How to Declutter and Curate Your Closet… Like a Professional Organizer and Certified KonMari Consultant | PART 1: The Declutter
In our previous blog, “Keep Calm and Carry-On: Secrets to Packing Like a Professional Organizer”, Organized For Good shared several secrets to packing a suitcase for vacation.
One of the biggest packing secrets, however, deserves a series of posts all on its own: mindfully decluttering your wardrobe. “When your wardrobe is decluttered and well-arranged, packing is a breeze because you have already eliminated items that cause unnecessary noise for the process of getting dressed.” Yeah, we said it, so…
…Let’s talk about decluttering your closet.
It’s a process–to be sure–and there are about a hundred ways to make it complicated. At least for this post, we’ll keep it simple and focus on the process. Stay tuned with OFG for more detailed ways to approach your closet in the future.
“How do I have enough clothes to stock a Goodwill pop-up store, and still have nothing to wear?” -All of us, at some point.
In our consumer-driven world, our wardrobes quickly become cluttered with items that (never served) or no longer serve us. The best way to build a closet you love is to first get rid of and edit the one you dread. By clearing your current closet of items that no longer work for you, you’ll better understand yourself. When you discard items, you’ll often see trends around what you buy and then why it doesn’t seem to work out in practice. When you are able to see your kept items you love and wear every day, you’ll know what you actually like, and how to organize what remains. This process not only creates physical space but also fosters mental clarity and a sense of control.
Decluttering your closet—effectively–starts with mindfulness.
First, let’s not forget how to define mindfulness: “awareness that arises when paying attention to the present moment” without judgment.¹ When applied to decluttering your closet, having and maintaining a mindful approach can be difficult. Often a lot of baggage comes along with our clothes. There’s often financial baggage of how much we spent on a blazer we never wore, or a collection of items we bought because Instagram had us thinking we could really pull off those leather leggings in 100 degree weather. There’s baggage around our ever-changing bodies. We have our wardrobe that fits sometimes, fits most often, and the one that only fit over a decade ago. Then there’s the baggage of the wardrobe given to you by the well-meaning gift-givers of our lives. We love them, but dang, they don’t know our style (which makes sense, because neither do we understand our own style!).
Step 1: Most importantly, establish a mindful approach and declutter your closet with compassion.
Don’t worry, we have clear guidelines for this one:
Set a timer for five minutes and think about who you are today and what type of closet provides you with the best looks for your lifestyle. (It can be more visionary, but don’t make it unattainable!)
Prompts:Why do I want to declutter my closet? Reduce stress? Develop style?
What are my other motivations with this project?
What is my favorite outfit, and why do I love it and feel confident when I wear it?
Write down your visions in a bold marker on a piece of paper that you can keep beside you while decluttering
Write down some affirmations to help you keep your mindful approach alive and well.
Examples:I am doing hard work today by decluttering my closet, and I’m worth it.
Every item I am keeping enhances my life and my well-being.
Every item I release releases me from outdated expectations and clears space for the new.
Step 2: Dismantle your current wardrobe, AKA, “make the mountain.”
Pull out every item of clothing, including accessories and shoes, and lay them out in a space where you can see everything. This visual representation helps you understand the volume of what you own.
We know this part can be scary and tiresome, so here are some additional tips:
Pick a space to make the clothing mountain that is fairly clear and easy to maneuver.
Pre-sort all clothes into subcategories (put all dresses together, all shorts together, etc. When you’re done it will look less like a giant singular mountain and more like a landscape of hills)
Be aware of your time commitment to the project. It usually takes at least five hours to get through a typical medium volume wardrobe (not including shoes, socks, underwear, and accessory items). If you need the space back by the end of your time, only pull out things you will have time to process. Keep sticky notes or labels nearby to label things that have not been assessed and you can easily get to them another time.
Further subcategorize your clothes with these categories in mind:
Type of garment: tops, bottoms, dresses, outerwear, shoes, and accessories.
Function of garment: casual, work, formal, and seasonal wear.
Step 3: Equip Yourself
If you haven’t already, there are some items you’ll like to have handy while decluttering:
Sticky notes and a marker for labeling
Small scissors (to cut off tags)
Paper bag for textile recycling (clothes that are too worn or used to be donated)
Trash bags for donations
A box or empty bin for items that need mending or tailoring
Not recommended: a bin for clothing you might want to sell*
Empty space: make sure you have a space to put things you are keeping so you don’t have to process anything twice
*(We encourage clients to refrain from resale as it creates extra projects for you to complete that interfere with your decluttering. Additionally, most clothing does not resell at a high value and is not worth the time investment. Exceptions: high-end designer clothing like Prada and Chanel; if you already consign clothing frequently and it is not outside your regular errand-running schedule; and if you are really, really good at task management and execution).
Step 4: Evaluate each item of clothing.
Mindfully evaluating each item involves a series of thoughtful questions (you can even use a white board to help you return to this evaluation process throughout your decluttering project):
Do I love this item? Does it spark joy or bring happiness when you wear it?
Do I wear this item regularly? Is it something you reach for often, or does it sit unworn?
Does it fit well? Is it comfortable and flattering, or does it need alterations?
Is it in good condition? Is it free of stains, holes, or excessive wear?
Does it match my current lifestyle? Does it suit your daily activities and needs?
If an item doesn't meet these criteria, it’s a candidate for removal. However, mindfulness also means being gentle with yourself. It’s okay to keep a few sentimental pieces or items you’re unsure about, as long as they don’t overwhelm your space. Don’t forget to refer to your vision paper when you feel lost!
Step 5: Letting Go
Letting go can be challenging, especially with items that were expensive or hold sentimental value. Approach this step with compassion. Recognize that holding onto something that no longer serves you prevents you from fully appreciating and using what does. Often it helps to say or think “thank you” as you decide to let go of things. Reasons to be thankful for things you are letting go of:
It represented a time you hold dear in your heart, but you have other ways to remember that time.
It was something you bought for a fantasy version of yourself, but you know pretending to be that person was no fun.
It taught a valuable lesson about mindful consumption: (ex:) before you buy another expensive skirt, you’ll do more research on the reviews and try on a similar item before you commit.
This item was your ride-or-die for years, and it departs with glory and gratitude for its service to you.
Step 6: Organize what you are keeping with Marie Kondo’s storage principles in mind.
The following contains a summarized version of guidelines from Marie Kondo’s Spark Joy, specifically from Chapter 4: Tidying clothes. We also have some of our own tried-and-true guidelines ;)
Use Marie Kondo’s method for folding clothes–we have video tutorials on our channel here. At the end, all your folding clothes should stand upright in your drawers and everything should be visible when you open that drawer.
In drawers, use columns to create further subcategories. For example, in one drawer you may have three columns of tops: one is for long-sleeve, the other is for tees, and one is for tank tops.
Small boxes are handy for keeping folded things upright. Use some that are free like old shoe boxes or other small boxes with the lids cut off or nested to store your items.
Once you have subcategories like tops and bottoms together, you can sort by color within the category.
Use under-the-bed boxes or large bins on a closet shelf to store out-of-season items.
Think about how items are displayed at nice stores and boutiques. Make your closet space beautiful by modeling after visuals you appreciate. For example, ensure all your hangers match and use storage bins that you love.
Step 7: Give yourself a treat!
Don’t forget to treat yourself after accomplishing any amount of the tasks above. We know that change is difficult, and projects like these require a lot of time and energy. Take breaks when you need them and do something you enjoy after you’ve completed your work for the day!
If you get overwhelmed, your favorite professional organizers are ready to help you finish decluttering your closet!
If you start this process and get lost in the sauce, or are staring at our lists wondering how the heck anyone can do all of that work alone, give us a shout! We haul away that unwanted clothing right after your appointment, so your space clears out even faster and takes one extra thing off your long to-do list!
We offer free consultation calls to assess your needs and make an organizing plan OR you can book us directly without the extra chat.
We got you, but in case you got it on your own–we are cheering you on!
¹2020. Harvard Review of Psychiatry. https://journals.lww.com/hrpjournal/fulltext/2020/11000/Mindfulness_and_Behavior_Change.3.aspx?context=LatestArticles
