Does your closet simply have too much clutter? Learning how to declutter your closet can greatly make a difference in how much space you have to use for your items. Sometimes we hang onto things we just don’t really need. If you’ve got clothes that were last in fashion in the late 80′s, boxes of reciepts from the last 30 years, and anything in your closet you haven’t thought about or looked at in the last decade, then it’s time for you to say goodbye to all that clutter and start cleaning it out!
It can be difficult to let go of things that either have sentimental value or things that you think “you might need someday”. But usually, we don’t really need these things – and if we do, chances are the closet isn’t exactly the best place for them anyway. Wouldn’t you rather have photographs of family and friends in nice books on a shelf you can access easily rather than an old shoe box you rarely look at? Do you really think you will wear that shirt you had from high school again? Our tips below will help you declutter your closet in no time.
1. Define the Closet’s Purpose: There’s a good chance that your closet right now does not have one designated purpose. While you might think your closet in your bedroom is for clothes, if you have craft materials or sporting goods equipment taking up most of the space, there’s a good chance you haven’t really designated the closet as a space for one certain specific thing. Instead it’s become a catch all for everything you don’t know where to put it! So, the first step is to decide what really needs to be in the closet and make sure that is the only thing that goes into it! If you have items like craft supplies or sporting goods equipment, think about carefully if the closet is really the best place for it. Maybe a kitchen cabinet would be more suitable for the craft items, or the garage for the sports gear. Once you define a purpose for the closet, the rest becomes much easier.
2. Empty Everything Out: It’s best to work with a fresh, clean landscape, which means every single item must come out. Sometimes you have to make a mess to get organized, so don’t be afraid if it looks like your closet has spontaneously combusted all over the place. Some people when cleaning everything out will start organizing into piles right away, but you can also save that for the next step. Sometimes it is just best to get everything out at first, depending on how much stuff you have.
3. Start Sorting: Once the closet is cleared out, you’ll want to start sorting through all of the things you have taken out. Ideally you’ll have two or three piles: one for keeping, one for donating, and one for throwing away. Many items can be donated or recycled, but inevitably there will be a few things that will simply need trashed. When going through stuff realistically ask yourself why you are keeping an item and if it is something you will need or use within the next year. If you’re not sure or are doubtful, it’s usually a very good sign that you can bear to part with it, or at least consider storing it somewhere else that you don’t use regularly, such as storage space under the bed or in the attic.
4. Devise an Organization System: Once you have everything taken out of the closet, the next thing you need to do is to create an organization plan. Often times you can use what you already have, though you may want to consider adding additional shelving or storage units inside the area to help maximize the use of space. Labeling areas can also help you stay on track and organized, making sure that everything is given a designated space and goes in its proper place when not in use.
5. Put Items Back in Your Closet: Now that you have organized empty space available, and you have been able to get rid of things you don’t use or need regularly, you are ready to start putting items back in the closet. You’ll be amazed at how much space you have now that everything is well organized and put together in one spot!
6. Maintain a Clean Closet: This is probably the hardest step, which is to maintain keeping things neatly organized and in their place. Try to make hanging things back up and putting them in their proper place a part of your regular daily routine. Avoid placing anything in the closet unless it has a designated space that you create for it.
Now that you have the basic steps for how to declutter and clean out your closet, you are ready to get started! While it may seem like a huge task at first, breaking into smaller steps often helps make it seem less overwhelming. Learning to get rid of items you don’t really use or need and making sure that you keep staying organized a priotity will help you maintain a clean and useful space for the long term.