Up until recently, my closet was not looking too good. Yes, I had shoes on shelves and such, but then there would also be shoes all over the floor (same with bags). Clothes weren’t coordinated in any which way. It was just kind of a free for all. Well, a few months back, I emptied out all my hanging items from my entire closet, and put everything back in an organized fashion. Along the way, I made piles of things to donate and sell. I haven’t done anything with those piles, but the point is, they have been made!
Now, fast forward to a couple weeks back, and I was thinking about spring cleaning and organizing. While, yes, I did make a big step towards mission closet organization, I knew there was still more to be done. Lots more.
Enter: my friend and professional closet organizer, personal shopper, and stylist, Valerie Halfon of Shop with Val. You likely remember reading about Val this past fall in an interview we did.
Val came over and helped to completely organize all my shoes and bags, and it was SUCH a good feeling. Val is so great to work with; she’s honest, fun, and knows how to get the job done. We got so much accomplished in so little time, too. Can’t wait to have her come back soon to do more.
Below Val shares her top 6 closet organizing tips that’ll help you with your spring cleaning. Take it away, Val!
1) Invest in good hangers.
My favorite are these thin velvet hangers. Your clothes won’t slip off of them or leave bumps in the shoulder. They also help maximize closet space! They can get pretty pricey, so I recommend buying them in bulk off of Amazon. For skirts, pants (not denim) and even blouses, I highly recommend tier hangers. No matter how much closet space you have it’s always nice to have more! For skirts try these, for pants try these, and for blouses try these.
2) Clean out your closet – literally!
Depending on the layout of your closet you may have a lot of things on shelves or out in the open where they can be collecting dust. Be sure to take shoes, accessories and other items out of their storage space to wipe down and clean the space before putting them back or putting seasonal appropriate pieces in their place. If items aren’t in a ready to wear condition you’re less likely to wear them if you have to clean them first!
3) Say goodbye.
Now that your closet is clean, take the time to get rid of any items you haven’t worn in the last year. If you are having a baby or just had a baby then clearly you’re the exception to the rule. If your weight tends to fluctuate or you know your size will be changing in the near future then hold on to a handful of key, versatile pieces, but toss the rest. There’s no bigger self esteem killer than looking at clothes that don’t fit you. Besides, by the time your size changes there’s a good chance your taste and the trend will too!
4) Find a good home for everything.
As you part with things, think about the best possible home for them. If something is in poor condition you may want to toss it in the trash. However, if it’s in good condition, but not your style or size then donate it to a charity of your choice or give it to someone in need. For designer pieces, look into selling your items on sites like eBay, Poshmark* or Tradesy** or consigning them through sites like The Real Real or at your local designer consignment shop.
5) Categorize and organize.
Be sure to keep all your clothes with other like items (i.e categorize so that all your blouses, dresses, skirts, denim, etc. are stored together). For those that have large wardrobes or simply want to organize further try categorizing items by color, length and/or weight within each category. This will help you easily identify pieces you’re looking for, while also allowing you to see what you have plenty of and what you may be lacking.
6) Create a game plan to organize your shoes and accessories.
These can be tricky depending on the size and layout of your closet. Bed Bath & Beyond and The Container Store sell tons of great storage options. If you don’t have room to lay your shoes out on shelves I suggest keeping them in their original boxes or clear shoe boxes to preserve their condition and easily identify them. For jewelry, I love using Command hooks for my necklaces. They won’t get tangled and they look nice if they have to be on display where others can see them. These hooks can also be great for other small items like scarves, hats, and purses. Belts (and ties) should have their own rack/hanger, as well, designed specifically for them.
Thank you so much, Val! How helpful was this, guys? And if you live in the Houston or New York area, be sure to contact Val to help with your own closet, styling, or shopping. She offers some great services. And don’t forget to follow her on Instagram and Facebook.
Good luck with your spring cleaning!