How to Organize Your Closet: a Complete Guide
If you've ever stood in front of your overflowing wardrobe and lamented, “I have nothing to wear," you're not alone. But rest assured, the solution is not necessarily to buy more clothes. Instead, it's about making strategic choices and organizing your closet effectively. Follow these steps to transform your wardrobe into a curated collection that truly reflects your style.
Step 1: Understand Your Style
Before diving into your closet, take some time to understand what colors and styles are most flattering on you. Consider your physical characteristics, personal style, lifestyle, and preferences. Once you have a clear vision of your ideal style, you'll be able to make smarter decisions about what to keep and what to discard.
Step 2: Gather Supplies
You'll need some essential tools for this closet overhaul. Invest in quality hangers to properly support your clothes - wire hangers can cause damage and become tangled. Also, gather cardboard boxes or trash bags and label them for categories such as 'Donate', 'Recycle', 'Give to Sis', 'Take to Tailor for Alterations', and 'Store Elsewhere'. Lastly, have sticky notes or tags on hand to label items that need repair or alteration.
Step 3: Analyze Your Current Wardrobe
Now comes the fun part - going through your existing clothes. Look at each item critically. Does it fit well? Does it suit your style? Does it make you feel good when you wear it? If the answer to any of these questions is no, it's time to say goodbye. Remember, every piece you remove makes room for something better.
Step 4: Dispose Responsibly
For the items you're not keeping, consider selling them online or donating them. This not only helps others but is also environmentally friendly. Remember, one person's discarded item could be another's treasure.
Step 5: Sort and Organize
Once you've decided which items to keep, sort them into categories. This could be by type (pants, skirts, tops), by season, or by occasion (work, casual, formal). Start by returning all your 'keeper' items to your closet. Hanging your clothes rather than folding them in drawers or stacking them on shelves will make it easier for you to see what you have at a glance.
A few key rules to follow:
Hang one item per hanger: This allows you to group garments by category. Exceptions can be made for two-piece dresses or suits that you would always wear as a unit.
For slippery or stretchy garments: use peel-and-stick foam strips or non-slip hangers to keep them securely in place.
For sweaters: Hanging your clothes can make it easier to find and choose what to wear. If you decide to hang your sweaters, do it right to keep them in good shape. Use these easy steps to hang them correctly.
Organize your pants: When it comes to hanging pants, use clip hangers and tuck in the waistline at the center front and back.
This method ensures the folds follow the creases in the pant leg and the garment shape is fully supported.
Jeans: fold your jeans and create additional space in your closet, which can then be used for other purposes such as displaying your shoes.
Arrange by Color: Within each category, arrange garments in color order from left to right, beginning with white, cream, yellow, orange, red, purple, blue, green, then brown, gray, and finally black. This will give your closet a visually pleasing rainbow-like appearance.
Group patterned clothes with other garments that have the same prominent color.
If the rainbow arrangement doesn't align with your aesthetic, try the dark-to-light method: darkest shades on the left and gradually transition to the lightest hues on the right.
Final touches: button every garment and ensure all your clothes are facing the same direction. While it might seem like overkill now, this level of organization can make a world of difference in your daily routine.
Organizing your closet may seem like a daunting task, but the payoff is well worth it. With a well-edited and organized wardrobe, you'll not only save time getting dressed each day, but you'll also get more wear out of the clothes you love. So roll up your sleeves and get started – your dream closet awaits!
