Eliminate Closet Chaos
How many times have you stepped into your closet and proclaimed “I have nothing to wear!” Could it be true or could it be that you really do not know what is in your closet? A little closet clean out and organization may solve this dilemma. And…there is no time like the present to clean out your closets, because January is “Clean Out Your Closets” month.
With the holidays behind, do you find that you are looking for more space to store new treasures you acquired during the holidays? When is the last time you looked in your closets to see what you are no longer using? Everyone has at least 1 item in each closet at home that has not been used in years, such as an old coat, a pair of shoes that are out of style, a broken appliance or an out grown toy. You probably have more space in your home than you think, if you just take a close look inside your closets. Get your family involved and see who can find the most items that are no longer used that can be donated, recycled, consigned, sold or tossed.
I recently had a conversation with one of our clients that we have worked with over the years on several areas of their home and office. I’ll call them Pam and Paul. Sometimes when I work with them, I just give them high level tips on how to organize a particular area of their home, such as their kitchen or closet, give them a list of product to purchase that I know will help them maximize their space and let them do the rest of the work. Because Pam, Paul and I have worked on several projects together, they are very aware of the need to “sort” “purge or eliminate” and then group “like items” together before they shop – making the best use of their time and money.
Pam and Paul have a copy of my book “Eliminate Chaos…The 10-Step Process to Organize Your Home & Life” and using the “Closet” chapter as a guide, they were able to organize their closet without my help! I was very proud that this book has become a usable resource for so many to be able to tackle projects on their own, or at least get started!
I could tell how proud they were to tell me of their accomplishments. Pam specifically liked the tip “If it doesn’t make you look good or feel good – let it go, it’s just taking up space in your closet. You will always find something else to add to the closet in the future.” She said that this really gave her “permission” to let it go. She also said that it worked well for Paul’s closet as well – after all, it was my advice they were following – not hers!
Here are some additional tips that may help you organize your closets
1. Studies have shown that about 80% of the clutter in your home is a result of disorganization, not lack of space.
2. Unsure of the last time you wore that blouse or those pants? Place all clothing on hangers in the opposite direction of how you normally hang items. After you wear the item, put it back on the hanger in your normal direction. After 6 months, you’ll be able to quickly assess what you have not worn.
3. If you don’t have drawers in your closet, use baskets or plastic bins to help you contain items such as hats, t-shirts, scarves, purses, etc... anything that you would rather not see just laying on a open shelf.
4. If you are going to install a new closet system – decide first on whether or not you want your pants to be hung at full-length, folded at half-length or folded and placed on a shelf or all of the above. This can make a big difference in how you design the space.
If your plan includes a new closet system and you need a referral to one of our closet vendors – email me at laura@eliminatechaos.com and I’ll put you in touch with one of our designers.
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