If you get a headache each time you have to find something in your closet, it is time to give it a long overdue makeover. Whether or not you have a walk-in closet or a small space with a door, you don’t want to feel anxious when you open your closet wondering what you are going to wear or how to find it. Take the time, maybe a day or a weekend, to organize and declutter your closet. Organizing your closet is as simple as A-B-C!
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]ssess
Before you begin to organize your closet, you need to assess your space and your goals. Do you have enough room for everything you own and more importantly do you wear it? If the answer to these two questions is yes, then you can skip the step of having to purge and sort your closet contents. But if you are like most people, there are many items in your closet – uncomfortable shoes or skinny jeans you hope to fit into one day – that can and should go. Before you begin, decide if you need to just organize or if a de-cluttering session is necessary.
[dropcap]B[/dropcap]asics
The next step is to decide how you want to organize your closet. The possibilities are endless and you’ll want a system that works for you (we’re about making life easier). Start with a list of things that you want in your closet and make an inventory of what storage systems you already have.
Grouping Items by Type or Occasion
One option is to sort your clothes by type of item – pants, shirts, sweaters, skirts, and so on, together. If you have pants aplenty, install a second hanging rod and put all your pants together at eye-level or slightly below.
You can also sort your clothes by occasion – work, around the house, gym, evening, or other types of clothing you own. Within these sections, group all the pants, tops, etc., together to again make things as easy as possible for you.
Sweaters
If you own a lot of sweaters, hanging them is not recommended. Instead, install some shelving so your sweaters can be folded. When you are folding your sweaters, make different piles for your heavy and lightweight sweaters so you can choose based on the weather for the day. Use dividers to keep your sweater stacks from toppling over.
Accessories
Utilize small baskets or boxes for hats or jewelry. For shoe storage, use a hanging rack, a shoetree, or line them up neatly on the floor.
Hooks are such a versatile storage accessory and a must-have in any closet. You can use it to store your dry cleaning before you take it in, hang your bathrobe, ties and belts, or pick out your outfit for the next day and hang it on the hook so you are ready to go (and save time in the morning).
[dropcap]C[/dropcap]onsistency
A closet that is organized with enough room for the future growth of your wardrobe is a closet that will stay organized. Be brutal with yourself once you have taken the time to organize your closet. Make yourself stick to the system you implemented. After you have found a home for all of your clothes (or shoes) take the time (each and every time) to put them back in their new spot. You don’t want all of your hard work to be for naught.
Without a little bit of discipline and consistency your closet could revert back to its former state. After a couple of weeks of sticking with your new closet management system (whatever one you decide works for you), it will be second nature to put your clothes back where they belong and make it easier for you.