{"id":11273,"date":"2014-03-07T05:51:41","date_gmt":"2014-03-07T13:51:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress-367309-1145696.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=11273"},"modified":"2014-03-07T05:51:41","modified_gmt":"2014-03-07T13:51:41","slug":"organize-closet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/feelgoodstyle.com\/articles\/organize-closet\/","title":{"rendered":"Spring Cleaning: Top 5 Tips To Make Room In Your Closet"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Top<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ah, spring.\u00a0 It\u2019s the time of year when we organize our closets, move out the sweaters and sweatshirts, and move in the sundresses and short-sleeved shirts.\u00a0 As we\u2019re playing closet Jenga it\u2019s a good time to ask ourselves \u2013 why am I keeping this once beloved and now ignored sweater?\u00a0 How can I give myself more space to see the things I actually use and stay organized by having less?<\/strong><\/p>\n

This time of year always reminds me of a TV show from the early 2000’s called Ed<\/em>.\u00a0 There was one episode in the series where Ed’s best friend was wearing all of these unattractive and ill-fitting clothes for the whole episode, because his wife had a rule that if he hadn\u2019t worn something in a year, it had to be thrown out.\u00a0 So for that one day a year, he\u2019d scoop up his tattered concert t-shirts and stained baseball caps and wear them in one hideous outfit, so that the items could be saved for another year.<\/p>\n

Humans, even those outside the fictitious world of TV, have a way of holding onto possessions as if they were our only touchstones for memories.\u00a0 I know how it feels.\u00a0 I too used to hang onto items long after their prime for a variety of reasons, and it wasn\u2019t until I was forced to pare way, way down in a cross country move a few years ago that I realized what it was costing me.<\/p>\n

I prepared for the move by spending my weekend on the yard selling old belongings and then making trip after trip to drop things off at the thrift store.\u00a0 Then I walked back into an apartment that had felt cramped and lacking in storage space and discovered one thing that had always been missing \u2013 space.\u00a0 By getting rid of those items that I wasn\u2019t using anyway, the place suddenly had breathing room.\u00a0 It was too late to appreciate that apartment in earnest, but I realized for the future how much easier it would be to stay organized if kept my belongings on the minimalist side \u2013 keeping only what I loved and\/or felt useful or beautiful.<\/p>\n

Before hanging up those uncomfortable jeans with the tags still on, consider these five things:<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

1.\u00a0 Guilt is not a good reason to keep something.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cBut,\u201d you may be saying\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a gift\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI got it on sale\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was expensive but I never wore it\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Those are not good reasons to hang onto things.\u00a0 Your Aunt Mimi didn’t give you that lime jumper, so that you would have an extra burden in the closet.\u00a0 And hanging onto painful but expensive shoes that give you blisters (and therefore are never worn) doesn\u2019t legitimize them. There is someone out there who will love that jumper.\u00a0 There is someone out there with narrower feet.\u00a0 Let them enjoy your torture shoes.<\/p>\n

2. \u00a0Ask yourself, “Does this match my style and lifestyle today<\/em>?<\/strong>”<\/p>\n

If it\u2019s something that you loved five years ago but doesn\u2019t feel like you now<\/em>, it\u2019s time to leave it in the past.\u00a0 The chance of returning to that same phase of your life is unlikely. \u00a0If you used to love goth dresses but now spend your days in yoga pants, it may be time to say goodbye to those looks of yore.\u00a0 Why not appreciate those former pieces by way of old photographs instead?<\/p>\n

3. \u00a0Try on each piece of clothing and get thee to a mirror. \u00a0Does it fit? \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

There\u2019s no reason to hang onto clothes that are ill-fitting or unflattering in a way that just makes you feel bad when you wear them.\u00a0 If you can\u2019t zip it or if you are swimming in it, put it in a pile for someone who can wear it now.<\/p>\n

4. \u00a0Examine each piece for stains, tears, and rips.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

If they can be fixed, move them next to the sewing machine or into a bag for the tailor.\u00a0 That way the next time you\u2019re working on a sewing project or heading to the tailor, they\u2019ll be right there to remind you.\u00a0 If the items are unsalvageable, throw things like stained old t-shirts into a pile to be used as rags for summertime car washing or to wear when painting.<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0 Relocate cherished items with overwhelming sentimental value.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you know you\u2019ll never wear an item but it holds so many memories you can\u2019t stand to get rid of it, put it into a bin and out of your closet where space is more of a commodity.\u00a0 Or find a way of showcasing the item in a new way.\u00a0 (For example, you could save your Grandma\u2019s old broach with your holiday decorations.\u00a0 Next year at Christmas, put it on the tree.\u00a0 Then you can be assured that once a year you will see it, think of her, and really appreciate its beauty.)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

After you\u2019ve cleared your closet of those items you no longer want, separate them into groups:<\/strong><\/p>\n