Tuesday 21 January 2014


New Year, Fresh Start, Time to get organized!

Photo by thecorereader.com
Jump out of bed, time to get ready for work.  Facing your closet you feel 
a) it’s a dark disastrous mess that is too daunting to tackle so you put on the first thing you find. Or
b) it’s a showcase of your carefully selected fashion finds allowing you to create your perfect look.

Much as it can be a daunting challenge, we’ve created some tips to help you move from A to B! 

Keep in mind whether you're dedicating a few hours at a time or an entire weekend, have a plan. Otherwise find yourself drowning in a pile of cardigans and jeans. Start with item type or a section of your closet. Breaking it up will make it more manageable and you'll feel more productive.

Donate, Sell, Keep
Ultimately your closet should only be filled with items you love and love wearing. We are all guilty of keeping things we may wear, that may fit that we may like. Anything that you do not LOVE is clutter. It is taking up valuable closet real estate and making it difficult for you to navigate through your true wardrobe treasures. 

Donate: anything that is not in great condition. Stains, torn hems, broken zippers etc do not make the cut and must be let go.
Sell: anything that you bought with the best of intentions but still has store tags, doesn’t fit properly or doesn’t fit comfortably. Ebay, Kijiji and consignment stores are a great way to move these space stealers along.
Keep: anything that looks good and feels great.  Be critical. Double check your ‘keeps’ to be sure they do not need any touch ups, minor alterations or repairs. Hems, buttons, cuffs and collars should be kept looking their best. If you haven’t worn an item for an entire season, ask yourself why. There’s a reason you pass it over. Keep in mind your style changes and evolves and not every piece will fit with every change.  

Put it all back together. 
Wipe down shelves and vacuum the floor. Start with a clean slate! Generally keeping items together by group is best: shirts and blouses are better on hangers so they don't wrinkle, jeans and sweaters may be better folded.
Some experts recommend hanging everything so it's visible and stays tidy, others are big into folding in drawers and on shelves. Your choice should be based on what works best for you keeping things organized in the space you have. When it comes to hangers pick one style/type. Plastic, wood or velvet all work well. Using all the same kind will keep your clothes hanging evenly and avoid tangled messes. Skip wire hangers all together. They are best left for dry cleaning! 


There are lots of great tips out there on closet organization from the types of hangers, folding techniques, and storage options. Find motivation and inspiration great sites like Better Homes and Gardens, In Style and of course Pinterest!
Ultimately the goal is a closet that makes getting dressed easy and fun with clothes you love and love wearing!

Happy Cleaning!