Conquer Clothing Clutter!

Happy Monday!  I hope you all had a lovely weekend!

This past weekend I found myself realizing that time has gotten the best of me and I haven't done my seasonal closet cleanup yet!  In case you are wondering what that is exactly, I basically just assess our clothing and closet situations and adjust, purge, donate, restock and organize as necessary.  Not just for myself, but for the boys as well, as they are always growing and handing down their belongings.  I try to do this twice a year {spring and fall} as the climate changes, however, this year I dropped the ball a bit and we have been feeling some clothing pains.

Because I am spending my week focusing on a big clothing cleanup, I thought I would have you all join in on the fun!

Today I am going to share with you my favorite closet and clothing organizing tips that I have gathered over time.  I also scoured the www for some great inspirational images to drive home the ideas.

Then, all this week, I will be sharing with you clothing projects that we are doing around our abode to get things back into organized shape.  Real time stuff here my friends!  At the end of it all, I thought it would be great fun to do a big "Conquer Your Clothing Clutter" link party!  Who's in?

We have all seen the insanely dreamy closets.  The ones packed with storage for every type of item, loaded with built in custom systems, a place to sit... sigh.  Although we can't all have these insanely amazing closets, there is no reason why we can't look to them for inspiration and incorporate many of the traits into our own real life closets.  I have learned a lot from looking at inspirational closets and clothing systems, here are some of my favorite tips:

• Plan first, add storage second.  Take inventory of the items that you need to organize and check your home for potential solutions before heading off on your shopping trip.

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• Many homes come with standard closets that contain a single shelf and a clothing rod.  However, the closets that really pack the most storage punch, are a mixture of different storage methods for the different items being stored.  Hanging rods, hooks, cubbies, drawers/bins, shelves and door organizers all provide specific yet versatile clothing storage.
• Place purses in a lined basket or on a shelf to extend their life, vs. hanging them on hooks.
• Stay mindful of how often you use certain types of clothing.  Items worn daily should be at levels that are easy to reach.  Less frequently used items should be stored higher or lower.
• Stash a foldable stool in the bottom of your closet to reach items on upper shelves.

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• To really maximize the vertical area within your closet, hang a second rod to double the amount of hanging space.
• Organize clothing by type {shirts, pants, sweaters, etc... }
• Hang clothing by color to give quick options when putting together outfits.
• Use thin, hugable hangers to keep clothes from slipping and to maximize space in a small closet {or make your own!}.  Using consistent hanger types also gives your closet a streamlined and polished appearance.

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• Install a clothing hook to give yourself a place to hang your clothing for the following day.  By laying out your clothes the evening before, you are giving yourself a less stressful morning. 

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• Hooks are also great options for longer items such as scarves and belts.  The bonus is they take up very little space.

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• Don't forget about using the space on the floor and back of the door for storing shoes.
• Over the door shoe organizers are great solutions for shoes, but they also rock for accessory storage for things like belts, scarves and ties.

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• Edit your wardrobe frequently and toss or donate the items that no longer work for you.  Make it easy by keeping a bag or bin specifically for this purpose, right inside your closet.  Be sure to ask yourself the following questions every six months:  Do you have similar/duplicate pieces taking up valuable space?  Have I worn this?  Will I wear it?  Is the pieces damaged, stretched, torn or stained?  Does it fit?
• Don't forget the golden clothing rule: One item in, one item out.  Try to keep the same number of hangers in your closet so if something new comes in, something has to go into the donate bag.
• Think of alternate areas to store seasonal items to free up valuable closet space {under the bed storage, linen closets, etc...}

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• Use shelving dividers to keep stacked clothing and sweaters from toppling over and eventually becoming a jumbled mess.

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• If you opt to store your shoes in boxes to keep them protected, use clear shoe boxes so you can easily see the contents.  A budget friendly option is to store them in their original boxes and use photos of the shoes to label the fronts.

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• If your closet doesn't come with custom built in storage, adding simple options such as a dresser or bookcase or inexpensive mix and match closet solutions from a big box store gives your closet additional storage on a budget.
• Also, if you are not blessed with any closet in a room, don't fear.  Use modular systems or wardrobes to create your own!

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• You know I love labeling, and when it comes to clothing, it is a must!  With kids it is especially important so they can help manage their laundry and select their clothing.

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• Clothing dividers are great when storing baby clothes of different sizes.  They are also awesome for anyone of any age to divide clothing types such as long sleeve, short sleeve, pants, etc....

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• Give yourself a spot to place up fashion, clothing and outfit inspiration.  That way when you are feeling stumped with your clothing selection, you can find ways to give new life to what you already own and think up fun new color combinations.

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• Drawer dividers are great for keeping floating socks out of the undergarments area, or to avoid t-shirts from mixing in with pj bottoms. 
• Don't be afraid to get creative with drawer dividing solutions, inexpensive dollar store baskets, leftover shoe boxes or DIY dividers are all great options when organizing drawers on the cheap.

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• Remember to treat your closet as it is another room in your home.  Adding a little paint or some pretty wallpaper will go a long way in giving you a place that you will love and be more eager to maintain!

Who is inspired and excited to tackle closets and drawers and all things clothing related this week?  What clothing organizing tips do you want to add to our list?