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Sue McMillin

Organizing Consultant & Speaker

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sue@withtimetospare.com

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You are here: Home / Articles / The Organized Closet

August 9, 2012 by Sue McMillin

The Organized Closet

Word Count:  590

cigarillos for sale

Read Time:  5-7 min

California Closets believes “your bedroom should be a place of refuge. It’s where you begin each new day and where you find peace at night.”  I think most of us would agree.  In this article, I’ll share with you two crucially important but often neglected factors in completing a successful closet solution  – whether you’re investing in an inexpensive wire or deluxe wood closet organizers.

Your budget

The first key to a delightful bedroom is having the best closet system for your budget.  At your local Lowe’s you can get a 6×10 white wire solution by Rubbermaid for under $200. Or you can visit California Closets online and design custom wood shelves and drawers of any size and function. But you’ll need to fill out a form to schedule your free design consultation – no prices listed here!

Both solutions will help you organize your closet. What these solutions do not help you with are two crucial steps in getting organized and staying organized: 1) eliminating and 2) sorting.  Without understanding and applying these key steps, in just a few months your exciting new $200 or $2,000 closet will find its way back to its original state of chaos.

Some people tell me that having the newly installed closet will help them to define how they can put all their stuff back without having to think about what goes where.  If you follow the pictures in the marketing materials, perhaps so.  But for most of us, we need to learn the basic organizing step of sorting.

Getting organized begins with the practical step of sorting your clothes into four groups: 1) fun-to-wear — clothes you feel good in and wear often, 2) not-so-sure-of — clothes that you don’t wear but can’t part with just yet, 3) off-season clothes, and 4) give-or-throw-away pile — the all important eliminate step — those outfits you just don’t like and never wear.

Before we move on to the second key, a suggestion if you’re stuck on the elimination step. Unclutterer.com, in their article “What’s on your summer to do list? Organize your closet”, offers both practical and thoughtful questions that can help you decide what clothes to keep. Thanks for the post, Deb!

Four simple steps

Okay! Now that you’ve grouped your stuff in four general piles: 1) what I love to wear now, 2) what I want to keep but rarely wear, 3) clothes for other seasons, and 4) giveaway/throwaway, you’re ready for the last step. It’s time to return your clothes — and shoes! — to the closet.

First, return the group of clothes you love and wear MOST OFTEN. Start with the longest items to one side, followed by dress pants, dress shirts, t-shirts — using any color or hanger groupings you’ve decided on (see Unclutterer.com article for ideas).

Now, if you still have room in your closet, do the same with the group you rarely wear but can’t let go of (yet!), followed by your out-of-season group. Don’t have room? Store those two groups in another closet or storage area. Or rent space from your kids’ closets — they’ll love the extra allowance!

Still unsure? Invite a close friend to help talk through your ideas and give you a hand. Still stuck? Consider calling your local friendly professional organizer! A good organizer can help you complete a standard walk-in closet for under $200, teach you the process and give you a system that is easily maintained.

Once completed, you’ve taken a giant step in making your bedroom the place of peace it’s meant to be.

Enjoy!

 

Filed Under: Articles, Organize Your Home

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Sue’s Story

I've been a professional organizer most of my adult life. Who I am and why I love my work comes from how I was raised and the mysteries of DNA!

From the most humble of beginnings in Kentucky to helping businesses and organizations across the U.S., I always try my best to share both practical and inspirational principles and techniques.

I hope you enjoy your visit here and come back often. And feel free to call or email anytime.

Even though you might reach me on my porch looking out at the Colorado Rockies, a born and bred Kentucky girl enjoys a good chat.

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