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Decluttering Bedroom Closets – Get Ruthless!
Home organization can’t be realized until we address our closets, especially bedroom closets. Let’s face it, closets can evoke feelings of pride or of ominous dread. We’re proud of our closets when they display our glorious wardrobe in a way that speaks to our sense of taste and fashion. Who wouldn’t be impressed at all the name bands? And those shoes…!
But (for many of the rest of us) we can also feel total dread at the prospect of just opening the closet door and facing the total chaos we know awaits us. (It may even be dangerous if that old bowling ball or ice skate is still on the top shelf!) The best thing about most closets is that they have closeable doors – keeping contents out of site and out of mind!
Good thing the door shuts!
While that doesn’t solve our need for neat, accessible surroundings, it does allow us to keep the contents hidden for at least as long as guests remain. But we have to maintain a working relationship with our bedroom closets because that’s where the outfits are.
Simply put, whether you own a spacious walk-in closet or the simple reach-in kind, one thing is for sure, everyone enjoys having a clean and organized closet. We may not be used to neatness, but we do appreciate it when we have it.
Who doesn’t like being able to quickly find what you want, when you want it? As with any other clutter area of our homes, organizing closet contents is not a difficult task, only one that demands focused attention and some good organizational techniques. Try this 1-2-3 method for organizing bedroom closets:
Step 1: Empty
Start with empty!
Start by removing everything from the closet. You can’t really organize anything unless you can see and inventory what you have. With everything removed, you’re in a clear position to control what goes back into the closet.
You can also get a clear sense of possibility for the space, for example, how shelving or other organizing systems can be added. Make any updates needed wlith the closet empty, as well as paint or repair walls as needed.
Step 2: Sort
Mix and match heaven!
This is always the hardest part because you have to adopt some strict guidelines that make sense and will accomplish the task of subtracting. Consider these guidelines when you put clothes back into the closet and the logic behind them:
* Lose it if you don’t use it. Be ruthless. If you don’t wear an item of clothing every other week, you probably don’t need it (unless it’s formal or seasonal). Donate it to charity or a friend, sell it on eBay, or recycle it to the neighbors via a yard sale.
* Make sure each item has a match. Get rid of anything that doesn’t have at least one other current item to complement it.
* Enlist objectivity. Find a friend who knows you well to help make the tough decisions about what goes and stays. You need honesty and objectivity to make this process work.
* Get rid of uncomfortable clothing. Clothing that is uncomfortable will remain in the back of the closet forever. If the shoe pinches or the skirt binds, pass it along to a friend or charity that can use it.
Step 3: Organize
Organization rocks!
Once you’ve sorted closet contents and rid yourself of clothing per the previous step, it’s time to organize the closet so it offers the most practicality, meaning it speeds the process of selecting what you plan to wear. Consider these guidelines:
* Organize by function. This means hanging all your blouses together, then all your skirts, then your slacks. This allows you to put an outfit together quickly.
* Organize by form. Color is the most useful form, so hang reds, blues, greens, whites, etc. together. This allows you to mix and match quickly.
* Get rid of the closet pole. Poles are reel space gluttons when you consider you likely only hang one-third of your clothes in the first place. Instead, install shelves or use readily available modular shelving.
* Move out-of-season items to higher ground. This means using available vertical space to combat clutter. You may need to install additional shelving to take best advantage of the space. If you plan to use cardboard storage boxes or bins, be sure and label them for easy identification. If you have to pull every box down to find something, you’re right back into the clutter game.
* Shelve your shoes. You can add minimal shelving just for your shoes up off the floor so you can always see what you have. You can also store sneakers and other informal footwear in a basket for easy access.
Whether your closet is tiny, average, or as big as most people’s bedrooms, taking the time to declutter as part of your regular home organization routine, will pay off in obvious benefits. You will be able to see the full contents of your closet with a quick glance and to locate what you want in a quick and efficient manner. The perfect outfit will practically sort itself out!
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