Three Steps For The Ultimate Closet Declutter For People Who Love Clothes

Attention all fashionistas, shopaholics, and those who like to express themselves through attire! If your closet is bursting at the seams, yet you find yourself wearing the same few favorites over and over, it may be time for a refresh. Letting go of clothes can be hard, especially if you've been saving them for "just in case." Hence, we're keeping the process super simple in three steps: Try everything on, make sure each garment plays well together, and pick favorites if you have multiples of the same clothing items.

Remember: There's a reason why you no longer wear (or have never worn) these pieces. Maybe you've been holding on to certain garments in the hopes of fitting into them someday. Or, maybe you can't stop buying clothes that catch your eye but aren't your style. Regardless, a cluttered closet can cause decision fatigue, which turns into daily stress, and no one needs that early in the morning. Consider this your friendly nudge to free up your weekend and purge your collection, so every piece of clothing has a purpose instead of hanging dormant in your already jam-packed closet. Plus, you'll be happy to know there are tons of heartbreak-free ways to repurpose old clothing in your home and garden — just in case you don't want to completely get rid of your treasured finds.

Taking a page out of eclectic maximalist @michellenorrisphoto's closet cleanout, you'll first want to go through every item you own and put them on. Yes, it's tedious, but it'll help you determine how you feel about each one (too tight, itchy, oddly shaped, etc). Because doing this all at once can be overwhelming, break pieces up per category. You could start with t-shirts, then head to pants, sweatshirts, and so on. Setting a timer will be your best strategy against clutter and prevent you from spending unplanned hours sorting through these items.

The second step is to tackle the clothes you aren't sure whether to keep or toss. @michellenorrisphoto does this by pairing said pieces with a few different items already in her closet. And if a piece is too hard to style, off to the "get rid of" pile it goes. Thinking you'll eventually wear it one day is one of the biggest mistakes to avoid when cleaning your closet — chances are you won't.

Likewise, there's no point in keeping several similar outfits and accessories unless you're going for that extravagant celebrity closet look. Pick the one you prefer the most and eliminate the rest to make more room in your closet. Bonus tip: Once you're left with a wardrobe that you truly love, try flipping your hangers backward, then hang them the right way every time you wear an item. This way, you'll easily notice anything you've been skipping over. Once you've pruned your pieces and gotten rid of the deadwood, here are some handy closet organizing hacks to help keep the space neat and tidy.