Closet Organization

​I tell everyone to start with their closet – it’s the most personal stuff.   But there are very little sentimental items in there so with a little practice the closet is relatively easy to tackle.  
 
I love Marie Kondo, but she got clothing wrong.   Her practice is to gather every piece of clothing you own and pile it on the bed.  You are supposed to go through it one by one.   I believe the practice is to confront you with your belongings, but what this really does is overwhelm people.  It’s not sustainable.  You will inevitably get anxiety and overwhelmed and be left with a huge pile at the end of the of the day.  That pile will be transferred to tor floor when you go to bed, and you will be left with an unfinished project.
 
There is a better way.   Try my method.   Get a cocktail (just kidding) and step into your closet.   Take each item individually and address it.   Do you love it?  Do you wear it?   Would you buy it again?    Ask yourself these questions and evaluate each piece.   If you want to get rid of it, discard it – donate it.  If you want to keep it, tur the hanger around.   It’s that simple.  
 
Turning the hanger around accomplishes two tasks.   First – it gives you a visual reminder of where you are in your project.  Stop anytime to make dinner, pick up the kids, or if you feel overwhelmed.   You know where you are based on where the hangers are turned around.   
Second, it gives you a visual cue for wearing your clothes.    When you wear your items, turn the hanger back around.  It’s a keeper.  But, if after 6 months there are hangers still turned around – then you know you don’t wear it and its time to donate it.  
 
OK – that’s decluttering your closet.  Easier than the Kondo method.   More manageable.   Let’s talk setting up your closet.  
 
First of all zone your items – like with like.   My closet is shirts, pants, jackets, and dresses.  I once worked with a professional organizer who suggested I create outfits and hang them together – that my closet be outfit based rather than zones.   But it just didn’t work for me.  It was back to zones within a week.   I like creating outfits, but I do that on a valet hook every night before bed for the next morning.   
 
Next is color code your items.   Don’t let your closet be a jumbled mess of color.   I follow the rainbow principal.  Red, yellow, orange, green, blue, violet – then the neutrals, brown,  grey, black, and finally white.    I set that pattern up for each zone.  
 
Finally – address shoes and accessories.    Everyday shoes I store lined up in a bookcase or shoe rack (depending on how many you have).   Special occasion shoes – or those you just can’t get rid of are stored in plastic shoe boxes.   Purses are lined up on the top shelf – color coded.   There are great shelf organizers which can help the purses stand up, so they are easy to grab.   Color coding is important if you have as many purses as I do!   Finally, jewelry.   I have a chest of drawers with special jewelry inserts that organize my baubles.   There are many options for jewelry – it’s about finding what fits and what works for you.   I like to display my jewelry like a store – so I know what I have, and I actually wear it.   (Anyone else get into a jewelry rut?). 
 
The best part about the closet is that these are your personal things so you can organize them, display them, and celebrate them as you see fit.    How do you what to see your necklaces?   How do you want to grab your shoes?   Get creative – there are so many options.   
 
Want to dig deeply into your closet with an accountability partner who can help you organize and declutter?   Contact Bliss This House!