When you open your closet, do you see a big old mess? Do you feel overwhelmed, and wish you had the time and money to organize it? Then this is your lucky day. I will offer you time-saving and affordable organizing advice, and the best news is, my advice is free and the products are optional.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 2-4 Hours
Here's How:
- Before we get started there are just a few things you will need:
- A few hours of un-interrupted time: While you may want someone to keep you company, unless they are going to help you, they may distract you from getting the job done.
- Three Large Trash Bags: Label each bag (you can write these words on masking tape and apply directly to the bag) one bag: “Trash”, one bag “Keep”, and one bag “Donate”
- Music: Listening to music while doing a chore you may not especially like can increase your motivation!
- Remove all the clothes from your closet.
- Assess each piece of clothing and determine which garbage bag you should assign it to:
Trash: Items that are irreparable (ripped, stained, etc.)
Donate: Items that you no longer want that are still in decent condition. Donate to friends, family or charities.
Keep: Items that you really love, not items that you loved many years ago, or wish to love in many years to come. These are items that fit and flatter you today.
- Assess each piece of clothing and determine which garbage bag you should assign it to:
- Once you have determined which clothes you are going to keep, you are ready to put them back into your closet.
- Keep clothes organized by categorizing them. For example, on the clothing rod, keep jeans hung together, dresses together, skirts together and dress shirts together.
- Assign specific drawers by category. For example, t-shirts only, lounge clothes, or pajamas.
- Arranging clothes by the same color is also helpful and time-saving.
- Store seasonal items: Save space in your main closet by storing seasonal items in a spare closet, or in a storage bin under your bed.
- Storage solutions: Depending on the lay-out of your closet, you may want to consider investing in storage.
- There are a number of options that are both stylish and affordable, and will last you for many years to come. I am still using storage baskets from twenty years ago!
- Your organizational goal is to keep your clothes hung up and folded in designated drawers, by category and color. You may have to practice this a number of times, but eventually it will become habitual.
