Easily Declutter & Organize Your Clothes Closet

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Do you find yourself constantly battling your closet every time you open and close the doors? Finding what to wear feels like a full-time job. It's time for a change. When you declutter and organize your closet you can transform not just your space, but your day-to-day life.

You can enjoy more space, better organization, and finally have what you need at your fingertips by following a tried and true process. It takes some time and committing to do so will ensure the result you are looking for. If, and this is a big 'if', you stick with it. Consistency in the process is an essential piece to success.

Empty your closet to declutter and organize

The first step in any successful decluttering process is to start with a clean slate. To do a thorough job everything needs to be emptied, it doesn't matter the size of your closet, whether a small closet or a huge walk-in closet. This is essential.

If you don't have space to empty all the contents at once empty sections of your closet and sort.

When your closet is empty, you can see the complete picture and assess what you truly have. This clarity is invaluable as you decide what stays and what goes.

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Visualize your ideal closet

Do not replace items in the closet until you know how you want to organize. Take some time to visualize what you want, close your eyes, and imagine your dream closet- in a realistic sense. What does it look like?

If you have a bedroom closet with one door to store all your clothes do not envision a huge walk-in closet unless you have space and a lot of money to spend building this.

Still, if you have a one or 2 door closet there are organizational systems you can develop without spending a lot of money. If you have a small closet with just a single horizontal closet pole how do you imagine this space to look when your decluttering and organizing job is finished?

This vision helps guide your decisions, turning a cluttered mess into an efficiently organized wardrobe closet.

Check out 21 Wicked Easy Decluttering Tips. There is a free Resource Guide about how to donate almost anything in this article and 21 cool decluttering tips!

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Before you begin to declutter and organize

Ask yourself some questions:

• Are all your season's clothing going back into this one closet?
• Will you keep just clothes in this closet?
• Will Shoes stay in the closet?
• Boots?
• Will storage containers like plastic bins stay in this closet?
• Will photographs or any other unrelated to clothing items remain in this closet?

Identify problem areas when you declutter and organize

Cluttered closets often suffer from common issues such as lack of space, inadequate organization, and holding onto items for too long. Recognizing these problem areas early helps to create solutions that ensure your decluttered closet stays that way.

Is your closet crammed because of out-of-season clothes or an abundance of handbags? Get ready to tackle these challenges head-on.

Sort clothes into categories

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The key to an organized closet is understanding what you've got and sorting it wisely. After you empty your entire clothes closet do a light cleaning. Wipe down the walls with a simple vinegar and water solution and clean the floor.

Next, you have piles and piles of clothes emptied from your closet. Start sorting! Your mantra is 'sort, sort sort'. Put all the similar items with like items.

I keep all my clothes, regardless of seasons in my 2 door closet that is outfitted with a wire shelving unit. Folded clothes stay on shelves on one side and clothes hang on a wood closet rod on the other side. I also keep my shoes and some boots in a shoe holder hanging on the wall.

I keep coats in another closet and hats and gloves in a chest by my front door with my remaining out-of-season shoes and boots. This works beautifully for me.

When I declutter the next time I will be discarding most of the hanging clothes because I no longer wear them. I declutter regularly because I know how insidious clutter can be.

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Seasonal clothes

One way to ease the strain on your closet is by sorting clothes by season. It allows you to focus only on current needs, leaving space for the clothes you'll wear.

Function-based grouping is another way to declutter and organize

Think about how you use your clothes. You can create sections for work attire, weekend wear, and special occasions if this works better for you. This function-based grouping means no more digging around for that elusive office blazer.

Keep, Donate, Discard

Do not let decision fatigue sabotage your decluttering and organizing efforts. This tried-and-true method is a lifesaver for making decisions. 

Get 3 trash bags and label each trash, donate, and sell. Pick up each item, one item at a time and place it into one of the three bags.

Photo byMarj Bates

If it no longer fits, has stains, or needs repair, it belongs in the trash or donate bag. You'll be amazed at how quickly you'll clear space.

Clothes in good condition you no longer wear belong in the donate or sell bag. Unwanted items are pieces of clothing you have not worn in months and years. If you liked these things and they fit you well and make you look like a rock star you would wear them regularly.

Remember you are decluttering because you have too much stuff. Nothing will change unless you put your unwanted items in one of the three bags.

It is likely your style has changed through the years. Hint- look at photographs of yourself from 10 - 20 - 30 years ago, do you still dress like this?

Don't save an item you do not wear because at one time you spent too much money buying it. The money is gone, sell the thing.

Keep your local charities in mind when you are donating.

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Effective organization strategies to declutter and organize

Congratulations, you've sorted! Now, it's time to return to closet only what you love and use. Here's how to keep it organized.

Utilizing Storage Solutions

The best way is to invest in smart storage solutions. Think shelves for sweaters and bulky items or covered totes to store for cooler weather. Clear transparent totes are best because you can see the contents at a glance, wall hanging is a space saver for shoes.

If you have room to hang organizers for accessories in plain sight you will get more use wearing them. Out of sight, out of mind.

Don't be afraid to use drawer dividers in bureaus. For closet organization hanging a second clothing rod works well if you feel you shouldn't permanently install a second closet rod.

​By keeping like things with like items you stay organized.

Maximizing vertical space

Don't just think horizontal; go vertical! Double-hanging rods, shelf risers, and hooks on the back of doors can work wonders. Utilize every inch and watch your closet expand in usefulness. Be creative! If money is tight use what you have on hand to make organizational systems before you buy.

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I have seen bureaus placed against the back wall of closets for small clothing items such as underwear, socks, tank tops, and pajamas. Jewelry organized on the back of doors is another great idea! Shoe cubby organizers hanging on the back of doors can store many pairs of shoes.

Maintaining Your Decluttered Closet

One of my best decluttering tips is the one-touch rule. When you remove an item, meaning when you get undressed, touch the item once. Either put the item away or in the laundry immediately. You will not stay clean and organized without doing this, every time. Again consistency is key!

Once your closet's in tip-top shape, keep it that way with regular audits. Make it a habit every few months to go through and weed out unworn items. It's like dental hygiene but for your wardrobe – routine maintenance keeps things fresh and functional.

When your closet space starts to feel full it is an alert it is time to let go of clothes. You can't keep buying new clothes without discarding other clothes and expect your closet space to stay organized and decluttered.

If you bring lots of new clothing items into your home you need to plan to make decluttering an ongoing process unless you are willing to discard an item when you bring in a new item. Otherwise, it is common sense or math your closet space will begin to get cluttered.

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Capsule Wardrobe

Capsule wardrobe is a smart way to think of clothing if you want a lot of ease in dressing. I suspect this will not work for lovers of clothes. This works brilliantly for someone like me that has only one thing in mind when dressing- to stay cool or warm.

Read more about capsule wardrobes in the article I wrote Get Rid Of Clutter & How To Start A Capsule Wardrobe.

Marj Bates is a life long ridiculously organized declutter-er and artist. Less is more are words Marj lives by in everything she does except collecting dogs. “Dogs are like potato chips! Can’t have just one.” says Marj. Marj wonders if growing up with a fanatically clean Jewish mom means her decluttering and organizational skills are in her blood.

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To see more articles like this, please like and follow me. Thank you!By passing along clothing you no longer wear you are freeing up closet space and making getting dressed easier. This frees up head space and adds efficiency to your day.