5 Closet Setbacks—Solved
Getting an organized closet is as simple as figuring out why it's a mess in the first place. We asked a personal organizer, closet designer and psychologist for solutions to your biggest problems-to help you clear the clutter once and for all.
Q: My closets are a mess. Where do I start?
The psychologist, Jerome Yoman, PhD, a clinical psychologist in Beaverton, Oregon, says: First, figure out what's getting in your way. Women typically have three reasons for not clearing clutter: time stress ("I have too many other things to do!"); feeling overwhelmed ("What do I do with everything?"); and negative associations ("Those jeans used to fit but I can't even look at them now"). Photo: Ron Chapple/Thinkstock
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If you're pressed for time, schedule one-hour organizing appointments into your calendar. Are you feeling overwhelmed? Make a plan for what you want the closet to look like and schedule in cleaning time. As for negative associations, pay attention to how you feel as you begin to clean. Are you anxious? Sad? This will help you identify what's going on. Then say to yourself, Yes, I am sad, but I can take a deep breath and separate my thoughts from what I need to do, which is clear out my closet and donate the jeans that don't fit.
The personal organizer, Marion Farina, owner of Beauty and Order in West Orange, New Jersey, says: Take everything out of your closet. Starting with the space entirely empty helps you clearly see the area you've got to work with as well as your belongings. If this is a clothes closet, then only clothing and accessories go in; if it's linens, then only linens. Sort by category, then color. Set aside duplicates.
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Refill the closet, making sure to give each set of items its own, clearly delineated spacious area. No stuffing or squeezing. As for the remaining items, either donate them or find them a new home.
Q: My closets are overflowing. How do I create more space?
The psychologist says: Perhaps the problem is not your closet, but your shopping habits. The process of buying and acquiring is likely fulfilling another emotional need. From now on, every time you consider buying something, put the item down, walk to the next aisle and stand still for 60 seconds. Notice your bodily reaction and thoughts. For many people, just pausing for a minute will be enough for that urge to pass-and in that minute, you can find out what's happening emotionally that might be driving your acquiring. The key to solving the problem long-term? Not buying any items that you won't use consistently-think monthly, if not weekly. If you find that shopping brings up strong emotions, consider speaking to a therapist. For some, the entire scenario-accumulating, disorganization, not getting rid of things-can be a distraction from bigger issues such as loneliness. Photo: Matt Vanderlinde/Thinkstock
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The closet designer, Jason Beraka of Portland Closet Company in Portland, Oregon, says: Double-hang on smart hangers. Overflowing clothing closets are often a result of poor use of space; if you're short on space, hanging is the most efficient way to store things. Install two closet rods, one just above eye level. Hang a couple of long blouses on it to gauge how low to hang the second rod. (If you have very high ceilings, you may be able to fit in a third high rod for overflow storage, which you reach with a stepstool.) Narrow, flat velveteen hangers, like Joy Mangano Huggable Hangers ($20 for 34; Target.com), save you a third of the hanging space in your closet-they don't waste rod space.
Q: My husband and I share a closet and his stuff is everywhere. Help!
The psychologist says: Create a zone for each of you, and respect those areas. You're each in charge of your own. Rather than complaining ("You're such a slob!"), try supportive communication ("I've noticed that your summer shorts are taking up a lot of room-could we find a storage space to put them in, so it will be easier for you to see your stuff?"). Breathe. Photo: Pavel Konovalov/Thinkstock
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The personal organizer says:
You only have control over your own space. Put on blinders, and try not to focus on your spouse's storage style. If he can find things, then the system is working for him.
The closet designer says: Consider banishment. Many husbands get moved to a second closet (or armoire). They get used to it.
Q: I have a bunch of stuff that I never wear or use, but I hold on to it anyway. How do I let it go?
The psychologist says: Grab three items from your closet that you haven't used in years, and sit down with them. Ask yourself: What does this item mean to me? The answer will tell you why you're holding on. Perhaps you think you'll need it in the future, or maybe it holds a special memory. Photo: Olga Demchishina/Thinkstock
Then ask: Is it worth the space and effort? Remind yourself that if you have 50 items like this and you're spending your time either moving them around or being unable to access the things you do use, is it worth it? For most of us, the answer is no. If you're really having trouble letting go of the item, consider taking a digital picture of it before you get rid of it.
The personal organizer says: Empty your closet onto your bed, putting each item into one of the following five categories:
1. Love love love. "I wear this all the time." Keep.
2. Love love. "I wear this on special occasions." Keep.
3. Used to love. "I don't seem to wear this anymore." Consider letting go.
4. Like. "I feel OK in this, but I can't say I love it." Give away.
5. Eh. "I thought I liked this, but…I'd rather have closet space."
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Make a donation pile of the 4s and 5s. Put the 1s and 2s back in your closet. You're now looking at a pile of 3s. Go to the closet and ask yourself how it feels to have room to slide hangers on the rod and see everything. Is that more valuable than the 3s? If so, donate them. If not, keep them.
Q: I'm confused: Should I organize by color, season, style or type?
The personal organizer says: Season, then type, then color. After you've sorted your clothes, place the keepers on your bed in two big sections: spring/summer and fall/winter. Then:
• Within each season, sort by category (tank tops, short-sleeve T-shirts, long-sleeve T-shirts, blouses, sweaters, skirts, tops, pants, formal wear, jackets, etc.). Keep suit pieces separate, so that you remember that you can coordinate jackets with skirts.
• Within categories, sort by color.
• Identify duplicates and donate the ones you like less.
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Store clothes the way you wear them: shirts on top, pants and skirts on the bottom. This is true whether you're using rods or shelves-it creates a visual block, which makes it easy to put together outfits. Photo: Getty Images
Q: My weight fluctuates and I have jeans in four different sizes. Should I keep all of them?
The psychologist says: Donate what doesn't fit. The purpose of your closet is to provide for the current you-and you've got the past you blocking your way. Write down your goals for both your closet and your body, and the steps you need to accomplish them. You're more likely to reach your goals by breaking them into short-term goals and rewards ("If I walk two miles today, I can go for a manicure"). Hang one outfit in a small size in the corner as a benchmark, to remind you of your goal. Photo: Vacheslav Votchicev/Thinkstock
The personal organizer says: Look at the reality of what's happening. Place items that fit right now in your main closet. If you're currently gaining or losing weight, or you're planning to have a child soon, hold on to the sizes that you realistically will wear in the next 24 months. But don't keep them in your main closet-only items that you use consistently (say, once a month or more) get prime space. The rest go in overflow closets or storage bins, grouped by size. If you've recently lost or gained weight, donate everything that no longer fits. The key is to stay aware of the current reality of both your body and your closet.
Arianne Cohen is a contributing editor to Woman's Day, and authorof Help, It's Broken!: A Fix-It Bible for the Repair-Impaired.
Article originally appeared on WomansDay.com.
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