Decluttering your closet can feel like an overwhelming task, but it doesn’t have to be! By following a few simple steps, you can transform your closet into an organized oasis that brings you joy. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to declutter the clothes in your closet.

Do An Initial Purge

The first step is to remove everything from your closet so you can assess what you actually have. As you take items out, get rid of anything that is:

Damaged or stained beyond repair
Ill-fitting and cannot be altered
Outdated and no longer your style
Unworn for over a year (except special occasion items)

Be ruthless in your purging! If you’re holding onto items purely for sentimental reasons, put them in storage rather than your closet.

As you purge, make sure to have donation bins and garbage bags on hand to immediately get rid of the items leaving your closet.

Sort Your Remaining Clothes

Once your closet is empty, sort your remaining clothes into the below categories:

Tops
Bottoms
Dresses
Outerwear
Athleticwear
Accessories
Shoes

This will allow you to see exactly how much you have in each clothing category. As you sort, get rid of anything you discover that no longer fits properly or suits your style.

Be aware of keeping multiples of the same style item. For example, you may discover you have 5 black t-shirts. Consider if you actually require that many, or if some can be donated.

Evaluate Your Needs

Analyze your lifestyle and determine if you have any clothing gaps. Make a list of key pieces you are missing for:

Work
Casual wear
Exercise
Special occasions

Identifying what you need will prevent impulse purchases. You can shop for classic, versatile pieces to mix and match that will serve you for years to come.

Create A Clothing Budget

Determine how much you can realistically spend on clothing each month. Remember to budget for new purchases as well as tailoring existing pieces and dry cleaning.

Creating a budget helps you make wise spending decisions and prevents unnecessary purchases. Focus on quality over quantity when adding to your wardrobe.

Choose The Right Storage Solutions

Decluttering is wasted if you don’t have proper storage solutions. Consider the below options:

Hanging Storage

Wooden hangers for tops and delicate items. Use slim velvet hangers to maximize space.
Sturdy plastic hangers for pants and heavy coats
Skirt and pants hangers to vertically store bottoms

Drawers

Dividers and organizers for folding socks, underwear and accessories
Shallow drawers for sweaters and t-shirts
Deep drawers for pants and jeans

Shelving

Fold and store sweaters on open shelving
Display shoes on shelves rather than stacked in boxes

Specialty Storage

Over the door storage for purses and scarves
Under the bed storage for shoes and off-season items
A valet rod for hanging tomorrow’s outfit

Proper storage helps keep your closet neat so you can see everything easily.

Assign Locations For Clothing Categories

Give every item a designated storage spot in your organized closet system. Some suggestions:

Store t-shirts together in a drawer
Hang pants and skirts together in one area
Place accessories on hooks near the door for easy access
Store shoes on shelves or racks visible at a glance

Storing like items together prevents rummaging through your closet to find what you need. You’ll also notice if you have duplicates taking up space.

Purge Seasonally

Get in the habit of purging seasonally:

Spring – As the weather warms up, put away your winter wear and heavy layers. Donate coats, scarves and boots you didn’t wear all season.

Summer – Transition your wardrobe to lightweight fabrics and clothes suitable for warm weather. Clear out last season’s summer items that are outdated.

Fall – Pack up shorts, tanks tops, and sandals. Shop for new fall basics and transition pieces. Donate summer items you didn’t wear.

Winter – Store warm weather clothes and evaluate your cold weather wear. Look for any worn items to replace.

Seasonal purging keeps your closet up to date with your current needs. It also makes space for new seasonally appropriate apparel.

Maintain With The “One In, One Out” Rule

When you add new pieces to your wardrobe, weed out a similar number of items to maintain your closet’s organization. For example:

Buy a new pair of black pants, donate an old pair
Purchase a new dress, sell or giveaway another dress you don’t wear

This stops your closet from becoming overflowing again. Be mindful of what is coming in your closet as much as what is going out.

Perform Regular Clothing Rotations

On a monthly or quarterly basis, rotate clothing from your main closet into storage and vice versa. This ensures all garments get worn evenly and you actually see everything you own.

Rotating prevents “unseen” clothes piling up unworn in the back of your closet or dresser drawers. It keeps your wardrobe fresh and revives forgotten pieces.

Store Out Of Season Items

Designate storage bins or garment bags for off-season clothing:

Winter coats, scarves and wool sweaters
Heavy denim, corduroy pants and flannel shirts
Shorts, swimsuits, tanks tops and sundresses

Storing off season clothing removes bulk and clutter from your primary closet space. You’ll have room for clothes currently needed.

Keep Only Items You Love

Be incredibly selective about what remains in your closet after decluttering. If you don’t absolutely love an item, let it go.

Analyze your emotional connection to clothes. Keep beloved pieces that make you feel confident and happy. Donate anything you have doubts about to avoid wasted space.

A decluttered closet of only your favorite go-to pieces will revitalize your wardrobe. You’ll reduce decision fatigue in the mornings too!

Create An Ideal Closet Vision

Define your ideal closet using a vision board or Pinterest board. Collect images that represent your dream space. Look for inspiration on:

Custom closet systems and storage solutions
Ideal wardrobe pieces and colors
Dream closet organization and layout

This provides a visual representation of the closet you aspire to create. Use it as motivation during the decluttering process.

Make Decluttering A Habit

Maintain your tidy closet by:

Doing mini purges when changing seasons
Evaluating new purchases and their purpose
Donating quality unused pieces regularly
Assigning every item a home
Storing off season items to free up space

Regular maintenance prevents clutter build-up and keeps your closet neat and organized. Decluttering your closet doesn’t have to be a monumental task. Follow this guide to transform your closet into your own personal oasis!

Frequently Asked Questions About Decluttering Your Closet

How often should you declutter your closet?

Ideally, you should declutter your closet thoroughly once or twice a year. Do a major purge during seasonal transitions in the spring and fall. You can do mini purges monthly to prevent clutter from building up over time.

Should you keep clothes you haven’t worn in a year?

Most experts recommend donating or selling any clothes you haven’t worn for 12 months or longer, aside from special occasion items like cocktail dresses or suits. If you are holding onto unworn clothes due to their cost or sentimental value, consider storing them instead of keeping them in your main closet.

What is the best way to store off-season clothing?

Use garment bags, plastic bins or storage boxes to pack away off-season clothing. Add cedar blocks or natural cotton balls to prevent moth damage and musty smells. Store clothing in a dry, temperature controlled space like under the bed, a closet shelf or the basement.

How often should you rotate your wardrobe?

Rotate your wardrobe every 3-6 months to get good use of all your clothing. Switch out your heaviest winter wear in early spring. Rotate lightweight items like shorts and tanks into storage in fall. Go through transitional pieces yearly to purge unwanted items.

Should you declutter your closet all at once?

It’s better to break up decluttering into several smaller sessions than marathon sessions. Decluttering your entire closet in one day can feel mentally draining. Take before and after pictures for motivation. Sort and purge one section like tops or dresses at a time for a more manageable process.

Conclusion

Decluttering your closet is a great way to revamp your wardrobe and free up valuable space. By regularly purging unused items and adopting organizing solutions that work for your lifestyle, you can maintain a tidy closet. Invest time into building a functional system that houses only your very favorite pieces you feel amazing wearing. Focus on quality basics in fabrics and silhouettes that flatter your body to maximize use. Employ seasonal storage so you always have access to weather appropriate apparel. With the above tips, you can take control of your closet chaos and create a clutter free space that makes getting dressed each day a joy.

Introduction

Many of us struggle with overflowing closets and cluttered drawers. Do you stare into your closet only to declare you have “nothing to wear”? You likely have too many pieces crammed into your closet space. Decluttering gives you the chance to reset your wardrobe so everything inside brings you joy to wear. This comprehensive guide takes you step-by-step through the decluttering process to create your dream organized closet.

How to Declutter the Clothes in Your Closet