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.
Sally says
I spent the afternoon cleaning out my closet. Your post made me realize how much I hold on to things for “what if” and sentimental reasons.
With my first baby on the way I am completely uninterested in clutter. Some people accumulate as they nest… I guess I purge as I nest? I cleared out an entire dresser drawer that can now be used for tiny baby clothes, burp cloths, etc.
Thanks for the inspiration!
Jocelyn Stott says
I am so with you on this. I detest clutter and nothing gives me more stress than when I am late in the morning, trying to find something to wear, and I skim through my closet to find tons of pieces I never wear. I love going through my closet and ridding of things. In fact, I just did it about a week ago but I know I was not totally honest with myself. There is more in there that can go and I am itching to get it outta there.
sg says
I have a system that requires a bit of space but saves me from the “I’m sure I’ll miss this when it’s gone” thing. I edit down my clothes and all the ones I’m hesitant about go in box..and get put safely out in the garage. If 6 months goes by and I’m not missing anything (which I never have) they get donated without me even thinking twice about it. It’s a nice middle step to help me out. Hope it helps!
Jenn Kemper says
I love all your quotes! We just got married and went through this a few days ago with our clothes. Today is books! Another favorite of mine (which applies more broadly but fits) is
Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful. – William Morris
Sarah says
So are those wardrobes your only clothing spaces? Do you have any other dressers or closest in use (aside from stuff like coats in hall closets). Did you have a built in closet in your room? What do you use that for?
This is very inspiring. I love my house but we’re out growing it fast and I don’t want to hate that its small, I want to find ways to embrace it’s cozyness!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Sarah,
If you follow this link you can see more of the small built in closet that we inherited with the house (and what we store in there). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Cassandra says
The question brought up a common problem of feeling like if you give something away, you might want it again later. I’m always cut throat when decluttering, but then I store everything I’ve purged in our basement for a few months. By then, if I haven’t gone looking for anything in the box, I know I truly don’t want it and can give it away pain free. Usually I’ve forgotten what’s actually in the box, which goes to show if I don’t miss it, I didn’t need it!
Rachel says
A few years ago I heard a tip to flip all our hangers the opposite way (so that the round edge is facing towards the wall) at the beginning of a new season. (Fall is approaching!) Then whenever you wear something, put it back with the hanger facing out as normal.
This way you see what you are actually wearing. If there is something that I love and hate to get rid of I will find a way to wear it and get the hanger turned around. Otherwise, if you haven’t worn it in 6 months, throw it out. Its surprising how little you really wear.
Christa M says
I purchased a suitcase in Hawaii that is pink and has Hibiscus flowers all over it. It looks adorable in my closet and serves multi-purpose. Since I usually only travel with this suitcase in the summer anyway, I use it during the winter months to store the summer clothing that ‘made the cut’ at the end of the season.
If a non-seasonal article of clothing hasn’t been worn in 6 months and is still in good condition…it either goes to Goodwill, is used to make a throw pillow or a handbag or becomes camping clothing. Here’s a post about how I made a dress into throw pillows for my porch! http://christahasablog.blogspot.com/2010/03/dress-porch-two-pillows.html
Sandy says
Will you hate me completely if I tell you that I turned a spare bedroom in my house into a closet? I have always wanted to do this, and I love, love, love it. I lined the walls with shelves and hanging racks from the Container Store, have one big Container Store wire drawer unit, wire racks and pegs on one wall for jewelry, and put shelves in the actual closet in the room that I use to line up my shoes. Oh, and in an opposite move to what most people do re: mirrored closet doors, I took out the old non-mirrored ones, and put in mirrored bi-folds.
And there’s still room left over to have my ironing board set up all the time!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s my dream! My friend Katie Bower (of Bower Power) did that too. Amazing!
xo,
s
Krystle says
This was exactly what I needed to read today. Last night I started cleaning out our closets b/c my husband and I are thinking about moving and I want every area to look presentable. Since we live in a townhouse it is imperative that I maximize the closet space we have so potential buyers can see all the storage space. It is amazing how organizing and decluttering frees up so much space.
Erika says
For sentimental clothing items, I actually take a photo before donating/tossing it. That way, I still have a tangible something to associate with the memory, but a picture takes up a lot less space. That helps me be able to part with things, silly as it sounds!
I also invested in some very nice wood hangers. They were pricey, but they really do make a difference in helping things stay organized.
Alison says
I am not a good closet purger (much to my husband’s chagrin), so I always appreciate a good organization post to get me motivated, thanks!
One criterion that helps me let go of less-than-perfect items is asking myself realistically how many of my other clothes I would choose to wear before this one.
Anna says
What a great post — we live in a home from the 60’s with a smaller closet, and it’s a nightmare in there. I don’t have a whole lot (I’m not afraid to get rid of stuff I don’t wear anymore) but I’m pretty sure I have more than you do! I’m very impressed with how organized you guys always seem to be! I always have the best intentions, and then real life seems to sneak up, open my closet, and throw everything around. I’m sure that’s what happened, because *I* would never self sabotage that way ;)
Beth @ bethcooks says
I really envy you for your minimalist ways. Do you think it helps that you work from home?
I’m always worried about repeating outfits too often at work, and therefore purchase new ones every couple of months. I wish I didn’t feel the need to have such a variety!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Beth,
Believe it or not, 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 (and adding accessories 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
Natalie says
I regularly clean out my closets and drawers (at least once or twice a year). If I haven’t worn something in the past year, I donate it or take it to the consignment shop. It is so much easier to get ready for work, school, date nights, etc. if you can see exactly what you have, and the items you see are ones you love to wear. I used to do the total opposite, but in the last few years I have begun to crave organization! I love the plastic egg crate you have for your jewelry – I use white ice cube trays for mine! They are super cheap and work perfectly!
RJ says
I love this post! I have such a hard time keeping things paired down, living in a snowy part of Canada I have four seasons worth of clothes, plus camping gear {for two seasons}, snow-play gear, ‘going out’ clothes and now maternity clothes! I’ve learned to love storage bins and regularly swap out seasonal clothes to store in our crawl space.
I try to purge once or twice a year and don’t buy nearly as much as I used to which definitely helps!
Karin says
If there’s anything I’m unsure of getting rid of (usually things that are adorable, but don’t fit right, or I paid a lot of money for originally), I’ll put it in a box in the trunk of my car (or in my office closet where it’s out of sight) and leave it for a month or two. Usually when I take it to Goodwill, I’ve forgotten about everything in there, so I obviously didn’t miss it :-) And in the meantime, if I do want to pull something out, I can.
Niki says
I use the rule: one in, one out.
When I buy something new I go home and remove [donate, toss, sell] something old. This way I keep my closet in check!
Betty says
I saw this article a couple of months ago: http://consumerist.com/2010/07/woman-wears-6-items-of-clothing-for-a-month—-nobody-notices.html
Interesting that so few noticed.
Nicole says
Such great advice!!! I sometimes feel like I “can’t” get rid of something because I paid for it and don’t want the money to be wasted. But every single point you’ve made hit home for me. I go through my closet about twice a year, but I know that I hang on to things for sentimental reasons. I still have my prom dress! It doesn’t fit, isn’t cute, and has no business being in my house – but there it is in all it’s 10 year old glory.
We have a hurricane coming this weekend (I’m in NC!) and I am totally running out to the library RIGHT NOW to pick up this book to tide me over if the power goes out.
Candice says
I have closet envy! I tend to hoard clothes and I’m not exactly sure why. I’ve tried paring down and taking a more minimalistic approach but I really have a hard time getting rid of things.
Either I have an excuse (“Oh I can work out in this”, or “I can use this as a work-around-the-house shirt/jeans/whatever”) or I’ll throw it into a pile to donate to the Goodwill and then it sits in a bag in another room for a while before I actually get around to it – and by that point I’m starting to dig back into those clothes when I feel like I have nothing to wear. Inevitably, though, the clothes that I wear from the donate pile that are worn are washed and tossed back into the pile because I end up remembering that I really didn’t like the shirt all that much anyway.
But this definitely inspires me to go back through and pare down even more. I know I have quite a few items that I’m not in love with so the long holiday weekend is as good of time as any to get it done!
KCatGU says
I dito the idea “if something new comes in, something old must go out” I try to pick what is going to get the boot as I am buying whatever new piece.
Also something closet purging is a good activity to tackle with a friend. Well your organized nut of a friend, everyone has someone like that I think ;) They can be a bit more objective and say give this away and if you find yourself fighting back and saying “No” well then you know you really want it.
Elyse says
Sherry, you made me feel so guilty! I have so much clothes…that I NEVER wear. I go through all of it a couple times a year and have the worst time throwing/donating items.
Thank you for this post, I have a new attitude about it…and am excited to get some more closet space!
Sarah@StyleandCentsability says
I am forwarding this on to my mom asap. She is the queen of this, “But this would be a good costume”. Bare in mind, the woman hates Halloween. I am constantly telling her many of the mantras you touched on.
I love a bargain and hit up the clearance racks but definitely follow the “but if it doesn’t fit you well then you’re not saving anything” rule. I probably go through my clothes 4 times a year and purge. For me it is an even better feeling to fill up a donation bag then to get that bargain. Totally freeing! Time to get rid of the knarly summer clothes that have paid their dues!
One tip: Before you go shopping take a quick inventory of what you have in your closet and what you really need. This keeps you from filling up your closet with duplicates. (I am a reformed black top hoarder).
http://styleandcentsability.wordpress.com/
Lindsay@Tell'er All About It says
Sherry and John –
(btw, I love in the “purging” photo above with all of your clothes trewn across the bed, Burger is curled up like a little burrito on the pillow. I missed it the first time. It’s adorable!! What a cute lil’ munchkin!)
xoxo,
Lindsay
heather says
loooove this post!! lately i have been purging our clothing..toys..old spices..medication…bathroom stuff..office stuff…it definately feels great once it’s done…i have a question for you…how do you guys keep Clara’s closet organized and what do you do with her outgrown clothes? I have two boys (2 1/2 years and 3 months) and have a problem purging their closets…i don’t think they have an over amount of clothing (except for hoodies..which i am a total sucker for) but i find i just can’t keep a handle on it…thanks!!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Heather,
We actually got a tip from a friend which was to place a paper bag (we have a cute one from Baby Gap) on the floor of the closet – paper bags work best because they hold themselves open. Then just drop items that no longer fit right into the bag. We find ourselves doing this all the time because Clara is a big girl and she’s quickly outgrowing her 3-6 month clothes even though she’s only 3.5 months old! Other than that bag on the floor we just have hanger dividers that are labeled (3-6 months, 6 months, 6-9 months, etc) and we keep the clothes that are much too big in her bottom drawer since they’re not worth hanging up. We also keep onesies folded in her drawer by age (top drawer = 3-6 months, middle drawer = 6 months, etc). Grouping things by size and type (dresses, jackets, sweaters in the closet – onesies and sleepers in the drawers) really seems to help. And the outgrown clothes bag on the floor is a lifesaver (we transfer those clothes into tupperware bins labeled by age in the basement armoires about once a month so the bag doesn’t overflow). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
christina says
What a great post! It’s always nice to read those little reminders. I’m an admitted shopaholic and a huge closet was an important factor in buying our new house. But we live in Indiana where where we have four very distinct seasons, so I have a great habit of rotating closets every 4-6 months. I always feel better about purging when I know it’s going to a good cause, so I put everything away for a giving project I do every Christmas. I choose 12 local organizations and make donations of time, money or goods and call it my “12 Days of Giving Project.” It takes the stress away from having to say goodbye to items.
I also love to organize my closet and make sure everything is organized by sleeve lenth, then color. That way I know if I have too much of a certain color and it makes getting ready easy…I like to have options, so it’s fun to “shop” in my own closet and make new outfits with items I already have. I think organization is the key whether you have a tiny closet or a gigantic one.
Chelsea says
I think you make great points here and I’ve been steadily paring down every room/closet/storage space in our house this past year. However, here are my two problems with the idea of tossing everything you don’t wear often (especially if it’s a really nice piece, but maybe out of style)
1) A Dress up box for your daughter–fun items like weird high heels, colorful purses, hats, bridesmaids dresses, etc… are so fun for little girls down the road. I had a friend growing up with the most amazing dress up box that her mom had created over the years, the hours of fun are priceless.
2) Some of my favorite items of clothing are things that my Mom owned and wore in high school or college, really good quality things-a pair of gorgeous orange leather boots, a white wool coat with fur collar, several pairs of great jeans from the 60’s and 70’s…things that she stopped wearing but kept and sure enough they came back in style.
Where’s the place for these kind of things? Granted you could go crazy, but I think maybe delegate a big plastic box for dress-up things and if it starts to overflow go through it and throw some things out, one would be enough.
YoungHouseLove says
A box is a great idea, or maybe an unused bottom drawer or shelf in your closet? We’re also huge fans of storage ottomans so maybe one of those would be the perfect “time capsule” for those items!
xo,
s
Carmen says
Great post. Love it. One question: how many pairs of jeans should someone have, how many shirts, tees & cardigans? Just out of curiosity.
YoungHouseLove says
As many as you need! It definitely depends on your job, lifestyle, hobbies, etc. I would just see how many you have now and eliminate a few (put them in a box just as an experiment) and see if you miss them. If not you probably didn’t need ’em!
xo,
s
Michelle says
my goal for 2011 is to take all hubby’s t-shirts (and mine) that have sentimental value and turn them into quilts! I know this is not a new idea, but I love it. The important part of the shirt (logo, design, etc.) is saved and displayed, but the resulting object is also useful (and takes up less space!). I have three in the works right now… :o)
Dana Hale says
If I’m honest, I sometimes walk into my closet and give myself a mental pat on the back for not having what I consider “too many” clothes, shoes, purses, etc. I don’t even try to be trendy and I think that keeps my wardrobe to a minimum. My mom taught me to mainly buy simple, classic pieces that can be mixed and matched and worn for a long time. I think this also helps me not look at something in my closet and think, “Such-and-such magazine says that’s so not in style right now. I can’t wear that!” I go through my closet once or twice a year a take a load to Goodwill. I’m also about to consign some of my daughter’s clothes. We have too many things from 0-6 months, and I have learned to scale back in that department, too. When we are finished having children, my plan is to have a blanket made out of fabric from sentimental outfits and sell the rest to keep from holding onto boxes of clothes until the end of time :)
Martha says
Amen Sherry!
I get huge pleasure out of thinning out my clothes. Your comment about the sentimental attachment to clothing made me smile. It’s a huge issue though! I finally stopped back and recognized that I was hanging on to a few things I probably wouldn’t wear again because they simply aren’t stylish anymore. But how do you toss out the shirt you wore the night you met your husband?
I decided I didn’t have to toss it out, but I also didn’t have to treat it like clothing anymore. We each have a tote full of sentimental things (i.e. the newspaper with my dad’s obituary and a leather peace sign from the Grateful Dead concert my parents took me to at age 7). I decided the shirt belonged in the sentimental tote and not my closet.
This worked like a charm for helping me move past the sentimentality of clothing. Is it good enough to rest along side the card my grandmother gave me for my first birthday? No? Goodwill it is! This trick works with other sentimental junk too. :-)
Shannon says
@Nan – I found a similar ceramic egg crate on this website. It’s towards the bottom of the page. :)
http://www.fantes.com/egg-utensils.html
Beth says
Love this post but wish there was a way to “Like” comments — that would help zero in on which ones are really useful and not repeats. I don’t even know if this is possible, but it might help boost traffic on your blog (I always read in my email, but had to come to the post for the comments)
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Beth,
We agree! That would be awesome. We actually looked into that option a few weeks ago but we just couldn’t figure out the coding to make it work. But if any savvy web peeps out there know of an easy way (plug in) or have any code they could share we’d definitely give “Like” buttons a go when it comes to highlighting popular comments!
xo,
s
Funnelcloud Rachel says
I have this problem. Big time, times ten.
And while I love the idea of looking into my closet and knowing that I love everything in there, I have a hard time getting rid of things.
Sherry – despite your “lean” clothing collection, you always look well-dressed and put together – so for a Part 2 to this post, I’d love to hear your secrets and fashion tips for putting together great outfits with less clothing (without looking like you’re wearing the same few things over and over again).
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Funnelcloud,
Haha, I’m hardly a fashionista! I don’t think I could write a post about how I dress if I tried! Basically I wear lots of black (as evidenced by that shot of my closet) and stick to classic shapes and colors (beyond black usually just coral and plum and some brown along with a pop of red here and there) and keep things fun with accessories like big dangly earrings or an oversized gold watch while the rest of my jewelry is understated (only one big thing, never more than that). I also love shoes and bags (in metallics and other more experimental colors than the clothes I wear) so they add spice to outfits and by mixing and matching jewelry, shoes, and bags along with layering things like tanks and cardigans or sweaters I get a lot of different looks from fewer pieces. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Brooke says
I echo the great remarks on this post. But, I definitely agree with some other posters that certain professional jobs (i.e. one that require suits) are not always well-suited for such a small wardrobe. Those darn suits just take up so much room in the closet!
Alicia says
Love this post!
I’m going to go through my closet tonight! Thanks Petersik’s!
Jessica says
I have that same Lucky Shopping Manual and I love it! I’m trying a shopping diet for the next 7 months until my wedding and it is hard not to buy anything. But I feel I have a much better idea of what I actually enjoy wearing in my closet and which items I never go to put on no matter how long I’ve had it. I also recommend organizing your clothes like a store and keep clothes together by their use: night, work, weekend, workout. It can make you feel like you’re shopping everyday in your own closet!
Caroline says
This post was so helpful and inspiring- I too am going to whittle things down in my closet this weekend. :-)
One thing that helped me- had a baby 5 months ago and before she came I took everything out of my small (and shared with my husband) closet in my 1930s house- and just left my maternity clothes in (and my husband’s clothes). Then after she came, after a month or so when my small maternity clothes were getting too baggy, I went through my non-maternity clothes (that were put in storage bins and stored in our guest house) and pulled out the ones I could fit into and the ones I thought that I would actually wear. I didn’t need work clothes b/c I decided to take a year off of work, but it is so nice to look in the closet and see only clothes I really like and wear a lot. But I think I need to reduce so that there are only clothes I love in there. But it can be done- and there is still PLENTY of room for my husbands multiple suits, a zillion dress shirts, ties and all of that garb he needs!
Rima says
Hi, guys! First time commenter but long-time reader here. This post speaks to me. My current challenge is that the hubs and I brought home our own little bundle of joy nearly 8 weeks ago (yay!) and I’m sure you can imagine/relate to the head-scratching I do everyday in front if my closet. It holds a mix of maternity and pre-preggo clothing, and nothing fits *great* (yet).
Sherry, I’d LOVE to hear how you’ve applied these paired-down closet principles to your post-baby life! Or, if you’re among the lucky ones who fit back in their pre-pregnancy clothes very quickly, have you got any advice? Thanks! (And sorry if this question is a repeat…)
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Rima,
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 really 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!
So I guess my top tips would be not to invest in a lot of in-between clothes and just work with maternity clothes and any tops that have been loose and billowy on you since before being prego until you can get back into your old stuff and store things that are too big somewhere in a container (like an under-bed storage bin) until you’re prego again. And maybe go for a few multitasking breezy tops that work no matter what shape you’re in (I never wore things very tight so a lot of my clothes worked pre and post prego, which really came in handy). You know I love when things multitask! Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Beth says
I don’t get rid of clothes too often – unless something gets damaged. But I have to tell you that a few weeks ago I started feeling like I kept wearing the same things over and over. So I went through my closet and took out all the shirts, leaving just the capris, pants, skirts, and shorts. Then I hung each shirt on a hanger with one of the above. So I basically have “sets” in my closet now. It’s done two things for me: First, it’s so much easier for me to rotate items and not wear the same top with two or three bottoms. Second, it takes out the “what will I wear with this?” factor.
PS – I see glasses in your closet, Sherry!. Have we ever seen you with those on?
PSS – found the Lucky Shopping Manual on Amazon for $1.50 (because our library, which is always my go-to place, didn’t have it). Can’t wait to get my hands on it!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Beth,
Amazing amazon score! Congrats. As for the glasses, I’m usually a contacts girl these days (those glasses are leftover from high school actually!). But they do come in handy when my eyes need a break from contacts every once in a while!
xo,
s
Naomi says
My tip towards a cleaner closet is to keep a paper bag in my closet so that when I try something on that no longer works, I can simply toss it in the bag. Then when it is full, I walk it over to the donation bin 2 blocks from my house at a local church. I’ve also just started using freecycle which is a group of people devoted to giving away their things for free to people in the nearby community who actually want them. This helped me clear off an entire shelf of VHS tapes which were collecting dust ever since we started using Netflix.
Cleaning things out is contagious and I never miss the things that go away. They’re things!
the constant hunger says
I am totally like you, Sherry. I routinely go through my closet, drawers and cupboards in my apartment looking for things to get rid of. I have no attachments to the majority of my stuff. The less I have, the better I feel. Empty spaces soothe me. I am too much of a neat freak/organizer to keep anything I haven’t used in the past year. My husband… He’s another story.
Leigh says
My friends and I do a clothing swap twice a year- fall and spring. We go through our closets (and sometimes our homes!) and get rid of everything we no longer love or wear. Then somebody hosts the party: we lay out our wares, people try on the things they like, all while eating and drinking. Whatever is left over goes to Goodwill. It’s a great way to pare down and get some fun “new to you” clothes.
Meghan says
Best post in a few months (my last favorite was the accessorizing one I think?) which says a lot because they are all great! Inspiring for sure!
Rebecca says
I’m a New Yorker with limited closet space, a self-proclaimed minimalist, and here’s what I do: I clean out my closet every season. Anything that tugs at my heart-strings that I don’t wear anymore goes into a vacuum packed storage bag. After a year, if I never missed it, out it goes, along with all the other stuff in that bag. I really try not to buy anything I don’t love or absolutely need, because every time I get rid of one of those bags, I can’t help but see the money I just threw away. So I’m getting better. When I contemplate buying something new, I first consider which item I am willing to get rid of to make room for it. And black? Its my best friend.
Kris says
Hi Sherry,
I love your blog so much! It has provided so much inspiration to me and my husband. I love to read it every day!
I just wanted to ask you about the little compartment you keep your jewelry on in the picture on this post. It looks so perfect for storing jewelry and having it easily accessible at the same time. Where did you find it? I have a jewelry box that I’m always having to dig through to try to find what I am looking to wear, and everything ends up getting tangled up in there. Something like you have would be so perfect and solve a lot my jewelry organizational issues!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Kris,
It’s actually a ceramic egg crate that I got from Crate & Barrel about 5 years back- but we’ve heard Anthropologie sells them now (and someone back in the comments of this post shared a link to another site that sells them). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Beth says
My biggest tip when cutting down on impulse buys: think of the cost per wear for everything you buy! So, that pair of classic black pumps that SEEMS really expensive is actually quite cheap if you plan to wear them all the time. On the other hand, that cheapo clearance item that is probably super trendy will likely get just one or two uses — seems really expensive now, right?
Also, thanks for reposting the links to your Ikea wardrobes. My hubby and I need to redesign our tiny closet space, and your bedroom setup seems to be similar to ours. Something like that might just do the trick!!
Sharon Holden says
Thanks Sherry, what a timely post for me. I was just scratching my head in our very small wardrobe this morning and thinking it needs a spring clean. I see a lot of barely worn clothes heading to ebay in the near future!
Leigh Ann says
I have a strategy that I LOVE. Recently, I downsized from a 2400 sq ft house to a 1400 sq ft HOME (which I can utterly recommend!!!!) I also went from 100+ square closet/converted porch to a small walk-in (4’x6′). So, needless to say– I had to learn to downsize!
At the end of every season, I go through my entire wardrobe, and donate EVERY PIECE that I did not wear that season, or don’t think I’ll want to wear in the upcoming season. Chances are, if I didn’t wear it this summer, I’m definitely not going to wear it next summer (even if I bought it this spring).
It’s easy for me to do this because I know I’ll free up space for new clothes that I WILL wear & love! Another tip, I usually play the Sex and the City Movie in the background– something about all their fashion motivates me so well!