Is your wardrobe quite literally bursting at the seams? We all know how much room those winter coats and chunky knits take up, not to mention your summer wardrobe that is currently sitting dormant waiting for the sun and all of those other items of clothing that you haven't worn in years but might one day.
Wardrobes, be they small cupboards or luxurious walk-in-wardrobe affairs, are the kind of space that people tend to have a 'love hate' relationship with. While they store your most prized outfits, they can also house 'dust collectors' that make it hard to fully appreciate (and sometimes see) the clothes you love and wear often.
To help you create the wardrobe of your dreams, here are the top tips on how you can organise your wardrobe and keep it that way from decluttering specialist, Jo Carmichael from All Sorted Out,
1. CULL YOUR CLOTHES
First things first, when sorting your wardrobe you need to do an initial clean out before you do anything else. Remove the items, pulling everything out onto the bed and sort into piles what you'll keep, throw as rubbish, donate or sell. If you haven't worn an item in the last 18 months it's unlikely you will wear it in the future, so discard it. I know it's hard but the positive is that you are not only making way for new items that you will wear, you can also donate these good quality items to charities. For the really bad old clothes with holes, tears or stains, it's time to say goodbye and bin them. Consider selling unworn or designer clothes to make some money from your wardrobe cull.
2. GOODBYE BAD PURCHASES
We have all made bad purchases – whether expensive splurges that still have the tags on or cheap 3-for-2 'bargains' that don't even fit you. When you haven't worn and don't particularly like the items, you feel disinclined to discard them because they've never been worn. These purchases are a by-product and as they are not used, discard them to make space for your existing clothes. Discarding the item means you no longer need to see it and berate yourself for buying the wrong thing too.
3. GET ORGANISED
Once you have sorted out what you are going to keep it's time to organise with smart storage solutions. Asses the space you have to work with and decide where you will position everything. Storage containers inside your cupboard make the wardrobe far more appealing and easy to navigate.
- Hang as much as possible, as this makes it easier to see them.
- Fold and roll clothes going into drawers.
- Use shoe boxes or storage boxes within a drawer or your wardrobe to keep clothes neat and stop your socks mixing with your crop tops.
- Try to keep out of season coats – up the far end of your wardrobe.
- Pack up out of season clothes to create space in your existing wardrobe.
4. KEEP IT NEAT
Keep everything you need regularly in an accessible area. Chances are if you store that bag or pair of shoes you wear regularly way at the top/back of your wardrobe the higher the chance of it being left lying around the house. Store items you use on occasion like that expensive bag or coat you only wear a couple of times a year up the top so it's not taking up space.
Keep the most frequently used items like your joggers or a pair of jeans lower down and more accessible. There is nothing messier looking than shoes thrown in the bottom of the cupboard. Much better to store them neatly on a rack if you have enough room, or stand upright in tubs – this keeps them in pairs and contained rather than a pile erupting.
