How To Declutter Your Wardrobe

And Make The Morning Routine A Little Smoother!
I used to have an enormous amount of clothing compared to what I do now. I thought the best way to ensure a stylish ensemble was to own the most amount of things to wear that I could afford. The trouble was, my shopping habits were random. I would get bored and go shopping, just picking out clothes that looked pretty or trendy at the time. I never thought about what I would wear a certain piece with or how well it was made. And I certainly never thought about who made it or even how easy it was to wash. Ultimately I ended up with a wardrobe full of mismatched, poorly made clothes that didn’t fit well.

A few years ago, I realised that I was doing it all wrong. And the first major step I took was to declutter my wardrobe. I won’t lie, it took a whole afternoon! But since that first proper declutter, my clothes have felt more inspiring, it is easier to pick out outfits. Meaning I don’t take forever to get dressed. That first declutter was around three years ago now and I’ve done plenty more since. I enjoy cleaning out but I know many people get overwhelmed with the process and don’t know where to start.

Decluttering Tips

First of all, make sure you have enough free time to finish the task before you start. The chances are it will take longer than you think and you don’t want to still be up sorting clothes late into the night. Put some music on, light a candle and make sure it is a calming and fun environment. I usually put on cheesy music to dance around at the same time as sorting but whatever floats your boat!

Take all clothes and accessories and shoes out of your wardrobes, cupboards and drawers. Put them on the bed or wherever there is a space to look through them. It will probably look like an impossible pile, but it’s fine. It will fit back in the wardrobe when you are finished! Use this time to give the wardrobes and drawers a clean with a wet cloth. It’s always surprising how dirty they get. A quick wipe will make all the difference.

Okay here is the fun part! Start trying on the clothes. I believe the only way to truly know if you like wearing something is to try it on. Take a look at each piece in the mirror, it’s a good idea to take photos too – a smartphone is fine for this.

Ask yourself how each piece looks and feels

Other things to ask yourself – have you worn it recently? Is it something you enjoy wearing? If you had to wear it every day for a week, would you still keep it? Is it practical to wash and look after? Can you move around in it, or does it feel constricting? Does it go with other clothing that you own? If it feels good and you like how it looks on then it can go back in the wardrobe. Maybe you aren’t sure – so leave it separately and go back to it at the end.

Continue doing this for all the pieces in your wardrobe. Clothes that are being kept should go back in the wardrobe. Anything that needs to be altered or customised can go in a separate pile to be taken to the tailor or fixed yourself. Clothes that are in good condition but no use can be given away to family and friends, sold on or donated.

Don’t be afraid to get rid of things that are no longer working for you. Also, check if you have too many of the same item. I had five grey t-shirts and ended up getting rid of them all because they were all either too small or stretched out and too big. If it has sentimental value then, of course, keep it but try storing it somewhere apart from your wardrobe. A similar way to declutter is the Konmari method. Where organising consultant Marie Kondo asks her clients to only keep items that spark joy. Whichever method you choose, you should be left with a wardrobe of clothes that fit you and your life now and you actually love to wear.

Afterwards can be a great time to see if you have any gaps in your wardrobe. When I first decluttered my wardrobe, I noticed I had way more summer clothes than winter. So next time winter came round, I invested in a few quality winter pieces that I loved. During the sorting process, you can also try different outfit combinations that you haven’t tried before. Don’t forget to take pictures of the best ones so you remember them.

And finally, don’t get overwhelmed. Take it slow and go through each piece of clothing. If you really have too much to start with, try breaking it down into sections. Try and keep on top of what is in your wardrobe so it doesn’t get out of control in the future. I usually go through my wardrobe every three months. The more you do it then less time it will take.

Fancy more reading? What about Tips To Make Clothes Last Longer?

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