LANSING, Mich. — If the only thing you want to do after opening your closet is to shut the door again, it’s time for an overhaul. You don’t have to be a neat freak to create and keep a functional, tidy closet space. It just takes some planning and tough love.
Consciously purge – Go through everything one-by-one and donate or sell what no longer flatters or fits you or you don’t love wearing. Be ruthless. A closet filled only with clothes you feel great in and are happy wearing makes getting dressed a breeze. If there’s dust on it, ditch it. Recycle torn or broken items, why give yourself an additional job of getting them fixed. Aside from getting rid of clutter, you’ll have a mental inventory of what you have, making it easier to shop for what you truly need.
Sort it out – Place items you wear most often front and center. You wear 20 percent of your clothes, 80 percent of the time. Sort items by type such as button-down shirts, dress pants, casual pants, etc., and maybe sort by color.
Let your hangers help – If you have a mishmash of hangers, invest in all new ones or buy more of what you have the most of. Matching hangers is more visually appealing but also makes it easier to see what you have.
Live in the season – Store off-season items out of the way on the top shelves, under a bed or elsewhere. Use plastic bins with labeled lids, rotating with the changing seasons. Adjustable shelves make it easy to tweak your closet when the weather changes, for example taller shelves for sweaters versus T-shirts.
Light it up – A well-lit bright space helps you stay motivated to keep a tidy space. A simple wall light that turns on easily would be beneficial.
Keep the peace – Now that you’ve tidied up, maintain it! Every time you buy something new, toss something. Keep a bag in your closet for donations. Wall hooks are useful for not-quite-dirty clothes, keeping them off the floor. They can also hold jewelry, belts and random items that might start the clutter.
