If you find yourself hoarding clothing that you hope you might wear again or was given as gifts, take steps to clear away clutter by donating these items to local thrift stores or textile recycling organizations. Looking to learn how to reduce closet clutter? Look no further! It is easier than you might think.
Utilize shelving or baskets to organize clothing storage, keeping outfits easier to put together in the morning. Consider organizing by color within each sleeve length category so it is simpler for you to assemble outfits each morning.
1. Get Organized
If your closet is full of clutter and you can’t reach what you want to wear because your drawers, counter space, or floor of your closet is overrun, take small steps towards decluttering by targeting just one area at a time. Start with drawers, counter spaces, or floors of closets as focal points; select an area to focus on and clear everything out from it, suggests professional organizer Sarah Murphy. Tackle any big job at once can be overwhelming so break it into manageable chunks for success according to this expert advice.
Brookshire notes that when learning how to reduce closet clutter, items become disorganized because they lack an organized home in your home, such as being draped over chairs or waiting to be stored away after making purchases. She suggests creating a space in which each item can belong; when everything has its own designated spot it won’t end up scattered about! Create an organized home for each item. “By assigning each object its own place,” says Brookshire: “you won’t end up scattering things all around your house!”
Invest in storage solutions that enable you to see and access all your clothes, advises she. Wicker or fabric bins that help separate categories can make a significant impactful on how efficiently clothing stays organized,” she notes.
2. Get Rid of Unnecessary Clothes
Cluttered closets can be more than an eyesore; they can take an emotional and financial toll. That’s why it is essential to be tough-minded when cleaning out your closet, discarding clothes that no longer serve a purpose, and getting rid of anything unnecessary.
Assemble all the clothing you own. Once this task is done, it should become much simpler to identify exactly which items belong to which category and in how many quantities. Also, use this time to dust, wipe down shelves, clear drawers out, and vacuum/sweep your closet space floor – as these tasks are most likely a necessary part of keeping an organized closet space.
As you sort through your closet, a great tip on how to reduce closet clutter is to divide clothes into piles: Love It, Like It, and Hate It. Once complete, toss anything that cannot be repaired immediately while donating or consigning items that do not belong in any other piles such as Hate It and Donate/Consign piles. Finally, review all pieces from Like It pile – any you haven’t worn for an extended period (over one year), don’t adore, or don’t love are items to consider as potential discards.
Take note of any clothes you promised yourself you’d get altered or repaired but never got around to doing. Put those into a bag or box near the front door so they’ll remind you when it’s time to visit a tailor, helping prevent future closet clutter!
3. Get Organized in Your Closets
Your closets may be an endless source of frustration when it comes to getting dressed each morning or finding that missing shoe, but with some effort, it is possible to tame the clutter and create more breathing room in your wardrobe spaces.
Start by emptying out and taking everything down to the floor of each closet, before wiping down shelves, closet rods, walls, and baseboards with a damp rag to remove dust or dirt build-up.
Once your closet is clear, divide its contents into three piles: toss, donate, and keep. Donate or toss any clothing that is damaged beyond repair; for your “keep” pile, organize workwear casual wear special occasion pieces as appropriate; if you have extra clothing that you never wear consider adopting a one-for-one policy in which you donate an item in exchange for each new piece you buy.
Make the most of your closet space by investing in storage solutions such as hanging shelf organizers attached to closet rods. These vertical canvas “shelves” offer instant cubby-like storage solutions for items such as shirts, blouses, and sweaters. Furthermore, add over-the-door hooks on closet doors for hanging scarves purses hats etc and finally install storage bins to hold smaller items such as socks underwear, and ties at the bottom of your closet.
4. Get Organized in Your Bedroom
Bedrooms can often be the most challenging room in the home to organize. Yet with clever planning and creativity, this space can become one of the most tranquil, serene rooms.
Step one to simplifying your nightstand should be to clear away clutter. “Discard items that no longer serve a purpose or you rarely use,” suggests Pinsky, and make sure to dispose of multiples of anything if possible; alternatively store them outside your bedroom in a bin with labels clearly identified for easier organization.
Organization of open shelves requires adding pretty containers like baskets, woven totes, or stackable storage cubes that can keep similar items together in one section. You can add decorative items for an elegant finish. Shelves are great for holding books and art, while window seats with cubbies make cozy reading spots for relaxing or reading!
If your closet is an accumulation of disarray, investing in matching hangers may help create an organized look. Closet organizers with drawers, shoe storage compartments, hooks and more can quickly reduce clutter without an intensive decluttering project. If there’s extra closet space, consider adding a divider for sweaters and shirts, hooks to hold coats/scarves/scarfs on hooks as well as bins for out-of-season clothing storage.