I Tried the “Rule of 3” Method to Declutter My Closet and Got Rid of 21 Items
I try to pretty ruthlessly clean out my closet every year or so. The last time I did a big purge was after I got a color analysis done, which helped me identify what colors suited me best and thin out my wardrobe.
It’s been almost two years since that last big cleanout, however, and I was due for another. When I came across a Southern Living piece touting the “rule of three” as an effective method for getting rid of clothes that languish in the closet, I was inspired to go through it again.
What Is the “Rule of 3” Method?
The rule of three states that for every article of clothing, if you can’t think of three ways you’ll actually wear it, it has to go. Three ways may be interpreted as three different outfits or three different types of occasions. (If you can’t stomach getting rid of the garments right away, you can keep them for a specified amount of time in an outbox to be sure you’re comfortable letting them go.)
The idea is that enforcing this rule will cut through the usual thoughts that cause you to hang on to clothing that you aren’t wearing or enjoying — like that you spent money on them, you liked them once, or they are sentimental items. While you’re going through your clothes, you should also toss anything that no longer fits you, that you don’t feel good wearing, or is damaged beyond simple repair.
I Tried the “Rule of 3” Method on My Closet
Here are my key takeaways after trying out the rule of three in my personal closet:
A rule is always better than none.
Approaching any decluttering task with a parameter always works out for me better than simply attempting to “declutter a drawer” or “go through my closet.” Knowing I was going to ask a particular question of each piece of clothing motivated me to actually start the project, which is more than half the battle. Having a rule or a question to answer makes even overwhelming tasks palatable.
My current lifestyle doesn’t lend itself well to this method.
I am a mother of five, and I work from home. I don’t need too much variety in my wardrobe. Aside from going to church, some date nights, and going out to dinner with friends, I don’t require many clothes beyond everyday casual pieces. All this to say that I didn’t feel this rule was as applicable to my life and wardrobe as it could be for someone who has a bit more variety in their day-to-day life.
But this didn’t stop it from being effective.
Even though most of my clothes are versatile enough for most aspects of my life, the rule of three caused me to handle each item of clothing one by one and consider it. Even if I couldn’t necessarily readily answer whether a piece could be worn in three different ways, it gave me a chance to consider if I still fit the item, whether I’d worn it at all since my last big closet purge, etc. I was able to get rid of a lot this way! (21 pieces in fact!)
Overall, even though the rule of three didn’t work for me the way it was intended, I still enjoyed the same result: a closet with so many fewer items that I never reach for. Put another way, my closet is now edited down to the pieces I actually wear. I feel so much lighter and more peaceful every time I go into my closet.
Further Reading
We Tested (and Rated!) Every Sofa at West Elm — Here Are the Best for Every Type of Need
Everything You’ve Ever Wanted To Know About Article’s DTC Furniture
