If you have the post-Halloween blues like I do, chances are you have taken to the local malls and boutiques to gather up some “real-life” costumes. Don’t worry; I’m not going to tell you how to turn your new purchases into next year’s Halloween ensemble. Instead, I want to tell you some of the best ways to simplify and organize your life by simply organizing your closet!
I always say that my closet is a visual metaphor of how my life is. If there are clothes all over the floor, laundry is piling up or my shoes are haphazardly scrambled, it’s easy to see that I’m stressed out. On the other hand, if my clothes are organized, I just feel better. No, I don’t have too much time on my hands; I have received the highest praise for having a clean closet, which therefore enables me to dress un-sloppily at all occasions, in any time crunch. Intrigued? Let’s continue.
I can understand if you rush home some nights, get dressed for bed and think nothing of the mountain of dirty clothes that is about to erupt as you doze off to sleep. The key here is laundry baskets. Yes, baskets; meaning more than one. If you do laundry regularly, you know that you don’t always have a lot of white socks to wash, but you always have a ton of dark colored t-shirts and blouses (well, I do at least). Sorting your dirty clothes, by color or wash cycle, can save you a ton of time when laundry day finally comes. My two laundry baskets are the first to tell me when my closet is in need of some attention. Now that you figured out the mess on your floor, let’s move up to the hanging bar.
I used to work at a clothing store, so I know how annoying it is to hang up clothes. With that said, I should let you in on my little secret: hardly any of my clothes are hanging. Not only do I like to save time, I also have a tiny closet which I share with my roommate and her plethora of just-my-size high heels (I’m not complaining)! The only items hanging in my closet are the ones that require the most care, like dresses, skirts, nice pants, and tops that get wrinkled easily. My dresser and top shelf hold everything else; including folded jeans, t-shirts, tank tops, and pieces I haven’t worn in a really long time, as well as sweatpants and workout clothes. This method saves me space, but also keeps me on time when I’m in a rush but know where I’m going and what I need to wear.
My favorite thing about this world we live in is all of the different colors! I’m sure you can imagine that not only are my clothes extremely organized by what type of item they are, but also by hue. Don’t you feel comforted knowing when you have so many different colors of clothes to choose from, but also that your favorite basics are hanging right there, too? It’s the only way I can sleep at night. Color-sorting can also help you determine what you have too much or not enough of. You might realize that you’ve been pulling a Doug Funnie, which for those of you who were born after the era of “Doug” means that you have only multiples of the same outfit hanging in your closet, like a cartoon character would. Branch out with colors and change your look up a bit more, granted that you don’t mix stripes and plaid (heaven forbid)!
A few more organization rules that I live by are in the realm of accessory management. Shoes, bags, purses, hats and hair accessories make all the difference in your outfits; they need just as much care as the clothes do. I store my trimmings in clear plastic drawers, keeping them out of the way and also free from dust. You should never hang bags by their handles or scarves by their corners; it wears them out. Fancy shoes should live on racks or shelves, but save time by tying the laces of your everyday sneakers together and storing them in a large bin or basket. Under-bed storage containers are great for storing seasonal items, like the coat, gloves and scarf that I only need to use maybe three or four weeks out of the year.
On a final note, buying clothes is fun, but so is donating them! For every new item you buy, try to get rid of two or three pieces you don’t wear anymore. It could make someone’s day to find your old sweater or jeans at Goodwill at a price they can afford. Giving will not only make room in your closet but also make you feel good. Why not start on your fall closet cleanup this weekend?
— Hayley Umphrey
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
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