The secret of how to declutter and be more organized in your closet space lies in customizing your space to fit your needs.

Within many homes, the feeling of serenity that comes from having everything in its place can seem nearly unattainable. When it comes to being more organized, your home should not feel like a barrier to creating a peaceful lifestyle within your routine. The most disorganized spaces in the home can be spaces that you use daily, such as your walk-in closet. Most people use this space to begin their day, a routine which can be greatly affected if your closet gives you a sense of clutter and disorganization. If you can figure out how to be more organized in your closet space, you can potentially improve your overall mental state and outlook.

According to psychologist Jennifer Baumgartner, “Clutter is not only a container for our memories but can be a distractor for tackling deeper issues. It is the padding from the cold, hard world, the anchor in a sea of confusion, or the dam that holds surging emotions. With a safe person, such as a professional organizer or altruistic friend, in a structured time-limited fashion, removing the clutter and confronting the pain can be a cathartic process.” Now that you understand how your cluttered closet can impact you mentally and emotionally, you might be asking yourself, how can I be more organized in my life? A great place to start is in your closet!

How to Be More Organized: Minimalism and Zone Cleaning Tips

The first step in organizing your walk-in closet is removing everything. Empty the space. Start with a clean slate. Think of the space as brand-new and the only things that are welcome are things that you love, enjoy, and use.

• Minimalism, according to Leo Babauta, is “simply getting rid of things you do not use or need, leaving an uncluttered, simple environment and an uncluttered, simple life. It’s living without an obsession with material things or an obsession with doing everything and doing too much.” At this stage, you are just removing everything to assess it all, so don’t think you need to get rid of your entire wardrobe. Once everything is removed then you are able to rethink the space as well as continue through to the next step to declutter your walk-in closet.

• “Zone cleaning” is a strategy that helps break down your home into defined zones so that you can clean one zone at a time. Your closet is no different in that it will be easier to organize if you are able to define certain areas within the closet to ultimately be more organized. The zones within your closet could be described as your hanging clothes area, shoes, drawers, shelves, and table tops. In breaking down your closet into these specifics zone, you can see clearly how you need to organize to fit your daily needs.

Now it’s time to get rid of each item you no longer want, need, or use. Go through each zone in your closet that you have created and develop a trash bag or box of things you will be removing completely from your closet and home. I’m talking about the items in your closet that haven’t fit in 10 years to the items that were given to you that you really hated, but thought it would be a generous option to keep just in case this person would like it back. Chances are if you haven’t worn it in five years, you never will. When getting organized, purging can be your best friend.

Now that you have purged, and have visualized your space the way you will utilize it, start putting similar things together in an orderly fashion. Don’t just put everything back, take the time to place things specifically in the zones you have created for your space. For example, place all dresses together, all work shirts, t-shirts, and pants. These zones will allow you to remain organized in this space as you continue through your days ahead. If you notice that you have lots of dresses and the chosen zone does not provide enough space, switch this space proactively. Don’t assume you will do it later. It is ok to change your zones, change your spaces within your walk-in closet to fit your daily tasks and the organized life you live.

A Place for Everything: Ideas for Custom Storage

No matter if it’s a piece of jewelry, clothing, or shoes, each item in your closet should have its own dedicated space. This is where custom design comes in; with just a few simple upgrades, you can get your walk-in closet nicely organized—and, just as importantly, keep it organized! Some custom closet accessories to consider:

• Adjustable shoe shelves keep shoes from congealing into tangled heaps of strappy sandals and work shoes with dangling laces. You’ll always be able to find both halves of whatever pair you’re looking for when you’re looking for them.

• Jewelry drawers fulfill a similar function by aiding you in your ongoing quest to keep pairs of earrings together and long, chained necklaces apart. Bonus: velvet lining protects your jewelry from scratches and provides a beautiful backdrop against which you can display your favorite accessories, just like a fancy jewelry shop.

• Laundry hampers keep unsightly piles of clothes hidden by making worn clothes easy to stow away until laundry day.

• Wardrobe lifts give you a place to hang either pre-planned outfits or “dry-clean only” pieces that need extra care. Unlike the usual method (tossing them on the bed or over the back of a chair), this will help keep these items wrinkle-free but still within easy reach.

These and other closet accessories can help make your closet an organized space that promotes serenity and peace throughout your day by making your morning routine run smoothly.

Keeping Your Walk-In Closet Decluttered

Once you have a place for everything in your closet, set yourself up for success so that you can enjoy this newly organized space. Put clothes away in their respective zones, get rid of items that tear or are otherwise damaged beyond repair, and develop routines that allow you to keep the organized space up to your standards. Follow these simple steps on how to be more organized at home, and the other aspects of your life are sure to follow suit!

If you’d like a fresh start, consider scheduling your free design consultation with one of our custom design experts. We can’t wait to prove our professionalism through every step of the design, manufacturing, and installation process.