The ABCs Of Decluttering Your Wardrobe

Choosing an outfit is like ordering at a restaurant. The prix fixe menu is too limiting, yet fifty choices of pizza on the other one is enough to give anyone a headache. Don’t you wish there was a middle ground when deciding what to wear too? Freedom of choice without the last-minute panic and lack of storage space? Read on to discover how you can declutter your wardrobe – and your mind – one step at a time.  

One: Make it a Date

It might seem obvious, but we tend not to do it: schedule your decluttering session like an appointment, and set a reminder on your phone. Abstract, ‘one of these days’ notions rarely materialize when it comes to life admin – we need a level of pressure.

Two: Categorize by Purpose

Breaking down a substantial task into small chunks makes the process feel more manageable. Rather than dumping everything on the bed and staring into the abyss, identify items by category before arranging them into separate piles. The question of how many clothes you need is a vague one – the question of how many jackets you need? Easier when they’re right in front of you and you can establish the jacket-to-trousers ratio.

Three: Be Honest with Yourself

You might love that chiffon dress, but how often do you actually wear it? It can be conflicting parting with beautiful clothes, so if you can’t quite bring yourself to axe it, set yourself a deadline: ‘if I still haven’t touched it by the end of the year, I’m giving it away.’ Or, make a plan to wear it on a particular occasion, and don’t back out! If you do, take it as a sign that it wasn’t meant to be.

Four: Restructure Your Wardrobe

Once you’ve completed the previous steps, you’re going to restructure your wardrobe. When you put your clothes back you’ll do it by category, and this must be maintained. After a few weeks, you won’t have to ‘remember’ to do it and it will become an automatic part of your routine.

It’s not such a daunting task; just think, a single afternoon can spare you from countless years of dithering. Now your wardrobe won’t overflow with stuff you’ll never wear, AND you can locate what you need within seconds.

So what are you waiting for? Get it in the diary and declutter that wardrobe!