The days have become warmer and along with the season changes we need wardrobe changes! This blog is for those of us who have limited real estate in their closet. Some people may have to store their off-season clothes in a completely different location in their home or even in a storage unit. My downsized closet simply requires a rotation of items. Off season moves to the back and up high while the current season comes front and center. Although this process feels overwhelming, it doesn’t have to be if you follow these steps. Think of it as a closet refresh!
Step 1: Take Everything out
This is the daunting part. Pull everything out and separate by season and category. Put winter pants in one pile and summer pants in another. Do the same with shirts, sweaters, skirts, and finally your shoes. Next determine which pieces get to be labeled “year round”. Year round items are layering items like t-shirts or a light cardigan.
Step 2: Edit
Editing means going through each piece and deciding: keep, toss, or donate. Be honest with yourself. If an entire season has just passed and you never wore it, it’s time to let it go. Stained and damaged items need to either be repaired or go into the “toss” pile. Don’t hang onto items that are two sizes too small. It’s just depressing and taking up valuable space. Do not think about how much it cost or even if it was a gift. Your closet needs to reflect who you are now!
7 practical step for editing from Good Housekeeping:
Step 3: Determine prime real estate
Prime real estate is the accessible part of your closet. Remember…if you don’t see it, you forget you have it. Eye level shelves and low hanging bars are prime. The dark corners of the hanging bars and the high up shelves that require a step ladder are not prime. This is where your off season clothes will be stored. I have a large dresser outside of my closet that I would say is NOT accessible. Why? Because what I put in those drawers I forget I have. Those drawers are however, I great place to store some of my off season sweatshirts and leggings.
Step 4: Pack up the off season Clothes
It’s time for your off season clothes to hibernate until needed again. There are many ways to do this. My best advice is to find ways to stack. Sweaters go into plastic bins that stack and boots go into shoe boxes that stack. This way they can be stored all the way to the ceiling and stay dust free. Sweatshirts and sweatpants or leggings will go into drawers outside the closet. Hanging winter clothes get moved into the back corners of the hanging racks. The idea is to leave the prominent space open for the items you want to see.
Step 5: Seasonal clothes move back in
Now that the off season clothes are stored away, it’s time to put the seasonal clothes back in their prime position. Summer shoes come out of their boxes and need to be easy to see. T- shirts and shorts, that were tucked away in drawers, come out to the prime shelving. All hanging summer clothes come front and center but still hang by category and color. The “year round” items may not be front and center but I can easily grab a denim jacket or light cardigan.
That’s it! You are ready to take on the summer! Hopefully in the process of refreshing your closet you found some gems you forgot you had! If you got rid of several things, treat yourself to a shopping trip. You deserve it!
To check out my other blog about closet organization, click here: