Having a small closet but a love for clothes and shoes is hard relationship. Which is why it’s important that you evaluate what you currently have when you bring new purchases into your small closet. Should it stay or should it go?
Another sign that’s it time to declutter your closet is when it’s so overflowing that it’s hard to find what you’re looking for.
Yet, even if you don’t always wear your clothes it can be tough getting rid of them. That’s why we found the best tips to help you decide which ones get to stay and which ones to give away!
How to Declutter the Clothes in Your Closet
Posted by TheSpruce.com
Written by Elizabeth Larkin
01 Ask the 7 Key Closet Decluttering Questions
Ask yourself the following about every item in your closet:
1. Do I love it?
2. Do I wear it?
3. Does it project the image I want?
4. Does it itch or scratch?
5. Does it pinch my toes? Are the heels too high to walk in?
6. Is it moldy? Smelly? Stained?
7. Does it fit?
Number 3 is the real "light bulb" question for many people. Even if you love it, do you want to wear it in front of other people? Be a brutal critic. If necessary, enlist a friend to tell you if something is wrong for you. Closet space is limited, so don't waste your prime real estate on something you're not crazy about.
02 Know Where You’ll Donate Clothes
It's easier to declutter your closet if you know where you'll be donating your clothing ahead of time. This way, once you are done decluttering and purging your wardrobe, you can quickly whisk the items off to a deserving recipient making the process much easier.
Another option is consigning your gently used or pricey clothing.
04 Commit to a Weekly Sweep
The more often you declutter, the less time it will take and the easier it will be. Committing to a weekly clutter sweep means spending 10 to 15 minutes once or twice a week in your closet placing items in your donation box, re-arranging clothing that has fallen out of place, and re-hanging and folding clothes that may be strewn about your bedroom and bathroom. All of this will take much less time than you think if you tackle it regularly.
[Continue reading the rest of the tips on how to keep your closet decluttered!]
Once you’ve finished decluttering your small closet, do you leave it the same or do you organize it better? It’s always best to have your little organization system for you small closet. That way you have designated areas for shoes, closets, towel, etc.
We found an article that holds 5 tips to organizing a small reach in closet!
How to Organize a Small Reach-in Closet for Multi-Purpose Storage
Posted by TheHappyHouise.Porch.Com
Written by Krista
Tip 2: Store out of season clothing elsewhere
We didn’t actually really do this, but it is a strategy I have used in the past and that I know some friends of mine use. Put items that are clearly “winter” or clearly “summer” away in bins and store them until the season arrives that you actually need them and switch things around. This can save you a ton of space in your closet(s)!
Tip 3: Add shelving to the lower part of your closet
This was a major game-changer for us. When we first moved in, I had boxes piled up in the closet and things were very haphazard and disorganized. I purchased a couple of cube units on sale (one ended up in our “cleaning closet” and it helped to control the clutter and gave me a much better way to organize our extra belongings (linens, towels, and medicines etc.). It also feels so much better to open the closet doors and know that everything has a place. Before I tackled this closet, it was a disaster…
And now that it is sorted and I’ve added the cube unit for extra shelving…
Tip 4: Use thin hangers
A few years back when I shared our first PAX closet (in our old lake house), I had a reader suggest using these hangers in order to free up closet space. I had never seen them before, but it wasn’t long after that I saw boxes of them at Costco and I decided to make the switch. They actually do make an enormous difference to your closet storage space, as opposed to the old plastic hangers that we had before. I highly recommend trying them if you are short on hanging space!
You can see these thin hangers in use below – they really make a huge difference to the amount of things you can hang in a small closet.
[Continue reading for the first few tips along with the last one!]
There you have it, tips to help you declutter your small closet and then tips to organize it! Looking for some places to donate your clothes, click here for our list of good donation places in Chico, California.
Wishing you had a larger closet? Maybe you're wishing you had more space overall. Check to see what's available to rent and you could be living it up in your new rental with more space faster than you think.
