The Ultimate Guide to Decluttering and Organizing Your Closet

When I think about the rooms to prioritize while organizing I think about the rooms you use the most each day. The kitchen is the first place I like to start, but closets are a close second.

We start each morning in our closet and I’m a firm believer that how you start the day sets the tone for the rest of the day. Closets have become a place to hold so much more than clothes. If you start your day in a frenzy searching for a clean shirt among the luggage, seasonal items, and clothes that haven’t fit in 10 years then chances are the rest of your day will feel a little crazy too.

While organizing a closet sounds simple - just get rid of what you don’t wear; many of us find there is a lot more emotional connection to our clothes than we realize.

I’ll never forget when my sister and I lived together and I was cleaning out my closet. She saw a shirt in the donate pile and said “You can’t get rid of that! I have great memories of you in that shirt.”

Ultimately, I did get rid of the shirt (sorry, Lindsey), but it highlighted what I knew to be true. Clothes are a highly emotional and emotive item. Children learn to express themselves early by picking out their clothes. We remember exactly what we and other were wearing at a memorable event. Many of us will take time to pick out a new outfit for a special occasion.

The challenge with organizing a highly emotional space is that it’s sometimes difficult to separate what we need now from what we felt then.

The unseen work of a professional organizer is to help our clients through the emotional labor so they can live their best lives in the present and not be stuck in the past.

Beyond emotions, there is a practical nature to clothes. There was a season in my life where I wore business clothes a lot more than I do now. Going through my closet, I have to ask myself if I still need that many pencil skirts or can I get by with 1 or 2?

Once you purge your closet, I recommend separating each item of clothing into a category (work, dinner out, fancy event, church, workout, etc). Evaluate to see if there is one category that is disproportional to the others or your season of life and refine accordingly.

Then, make sure you have (matching) hangars for everything before it goes back in your closet. When organizing your closet, think about how you get dressed. Do you pick your shirt or pants first? Maybe your shoes? Whatever you pick first, put in your first eyesight. Then, arrange the other items around it. This will help you stay focused and quickly pick your outfit for the day.

If you’re like me, I also like to keep each item in the same place when I put it away. This helps me know exactly where something is and where it goes so I can maintain organized closet even in a busy season. I keep my tennis shoes and favorite flats in the same spot where I can reach them easily. This helps me know right where they are and keeps me from looking for them each day.

Closet organization is an ongoing process for many of us. I recommend refining your closet at least 1x per year if not 2x. This will help you stay on top of the clutter so you don’t get overwhelmed.

Finally, be honest with yourself about clothes that fit and don’t fit. It’s ok to have an aspirational outfit, but it’s best to limit it to just 1. If you have clothes that used to fit, but don't anymore give yourself permission to donate them and let someone else enjoy them. You’ll be happier not staring at clothes that no longer fit, you’ll have more room for clothes that do fit and make you feel great, and you can help someone who may need the clothes you have. Win, win, win!

My favorite closet organization tools are these hangars and these baskets.