Ep. 003: Home Organization - Begin Decluttering Your Closet Today with Minimize Then Organize
Welcome to your go-to guide for organizing your closet! In our busy lives, a cluttered closet can add unnecessary stress and make daily routines feel overwhelming. But fear not, because with the right home organization ideas and storage solutions, you can transform your closet into a streamlined, efficient space. Whether you're struggling with an overflow of clothes, shoes, or accessories, this guide will provide you with actionable tips to declutter and organize your closet effectively. From innovative hacks to maximize space to easy ways to maintain order, you'll find everything you need to start your closet transformation. Let's take the first step towards creating an organized closet that not only looks impressive but also simplifies your life!
Welcome to your go-to guide for organizing your closet! In our busy lives, a cluttered closet can add unnecessary stress and make daily routines feel overwhelming. But fear not, because with the right home organization ideas and storage solutions, you can transform your closet into a streamlined, efficient space. Whether you're struggling with an overflow of clothes, shoes, or accessories, this guide will provide you with actionable tips to declutter and organize your closet effectively. From innovative hacks to maximize space to easy ways to maintain order, you'll find everything you need to start your closet transformation. Let's take the first step towards creating an organized closet that not only looks impressive but also simplifies your life!
The first one is going to be turning your hangers around. This is a super easy hack essentially to knowing and being able to see what you actually wear on a regular day-to-day basis. So, your hangers are just hung on the rod, no big deal. With this, what we’re gonna go through and do is turn everything around backwards. So instead of hanging and hooking your hanger on the front side, you’re gonna turn it around and hook it on the backside. Now this is one of my favorite home organization ideas because it is probably the least amount of time commitment that you have to actually put forth in the beginning to see what you’re not wearing. What you’ll see is that as you take clothes off the hangar, wear it, wash it, and then go to hang it back up, You will actually hang the hangar back up with it hooking on the front like normal. The thing that I ask that you to do after you have turned your hangers around is to set an alarm or add an event on your calendar that will remind you about two to three months from now. Once that alarm or reminder actually goes off, you can go into your closet and see the items that are still turned around backwards or the items that you have not worn.
My second tip is specifically for your shoes. We have so many clients who love their shoes. They have a lot of shoes, but they actually don’t wear them. So you’re gonna pick a time when you do just normal housework, you’re gonna make sure that it’s a day that you stay kind of around the house. You’re literally gonna just set a timer for five minutes. You’re gonna go into your closet, you’re gonna pick a pair of shoes, and you’re gonna put them on and walk around doing housework, cleaning, picking up, hanging out with your kids, working from home, whatever that situation looks like. You’re just gonna do that wearing those. Now. After the five minutes is up, then you can decide, do I actually enjoy these shoes? Are they comfortable? Are they worn? Am I just keeping them for some sort of sentimental reason? Will I wear them in the future? Are they in style? Have they gone outta style? You’re gonna ask yourself all these questions and essentially you’re gonna come to a conclusion on, do I actually wanna keep these because I’m going to wear or am I going to get rid of them? Because no longer interested? Either way works. But you’ll do that for five minutes and then when that five minute timers up, you’ll go put on another pair of shoes and repeat the process. Now what happens most of the time is when you are being forced to put on the shoes and wear them, you are very quickly reminded on why you love or hate those shoes.
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My third hack is a fun decluttering exercise that takes a little bit more time, but essentially what you’re going do is you’re gonna take a piece of paper and write out all of the categories that you wear on a normal day-to-day basis. Ask yourself, How many t-shirts do I actually need? How many dresses do I actually need? How many. Jackets and pullovers? There’s gonna be a number that pops into your head or your heart, or something that just feels right to you. Write that number down. Then once you have that number written down on your piece of paper, you’re gonna take your piece of paper and go into your closet. In your closet, you’re gonna actually count how many items in each category you have. Do this process with each category, and if you have more than what you put on your piece of paper, you’re just going to declutter the items that you don’t like.
Why Decluttering is Essential
Decluttering is a crucial step in achieving a well-organized home. It not only helps to reduce stress and anxiety but also creates a more peaceful and productive living space. By removing unwanted and unnecessary items, you can free up space and make it easier to find what you need. Imagine walking into a room where everything has its place, and you can easily locate your favorite clothes or accessories without the usual search. Decluttering also helps to improve focus and increase productivity, as a clutter-free environment allows your mind to concentrate better. Additionally, it enhances overall well-being by creating a sense of order and calm. On a practical level, decluttering can help reduce waste and save money by preventing duplicate purchases. When your space is organized, you’re less likely to buy items you already own but couldn’t find. So, take the first step towards a more organized life by decluttering your space today.
Preparing for Decluttering
Before you dive into decluttering, it’s essential to prepare yourself and your space. Start by setting clear goals and priorities. What do you want to achieve? Are you looking to create more space, reduce stress, or simply get organized? Once you have your goals in mind, gather the necessary supplies, such as boxes, bags, and labels. These will help you sort and categorize items as you go. Take a few minutes to walk through your home and identify areas that need the most attention. Make a list of the items you want to keep, donate, sell, and discard. This will give you a clear roadmap to follow. Consider enlisting the help of a friend or family member to make the process more enjoyable and to get a fresh perspective. Finally, take a deep breath, put on some music, and get ready to transform your space. With the right preparation, decluttering can be a rewarding and even fun experience.
Minimize: Sorting and Purging
Sorting and purging are critical steps in the decluttering process. Start by sorting items into categories, such as clothes, books, kitchen items, and so on. This will help you see exactly what you have and make it easier to decide what to keep. Then, go through each category and remove any items that are broken, damaged, or no longer needed. Be ruthless – if you haven’t used it in the past year, it’s probably safe to get rid of it. Consider the 80/20 rule, which states that 80% of the time, you only use 20% of your belongings. Keep only what brings you joy, serves a purpose, or is truly necessary. Remember, the less you have, the less you have to clean, maintain, and worry about. By minimizing your belongings, you’re creating a more manageable and organized space.
Organize: Storage Solutions for Your Closet
Once you’ve decluttered your closet, it’s time to organize what’s left. Start by investing in storage solutions that fit your needs and style. Consider using shelves, bins, baskets, and hooks to maximize your closet space. Shelves can help you store folded clothes, while bins and baskets are perfect for smaller items like accessories or shoes. Use dividers to separate clothes, shoes, and accessories, and consider using a double rod to double your hanging space. Store out-of-season clothes in labeled bins or containers, and keep frequently worn items front and center. Don’t forget to utilize the back of the door with over-the-door storage racks or hooks. These simple yet effective storage solutions will help you find what you need quickly and easily, and your closet will look and feel amazing.
Maintaining Your Closet and Home Organization
Maintaining your closet and home organization is just as important as achieving it. Set aside time each week to maintain your space, whether it’s tidying up, putting away items, or doing a quick pick-up. Create habits, such as putting away clothes as soon as they’re dry, or wiping down surfaces after meals. Consider implementing a “one in, one out” policy to prevent clutter from building up again. This means that for every new item you bring into your home, you get rid of one old item. Schedule regular decluttering sessions, whether it’s monthly, quarterly, or seasonally, to keep your space organized and clutter-free. By making maintenance a habit, you’ll be able to enjoy the benefits of a well-organized home for years to come.
