Editing my Closet!

My closet was literally the Bermuda Triangle.  Everything was crammed into the space and there was no organization whatsoever.  I could never find what I needed and to be honest I had no idea what I even had.  If I needed an article of clothing,  I would just go buy something new.  I didn’t want to deal with this horrible space called my “closet”. I am a fashion blogger for heaven sake, shouldn’t my closet reflect that?  More than that,  I am a busy, tired mom to 3.  I just survive most days and did not have the energy to tackle this task on my own.  Luckily, my friend Leslie introduced me to Laura.  Laura has a closet editing business and I knew I needed her help desperately.  Laura and I clicked immediately, so I was super excited for us to work together on this huge project.   This is what my closet looked like before and yes I am VERY embarrassed. Life isn’t always glamorous though is it?

I can’t believe I let my closet get to this point, but obviously I did.  My closet was way too full, so I just crammed things in wherever I could find a spot.  We have a decent sized closet, but I certainly was NOT utilizing the space at all.

On day 1, Laura and I went through all of my shoes, purses, hats, scarves and eliminated what I was not currently wearing/using.  We literally when through EVERY piece and she asked me if I had worn it recently and if I really loved it.  If my answer was “no” to either of those, out it went!  I mean, why keep things you don’t wear?  Apparently, there was a LOT I wasn’t wearing! The next picture is my “no” pile.

On day 2, we went through all of my clothing and did the same thing.  Once again, I realized there was so much I wasn’t wearing and didn’t even really care for.  I made three piles, the “yes”pile, the “no” pile, and the “maybe” pile.

Going through EVERY SINGLE THING in my closet was by far the worst part!  Once I purged it was time to organize everything I kept.  Laura told me “that my closet should be my own, personal boutique that I get to shop in everyday”.  I love that so much!! I do have a lot of great pieces, but I couldn’t even see them because of the mess!

First, I switched from yucky, plastic hangers to velvet space saver hangers. This made such a HUGE difference!  I used 3M hooks to hang my hats and purses that were just laying around.  These are self adhesive hooks that you can hang anywhere. They are all over my closet now!  I switched out my generic light fixtures for the cutest crystal flush mount fixtures.  They provide so much light and really “glam” up the space. I also got a fun furry rug (which is nearly sold out) and a super cute, yet functional gray storage ottoman. It is perfect to sit on while I put on my shoes and it hides some of my husbands junk lol! I purchased some adorable canvas storage baskets for random pieces that were scattered throughout my closet.  I have one for scarves, belts, small handbags, etc.  Everything has a specific place which is amazing.

We also divided my clothing into sections.   A section for tops, bottoms, outerwear, and dresses.  Everything is color coded as well. So if I am looking for a black top, I know exactly where to go! It sounds so simple, but it is really life-changing!!!  Here are my after pics!

Isn’t the difference amazing?  I love my closet so much now, sometimes I just want to hang out in there! I went from a space I couldn’t stand to one of my favorite spots in the house!  I can promise that my closet will NEVER get like that again!  Here are a few tips for avoiding closet clutter

1. If you haven’t worn it in a year or more, get rid of it
2. If it doesn’t fit anymore get rid of it. Dress the body you have, not the one you wish for
3. If it’s showing wear, get rid of it. Even if it’s your favorite sweater.
4. When you buy something new, get rid of something. New in, old out

I highly recommend hiring a professional if your budget allows.  It is so helpful to get another opinion. Let’s face it, sometimes it’s hard to be objective about our own stuff!  If you are in the NW Arkansas area, I can’t recommend Laura Jones enough! Her rates are so reasonable and she is very efficient and fast! Her services include personal styling, shopping, closet and styling, and home decor.  She can do it all! She has a God-given gift and her passion is sharing it with others so they can look and feel their best.  Contact her at 479-531-8317.

I hope this gives you some great ideas for closet organization! And please no judgement on what my closet looked like before! Sometimes you just have to be real!  How do you keep your closet organized, or is it a total mess?? I would love to hear from you! Thanks you for reading, friends!

XOXO

Emily