7 Steps to a Clutter-Free Closet - How to Organize Your Clos

Kathleen Elias How many times have you said “I’m going to organize my closet this weekend?” But, when the weekend approaches, you find yourself making excuses to avoid the mess. It’s not because you don’t want an organized closet. It’s because you don’t know where to start!

Or, maybe you’re the type who gets motivated to organize your closet, but by the time you drag everything out, you’re ready to hit the sack! Whew!

So how do you organize your closet—without giving up? First, start with the right attitude. Don’t think of this task as “organizing your closet.” Think of this as “discovering the boutique within!” You know those pretty little boutiques where everything is displayed nice and orderly? With a quick scan, you know right where to go for the blouses, skirts, and shoes. Well, your closet can be like that too!

Second, commit an entire weekend to organize your closet. The actual time will depend on how many clothes you have and the size of the closet. If you get done early—great! But the last thing you want is to wake up for work on Monday morning with a half-organized closet.

Here are 7 steps to help you organize your closet in a weekend:

Day 1:

Before you start, determine exactly why you want to organize your closet.

•Are you having trouble finding certain pieces?
•Can you organize the space better?
•Do you need to get rid of old clothes?
•Is a significant other moving in with you?
•Other?

If you have a predetermined goal in mind, you will know what you’re trying to achieve. Next, determine how you would like your items organized.

•By garment – shirts, pants, dresses, skirts, suits, etc.
•By style – work, casual, athletic, dressy, etc.
•By season – summer, fall, winter, spring
•By color – darks, lights, etc.
•By accessories – shoes, belts, ties, scarves, hats

1.Empty the closet and categorize.
As you pull out items from your closet, group them based on the category you selected above. For example, fold your sweaters neatly then stack in piles according to color.

2.Create a “throw away” pile and “give away” pile.
Your “throw away” pile should include items that are stained or damaged beyond repair. This pile would include stockings with runs, socks with holes, etc. As they say, “when in doubt, throw it out!” Your “give away” pile should include anything in good condition, but hasn’t been worn in the past two years. Give these items to a charity or organize a “clothes swap” party with friends.

For those clothes that are too snug or too roomy, or clothes that are off-season, store them in organizer boxes that can be easily labeled and tucked away under the bed or up on a hard-to-reach closet shelf.

3.Clean your closet space.
Once your closet is cleared out, clean it thoroughly. Get out your step stool and dust off those high shelves, vacuum the floor, and even apply a fresh coat of paint if you wish!

4.Assess the situation.
Now that your clothes are categorized and your closet is clear, you can easily assess the amount of space that is available.

•Do you have one long shelf?
•Do you have several small shelves?
•How many clothes rods do you have?
•Do you have room to add rods?
•How much floor space do you have?
•How much wall space do you have?
•Is there a perfect spot for a tie rack?
•Is there enough vertical wall space for a mounted ironing board?
•Is there enough vertical wall space for a full-length mirror?
•Is there enough floor space for a shoe rack?
•Is there enough floor space for a hamper?

Now, take your tape measure and measure the shelves, open floor space, and available wall space. Write these measurements down. You will need them if you go shopping.

5.Make some decisions.
Now decide how you’ll arrange everything in your closet. Do you need to purchase any new containers, rods, shoe racks, or other supplies? The list below will help you decide what will work best for your closet space.

•Shelf dividers – These keep stacks of clothes separated on shelves and are especially great for heavy sweaters, sweatshirts, and jeans.
•Shelf baskets and boxes – Available in a variety of material such as wire, wicker, fabric, and plastic. They’re great for storing items that you don’t use every day, such as such accessories, bathing suits, and hats. The clear plastic boxes are advantageous because you can easily see inside them. However, if you choose one of the others label them or take a polaroid of the contents.
•Floor baskets – These are handy for temporarily storing clothes that need to go to the dry cleaner, or workout clothes.
•Shoe racks – These are available in a variety of styles. They can hang on the back of the closet door or on a clothes rod. There are also racks that sit on the floor.
•Tie racks – Depending on the style, you can mount these on the wall or hang them on the clothes rod.
•Rotating floor rack – These are nice for providing extra hanging storage in walk-in closets.
•Color-coded plastic hangers – This is a convenient way to keep your clothes in the right category.
•Full-length mirror
•Mounted ironing board

Day 2:

6.Load the closet.
Once you have all the necessities, start loading up. Take your time. You want to do it right the first time.

7.Add finishing touches.
Now that everything is in place, personalize your closet with some finishing touches such as a pretty rug, pictures, a stereo, plants, extra lighting, etc.

Voila, a clutter-free, boutique-like closet! Once you take the time to organize your closet, you will feel a great sense of control—and peace of mind.

Copyright 2005 by Kathleen Elias - Editors are welcome to use this article for content as long as the article and author biography are reprinted in their entirety and an active weblink remains intact.

About the Author

Kathleen Elias is the editor of www.Home-Organizing-Ideas.com, a website focused on organizing your home room by room. It offers original ideas, expert advice, and a monthly newsletter to help you reach your organizing goals. To contact the editor or find more information on organizing your home and life visit www.home-organizing-ideas.com.