5 Golden Rules for Decluttering Your Walk-in Closet

Rule #1: Toss the Clutter

The first rule when decluttering your closet is to be ruthless and get rid of anything you don't absolutely love or need. This means parsing through every item and asking yourself: Did I wear this in the past year? Does it fit properly? Is it damaged or stained? Would I rebuy this today? If your answer to these questions is no, then into the donation pile it goes.

I know it's tempting to keep things "just in case", but trust me, holding onto clothing you never actually wear doesn't serve you. Take an hour or two to try on everything in your closet and purge what doesn't fit your current lifestyle. Don't forget to check pockets and remove random receipts, tissues, and other accumulated detritus. Getting rid of the clutter is the crucial first step.

Daily Tip: You can make this a daily habit by keeping an empty box or basket in the closet and when you come across items you know you don’t want to keep, toss them in. Just remove the container when it’s full, donate or throw out the clothes, and replace the empty container. This saves you from long purging sessions and ensures your closet stays decluttered.

Rule #2: Categorize by Type

Now for the fun part: organizing your pared-down closet items into categories. This step instantly creates order from chaos. Designate different areas for pants, shirts, dresses, sweaters, etc. I like to organize my closet from light to heavy weight and end with shoes and accessories.

Pay attention to how you use your closet and what makes the most sense for your daily routine. Maybe you need quicker access to business clothes during the week. Or your workout gear should be near the door. Grouping similar garments not only looks tidy but also makes getting ready a breeze.

Daily Tip: When you do laundry, make sure you put clothes back into their proper categories. Take a few minutes a day to check and make sure nothing’s out of place. You can try taking a picture of your closet at its most orderly so you can check to make sure it looks the way it’s supposed to. That way, you won’t have to restore a jumbled mess in a month or two.

Rule #3: Use Clear Containers

Take your categorization up a notch with clear bins and storage containers. I'm obsessed with clear containers because you can instantly see what's inside. Label them with categories like "pajamas", "yoga pants" or "summer dresses".

For small items like underwear, socks, and pantyhose, use dividers or sub-bins inside a large clear container so everything has its designated spot. The see-through bins keep your closet looking neat and make locating exactly what you need a cinch.

Daily Tip: Make sure you can find what you need in your storage containers by making sure the clothes in them are stored properly. Whether you should fold or roll clothes for packing and storage is debatable, but it depends largely on the type of clothing you’re storing. Travel Fashion Girl explains that it’s often better to fold clothes that are very light, very heavy, or very easily wrinkled while rolling medium-weight fabrics. Make sure to follow your folding or rolling pattern whenever you have something new to store.

Rule #4: Design a Landing Strip

Take advantage of prime real estate by creating a landing strip for daily essentials you need quick access to. This is the first spot you see when opening your closet door. Mine has space for my standard work purse, the shoes I wear most frequently, and my gym bag pre-packed and ready to grab.

Having a dedicated place for the items you use constantly avoids morning scramble sessions. Make sure your landing strip has enough room for all of your daily go-tos. You’re essentially creating a mini-mudroom inside your closet. Hooks for bags, shelves for folded clothing, trays for small accessories—customize it to suit your needs. 

Daily Tip: Position a mirror near your landing strip. If this is the place you’ll be putting on your shoes and grabbing your bag before you leave, it’s also a good place to give yourself a once-over before you leave the house.

Rule #5: Give Everything a Home

This final rule cements your organized closet: every item must have a designated home. Take time to examine your newly decluttered space and ensure you have a place for each belonging. Think about your morning and bedtime routines. Are your pajamas in the perfect spot for sleep prep? Can you easily put away worn clothes?

Get creative with hanging racks, adjustable shelving, bins, and baskets so everything has a home. Use vertical space to free up the floor. Any item tossed on the floor or a random shelf is an organization failure. When everything has a consistent home, maintaining order becomes natural.

Daily Tip: Small items can be hard to find a home for inside of a closet. An over-the-door organizer with pockets can be a great place to store lots of things that could get lost in the overall space – socks, sandals, buttons, extra pens, a small sewing kit for emergency repairs, or anything else you might need. Make sure anything you use is returned to its home by the end of the day.

Conclusion

There you have it—my five golden rules for conquering the clutter and creating a serene closet space. But an organized closet doesn't happen overnight. By spending just a few minutes a day using these tips, you can whip your walk-in into shape.

Start with quick daily decluttering sessions such as trying on a few garments and filling the donation bin. Do a little extra on weekends like categorizing or installing storage. In no time, you'll have the closet of your dreams. Now you can confidently get ready and feel peaceful in this special space.

Source

• https://www.travelfashiongirl.com/folding-vs-rolling-clothes-for-packing/