No more denying it, summer is officially here! Here are 5 things you can do to tidy up your closet for the summer:
STORE YOUR WINTER CLOTHES
I was never the type of person to do this growing up. I used to fill up my closet and just keep it packed all year round. In fact, I would avoid dealing with it as much as possible. Once I started realizing how much more relaxing it was to get dressed without fighting with my hangers to find that one tank top I was thinking of, I started to seasonally store some of my clothes.
Take those bulky sweatshirts, hoodies, long sleeve shirts and heavy sweats and fold them into a storage container, box or under the bed bin. This goes for the winter boots as well! You will literally feel lighter. And on the off chance that you have a chilly evening and are just dying to wear your favorite hoodie, you will know exactly where it is now that you are organized.
2. DONATE CLOTHING YOU NO LONGER WEAR
You have your summer clothes out and ready to wear! Are there pieces of clothing that no longer fit? Or you simply don’t like anymore? Do a survey of your collection and be brutally honest with what you actually want to wear.
I have been guilty of holding onto clothing I don’t wear for so many reasons: I promised myself I would fit into these shorts again, I bought this "out of my comfort zone” skirt on sale and only wore it once, I’ve moved onto a different aesthetic but this pair of skinny jeans still technically fits, I watched too many Disney movies growing up and have now become convinced all inanimate objects have feelings and I don’t want to get rid of this old shirt in case I give it away and it HURTS THEIR FEELINGS!
Whatever the reason is, if you don’t wear a clothing item for over a year, it’s time to give it a new home. I would even go so far as to say that if you don’t find yourself consistently reaching for it, get rid of it. Can you imagine what it would feel like if every piece of clothing in your closet was one of your favorites? It would make getting dressed and ready for the day so much more fun!
When you let go of old items, you make room for the new ones. And the bonus is, the clothing that no longer suits you can be donated and find a new owner who can’t wait to wear them!
3. THROW OUT CLOTHING THAT’S IN DISREPAIR
That’s right, you heard me! Any clothing you have that is ripped, stained, or torn beyond repair, it’s time to throw it out. We are not looking to be wasteful here, there is far too much clothing waste in the world, but we’ve all worn our clothes into a state where nobody would want, nor should want, to wear them. There are certain items that for sanitary purposes cannot be donated. Usually this includes intimate clothing such as used underwear, swim wear and bras. Sheets and towels are on this list as well but there are some donation centers that will accept a few of these things if they are in good repair. So check out your local donation spot, whatever they don’t take, or simply can’t because it’s in disrepair, throw away.
This can be an emotional process depending on the item. Right now I have a ridiculously “used” pair of vans that I don’t want to let go of. They have been my favorite shoes for years and after the last muddy and rainy day I wore them, they have finally reached the point of being unwearable. The sole is breaking through on the bottom and they are stained on all sides. I’ve had them next to my trash can for a few days now, saying a long goodbye to them. But once I gather the courage to let them go, I will say, “thank you vans” and make room for my next favorite pair to come into the spotlight.
4. REORGANIZE YOUR SPACE
Now that you’ve made some room it’s time to reorganize your clothing and shoes! I recommend taking everything out and categorizing your items. It may seem daunting at first to see a big pile of clothes, but once you put them back in all neat and tidy it will all be worth it. There are many ways to categorize your clothing: by color, by item type, by size, by sleeve length, etc. Follow your heart on this one and choose the way that makes the most sense for you.
I have a very small closet, so when I did this I had to be creative to figure out what made finding items the easiest and most pleasing for me. I ended up deciding to fold and stack light jackets and sweaters on my shelves instead of hanging them on hangers. They are bulky enough to be able to see what they are in a stack and this saved me some space in the hanging section.
Then I organized the rest of my clothing by category and color (it’s very pleasing to look into your closet and see the rainbow of clothing you have). The jeans and sturdier pants ended up folded in drawers, but the lighter weight pants that wrinkled easily got hanger priority. All of the shirts, rompers, sundresses and tank tops got hanger priority as well.
By the time I finished I had a fun looking, easy to sift through, clean closet space!
5. THE FUN PART - OBTAIN A FEW NEW PIECES!
I’m not telling you to go out and spend a bunch of money on new clothes, unless that’s your thing of course. There are so many ways to obtain new items! Attend a clothing swap, hit the thrift store, or splurge on one pricier item you have had your eye on. Because you’ve made room in your closet, reward yourself with bringing in some new pieces that bring a new exciting summer energy along with them! I find that rewarding my hard work with a “little treat”, no matter how small, can make me feel like it was all worth it.
There you have it! Put on some good music or your favorite “comfort” show or movie and get to work. The sooner you do, the sooner you can enjoy a lighter and more relaxing home space this summer!
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