Tackle closets for an organized & clutter-free home

This week we’re talking about getting an organized and clutter-free home for the new year. A good place to start is somewhere small. For example, tackling your closets is a great place to start.

Closets are easier than other home areas to organize and declutter, mainly because they tend to be small, and because there are plenty of inexpensive organizational products available that can help you.

Closet tips:

Plan a day. Because closets are small, it’s unnecessary to drag this out. Choose a free day, and plan to declutter and organize your closet from start to finish.

Most closets only need a good purging. Overstuffed is the big issue here.

To purge your closet…

Find another place for off season clothing.

Be realistic. If that size six pair of jeans didn’t fit you two years ago, and they don’t fit you now, quit messing around. Put them in a box, put the box elsewhere. Consider your diet and exercise options. If they still don’t fit in another six months, give them away.

Related to the above rule, purge stuff you simply hate or don’t wear. If you need help making a decision about whether to keep that red sparkling dress, try the timer method. Shoes too. If you’re REALLY having issue getting rid of a piece of clothing, use the backward hanger rule.

• Hang all your clothing backwards.
• If you wear an item, wash it, and rehang it facing forward.
• At the end of six months, take a look at all those clothes still hanging backwards. Rethink if you need to keep the items.

Use your space wisely…

Closets are for clothes and shoes only – repeat – closets are for clothes and shoes ONLY. Make this a rule, and your closets will automatically stay 80% more organized with less effort.

Use all your space. Use the back of the door and place baskets or boxes on the floor.

Make more space. Hang one closet rack (or pole) higher, and one lower. This can earn you lots of extra space.

Add hanging storage, shelving, or a whole dang closet system. Seriously, there are products on the market that anyone can afford. From fancy to basic, there is an organization system with your name on it.

More closet tips:

• Six Bedroom Closet Storage Do’s & Don’ts
• Actually see what’s in that closet
• Organize Double Time in Your Child’s Closet
• The Right Hanger Does Make a Difference
• The Closet Monkey – Organizing a Baby’s Closet

In the next post, I’ll bring in some options and maybe we’ll see some nice visual closet bling to inspire us.