Cutting Through the Clutter: Organizing the Closet

For many of us, there is that closet lurking in our homes that has been filled top to bottom with items that are rarely used. In fact, many times we do not dare open the door in fear that the items will come crashing down. Whether we realize it or not, a simple task such as organizing a closet and getting rid of the clutter can do much in making us feel more in charge of our lives and our home. Not to mention, there could be potential money to be made by selling the items that we longer need. Come along with me as I outline some basic steps that can be used in bringing order and organization to your most dreaded closet clutter.

Step 1: Open the door and take everything out. It is quite possible that that this will seem overwhelming, but don't stop or let this discourage you. Make sure that you have plenty of room for the items to be spread out after they are removed from the closet. If possible, begin separating the items into piles as they are being removed. For example, place all sports equipment together, stack books and magazines together, etc.

Step 2: Create categories of items as well as a donation and throw away pile. This ensures that some items will be removed from the closet freeing up precious space. Besides, if it has been in the back of the closet for a long time, is it really needed or important to you? Maybe that striped skirt that needs to be hemmed can be donated and put to better use by someone else. If you do decide to keep items that need repairs, commit to repairing them before putting them back into the closet. While making categories, you may decide that you would like to sell some items to make cash. If this is the case, place them in a box and begin the process immediately. The longer they are around the house, the easier it is to put them back into the closet. If you find the purging process difficult, try to break the items into thirds. For example, I will keep one third of the items, I will donate one third, and I will sell (or throw away) one third. If this is still difficult, ask a friend or family member to come over to help you. Sometimes an outside perspective with no attachment to the items is great moral support.

Step 3: Assess the categories of items and how they can be best placed back into the closet. The goal is that the items can be easily accessed and organized. The whole purpose of this project is to make you feel better when you open the door of this closet and need to find an item. For example, if you find you have a lot of books or magazines, you may consider building extra shelves in your closet. If you have a lot of clothes that need to be on hangers, consider placing an extra hanging bar midway across the closet providing hanging space at the top and bottom of the closet. If you have a lot of shoes, consider a shoe rack for the floor or one that hangs from the back of the door. Plastic totes are a great way to organize collectibles or memorabilia.

Remember, sometimes organizing a closet can be done in a day or a few hours, but many times, it is a process that can take a few days especially if adjustments need to be made to the layout of the closet, such as additional shelves or rods. No matter, the situation, commit to completing the project and get help if you need it. Allow plenty of time and know that by going through the clutter, you are taking charge of your life.