Are you feeling overwhelmed with your wardrobe? Do you have too many clothes and nowhere to store them all? If so, it may be time for a much-needed closet overhaul. Downgrading the size of your closet can provide a more organized and stress-free space – not to mention that it offers the opportunity to reassess exactly what clothing items are essential!
Wardrobe downsizing involves more than just getting rid of old and unwanted clothes. It’s about simplifying your life and creating a wardrobe that reflects your personal style while also being practical for everyday wear.
In this blog post, we will discuss the steps involved in how to downsize wardrobe. This is the perfect guide for someone struggling with too much clutter in their closet and wanting to simplify their life by streamlining their fashion decisions.
Why Downsize Your Wardrobe?
Before we dive into the steps, let’s discuss why you should consider downsizing your wardrobe. Firstly, having too many clothes can make it difficult to find what you need when getting ready in the mornings, leading to stress and frustration. By downsizing, you eliminate this problem by keeping items you genuinely love and wear often.
Another reason to downsize is that it saves time and money. Constantly buying new clothes to add to an already overflowing closet is not only expensive but also time-consuming. By downsizing, you can see clearly what you have and need, making it easier to plan future purchases.
Finally, a downsized wardrobe allows for more space in your home. With less clutter, your closet will look more organized and visually appealing. This makes it easier to find what you need and gives you a sense of peace and harmony in your living space.
What Will You Need?
Before you begin the journey of downsizing your wardrobe, it’s essential to have the necessary tools at hand. These include:
- A full-length mirror
- Garment bags
- Storage containers or boxes
- Donation bags/boxes
Once you have these items, you can start downsizing your wardrobe!
10 Easy Steps on How to Downsize Wardrobe
Step 1: Assess Your Current Wardrobe
The first step is to review your entire wardrobe and note what you have. This means removing all the clothes from your closet, drawers, and other storage locations. If you have clothes stored away for different seasons, make sure to get them out as well.
Step 2: Sort Your Clothes
Once you have all your clothes in front of you, it’s time to start the sorting process. Create separate piles for different categories such as “keep,” “donate,” “sell,” and “recycle.” The “keep” pile should include items you wear frequently and love. The “donate” pile should consist of clothes that are still in good condition but no longer serve you.
Clothes that are valuable or designer can go into the “sell” pile, and those that are worn out or damaged should go into the “recycle” pile. Remember, keeping only the items you truly need and love is the goal.
Step 3: Try-On Session
This step is crucial in the wardrobe downsizing process. Start trying on the clothes from your “keep” pile. Ask yourself, does it fit? Does it flatter your shape? Is it comfortable? If you hesitate or answer ‘no’ to any of these questions, let it go. This can be a tedious process, but it’s essential to ensure that the clothes you keep are the ones that make you feel your best.
Step 4: Evaluate Your Lifestyle
Look at your lifestyle critically. What clothes do you need for daily activities, work, leisure, and special occasions? Think about the clothes that suit these activities and compare them with what you’re currently keeping. If there are items that don’t align with your lifestyle, it’s time to reconsider their place in your wardrobe. Remember, everything in your downsized wardrobe should have a purpose.
Step 5: Pare Down Multiples
Take a look at your ‘keep’ pile once again and identify if there are multiple similar items. If you have three black t-shirts that serve the same purpose, consider reducing them to your one favorite.
The idea is to own fewer but better quality, versatile pieces that can be mixed and matched effortlessly. This step will significantly reduce the volume of your wardrobe, bringing you closer to a more minimal, manageable closet.
Step 6: Organize Your Wardrobe
Now that you’ve downsized, it’s time to organize your remaining clothes. Hang up or fold your clothes and arrange them to make it easy for you to see what you have. You could arrange by color, by garment type, or by occasion.
The goal is to create an organized system that makes dressing more accessible and enjoyable. Don’t forget to store away out-of-season clothing neatly. This step is crucial in maintaining your wardrobe’s downsized, clutter-free state.
Step 7: Implement a One-In, One-Out Rule
Consider implementing a one-in, one-out rule to maintain your newly downsized wardrobe. This means that for every new item you purchase, one old item needs to leave your wardrobe.
This will help you to curb excessive shopping habits and ensure that your wardrobe does not become cluttered again. Remember, the goal is to have a functional and manageable wardrobe that serves your lifestyle, not a closet bursting at the seams.
Step 8: Regularly Review Your Wardrobe
Set aside time every few months to review your wardrobe. Review your clothes, reassess whether they still meet your needs, and reflect your style. This regular maintenance helps you stay aware of what you have, what you need, and what you no longer wear.
It also prevents your wardrobe from reverting to its cluttered state. This habit of regular review will keep your wardrobe streamlined, functional, and suited to your current lifestyle and preferences.
Step 9: Learn to Let Go
Part of maintaining a downsized wardrobe involves developing the ability to let go of items that no longer serve a purpose in your closet. Whether it’s an expensive dress you’ve never worn or an old favorite that’s seen better days, if it’s not adding value to your wardrobe, it’s likely time to let it go.
This can be challenging, especially when there’s sentimental value involved, but remember, every item you remove makes way for something new and potentially better suited to your current style and lifestyle.
Step 10: Enjoy Your Streamlined Wardrobe
Congratulations! You’ve successfully downsized your wardrobe. Now, it’s time to enjoy the fruits of your labor. With fewer items, getting dressed daily should be quicker and less stressful. You’ll find yourself spending less time looking for that one particular shirt or pair of shoes.
Maintaining your streamlined wardrobe will be much easier now that you’ve established a system. Remember, the key to a successful downsized wardrobe is consistency in maintenance and mindful consumption.
By following these steps, you can not only create a more functional and manageable wardrobe but also reduce clutter and waste in your life.
5 Additional Tips and Tricks
- Implement a “Maybe Box”: If unsure about specific items, put them in a “maybe box.” If you don’t reach for the things for a specified period (say, six months), it’s time to part ways.
- Follow the Hanger Trick: At the start of the season, turn all your hangers to face one direction. As you wear items, turn the hanger the other way. By the end of the season, items on hangers that haven’t been turned probably aren’t being worn and can be removed.
- Create Outfit Categories: Segment your wardrobe into workwear, casualwear, partywear, etc. If you have too many items in one category (one you don’t often dress for), reduce that section.
- Consider a Capsule Wardrobe: A capsule wardrobe comprises a small collection of essential items that stay in fashion. It can help you simplify your wardrobe and reduce clutter.
- Avoid Buying Duplicates: Consider if you already have something similar before purchasing a new item. If so, do you need it? You can keep your wardrobe streamlined and avoid unnecessary clutter by avoiding duplicates.
With these additional tips and tricks, downsizing your wardrobe will be a more manageable task. Remember to take it slow and focus on decluttering a little at a time.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many ways how to downsize wardrobe and stay organized. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Start by assessing the items you don’t wear often, along with anything that no longer fits or suits your tastes. Donate or sell those so that someone else can use them well!
Once you have pared down your wardrobe, consider investing in a wardrobe organizing system to keep everything neat. This will make it easier to find things when needed and keep everything tidy and put together.
Being mindful of purchases is another great way to ensure your space stays streamlined and organized. When it comes time to add new pieces into the mix, think quality over quantity—purchasing fewer items with better quality means they are more likely to last longer. With these tips in mind, you can declutter and downsize your wardrobe for the long term!
