLoset
After you have gone through your clothes and determined what you will keep, it is time to sort your items. And keep in mind, your organized closet may look different from mine. I am a huge proponent of systems. Your closet organization should reflect your life. For example, I have the items I wear the most front and center. I also have each section sorted by style. So, as an example, I have all of my short sleeved shirts together, then all of my long sleeve shirts, etc. This is because a lot of getting dressed depends not only on the activities you are going to do that day, but also on the weather. When I am looking for a shirt, I already have a good idea if I want a short sleeved or a long sleeved. Separating these shirts into different spots helps me to get my outfits together in a snap.
Color is another way I organize my items. I like having all of my black short sleeved shirts together, then grey, then navy, etc. Often times my mood dictates the colors I choose to wear for the day. Having my items organized by color saves me a large chunk of time. Feeling bright and cheery…..go to the colorful t-shirts! Down in the dumps? Perhaps a black t-shirt will be a good choice today. Or maybe I should chose a bright top if I am down in the dumps? Oh I digress again. I will be keeping my counselor busy for sure!
Use Space In Your Closet Wisely
Now that you have your items sorted, take a look at the space with which you are working. If you have a standard closet, will your items fit comfortably in this space? If not, please see point number one above! Here is a link to my page on decluttering to help you further! 6 Ways to Declutter Your Home Now
The items you wear most frequently should be front and center. I am embarrassed to admit that my sweats and t-shirts hover in this spot in my own organized closet. But I digress, that is another issue for me and my counselor!
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Using organizing Accessories to streamline your closet
Looking at your space, it is time to decide if you need closet organizing accessories to further help with space and ease of use. For example, what does the area where you keep your shoes look like? Could you benefit from a tiered shoe rack to maximize this space?
What about your hangers? I love the velvet hangers that you can buy pretty much everywhere now. I have saved a ton of room by switching to these. Yes, I used to have the plastic tubular ones. Here are two of my favorites, and they have made a HUGE difference in all of my closets:
I also have utilized fabric bins to keep my swimwear because I do not have many drawers available. They are cute and functional, so that is a win to me. Look at your closet and assess if accessories can help you further organize your closet.
House Beautiful has a great article on maximizing and utilizing the space you are working with. Closet Organization Ideas
Trial and error Keeps Your Closet Organized
The last step is to really take note of how your beautiful new organized closet works for your life. Is it easier to get dressed in the morning? Are you able to keep up with your new system? Is is easy to access everything you need? If you answer no to any of these questions, tweak your system!
I have to admit that I can be stubborn, and there is nothing more upsetting than having spent time organizing only to find out that my system isn’t working as easily as I thought. Coming to terms with this and swallowing my pride has freed me up to keep working on organizing my closet and getting it just right!
You can do this! Trust me, your life will be a lot less chaotic and more enjoyable once your closet is organized! And be kind to yourself. I hope that you realized from my post that there is a lot more to unpack emotionally when you organize your closet. Clothes are tied to how we live, how we feel, and how we interact with the world.
Don’t beat yourself up for keeping a bunch of items you don’t use, but do make the effort to dig deep and try to figure out the why. If you face these issues head on, you will be a lot more successful with this process. There is no time like the present!
