Where To Start: Tips To Declutter Your Wardrobe Step-By-Step
As an essential part of your daily routine, your wardrobe has the potential to quickly become cluttered and disorganised if there is no system of organisation in place. Read on to discover our tried and tested tips and tricks to declutter your clothing fast and set up a functional and stylish wardrobe that will be a breeze to maintain.
How to cleanse your wardrobe of excess items
If there’s one thing that prevents people from organising their wardrobe, it’s the initial cleanse required. Loathing is something with which we can form a sentimental attachment; outfits can be linked to happy memories or significant events in our lives and this can make decluttering items a tricky task.
We know that, even if you haven’t worn an item in years, it can still be hard to let it go. That’s why it's important to remember that sorting through your clothing is the first and most crucial step in creating a functional system from which to choose outfits going forward!
Step 1: Remove all contents
In order to truly declutter your wardrobe and organise your space, you need to know what’s actually in there and that means taking everything out. So, to begin with, you need to fully empty your wardrobe of all clothing, shoes and accessories. Whether it’s a hanging rail, pull-out drawers, shelves, or a walk-in wardrobe, you need to remove everything. Having everything out in one place is the best way to ensure that you fully declutter everything.
Whilst your wardrobe is empty, why not take the time to clean all shelves, doors and drawers - this will give it a fresh and clean feel ready for your newly decluttered and organised clothing.
Step 2: Sort & categorise
Now that you have removed everything from your wardrobe, it's time to sort through each and every item and create categories. All items belonging to the same category should be physically grouped, either on the floor or on a surface such as the bed.
Make as many categories as you need depending on the types of clothing and accessories you have; your categories should be determined by your lifestyle. Each category can then be subdivided, for example t-shirts can be split into; long sleeved, short sleeved, vests etc.These categories will later become the different zones of your wardrobe. It’s only when you are able to see everything you own in one category that you will be able to decide what to declutter and what to keep.
Create one category for any items you no longer want or need. If you are unsure, ask yourself the following questions:
Do I like it and feel good wearing it?
Does it fit my current lifestyle?
Do I need multiples of it?
When was the last time I wore it?
Would I buy it again?
Step 3: Discard donate or sell
Now your items are categorised, you can give some attention to the items you have decided to part with. Sort these items into three piles; items to discard, items to donate and items to sell.
Items to discard
Damaged clothing that cannot be repaired
Damaged shoes that cannot be repaired
Cardboard shoe boxes
Damaged hangers
Paper or plastic shopping bags
Items to donate
Items in good condition that you no longer like or wear
Unnecessary multiples
Old work uniforms
Old costumes
Free t-shirts you don’t wear
Shoes that no longer fit or are uncomfortable
Hangers or containers you no longer use
Items to sell
How to set up your newly decluttered wardrobe
The best place to start is to envision yourself using your wardrobe on a daily basis. You should determine which items need to be most accessible and which ones can be stored in more difficult to reach spaces.
Take a look at your categories and decide what should go where in your wardrobe. It's important to tailor the system to fit your lifestyle and your space. During this planning phase it’s a great idea to use sticky notes of masking tape to map out the space.
It’s also a good idea at this point to figure out your need for organising products within your wardrobe. Bins and baskets work well on open shelves, whilst dividers will help you compartmentalise drawer space. Shoe racks and stacking shoes boxes are great if you have a large shoe collection and slimline hangers will allow you to fit more on your rails.
Just remember, when choosing organising products always be sure to maximise the storage space you have available. The key is to match products with both the measurements of your space and your aesthetic style!
Items to hang
Common hanging items include dresses, skirts, blouses, trousers, coats, jackets
Change all items over to matching hangers to ensure a cohesive flow amongst your hanging items
Within each category organise by length; from long to short and then by colour; from dark to light
Place everyday items in the most accessible hanging space and formal items in the least
Hang all clothing facing the same direction. This makes it easier to identify items and ensures they hang neatly without catching on each other
Add labelled dividers between each hanging category to aid with organisation
Items to fold
Common items to fold include jeans, jumpers, t-shirts, socks, underwear, pyjamas, swimwear
Folded items can be stored in drawers or on shelves
Compartmentalise drawers using dividers and set up pull-out bins on deep shelves
Within each category of clothing file fold items according to the size of the location where they will be stored. Not only does this look pleasing, but it is also spatially efficient, enabling more items to fit inside your drawers / bins. It also ensures all items are visible
Place each category into its designated space, colour coordinating as you go
Add labels where necessary
Footwear
Common footwear categories include trainers, boots, sandals, pumps, heels
Footwear can be stored on shelves, on a shoe rack or in clear bins
Colour-coordinate within each category
Fit shapers into long boots
Place your footwear, by category, into its designated spot in the wardrobe
Colour-coordinate as you go
Add labels where necessary.
Accessories
Common accessory categories include scarves, hats, sunglasses, belts
Accessories can be stored in drawers, on shelves or hanging
Keep similar items grouped together
Place accessories by category into their designated spot in the wardrobe
Colour-coordinate as you go
Add labels where necessary
Handbags and purses
Handbags and purses can be stored on shelves, in bins or on hooks
Categorise by size or colour depending on your preference
Use a purse holder to neatly store purses
Place handbags neatly on shelves, in bins of use a space saving handbag hanger on a rail
Add labels where necessary
How to maintain your decluttered wardrobe
After all the hard work you’ve put into getting your wardrobe decluttered and organised of course you will want to want to maintain it! This can be easier said than done but use the following three rules and you’ll do just fine!
Rule 1:
Get into the habit of consciously placing each item back in the same place you took it from. We know this sounds simple, but it’s something that can be overlooked in the rush of daily life. Neglecting to do this can quickly set you on the slippery slope back to disorganisation.
Rule 2:
Take the time once per month to conduct a mini tidy of your wardrobe – 15 minutes is all you need! It will help to remind you of all the lovely items you have and act as an opportunity to review any items that are not being worn.
Rule 3:
Try to stick to the ‘one in one out’ rule. By continuously adding to your wardrobe without cleansing along the way, you can easily end up back at square one... and we don’t want that! If that rule seems too rigid, make sure that each new item has a dedicated space/spot in your wardrobe. If space is too tight, it’s probably time to say goodbye to something!
Declutter your wardrobe the Homefulness way!
We wish you luck on your wardrobe decluttering journey and if you need any assistance along the way, Homefulness is here to help!
