How to declutter your wardrobe like a pro: expert-approved tips and easy storage hacks
Is your wardrobe a jumbled mess of crammed-in clothes, shoes and accessories? A big wardrobe clear-out is often top of the agenda when decluttering a bedroom, but there's no underestimating the mammoth task at hand. To help you declutter your wardrobe like a pro, we've spoken to the experts about their best practice tips, along with quick and easy storage wins. Whether clothes, accessories, underwear, shoes or bedding, here's how to get started.
Decluttering your wardrobe: 4 things to remember
• DETOX
'The only way is to get everything out,' says Charlotte Reddington-Smith and Gemma Lily of the Style Sisters, who detox and organise celebrity wardrobes from Rochelle Humes to Amanda Holden. 'Once you’ve done this, it's much easier to see what you have rather than keeping anything hiding at the back of the wardrobe.'
• REVITALISE AND REFRESH
While your wardrobe is empty, give it a good clean. Make sure you get to the very back of the shelves and bottom of the wardrobe, using a damp cloth to catch any dust or debris that may have built up over the winter months.
• OPTIMISE STORAGE
Make the most of your wardrobe space by investing in closet organisers or storage systems. ‘Simple additions like hanging organisers, shoe racks, or extra shelves can double or triple your storage capacity without the need for a costly remodel,’ says Chris Hutton, storage expert and owner of Adams Selfstore. ‘And don't forget to utilise the space behind your wardrobe door with hooks or over-the-door organisers for additional storage.'
• REVIEW REGULARLY
'If you don’t create a habit of reviewing your wardrobe regularly, all your hard work can be undone just like that,' warns Martina Cherry, style expert from curated fashion site endource.com, 'Ensuring you set a reminder and take the time to review your wardrobe every two-three months will help you maintain an organised space and keep items in your wardrobe that you truly love and wear.'
How to declutter clothes
• THE RULE OF THREE
To make the process as clear and organised as possible, create separate piles and divide your clothes into three areas: what to keep, what to donate and what to sell.
• GIVE ITEMS A SCORE
With clear piles, focus on the ones you're keeping and proceed to give each item of clothing a score out of 10 based on how it makes you feel and how practical/wearable it is. If you're serious about decluttering your wardrobe efficiently, be honest with your rating. 'Any item that has a score of five or less in either category, put to one side. Chances are you can get rid of it,' says Melissa Denham, interior design expert at Hammonds Fitted Furniture.
• CHECK FOR MULTIPLES
With wardrobe staples like jeans and t-shirts, it's easy to end up with several of the same thing. But do you really need 10 white t-shirts or half a dozen pairs of almost identical jeans? The answer is no, probably not. Try to cut down on multiples – keep the newer ones or those that offer the best fit.
• DO A SEASONAL SWAP
Now's the ideal time to start bidding adieu to cosy knits and make room for some spring/summer wardrobe essentials. 'When it comes to storing jumpers and winter coats away, consider folding them to prevent stretching, and opt for vacuum-sealed bags to save space and keep them protected from dust and pests during the warmer months,' says Georgina Burnett, Sharps' declutter expert.
• PUT ITEMS BACK LOGICALLY
For the items you decide to keep, try to put them away in a logical, memorable order. You can group items by type, for example, all jumpers together, all jackets together and so on. Or you may want to categorise by colour. 'Either way, consider how you usually put an outfit together and go from there,' advises Melissa.
• INVEST IN SPACE-SAVING SLIMLINE HANGERS
'Whenever we do a wardrobe detox, the first thing we always recommend is a change in hangers,' say the Style Sisters. 'It's a simple switch that can make the biggest difference. Not only do bulky wooden and plastic hangers take up space, but they can make wardrobes look messy and unorganised. You can typically fit three velvet hangers for every one wooden one. Giving a uniform, modern look, it will transform the space to feel like your favourite boutique clothes store!'
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• CONTINUE TO TEST WHAT YOU ACTUALLY WEAR
To identify what you actually wear day to day, turn your hangers around when you wear an item. Of course, seasonal things like summer dresses won't be worn in cold weather, and you won't be wearing chunky knitted jumpers in hot weather either, but you'll soon be able to work out what's in use and what isn't season to season.
How to organise accessories, underwear and shoes
These items can take up a surprising amount of space in your wardrobe and drawers but are often forgotten about during a wardrobe decluttering session.
Treat accessories such as belts and scarves in the same way as clothes. How useful are they? And when was the last time you used them? To maximise storage, rather than folding belts, try hanging them from a hook inside your wardrobe door, which will free up drawer space for other items.
Belt Hanger
2 Pack Wardrobe Organiser
Wardrobe organiser
Also, re-evaluate your underwear based on what you use day to day and what fits you well. 'Organising underwear items by colour can also be really helpful for the future, making it easier to find what you want,' says Melissa. 'Storage boxes placed inside drawers can help you separate things, which again is really useful.'
Ditch socks with holes and any odd pairs, and when it comes to shoes, check if they still fit and are in good condition before anything else. Move the shoes you wear regularly to one side and put all the rest in a pile for review, and donate if in good condition.
Take stock of bedding and towels
If your bedding and towels stay in your wardrobe rather than a linen cupboard or other storage area, you should also take stock and filter as needed.
'We can acquire a mountain of bedding and towels over time, but realistically we only need a fairly limited amount of each,' says Melissa. 'For bed linen, you typically need a maximum of three sets per bed. Two "core" sets to alternate between on washing day, and potentially a seasonal variation (depending on if you tend to get hot or cold while sleeping). Focus on keeping bedding that is easy to wash and dry, is in good condition, and is comfortable.'
A similar rule applies to towels. 'For towels, again you may want to keep two core sets per person (face cloth, hand towel, bath towel),' advises Melissa. Remember, rolled towels take up less space than those that are folded.
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