Q: My dilemma is closets! I have two very small closets in my bedroom and I can’t seem to get a handle on keeping them organized and easy to use since they feel like they’re stuffed within an inch of their life! I know you guys are great at living with less, simplifying, and organizing in general- so I thought maybe you could share some encouragement when it comes to paring things down and choosing what to keep? Deep down I know there’s a lot of extra stuff that I don’t need that’s taking up some much needed space, but I have a hard time letting things go for fear that I’ll want them again once they’re gone. Any tips for scaling back and keeping only what I need so I can regain control of my closets again? – Leslie
A: Wouldn’t you just love one of those boutique closets? I admit it, I totally have closet envy. I look at all those magazine spreads with celebrities who have a whole wall of shelves dedicated to bags and a spare 50 square feet for an ottoman in the middle of the room and I melt. And it’s not because of the primo logos on their plethora of purses or the luxe labels on their bevy of ball gowns. I’m just a freak for organization, and the idea that all of their insanely abundant items have a distinct spot to sit (or hang) gets me all hot and bothered. So without further ado, let’s get into it, shall we?
It’s no secret we’re big subscribers to the “a place for everything and everything in it’s place” school of organization. Which is probably why I do my best to keep my closet super edited and pared down in the interest of easily being able to a) see everything that I own and b) toss on an effortless ensemble that I know and love (instead of stuffing the ol’ Ikea wardrobe to the gills with crap that I never wear).
But when people write to me to ask how the heck I only have a few pairs of jeans and a small collection of clothes (read more about our closets here) it’s actually really hard to explain my minimalist ways. I just don’t buy a lot of stuff. And when I notice that I don’t wear something anymore (because it’s damaged, unflattering, or just too worn) I either repair it, consign it, or donate it so I can free up that space for something truly deserving of the square footage. Here’s what the bed looks like when John and I are in the middle of a pairing down spree:
I just go through everything and remove anything that I don’t love (whether it has just gotten too worn, doesn’t quite fit anymore, has a stain, is something I never actually wear, etc). It’s probably rooted in the fact that I lived in NYC in one of those closet-sized studios and literally didn’t have any room to amass even one extraneous item of clothing. Coupled with the fact that I’m a cheap-o (and proud of it) that probably explains how I can easily walk away from things that might look nice but aren’t necessary. But I can easily see how that’s hard to swallow for someone who doesn’t find it quite as easy to let things go (or pass up clearance clothing in the first place). So when I came across this quote in The Lucky Shopping Manual (I’ve had a copy for over five years and I love to flip through it) I realized it perfectly explained my philosophy in a way that I couldn’t:
If a piece doesn’t work, look at it this way: You paid for it once in cash, and now you’re paying for it in valuable closet space. If it’s not right for you, bite the bullet and let it go.
Doesn’t that make perfect sense? If an item of clothing doesn’t fit, is out of date, never makes it out of your closet, looks shaggy or worn, or isn’t flattering just ask yourself if it’s worth paying for again and again in square footage. Or if you’d rather free up the space to be able to better see the items of clothing that you love to wear (and make room for a few more things that will give you more of a return when it comes to sacrificing that closet space).
And as for a tip to keep from amassing too many items that you’ll later regret (or just never wear) this quote (also from The Lucky Shopping Manual) might help:
Don’t buy anything on sale that you wouldn’t consider at full price.
It’s easy to get caught up in how much you’re saving when you find something that’s marked down. But if you don’t need it or it doesn’t fit you well then you’re not saving anything. You’re spending hard earned money on something that will just sit in your closet and take up space. Inspiring right? Maybe just to me.
Anyway, here are some other gems from the book that I thought I’d pass along:
- “If you’re unsure about a big ticket item, put it on hold for 24 hours and think it over.”
- “Don’t buy anything that doesn’t flatter you or isn’t comfortable, no matter how of-the-moment it is.”
- “If you have to talk yourself into a purchase in the dressing room, pass on it.”
- “If there’s nothing in your closet to wear with it, skip it.”
- “Never purchase something just because it looks good on someone else.”
- “Don’t save a pair of jeans for that anticipated five-pound weight loss. Owning them is bad for your psyche. If the time comes when you drop a size, chances are you won’t hesitate to run out and buy a new pair”
- “If a stain didn’t come out at the cleaners or when you toiled over it in the sink it’s permanent. Time to let it go.” <- or turn it into painting clothing like we’ve been known to do
- “If we kept every item of clothing with a memory attached , we’d be buried in clothes.”
- “Ask yourself if each item of clothing in your closet: 1) flatters your shape, 2) fits perfectly or is fixable, 3) is the right color for you, 4) has been worn in the last two years – only things that get four yesses should stay.”
I might be a sick individual but I actually love going through my clothing (and even jewelry and shoes) to see what I can skim down and consign or donate.
Try not to think about paring down & simplifying as actions that result in losing things. Instead, focus on everything that you’re gaining! More space. A no-brainer wardrobe that’s simplified, flattering, and easy to toss on. Money (for everything that you consign, eBay, or sell in a garage sale). And time (no more rooting through piles of stuff to find that elusive tank top). I seriously get a rush when I can look into my closet and proclaim “every single thing in there is something I love.”
But enough about me, what do you guys do about closet upkeep? Do you pare things down once a year? Never get rid of a stitch of clothing? Ebay things and buy new stuff? Wear the same outfit every day? Feel free to share any and all tips for Leslie and anyone else who may find themselves in a similar predicament!
Psst- Looking for more info about our closets? Check out this post and this post. And here’s a general post about keeping things simple. Oh and if you’re looking to learn how we modified two inexpensive Ikea wardrobes to create bedside built ins, check out this post for the deets.
Handy Man, Crafty Woman says
I love organizing our closets. I go through my clothes 2-3 times per year. I just did it recently. I also make (aka “highly suggest”) for DH to do it once in a while too. We have a child, so I have to go through his closet very frequently, as he grows so quickly!
It helps that I’m not a clothes & shoe addict, also. I also really try to subscribe to the 1 in, 1 out rule for clothes. I have such a small selection of clothing, that if I am buying something new, it is probably to replace something that is worn out, so I get rid of the worn out item.
Pat says
I do like this post and think you have some great tips–but at the same time, it’s much easier for the two of you to have get by with a minimal wardrobe working from home than it is for folks who have to adhere to a professional dress code 5 days a week :)
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Pat,
Both John and I had far fewer clothes back in NYC when we each worked at an advertising firm! We literally had nowhere to store them in our tiny apartments- so it was all about creative layering and wearing different combinations of things to create different looks. In fact you can see all of John’s clothes (yup, every last item he owned) on the rack in this post – and all of mine in the small closet in this post. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Carolyn says
Sherry, do you guys store your out-of-season clothes somewhere else? Or does everything fit in your closet? I’ve been storing all of my clothes in the closet year round since I often wear tank tops under my clothes in winter (we really have to layer in Minnesota!), although sometimes I wish I had a different plan.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Carolyn,
We store all seasons of our clothes in the closets in our bedroom. We’re year round folks just like you! We have heard of friends who use under bed storage bins for out of season clothes though (so they’re still in the same room but tucked out of the way for the most part). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
anna says
Sherry,
Thanks for the great post! Could you consider doing another one detailing the consignment process and your experience with it? It sounds like a great resource/opportunity, but I’m pretty intimidated.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Anna,
Consigning is really straightforward. Just go to the shop’s website which is usually full of details about what they’re excepting and how the process goes (if not then just give them a call for more info). Then make an appointment to drop your things off. Easy!
xo,
s
Kristi W. says
Good tips! I admit I’m a little obsessed with having a very well-edited and small(ish) wardrobe, but I don’t always succeed. The hardest part for me is that I need a separate wardrobe for work than for everyday. I try to get pieces that work in both places, but it’s tough because my real life style is super casual (and I need to look nice and put together for work). Also I live in MN where we have crazy temperature fluctuations. So I need to have winter clothes (for the -20 days) and summer clothes (for the 100 degree days). Even so, I am proud that I keep my closet pretty much under control :)
Also I hate to be a self-promoter, but I wrote a blog post a while back that some people might find helpful so I will link it here. “Your Guide to a Well-Edited Wardrobe”
http://chateauwhitman.blogspot.com/2010/05/your-guide-to-well-edited-wardrobe.html
Amanda@Reno366 says
This post hit home for me…I need to learn how to NOT buy new things. I have a problem! I know where every clearance section is in stores and I bypass the not on sale stuff. I can’t pass up a bargain. I really try to live by the, would I buy this if it wasn’t on sale quote, but it’s still very hard. I clean my closet out probably 5 times a year and give things to my younger cousins. At least that way I feel like it’s going to be used!
Paige says
I organize my closet by clothing type AND color. People might look at you funny (like my husband, for example) but my closet looks WAY better than his.
Meghan says
I am a shopaholic… although I do admit I have been cutting down the clothing purchases now that I’m preggers. Actually I haven’t bought anything at all.. I borrowed all of my preg clothes. ANYWAY, what my friends and I started doing every spring was to have a Clothing Party. Basically it forces everyone in the spring to go through their closets and get rid of everything they don’t wear/need anymore. Then we all get together (with food and drinks) and dump our garbage bags of clothes on the floor… I’m telling you if you get 10 ladies there you’ll have a pile on the floor thats taller than you. Then everyone can go through the clothes and grab what they would like (ie. someones old clothes may be someone elses new find!). Then at the end we take the leftover (last time I think it was 10 garbage bags full) off to Goodwill. Its a lot of fun AND it not only cleans out your closet but you also save money by not having to buy new things!
This post couldn’t come at a better time…. I had planned on purging my closet tonight to make way for all the borrowed maternity clothes!!
Celeste says
I LOVED this post. I’m pretty good at cleaning out my closet with each season but I know I can do better…I’ve just blocked time on my calendar this weekend to go crazy and purge! It’s practically fall here in Seattle already so it’s a good time to do it :)
And if you don’t already know about this blog, I’m in love: http://unclutterer.com/
I also enjoy this Tumblr when I need a moment of “zen”:
http://thingsorganizedneatly.tumblr.com/
Deb says
Loved the info. My issue is that I hate wearing the same outfit twice. It goes way back to when I was in grade school and couldn’t get dressed in the morning because I had already worn all my “outfits”.
We recently moved across the country and had to get rid of a ton of stuff. My sister came for 2 days and made me get rid of things. She knows my style and taste and so she was invaluable in helping me purge. (She also made fun of me a lot which helped shame me into letting go of things!).
Now that we have lived here for several months there is nothing I miss–I actually want to get rid of more because it’s so freeing! So my tip is, if you can’t do it on your own, have a friend or sister help!
Diane says
My best advice would be, if you don’t wear it, let it go. Donate it if it’s in good shape, toss if not.
And I helped a friend organize her closet once. After she was done purging the old clothes, etc, we measured everything to figure out how many inches of hanging space she needed, how many shelves, boxes, drawers, etc.
Then we measured the closet and went to the Container Store and bought a closet organizing system. It was amazing how much that dinky closet could actually hold, in a tidy way, with the space being used to maximum efficiency to hold only the items she really uses.
Sarah says
Sherry, I identify with you, I am a major purger! Every time school would be out for both Christmas and Summer Break I would plan the first week to go through my closet, bookshelf, desk, etc… and get rid of things I don’t need from the past 6 months. I have a medium size closet/dresser so I am able to store a lot more clothes than you can. I guess a big question on my mind and I am sure other women think this too (and it may be too personal) but how often do you wear the same thing/need to do laundry?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Sarah,
We usually do adult laundry about once every two weeks or so (Clara’s dipes and clothes get laundered a bit more frequently since she goes through many of them a day) and I’m totally not ashamed to admit that I definitely wear jeans and tees and tanks a cardigans a few times each before tossing them in the hamper (layering is my thing lately, and I find a get more looks from fewer items of clothing that way). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
OwningSingle says
I love the quotes! I must admit that I have too much stuff in my closets. Being a single homeowner, I have the privilege of having free reign over both closets in my bedroom. I turned one into an accessory closet housing dresser and all of my handbags, shoes, jewelry, perfumes etc. With that said I have recently been on a purging spree. I’m just really sick of having a lot of stuff around me. I do sell some things on ebay and most of it I donate to a womens shelter. I have 4 bags of things to donate and I feel lighter already. Purging really does make you feel good.
Amy in PA says
I only purchase items that I have to talk myself out of buying – not things that I have to talk myself in to buying.
Makes everything so much easier and I end up feeling great with everything I own!!
Tiffany says
I am a total freak about organization living with a husband who is oblivious to untidiness…talk about a recipe for disaster! Luckily I can breathe in and out a time or two and just ask him to tidy up and he obliges. I have found that cutting down on things we don’t need makes it much easier for us to not kill each other. I like to put some kind of marker on the rod in the closet in each of our sections. Then, when I hang up our laundry, I always hang it on the other side of the marker and every 3-6 months or so I go through the clothes on the “old” side of the marker and determine why they weren’t worn in that time period. If it is because they are for special occasions like formal weddings or dinners, I may keep it if I haven’t had occasion to wear it. If the reason is because it’s a seasonal piece, I’ll keep it. If I just don’t like it anymore, or it doesn’t fit or isn’t comfortable I take it out and put it in a bag and it either goes to Goodwill, Latin American Missions at my church or a family in need if I know of one. Same goes for jewelry, shoes, clothes in dresser drawers, etc.
Catherine says
YES! Purging feels so, so good.
Can’t read through all the comments right now, so sorry if these are repeats:
1. A favorite quote in our family: “You can still go broke saving money.” (Referring of course to buying a bunch of stuff on sale, not putting money in a savings account.)
2. If you have a hard time donating clothes, organize a clothing swap among your girlfriends first. You get the satisfaction of knowing that your cute pieces that just don’t work for YOU anymore will work for someone you love. Then send all of the remainders to Goodwill/your thrift store of choice. The event will motivate you AND your friends to purge; you might get something cool out of it; and you never have to feel pressured to trade evenly. I usually go just to get rid of stuff; only occasionally do I bring anything home.
3. And for hanging space: I try to pair cardigans (my personal favorite item of clothing) with something they are worn on top of, either a dress or a shirt. That way I’m only taking up one hanger. It makes a difference if you’re big on layering.
Casey says
Thanks for the post. Coming from a Texas-sized walk-in closet to sharing a small closet with the hubs in our Boston nest, I can totally relate to keeping things simple and organized. But I have to admit, I am a bin freak. An easy way for me to get rid of clothes/shoes is by storing the ones I don’t wear but can’t yet part with in a small bin and stashing it under the bed for a few months. If I don’t miss the clothes (which I usually never do) by the start of the next season, I can easy carry the bin to a consignment shop or donate to charity.
Katie says
Thank you for this post! Honestly, I have thought this way forever, but never actually initiate it. I have a serious overflowing closet problem. If I showed you a picture of my closet your jaw would literally drop to the floor. It’s horrible. I am going to purge as soon as I have the next free minute!!!
Christin says
GREAT POST! I’ve been getting better at purging stuff over the years, but I can still improve. This is a huge help and motivator – thanks!
kyley says
I hear you Sherry on the organization issue. I too love a “everything in it’s place” home.
However I have an issue when being “minimal” with my clothing.
See not only do I have a wardrobe for “work” and “play” but I also have to keep around clothes for barnwork on the family farm and getting down and dirty so to speak. Basically I wear two sets of clothes everyday. Work, then farm.
so when my “nicer” clothes get a stain, or a rip, or I don’t LOVE it – they get relegated to barn wear (because who cares what’s flattering when your knee deep in mucking a horse stall).
It’s hard to justify donating/etc. when I know I can wear it to the farm. Things only seem to get tossed from my wardrobe when they are so threadbare I can barely get them on.
I think I might just need to get tougher on myself and not save every item for the “barn pile”….it’s oh so hard though!
Erin says
Sherry, I’m a minimialist purge freak too!!! I love purging out my closet and then secretly purging out my husband’s side of the closet. In my area there are big clothes and shoes donation bins outside of Home Depot and Walmart stores, so convienent! I love to fill up a big gargage bag of clothes and drop them off on my way in to Homie-D’s. Easy peasy!
Erin says
I used to go through our closet about once a month. These days I do it seasonally. So twice a year..when I switch to my spring/summer clothes and then fall/winter clothes (because for clothes I only have 2 seasons, LOL).
jessica says
Ok, so I’m a bit weird myself. I admit that I can name a half dozen items hanging in my closet right now that I could get rid of but I hold on to them so my closet looks fuller! Weird I know but especially since I’ve been a SAHM, I just don’t need all the dresser stuff I wore to work. All my clothes are “paint” clothes now and I wouldn’t have it any other way! :)
Alicia says
They had something on the Today show this morning about people who only wear 6 pieces of clothing. Jean Chatzsky did this for a whole month and you could not tell that she didn’t have on something different every time they showed her! She did a lot of layering and accessorizing. It really got me thinking about what I could do with my maternity wardrobe because I really don’t want to buy a whole lot. My husband and I clean out our closets regularly. We get rid of stuff that we haven’t worn in the last year. We enjoy not having the clutter too. Great post, Sherry!
M. says
This was a terrific post and makes me want to go through my entire closet. Thank you for the inspiration!
Lauren says
Organizing the closets is one of the items on our “to do” list! Thanks for all the tips….I’m hoping that our closets can be as organized/functional as yours!
Ellen says
I definitely prefer to have a streamlined closet (and entire home) and regularly sweep through for give-aways. I like having a cause I can donate clothing to – it is easier to let go of things when they will be raising money for something you believe in.
I’m currently in the middle of my baby-years, though, so I simply can’t have things as streamlined as I would like, closet-wise. In the past three years I’ve had two babies and expect to have more (therefore must keep the various size options).
I manage this extra stuff by not needing tons of selection while pregnant or in a transition stage. As you said above, you just don’t need that many options. Even so, I am living with a tad more closet clutter now than I wish, but I try to remember that when baby-time is done, a tidy closet will be one tiny consolation, in spite of the lack of tiny fingers and toes to kiss.
In other words, sometimes clutter comes with life seasons and as long as we’re prepared to release the clutter when the time comes, it’s not necessarily so bad.
Julie says
Oh, how I wish this post had come just a day earlier — I went through my closets last night in preparation for a visit to the consignment store after work today! I’m sure I could have squeezed a few more items out of the closet with your suggestions.
My husband and I have 4 bedroom closets that, until recently, were all filled with our clothes. Between the 4 distinct season, Hubs’ work and play clothes (I can dress casually for work, thank goodness), and my difficulty in purging because I never know if I might want it/need it/love it again, we had too much. But with a baby on the way, we’ve started to pare down in earnest.
I’m still a long ways away, but I found a few tricks that work for me. Similar to what you suggested, I try to only buy things that I love in the store. I’m so frugal that I often fall into the “I’ll get it ’cause it’s cheap” trap, even if it’s not the most flattering or comfortable piece. This has already saved me a few bucks. Also, similar to the backward hanger trick, I’ll wrap a piece of paper around the hanger hook with today’s date. If I wear the piece by the deadline (be it 2 months, 6 months, 1 year, whatever), the tag gets removed. At the end of the time period, everything that still has a tag gets pitched!
One of my biggest hangups is tossing clothes my husband has gotten for me. He has great taste, but sometimes things just don’t fit right anymore and I feel so bad pitching them! I don’t want to hurt his feelings. Any suggestions for that?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Julie,
Maybe for those sentimental items it would work to dig up a photo of you in that item back when it fit really well (for a special occasion with you man, maybe?) and frame that photo somewhere so the memory and your hubby’s gift still gets to “live on” even after you pass the clothing that no longer fits onto someone else?
xo,
s
Megan says
I used to be pretty good at getting rid of things I wasn’t wearing–until I picked up a sewing habit. Now I think I can “refashion” things that I don’t wear as they currently exist. I have several too big skirts to make into new skirts, etc. Let’s just hope I’m not turning a full closet into a full sewing space!
Jeannine @ Small & Chic says
I am a minimalist with everything but the closet. Being an academic, I have four wardrobes.
1. Every day 9-5 clothing
2. “On stage” clothing – business trips, times when I’m representing the University, national conferences
3. Casual work clothing for campus events, games, etc.
4. Non-work clothing – for everything else
I stay as organized as possible and do a big purge at the change of the seasons when I rotate my closet and what’s in storage.
Allison says
Thanks for the link, Sherry! I can’t wait to show it to my husband tonight. There could be a fun little weekend project in our future…
Emily says
I have a certain number of hangers in my closet. If I buy something new, something else has to go in order for me to be “allowed” to hang it up. That little rule has helped a lot!
Nicole says
One thing that may help with the items you are holding onto just for sentimental purchases would be to take a photo of each item and put it in with photos from that point in your life or put all of them in their own book with a quick sentence about why it was important. Knowing that there is still a reminder of it somewhere helps me to be able to let it go.
Consigning helps me get rid of those items I am on the fence about. Knowing that I will get a bit more for it by not waiting until I truly hate it in a few years is a great motivator!
Christine B says
Whenever I buy a new item, shirt, jeans, shoes etc. I make sure I go through my closet and donate anything I no longer want. It is like I am rewarding myself with the new item because I have reorganized my closet.
Gayle says
I really liked this post on organization, on giving things away and how to buy new clothes you really love. I have recently (in the last two years) learned to only buy clothes that I really like and look good on me. It’s so freeing. And I have also learned one other thing you mentioned…don’t buy an item on sale just because it’s on sale. I wear a lot of black and mix and match with different colored tops. I don’t have a lot of clothes but most people think I do because of mixing and matching. Thanks for your insight and advice.
Lin says
Sorry to pry, but is that a Rolex I spy? If so, great watch! If not, looks just like it.
YoungHouseLove says
I wish. Kenneth Cole (silver watch) and Michael Kors (gold watch). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Liz says
One thing we did to hang on to some of the items of clothing that had important memories but just weren’t working for us anymore was to make them into a simple quilt. We cut them into equal sized squares and sewed them together. We got some fabric for the back and sewed it together with some batting inside. Every time we pull it out we’re reminded of lots of happy memories. It’s especially meaningful since it has lots of my mom’s old t-shirts from before she passed away. It felt hard to get rid of her clothes, but there was also no reason to keep them. The blanket was the perfect solution. And it made it easier to get rid of other things. If it’s not blanket-worthy, it’s not closet-worthy either!
Anna See says
Love this post and the comments! I love to purge my closets, too!
A big SHOUT OUT to Huggable Hangars, or the generic versions found at Target and Walmart or Homegoods. I had all wooden hangars like yours (love the look!), but when I switched to the Huggable-type hangars, my closet space GREW considerably. I know it may not make sense, but your closet will be 1/3 to 1/2 bigger when you use these hangars. Another plus, nothing falls off of them.
Kate says
My husband and I have a fairly chaotic closet. It’s packed full of stuff, mostly mine. I have about (I’d guess) 7 feet of hanging clothes, a big closet organizer shelving thing with folded clothes, a big dresser, four storage boxes on the top shelf of the closet with off season things, and more shoes than I have room for (under the hanging clothes and on the back of the door). I know I don’t wear stuff a lot, but I have a hard time letting it go because I *could* wear it in the future.
I got rid of a ton of clothes last year, but it’s still not enough. I got rid of most of the clothes I still had from high school and middle school, but there’s some still left (I’m almost 26, so the clothes are semi-old). Actually, I’ve “rediscovered” some of my old clothes and have been wearing them again, but mostly I didn’t wear them. I really need to pare down more so that my closet is not so smushed full.
Over the last year and a half I put on 15 lbs, so now most of my old clothes don’t fit (almost none of the pants do, some of the shirts don’t). But I have been having a hard time getting rid of the too small clothes! I think it hurts me that I’m the kind of person who will definitely wear clothes again if I can fit in them again (did I not mention the middle/high school clothes?).
I’ve been sewing clothes recently (which helps get rid of my fabric stash as well) which helps me slow down, but it’s still putting clothes in my closet and I’ve still been buying things (always on clearance, I can’t justify paying anything less than 50% off, even at Target).
My clothes feel like a burden instead of a blessing! I really wish I could jump on the purging bandwagon full force.
Patti says
I recently heard a tip that I used this weekend … if you spend 15 minutes a day doing a chore you don’t wanna do, it will eventually get done. So I did my “time” in my closet. I purged the clothes that didn’t fit or flatter me, tried things on, and if I didn’t love it, gone. I hung things in order, skirts with skirts, pants with pants, etc. I gave myself an out after 15 minutes, but I ended up spending about an hour total. A good tip I try to follow to get more from my wardrobe is to stick with neutrals for the basics, then add color with accessories, scarves, layering pieces, etc. Love you guys!
dara says
I forget where I learned this great tip: I hung all the hangers backwards in the closet and each time I wore something I hung it back the regular way. That way I knew exactly what I hadn’t worn after a year and took it down to donate.
Jessie P. says
Hi Sherry! I have a question! I hope it is not too personal. How did you do with the transition from maternity clothes to pre-pregnancy clothes? Did you get back into them quickly, or did you have to buy new jeans, etc. to tide you over? I feel like that’s why I don’t get rid of a lot, because of the fear of needing so many different sized clothes!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Jessie,
I was in my maternity pants for about a month after having Clara and then I could squeeze back into my biggest pair of pre-prego jeans. It took a few more weeks to get down to the rest of my regular pants, but since I had only purchased one pair of maternity jeans that took me the whole way through my pregnancy (I had no idea they’d be that flexible- I was amazed- Old Navy by the way) I just had those to tuck away with a few other maternity clothes in a small tupperware container in the basement (where it’ll stay until the next bun in the oven). I was so lucky that so many recently prego friends and family members loaned me a lot of maternity stuff, so I got to return it to them instead of having to store it!
xo,
s
Nan says
I’m also a huge fan of our bi-annual closet purge – it feels so great to have all that extra space! Our wooden hangers also go a long way to purdy-up our storage spaces… Ikea beat any prices I could find for the real deal.
Sherry, where did you get your ceramic “egg crate” jewelry organizer? I’ve seen it pop up in a few of your closet posts, and I’m totally in love!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Nan,
I picked that up at Crate & Barrel about 5 years ago in NYC, but we’ve heard that Anthropologie sells them now. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Tiffany says
It also helps to remember that, while there are memories attached to these articles of clothing, they are still just pieces of fabric. The memories are in your heart and you don’t need a piece of clothing to hold on to them. I had several things that my aunt had given me, and after she died I held on to them for the longest time even though I never wore them. One day I just realized that in her life, she was the queen of purging out closets and such (which is how I ended up with the clothes in the first place) so I finally got rid of them. She didn’t live in those clothes, but rather in my heart, and she probably would have knocked some sense into me long ago if she were still here. :-)
Rachel P. says
I learned my closet organization technique from clothing my children. When I had my first baby, I realized I had too much of one thing and too little of another with the problem of having to buy things full price when it came time to replace them. I made a list of the necessary clothes while keeping in mind I wanted them to get through the week without having to do laundry. Then when I came across a good sale on an item on the list, I stocked up on the next size. A box on the shelf in their closet stores the next size for each child. For myself, I made the list again with an added stipulation of seasonal items as I don’t necessarily need to worry about sizing up. This way, when I notice a skirt or top is getting a bit worn I only replace that item.
Pam says
This topic is the kick in the rear I need. I’ve noticed that my summer wardrobe has been living folded up on top of my dresser because (this is embarassing!) my closet is full of stuff I haven’t worn in a year! Living in a house with the world’s smallest closet, I don’t have the luxury of providing storage space for unloved, unworn clothing. It needs to go – this week. Thanks for the motivation.
Cathy says
Thanks for such an inspirational post! I try to cut down on all of the “stuff” and clothes in our apartment, but get hung up on what to do with the things that are beyond selling or donating. Some things can be recycled, but I feel bad if the only choice is to throw something out. And silly question, but what about things like underwear? We already have plenty of rags.
OwningSingle says
Someone mentioned rotating clothes. I do rotate between spring/summer and fall/winter. I’m in Houston so spring/summer lasts a while. I store off season clothes in bins under my bed and try to purge when I’m packing up. It’s sort of a ritual now along with Fall decorating!
Sugar Cookie says
I’ve always been a plastic, white hanger girl. I love the simplicity, continuity, etc., which just completes the whole “organized” look of a minimalistic, functional closet. However, I’ve noticed that these hangers have started stretching out some of my clothes; plus, I am starting to get a conscious about my hangers not being “green.” Do wooden hangers (or any other hangers besides wire ones) not fall into these categories? I’d love to change them all out (especially without spending a lot of money!), but want to find the right solution before I do!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Sugar Cookie,
We’ve found that wood hangers are the best at keeping those shoulder bumps out of clothes (plastic ones are in the middle and wire ones are the worst!). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
sheila says
I’ve noticed that some people feel like they are throwing away the memory – or afraid they will forget the memory – with a piece of clothing or donation of a household item. Taking a picture and putting it into a special album can help alieviate that. It will inspire the memory which is really what is wanted anyway.