Here are eight tips to help you through your closet makeover. While you sort your clothes into yes and no piles, ask yourself: Does it fit? If not, is it likely to fit you again soon? Does it suit your current lifestyle? Is it stained, damaged, or dated? If so, can it be fixed or altered to make it wearable, and realistically will you do that soon? One of the quickest ways to reach this goal is to limit the “working” area of your closet (i.e., the area not used for long-term storage) to clothes you can wear right now. For most people, this is easiest to achieve by rotating clothes seasonally. For instance, in summer heavy sweaters and snow boots should be stored out of sight while sundresses and T-shirts are front and center. If your closet is in good shape but looking a bit drab, there’s still a lot you can do to liven it up and make getting dressed—as well as putting away clothes—a more pleasant experience. For example, you could add some sachets or cedar blocks to scent your clothes and fend off moths, get new matching hangers, or add a full-length mirror. You also could add wallpaper or a new light fixture. Try to keep all of your closet accessories, including storage bins and shelving, in the same color scheme as well. That way, they’ll do their job to help with organization and function. But they won’t give off a disordered appearance in the space. As you decide where your clothing will “live,” imagine your closet like a boutique. If you were shopping for clothes, how would you like to see your options displayed? By color? By item type? In pre-selected outfits? What would reduce the time you spend searching for an item in your closet? This easy hack could save you loads of time as you get ready for events. Just like you do with your clothing, rotate what’s on the board so it remains seasonally appropriate. And don’t forget to incorporate any new articles of clothing you acquire to find ways to mix it in with the pieces you already have. Labeling is also helpful for opaque bins you wish to store on high shelving or stacked one on top of the other. That way, you can simply check the front of the container to see what’s in it versus having to reach a high shelf or rearrange a stack to access a bin. Not only can you use the drawers for storage, but you can also use the top of a drawer unit to store small items you want easily accessible, such as frequently worn jewelry. Just be careful that the surface doesn’t become a dumping ground for clutter.
