Simple organizing can help your closet be all that it can be--spacious and in order--so that you know where everything is and can find it at a moment's notice.
Why bother organizing your closet? Because it makes it easier to get ready, frees up time and helps you regain control of your busy schedule. Why not take a step in the right direction towards peace of mind when it's as easy as this!
Prep Work
To start, get out your calender. You'll need to treat this project like what it is--a work day--and schedule at least eight uninterrupted hours to complete it. If you need to hire a babysitter or unplug your phone, do it.
- Empty out the contents of your closet and pile everything up on your bed. Now that your closet is bare, dust the shelves, sweep the floor and wipe down all inside surfaces. You're now well on your way to a pared-down, clutter-free closet.
- You have four piles to choose from: Keep, Repair, Throw Out and Donate. One by one, try on each item from your closet and be brutally honest with yourself. If it still looks good on you and flatters put it in a "keep" pile. If you plan on keeping a particular item but it's missing a button on needs a hem stitched, place it in the "repair" pile. Continue sorting. Anything with stains or tears beyond repair should immediately go in the "throw out" pile. If an item is still in good condition but no longer fits, flatters your body or hasn't been worn in years, put it in the "donate" pile.
- Look through your "keep" pile and group together any similar or duplicate items. Do you really need 4 white button downs? Probably not. To pare down further choose your favorite 2 and place the remaining ones in the donate box. After going through your duplicates you're ready to start putting away your "keeps". Stay organized by grouping jeans, pants, t-shirts, blouses, dresses and skirts with their own kind. Within each category you can further enhance by sorting by color.
Tips:
- Discard your wire hangers. Instead use matching wooden or velvet ones for uniformity.
- Install a light inside your closet so that it's well lit and you can easily see into each corner.
- Feeling creative? Paint or wallpaper the inside of your closet for a bit of personality.
- If you plan on keeping some sentimental items that you know you'll never wear, place them in trunk or box and tuck them away in the attic.
- Use the hard-to-reach top shelves of your closet to store out of season clothes. Label boxes so that they can be found easily when needed.
Copyright Nancy Weinberg Simon. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.
Nancy Weinberg Simon - Nancy Weinberg Simon is a freelance writer, editor and stylist. From 1997 to 2007 she was the beauty editor at Family Circle magazine. Her ...
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