How to organize your closet in 30 minutes
It doesn't matter how many color-coordinated hangers or scarf organizers you buy: There will come a day when you look at your closet and wonder, how did it get so messy?!
The daily barrage of pulling stuff out and putting it back in (and maybe, sometimes, only halfway hanging it onto that color-coordinated hanger), or buying new stuff without taking out the old, or jamming in all sorts of items beyond just clothing can turn this functional space into one that's a hassle to use.
"I recommend organizing your closet on a seasonal basis," says Cary Prince, a certified professional organizer in Los Angeles.
So if your closet needs a reset, set the timer and get going: You've got 30 minutes to get it working for you again.
1 minute: Gather materials
First, prepare a few trash bags or bins. The two basic piles you'll make are for clothes to throw out and clothes to donate. Prince also suggests two more categories: Clothes to give away (like maternity clothes to a pregnant friend) and clothes to sell (a pristine bridesmaid dress you'll never wear again).
In addition to prepping for your piles, bring along cleaning supplies like damp rags, multipurpose cleaner and a broom and dustpan or vacuum cleaner. If you think you'll need help making decisions, enlist a friend.
3 minutes: Pull everything out
The bed is the logical place to gather clothes. Hopefully, your garments are already loosely organized — all the shirts or dresses together, for example — so you can pile them onto the bed by type. Pull out any organizers and bins as well, to give yourself a totally empty closet.
3 minutes: Clean and assess
Wipe down the shelves, closet rod, walls and baseboards, then clear the floor of debris.
Now, take a step back and look at the space to think about the ways it has and hasn't been working for you.
"The prime real estate is right in front, so think about your most-used items or what you're always struggling to reach," says Prince.
15 minutes: Sort clothes
Now's when, one by one, you take every garment out of the pile and decide if it goes back into the closet.
"You don't have to go full Marie Kondo, but as you decide, ask yourself four questions: Does it fit? Have I worn it in the last 12 months? Will I repair it if it's damaged? Do I feel confident in it?" says Prince. If you answer no to any of these, put it into one of your piles.
Once you've made your decision, put the garment back into the closet and move on. Work by type (pants, skirts, blouses, jackets) and try to move quickly rather than getting caught up thinking about the clothes you used to fit into or wear for an old job or lifestyle.
26 minutes: Make it nice
Once your closet is filled back up with only the keepers, take a few minutes to straighten everything out and make sure it's all organized by garment type and by color.
29 minutes: Wrap it up
Put donation clothes right into the car, and get any other items (like the give or sell piles) ready for the next step.
And who knows? Maybe your next closet organizing experience will only take 15 minutes!
