Ready or not, 2022 is ending soon. Are you game to make some home-organizing magic happen before the year is through? Kudos if you read my last 90 days post and already started small with a drawer or shelf. Over the next few posts, I’m diving into something a little deeper, quite possibly an area you’ve naturally stepped into with the change of season.
I’m talking about CLOSETS. If you have a closet or more in your home, chances are high that you open and use the contents of at least one every day. Closets are brilliant for storing (and concealing) a variety of things, from coats and shoes to bedding and brooms. Closets also have a knack for getting messy or cluttered with random things that belong elsewhere. Hmm...are you nodding along? Yup, me too.
Now, there are so many blog posts, IG reels, and videos circulating the ether on HOW to get your closet organized. I’ve definitely searched and found helpful tips and inspo, which I could round up for you here. Instead, I want to address the 2 steps not talked about enough and why they're essential to take before opening that scary closet. I blog here and began INTERIOR+DESIGN to guide, support, and empower YOU through the process of setting up your home WELL, so let’s begin your journey by first setting your mind up for success.
1. know your WHY
If you want to organize a closet, one of the first things you might do is turn to social media for tips and inspiration. For some, it may be the spark needed to get going. For many, it may leave the opposite impression. “My closet is never going to be that organized, and do those clothes really stay stacked, hung, and color-coded 24/7?” If scrolling induces negative thoughts, remember, what you see is likely a just-completed project. Someone does wear, launder, and put back those clothes, but their lived-in version rarely gets a close-up.
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what another person’s closet looks like or how they made it that way. What matters is why YOU want an organized closet of your own.
So the real first step when tackling a closet (or any space) is defining your intention for getting organized. Is it about creating a beautiful aesthetic? You want visual calm and don’t mind the upkeep to maintain the look. Or is it all about functionality? You need a practical, manageable system that serves your needs now and can grow with you in the future. Whichever intention speaks and feels right to you is your WHY. Your reason. Your own internal spark.
Asked another way, “What will it mean for me to get my (specific) closet organized?”. More time in the morning? Less overwhelm and decision fatigue about what to wear? Feeling proud to have anyone open it up and able to find anything in it? If you’re struggling to start or waiting for motivation, ditch the doomscrolling and simply ask yourself, "WHY do I want to get organized?". Clarifying your WHY will get you excited instead of annoyed, and help you start and stay the course for manifesting a space that inspires YOU.
2. work with your space
For 12 years, I lived in various rental apartments (7 total) each with a different number or combination of closet types, typically a reach-in or walk-in, plus or minus linen or entryway. Naturally, no two apartments or their closets were the same. I/we also couldn’t afford to invest in a fancy closet system nor did we want to with our rapidly changing lifestyle from single to married to a family of three. Instead, I’d assess the closet(s) I had at the time and adapt what I needed to store in the space provided.
To do an assessment:
First, determine the purpose of the closet. Is it dedicated to one category (i.e. clothes) or does it need to house different items (i.e. linens, outerwear, toiletries, etc.)?
Second, let go of anything too worn, damaged, or no longer liked or needed.
Lastly, a few rounds of trial and error to see where and how items fit so that it worked for us.
That last step is so important. It’s a lot easier to tweak how you fold, stack, or store items, rather than buying expensive products or turning a quick closet edit into an unnecessary reno project (unless it’s absolutely required!). Closets are not a one-way-fits-all, so what worked in one may not work in another. Be open to working WITH your closet rather than fighting it and you’ll find what makes sense for you and the space you have.
what closet do you want to get organized and WHY?
For me, it’s been a start-and-stop project to get my clothes closet curated, so I can love and wear everything in it (my WHY). My goal is to get it done by my upcoming milestone birthday, so I’ll be sharing my process with you in a few weeks (fingers crossed!). Until then, I hope this post helps level up your mindset about getting the closet you want to be organized actually organized, and that you go for it! Make some time to think about your WHY and I look forward to reading what it is in the Comments below.
Always,
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