If you’re considering a closet makeover – the best first step is to purge your clothes so you know exactly what types of things, and how much of each category, you need to store. Good closet design is based on an accurate picture of what you’re keeping. Exactly how much hanging space will you need? Do you need shelves or drawers or both? How many accessories such as belts, ties, scarves, purses do you want to accommodate in there? Where will shoes go?

Can you imagine the lightness you would feel if you opened your closet and loved everything that was in there?

But I Paid A Lot of Money For It!

Purging clothes can be hard! As organizers, we often hear these reasons for holding onto certain items of clothing:

• It reminds me of a fabulous event
• It reminds me of a past self I don’t want to let go of
• I know it’s coming back in style someday
• It’s a little scratchy, but I think I can wear a camisole underneath it
• If my husband/wife knew I had gotten rid of it s/he would feel bad
• I wish I was still that size…

And the list goes on…

Does keeping this hold me back or move me forward?

There is one simple question to ask yourself as you consider a piece of clothing: “Does keeping this hold me back or move me forward?”

• If it makes you feel bad about yourself, it’s holding you back
• If it sparks feelings of guilt, shame, regret, or frustration – it’s holding you back
• If you love it but don’t use it and keeping it crowds out room for clothes you actually wear – it’s holding you back
• If it allows you to envision a positive future self, it moves you forward
• If it makes you smile inside and feel great, it moves you forward

Hold onto what helps you lovingly accept yourself for who you are today.

Sometimes an item of clothing won’t spark joy, but it performs a valuable function. For example, don’t immediately get rid of the only pair of black pants you have (if you wear them a lot) until you get something that you love to replace them. If you’re having trouble sensing how a piece makes you feel, find an item clothing that definitely sparks joy and compare it to that.

Now that you’ve decided what you are keeping, reward your hard work with a closet design that makes the clothes you love to wear both visible and accessible.