There’s something about a closet clean-out that feels both daunting and incredibly satisfying.
Over the years, I’ve streamlined my process into a few easy steps that make the task manageable—and dare I say, enjoyable. For me, it’s not just about the actual cleaning out of the closet, but the process that leads up to choosing whether or not something goes or stays. Whether you’re tackling a full closet overhaul or just trying to make room for a new season, below is my system.
1. Get Inspired
The very first thing I like to do when I’m looking to declutter my closet and hone in on my personal style is to create a Pinterest board. You can follow me on Pinterest here. Sometimes I’ll take it one step further and print the images out on Artifact Uprising and hang them in my closet using black painters tape. I then have to make sure that I’m in the right headspace for a good clean. Otherwise it will be too much of a push/pull for the process to feel effective.
2. Take Photos
I know it’s probably uncomfortable to do, but if you take a quick mirror selfie on your phone and start a folder of “Outfits” it can really help you hone in on not only outfits that you loved wearing and want to recreate, but you can look back on the past year and clock outfits that weren’t in touch with your personal style. This is obviously very easy for someone like me to do given my job, but I highly encourage you to do this, especially when you’re packing for trips so you know what all you packed. You can also have fun with this and use a polaroid camera for mirror selfies and they’ll be nicely printed out for you to hang in your closet for reference.
3. Invest in Yourself
If you want your closet to feel elevated, the fastest way to accomplish this is to get streamlined, matching hangers. I cannot suggest this enough and it’s a quick adjustment that won’t break the bank. My favorites are these wooden 20 pack hangers from Amazon.
4. Set a Time
Make sure your kids are at camp or school, the day is cleared and music is playing so that you have a nice clearing to do some…. clearing!
5. Let’s Do This
If you want to really go for it, I suggest taking every single thing out of your closet and make distinct piles:
Keep
Toss
Donate
As you are taking things out of your closet, ask yourself the following questions:
Have I worn this in the past year?
Does this fit my current style or lifestyle?
Would I buy this again today?
Is it damaged, and will I actually fix it?
6. Organize
As you are putting things back in your closet, continue to ask yourself the mindful questions above and hang like items together. Now, this is my favorite pro tip that I stole from Sydney, one of my assistants from back in the day: Organize everything in your closet by color and category. For example, all of the white tops go together but all of the white button downs are hung together and all of the white t-shirts are hung together. Another example is hanging all of your blazers in one section but organize by color.
Fold bulkier items to avoid hanger marks, such as sweaters.
7. Archive and Store
If you are holding on to something very sentimental, invest in a nice box to store it. I don’t care where you put your archives but don’t leave these items hanging in your closet because you aren’t wearing them anymore and it will only cause clutter. Another clutter collector are seasonal items such as swimsuits, coats, scarves etc. You can store these pieces under your bed, in an additional closet or even at the top of your closet.
8. Keep The Vibes Strong
I like to do my best to follow a “one in, one out” rule. For every new piece, remove an old one. I also schedule quarterly closet clean-outs as seasons change and style needs to develop. Cleaning your closet should feel as productive as managing your bookkeeping. You might dread it at first but once it’s done you will feel so much more productive.
I hope these tips help you get set for a stylist 2025!
The post My Closet Clean Out first appeared on Damsel In Dior.