Bedroom closets are often some of the most cluttered areas in a home. It is inevitable that after a while, the clothes, shoes and accessories we accumulate can start to overcrowd and clutter up the closet.

It isn’t easy to go through clothes either. Whether for practicality or sentimentality, it can be easy to justify hanging onto items that you really don’t wear that much or may not even fit so well anymore. Often, there is the thought that you might need it for a special occasion, or that you might fit into it again one day. While you don’t want to complete eliminate your entire wardrobe, a good organizing session and reset is important to do on a regular basis – especially after a major shopping trip.

When you’re going through your closet, go through everything – pants, shirts, dresses, coats, sweaters, scarves, shoes, bags – whatever you have stored in there. Try clothes on that you may not have worn in a long time. Do you still like the item? Does it fit? Is it worn, faded or torn? Be realistic with yourself – fashion and personal tastes can change, so don’t feel bad about adding it to the donate pile or the clothes recycle pile if it isn’t in good shape. If a button is missing or the zipper needs fixing but the clothes still fit and you like them, see if you can fix it yourself or if it needs to be done by a professional. Instead of adding it back into your closet so it can be forgotten again, put it in a place you will see it often so you remember to fix it. 

For clothes that don’t quite fit, it can be a difficult decision on whether or not you should keep them. Think about the item of clothing and be honest with yourself. If you are actively losing weight, and the item is only a size or two smaller, then it may be worth hanging onto. If it is a few sizes too big or too small, then consider giving it to away for someone else to use. It is not worth hanging onto items that you are more likely not to wear especially if you have no real intention of actually wearing them again. Anything that won’t be used is just adding clutter from your closet and preventing you from buying clothing that looks and feels good. It isn’t giving up but moving on and making the clothes available to someone who might need them more.

Placing the clothing and accessories you have decided to keep is also an essential part to maintaining an organized closet. It may be worth investing in proper hangers, shoe racks, and accessories holders to keep your items not always looking fresh and ready to wear, but easy to find. Consider sorting your closet into sections and sort items based on whether they are casual or more formal wear, what season you wear them in, or what colour they are. Having these items separated into different groups can make styling and putting an outfit together easier. For more tips on sorting clothes, check out this previous post on the blog.

Having an organized closet is an achievable and sustainable goal for the year. When you take the time to do an initial declutter and reset of the closet, you are making it much easier to maintain moving forward. Don’t let your hard-earned and stylish purchases languish in the back of your closet – make organization your goal this year!