A cluttered wardrobe can be overwhelming and stressful. If you find yourself struggling to find the clothes you need or feeling like you have nothing to wear despite a full wardrobe, it might be time to declutter. Here are ten tips on how to declutter your wardrobe and create a more organized and functional space.
- Set aside time.
Decluttering your wardrobe is a time-consuming process, so set aside enough time to complete the task. Depending on the size of your wardrobe, it could take a few hours, a day, or even a weekend. If this is your first declutter in some time, I would block off an entire weekend, to ensure you have enough time to complete the process without getting overwhelmed.
- Start with a plan.
Before diving into your wardrobe, take some time to create a plan. Decide on your end goal and what you want to accomplish with the decluttering process. Some examples of goals include getting rid of anything you have not worn in a given timeframe; and getting rid of clothes that do not fit anymore (at some point, we must let them go).
- Take everything out.
To properly declutter your wardrobe, you need to take everything out of your wardrobe. This will allow you to see everything you have and evaluate each piece individually. This not only helps you understand exactly what is in your wardrobe, but patterns emerge of what you overbuy (in my case, I had realized my wardrobe was excessively black), giving you a better insight into your buying habits. Bonus: by doing this you can also deep clean your wardrobe, inside and out.
- Sort into piles.
Create 3 sorting piles: Keep, Donate, or Chuck.
- Evaluate each item.
Before deciding to keep or donate a piece of clothing, evaluate its condition, fit, and how often you wear it. Be honest with yourself and only keep items you love and wear regularly. This is the hardest part – at least that’s how I feel. I found that the only way I managed to get through this part was by having someone with me to give me honest feedback on what I should keep and what should go. Also, if it looks worn, chuck!
- Get rid of duplicates.
Do you have multiple pieces of clothing that serve the same purpose? Consider keeping the one you wear the most and donate the others.
- Donate or sell.
Once you have your donation and toss piles, make sure to donate clothes that are still in good condition to a local charity or sell them online.
- Create a storage system.
To keep your wardrobe organized, create a storage system that works for you. This could include hanging certain items, using shelves or drawers, or investing in storage containers.
- Think about seasonal rotation.
To avoid overcrowding your wardrobe, consider rotating your clothes seasonally. Store off-season clothes in a separate storage space until you need them. The best way I found to store seasonally is by using vacuum-pack bags and storing them under my bed. This not only saves space but it also allows quick access in case I need something out of season.
- Keep up with maintenance.
After decluttering your wardrobe, make sure to keep up with maintenance. Regularly evaluate your clothes and get rid of anything that no longer serves a purpose. Seasonally is the easiest way to do this.
In conclusion, decluttering your wardrobe can be a daunting task, but it’s worth it for a more organized and functional space. By following these ten tips, you can create a wardrobe that brings you joy and makes getting dressed in the morning a little easier.
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