9  Steps For An Easy Closet Makeover

 

 

Anything that is built to last has one key element, A GOOD FOUNDATION! Every well-built home or structure always starts with this. A foundation is the basis or groundwork of anything. It is the strength of the house; it keeps it firm and solid. Anything built upon a good, firm foundation will stand through any seasonal changes.

Let’s apply this same idea to your wardrobe. Think of your wardrobe as the home in this scenario. The foundation of any good wardrobe is the structure of the closet and the pieces that are in it. If you want a wardrobe that can stand firm through all of the changes in the fashion seasons, your closet must be well organized. You should know exactly WHAT is in your closet and WHERE everything goes.

Have you ever woke up in the morning and tried to figure out what you would wear only to end up frustrated and/or late to your destination? The reason you are frustrated is that the place that is the source of most of the things you put on your body is in total chaos. There is a saying: “a cluttered desk is a cluttered mind”. This is also true for your closet. If your closet is in chaos you will not be successful at looking your best every day. It amazes me how much junk people keep in their closets. Some people keep clothing decades old, some keep clothing they no longer even wear. You would be surprised to know that most people only wear about 50 to 60 percent of what is in their closet.

If you can identify with what I have said so far, put your mind at ease. I have done this several times and it works! With these simple tips, you can be on your way to transforming your closet into a place that you no longer dread.

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Here is a great place to start:

 

9  Steps For An Easy Closet Makeover:

Purge, Purge, Purge: Out with the old, in with the new!

 Get rid of anything that you have not worn in the last year. I know it may be hard but think about it if you have been getting dressed for a whole year and you haven’t worn a dress that’s been sitting in your closet it needs to be donated.

 Make 3 piles: Keep, Donate, and Toss. Don’t wait another year before your next purge. (I would suggest you do a purge every 3 to 6 months.) This will keep your closet fresh and current.

Switch out your clothes with the changes in the season. You don’t want to get confused because you have a sweater in your closet in the summertime. Doing this will also cut down on some of the clutter.

Select your top 10 favorite pieces. You know that pair of jeans that fit so well or the dress that hugs you in all the right places. We all have at least five things in our closet that we cannot live without. Pick your top 10 and keep them accessible at all times. Make sure these pieces are current and fit properly.

Do a closet assessment.

Once you’ve purged your closet of unwanted items you have to replace and replenish what you got rid of. Make a list of items that you need. (See Step 7 for examples of necessities.)

Don’t underestimate your hangers.

You would be surprised what this will do to the look and feel of your closet. Where hangers are concerned, uniformity can change everything. Even before I intentionally bought matching sets, I still tried to find and use hangers that matched. I know it may sound trivial but just make the effort to make this small change. Believe me, it will make a big difference.  Pick hangers that keep your clothes from slipping off.  The velvet hangers are great and they come in many different colors. Group similar items and colors together.

Dresses should be with dresses, pants with pants, blacks with blacks, browns with browns. This will make it much easier to find what you’re looking for.

Allow visibility for each item.

You should be able to see everything in your closet. You should not have to rummage or dig to get to your clothes. It can be very frustrating when in a rush to not be able to find an article of clothing. If this is the case for you, revert back to Step 1–it’s time to get rid of some things.  A good gage for making sure everything in your closet is accessible is the two-finger test. You should be able to put two fingers between each hanger in your closet. This will guarantee some order and organization amidst all the chaos.

Build on the basics.

Every wardrobe needs basic, interchangeable pieces as a good foundation. These pieces should be timeless classics that can be mixed and matched to create new looks. (i.e. a pair of khaki pants, a white button-up shirt, a basic black skirt, a simple business suit, a little black dress, or a well-fit pair of jeans.) Add in a few trendy pieces here and there, but never have more trendy items than classics. Too many fad items will make your wardrobe dated and you will always have to update your closet. Remembering this tip will save you time and money!

Create a lookbook.

Put whole outfits together with accessories and shoes, and then take a picture of each look. Compile a catalog of your best ensembles. This will be helpful on days where you are in a rush and don’t know what to wear. Also, creating a visual will give you room for expansion when creating new looks as you will have an image from which to build or vary. It’s always good to have a reminder of what you are working with. This way you no longer have to rely on your brain; you can let the pictures do the work.

Create the proper ambiance.

Your closet should smell good. If you are like me the closet is a place where you spend a lot of time. Why not make it pleasant by adding some type of air refresher to it. This may seem like a little thing, but it can make a huge difference.  Your closet should be well lit. If you can’t see your clothes there’s really no point to even bother with any of this. Make sure you are using a bulb with good wattage in your closet. If your closet does not have lights there are ways to improvise. Try the lights that adhere to the wall. You would be surprised how much more you will enjoy your clothes when you can see them. A black dress might end up being a navy blue dress. Haha!

I know it seems like a lot but don’t freak out! Take it one step at a time. Do what works best based on what you have. It may not happen overnight, but it will happen.

7 Comments

  1. Gina
    June 24, 2015 / 4:31 PM

    These are awesome practical pointers!!

  2. Gina
    June 24, 2015 / 4:33 PM

    I’m doing the purge right now!!!

  3. sbooker80
    Author
    June 24, 2015 / 11:09 PM

    Good! Hope it helps!

  4. Onie
    July 6, 2015 / 11:43 AM

    I’ve done the purge but some of it I had never thought about. Awesome closet makeover tips. Thank you

    • sbooker80
      Author
      July 9, 2015 / 3:49 PM

      Doing the purge is a great place to start. You should do the inventory for the next step. Go in and see what you need to replace and buy. Thanks for stopping by!

  5. Monee Nicole
    July 28, 2015 / 12:03 PM

    OMG!!! IF THIS DIDNT JUST CHANGE MY LIFE!!! As an on-the-go mom I needed this! I hate when I am rushing and I end up looking frumpy because I couldnt think of something quick. A cute outfit makes any day look better. A PLANNED outfit adds a SMILE to anyone’s face!!! LOL

    • sbooker80
      Author
      July 29, 2015 / 3:25 PM

      Thanks girl! Just do it every few months. It will help get rid of clutter. 🙂

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