Congratulations, you built or bought your dream home! You purged, you packed, you vowed to stay organized forever! A few weeks later, life returned to normal, your schedule got hectic and you were back to your former routine of throwing your clothes in the corner because it was just easier to crawl into bed and watch Netflix than hang them up in your closet. Sound familiar? Oof, I hear ya loud and clear.
Organization is a daily struggle for many of us, but the benefits of getting things in order go beyond just your closet. Studies show that people who make a valid effort to stay organized experience less stress and depression than those that do not, not to mention an increase in happiness, relationships and many other areas of life.
So, where should one begin in their new vow to stay organized? I suggest you tackle the place most often responsible for adding anxiety to each morning. The closet. If you’re in the process of building with Veridian, we offer a range of customizable options from Linen Shelving, to Melamine, to Easy Track systems, all of which will turn your closet into a gorgeous and organized haven.
Once you have an organized foundation set for your closet, it’s important to ask yourself what type of wardrobe you want to have. I will forever be inspired by Caroline Rector, over at Unfancy who continues to master the art of creating a stunning capsule wardrobe with each passing season. She recently collaborated with Cladwell to help folks like us build and maintain a minimal and versatile capsule wardrobe, so we can stay organized and get the most out of our closets. Sign me up!
If revamping your entire wardrobe isn’t an option, that’s okay too! Follow these simple steps below and you’ll be on your way to a better life in no time!
1. First, remove everything from your closet. Clothes, shoes, purses, accessories – I’m talking everything! Next, make three piles for each category: Keep, Store and Donate. Sort through each pile and be honest with yourself about the items you love, the items that don’t fit right, and the items that you haven’t worn in the last 12 months. Marie Kondo, author of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up suggests touching each piece to consider if it brings you joy. If it doesn’t make you happy, fit you right, or hasn’t been worn in the last year, get rid of it. No excuses. I promise you it will be worth it.
2. Now that you’ve lightened your load, it’s time to put the items you love back into place. Reserve the front and middle of your closet for the clothes you wear the most. For example: If you get dressed for work each morning barely awake, make sure your work clothes are easily accessible at the front of your closet. Lesser worn items like formal wear and seasonal things should be stored away, or placed towards the back of your closet.
3. Use the very top of your closet for out of season items and things you only wear a few times each year, like fancy shoes, scarves and luggage.
4. Know what to hang and what to fold. Blazers and jackets, button down shirts, dress pants, dresses, skirts and suits should all be hung. Denim, sweaters, sweatshirts, shorts, t-shirts and fitness gear should all be folded.
5. Maintain your newly organized closet by regularly placing items where they belong after use and encouraging yourself to keep a monthly or seasonal schedule to sort, purge and replace items if needed.
Do you have any good tips or tricks for keeping your closet organized? We’d love to hear them!
