It might just be us, but the more time we spend inside during lockdown, the more we realise just how 'bleurgh' our homes are.
Cabin fever and general boredom has led many of us to reassess our decor. Be it becoming plant parents, finally hanging those framed prints, or investing in a new coffee table, the inability to spend the evening in the pub, cinema, or restaurant, has done wonders for our interiors skills.
One area you may not have tackled yet, however, is that ever-bulging wardrobe of yours. Which, if it's anything like ours, is a labyrinth of out-of-season coats, too-small tops, and too many once-favourite items lost to the annals of time.
Far from being a haven of luxury, our wardrobe, no matter how much we tidy it, always ends up as a den of despair. And, with lockdown slowly coming to a close, what better time to do something about it? Not only will your place look nicer, but you'll feel better for it. Plus, a clothing clear out could make you some money.
To find out, once and for all, exactly how to organise your wardrobe, we spoke to professional organiser of ten years Vicky Silverthorn of You Need A Vicky. Here is exactly what she told us...
How do you know when your wardrobe needs to be organised?
When your wardrobe or its contents start to make you feel any kind of negativity, frustration, stress, overwhelm, or anxiety, it’s time to take action.
These feelings can be caused by a number of scenarios, for example: disorder, too much crammed in, messiness, wrong positioning, not knowing what you have, and things not fitting you.
Our clothes should bring us happiness each day – they are a big representation of who we are, so if that stops happening, well, they aren't serving their purpose.
What are the benefits of having an organised wardrobe?
- You'll find the items you are looking for faster.
- You can see what you have and therefore choose your outfits more easily.
- You'll know everything fits you, making getting dressed swifter (less trying on and taking off), and taking away anxiety.
- You'll maintain the tidiness with less effort.
- You'll know what you already own, curbing unnecessary shopping.
- You can start the day in a more positive way.
How to organise your wardrobe
It’s key for me to say that this process (if done properly) will take longer than you think, and for that reason, if you are doing it alone, I highly suggest working on it section by section, rather than in one 'go' - starting from your rail and moving through draws and other storage spaces.
Step-by-step guide to organising your wardrobe:
- Make your bed and tidy the room or area you are working in, otherwise you may feel overwhelmed and defeated.
- Remove the contents of your section and lay them out on the bed in neat piles.
- Go through each and every item and make a decision as to whether you want to keep it, store away (seasonal storage is a good idea), or get rid (which can mean sell/give to a friend/donate to charity).
- Once you have gone through the entire rail you will probably have several (hopefully neat) piles around you. Give the inside of your wardrobe a good clean, let it dry and then start to return the clothes.
- Place clothing back in categories and within those categories, a little colour order.
- Position the clothing you wear most (day-to-day) in the most easy-to-reach places, for example rails and shelves which are at eye level. Clothing you wear less, for example black tie or holiday clothes, can ideally live in the harder to reach places (spare rooms, storage, or higher shelves and cupboards).
- Make sure the items you wish to sell/donate/gift are clean and folded, ready to be sent away, or placed by the door so you remember to take them to the charity shop (plus, any items that need to be fixed/professionally cleaned).
Read our guide to the best resale sites to list your items on here.
Top tips for organising your wardrobe:
- Matching hangers give your clothes a uniformed look and you are more likely to replace things neatly and keep up the organisation if you have them.
- Slim, velvet hangers make room for more clothes, and stop items slipping off.
- When deciding which clothes to toss, people get distracted by questions that aren’t necessarily relevant such as: ‘When did I last wear it?’ The fact of the matter is that your wardrobe was in need of an organise, so, for example, you may not have seen it for a year because it was festering at the back on the floor. I prefer the question: ‘Can I live without this?' as I think it’s powerful and encourages us to go with our gut feelings.
- You may find a few items that were hung would give you more space if they were folded, and vice versa.
- Think outside the box depending on the space you have - jeans work well in drawers folded as well as on shelves or hung, so look at the space you have as the ratio of rail compared to drawers and shelves determines what lives where.
The Best Products For Organising Your Wardrobe
John Lewis & Partners 2 Section Organiser
Clay Roberts Cedar Blocks, Pack of 6, Natural Moth Repellent and Clothing Protection
What should be avoided when organising your wardrobe?
- Implementing a system you know you aren’t going to keep up means you are setting yourself up to fail. For example, does your sports wear really need folding immaculately or is that the drawer you can let yourself off?
- The main reason people can't keep up the organisation is the volume of clothing. The more clothes you have, the harder it is to keep order.
How to keep your wardrobe organised:
- Keep systems simple and remove from your day-to-day wardrobe anything you don’t frequently wear and store it somewhere else. The less there is to contend with, the less overwhelming keeping things organised will feel.
- Use folding as part of a daily mindfulness practice – it’s very calming and means you are doing two things in one.
- Declutter as you go rather than making it a huge job every year or so.
- Get into the habit of putting clothes away before you get into bed so you wake up to a clear space.
- Don’t forget your shoe storage – it’s always neglected when people are designing or buying their wardrobes and the space shoes take up is underestimated.
Buy Vicky Silverthorn's book Start With Your Sock Drawer
