There’s nothing worse than not being able to find the things you need, especially when it means having to rifle through clothes, shoes and accessories. And having an overflowing, unorganised wardrobe just makes it even harder. The first step to decluttering and organising your wardrobe is to take stock of what’s actually there. What do you need, what can you donate to charity and what needs to be thrown away?
The key here is to be ruthless. It’s likely that you only wear less than half of what’s inside. But sometimes we hold onto things because they have sentimental value, or because we’re convinced that one day they’ll fit again. But if you’re prepared to tackle the job, and you really want to get organised, here are some tips for decluttering, consolidating and organising your wardrobe.
1. Empty and assess your cupboard
This may seem extreme, but it’s the only way you’ll be able to see exactly what you own. Take a look at the empty closet space and think of some ways that you could enhance it. Here are some options:
- Hanging shoe storage
- Scarf hangers
- Belt organisers
- Tie hangers
You can also put hooks on the inside of doors, and if your jewellery or makeup is in your wardrobe, invest in some storage containers. A good jewellery box will not only help to organise the area, but it will also help to protect the contents.
2. Assess the pile
There are many different methods to help you decide what to keep and what to throw away.
Rather than choosing what to discard, the KonMari method allows you to choose what you’re going to keep. The main philosophy is that if the item you’re holding in your hand doesn’t bring you joy, you should throw it away.
This method can be time-consuming, but it’s thorough. If you find that your clothes are bringing you joy, but you’re not wearing them because they no longer fit, be sure to have them perfectly altered so you can give them new life and make the most out of them.
Another way to assess what you’re really using is the ‘hanger method’. This doesn’t involve taking everything out of your cupboard, but rather organising your wardrobe in a way that when you look inside, it’s obvious what has been worn and what hasn’t. This method starts with all your hangers facing the same direction. When you put worn clothes back, flip the hanger so that it’s facing the opposite way. At the end of the month, take a look and see what has actually been worn. Based on this, you can make your decision as to whether or not to keep the items you haven’t touched.
3. Have fun organising your wardrobe
For most people, organising your wardrobe isn’t the funnest thing to do, but there are ways to make it more enjoyable. This is where the Minimalist Game comes in. In this situation, the number of things you need to discard correlates to the day of the month. So, on the first day of the month, remove one item, on the tenth day, you remove ten, etc. Now, obviously a lot of people don’t have this much stuff to get rid of, so the game may only last for a week. Otherwise, you’ll be removing an average of 496 items from your dresser each month.
If you don’t have that many things to get rid of and want to take your time sorting through your things, another route is the One Method. Simply get rid of one thing every day for a month, and at the end of the month, your wardrobe will be looking fresh and organised.
4. Invest in proper hangers and supplies
Nothing makes a wardrobe look more neat and organised than proper hangers and storage boxes. Get rid of every wire hanger and grab some plastic, wooden or velvet ones instead. Your clothes will thank you for it as they’re much kinder to the fabric. Then, for those shoes that need to be stored in boxes, grab some clear plastic ones so you can actually see what’s inside, rather than having to open and shut every box.
5. Everything has a place when organising your wardrobe
The more organised your cupboard, the easier your life will be. There’s no point hanging pants up next to tops and dresses next to skirts, as things will just get mixed up. Designate a place for everything. Hang shirts with shirts, and pants with pants. You can even go one step further and group long-sleeved shirts together and short-sleeved shirts together. This means that when you’re choosing your outfit for the day. You only need to look in certain sections, rather than rifling through the whole cupboard. If you need to, perhaps look at installing some shelves and drawers, as this can help with designating certain spots.
6. Put one in, take one out
This is the perfect way to ensure your closet stays neat and tidy. Whenever you purchase something new, put another item that you don’t wear into a pile. At the end of the month, take this pile of clothes to a charity bin. This not only ensures that you’ll actually wear the majority of the items in your wardrobe, but it will also help you from going back to your cluttered ways.
Making the most of your wardrobe space
Having an organised wardrobe is the key to stress-free mornings and making sure that you’re getting the most out of your clothes. You’ve invested in looking good, so it pays to be able to easily choose and access all your favourite pieces. If you’ve gone through your wardrobe and found that there are a few items that need altering, make sure you pop into your local Looksmart Alterations for a quick chat with one of our tailors.
Organising your wardrobe with LOOKSMART
120 stores across Australia and New Zealand. LOOKSMART certified Stylists (in selected stores), tailor, seamstress and dry cleaner providing all types clothing advice, alterations, repairs, and dry cleaning (most stores). For special services, please select relevant category when using store locator.