Are you guilty of standing in front of your closet–that’s brimming with clothes–and stating quite seriously, “I have nothing to wear.” Do you find yourself searching through mountains of clothes for that one sparkly blue top you bought on your trip to Europe a year ago? In your scavenger hunt through your wardrobe, do you often happen upon a piece of clothing that you had you even owned? If you’ve answered any of the questions above with a resounding yes, then ladies–it’s time to declutter your wardrobe!
While decluttering might seem like a daunting task, The Design Collective Store’s golden tips on how to begin and what to do will help make the process a little easier. After all, how else will you figure out that how many jeans is too many to own? Let’s dive in.
Putting It All On The Table
When we say take out everything, we mean EVERYTHING. From your forgotten winter clothes to your brand new (and tagged) ones, take everything out of the closet and put them into neat little categories. Make separate piles for your dresses, T-shirts, shorts, jeans, shoes, hair accessories, bags, etc. While you’re doing this, be as thorough as possible–you can divide each category up according to seasons, occasions, or functionality. For example, make a separate pile for your summer dresses, another for your winter ones, one for your formal pieces, and others as required.
Review, Reflect & Scrap!
Once you’ve arranged all your belongings into neat categories, first stop and take a picture! (after all, how will you show your Instagram followers the before and after shots?). Now it’s time review each and every item, and here’s what you need to keep in mind while you do it:
- Remove clothes that don’t fit: If it’s too big or too small, then it’s time to say goodbye to the garment.
- Take out pieces that are old: There is no point of keeping an old ratty T-shirt just for the memories. If you’re debating whether to keep an old holey sweatpants just for the comfort, remember you can only replace it with a new equally comfier pair, just without the pesky holes.
- Replace shoes that hurt: Sore feet, blisters, and discomfort, it’s high time you put your feet first. It’s 2024, there is absolutely no need to stay true to the statement: beauty is paid. Donate shoes that look good, but don’t feel the same. Believe us, comfort and aesthetics can go hand-in-hand.
- Marie Kondo your wardrobe: With each and every product you review, ask yourself if it sparks joy. If not, it should not go back into your wardrobe.
Fold, Hang, Or Box It Up
Did you know that the optimal way to store clothes is to actually roll them up? Folding not only leads to wrinkles, but makes it much harder to slip out a top from the bottom of a high pile. Instead, simply roll your T-shirts and tops to avoid wrinkles. Another way to easily store your clothes is to hang them up using felt hangers. Avoid plastic or wooden hangers as they take more space and clothes can easily slide off them.
Say goodbye to clutter and hello to a seamless organised wardrobe simply by adding storage bins, vertical shelves, or cubbies that optimise space. This will allow your entire wardrobe to become more accessible. We suggest you take it a step further and create little nooks in your wardrobe for different outfits based on your lifestyle. For example, if you go to the mountains once a year, then it’s best to store all your winter wear in the far corners of your closet or in the guest bedroom depending on the space you have within your wardrobe. Trust us, you will have a more visible closet which means easier styling on days where you’re running late!
Pro tip: just because it’s storage, doesn’t mean it has to be unsightly. You can find cute raffia boxes and woven baskets that will enhance the visual appeal while they make everything look clean and tidy.
Once everything is organised and folded, take a picture to share for a before-and-after shot on the ‘gram.