Do You Purge Your Closet?

How often do you purge your closet? I go through my closet twice a year and always manage to find items that I do not wear, have not worn, and will not ever wear again. It is amazing how much your clothing tastes change every six months. Plus, I have an old small but adorable house, so my closet space is limited. If I can do it, you can do it.

So, here are 5 Closet Organizing Tips that I found at Organizing Network that I already follow with my own little twists to them.

1. Items used most frequently should be on shelves at eye level.

Ok. I am all of 5ft. and 1 whole inch. Eye level would be pretty ridiculous for me. Can we say midget closet? So, when I open my closet, I have one bar directly in front of my that holds my pants and jeans. I know I definitely will need these items everyday so they are right in front...not eye level, but slightly raised for normalcy issues.

2. Break alike items down into baskets.

I don't do this only because I don't have the space for baskets. But, I believe this is a great functional and aesthetically pleasing tip.

3. Hang all like clothes together, i.e., skirts in one area, blouses in another.

OH YES. This is a definite must do. Like I mentioned before, my pants are directly in front of my forehead. On the left are jackets, then suits, skirts, then dresses. On the right side of my closet are long sleeved shirts, short sleeved shirts, and tank tops. All in that order from back to front because dresses and tank tops are my most frequently used items. And, yes, they are all color coordinated. This is optional, but highly suggested. :)

4. Put shoes in boxes that are labeled or a rack where they can be easily viewed.

OH YES, again. I have a 3-tier shoe rack on the floor of my closet with my most frequently used feet accessories easily access able. The shoes that I break out on special occasion get their own plastic clear bins that are easily stackable. All these shoes go on the shelves above my clothes. I can still see what shoes are in what bin and they save space due to their stackable abilities. Easy. You don't even have to label them if you don't want to.

5. If you haven’t worn it in a year, either move to a less used closet, or give away.

This is a super important rule. Unless it has sentimental value, give it away to someone who can wear it and get good use out of it. You know that you have purchased items throughout the year and you need the space anyway. The chances of you or I wearing something again that we have not worn in over a year are very slim...and probably because we are no longer as slim as we used to be. ...or if you are lucky...are too slim to wear it again.

So, lets get into the Spring spirit with a closet purge. I normally donate my purged items to a charity like the Salvation Army or any local charity I find that needs some help... and some charities will even pick it up for you! Plus, you may even find a long lost gem that you forgot you had...it's like buying something new.

A,B,C,D It Can Be That Easy

Everyone's organizing tactics are different. I like to keep things pretty easy and simple. I like to alphabetize. I absolutely need my DVD's to be in A,B,C order or else I will freak...because I am a freak apparently. I check my DVD's randomly to make sure they are still in the correct A,B,C order...because someone I know that I share a very comfy bed with does not put the DVD's back where they are supposed to go. Oh well, can't win them all, right?

So, it really can be that easy. If there is something in disarray and it is plagueing you, consider whether or not it can be alphabetized or if it can be put in numerical order...try it! See if it works for your state of mind and your well being for heavens sake. It never hurts to give it a shot. And just cause I feel like sharing, here is a pic of a few of my DVD's...A-E, I believe.



***Please ignore the fact that I have owned American Beauty for a few years now and have yet to take it out of its wrapping. Yes, I have seen the movie...just not the one I own. Also, Please please please ignore the proof that I am merely an organizing kind of person and not all a cleaning or dusting kind of person.

Now, although I love using the skills I learned from Kindergarten to organize my adult life, I don't alphabetize everything. I like to shake it up a but with some category fun. ...yes, I am an absolute loser at this point. BUT, when it comes to my books, I like to organize them in categories so that I will be able to easily find where I put what, but still have them look like they are in random order. -oh, the trickery!...again, loser. But, they key is to organize your life but to also organize it so that it makes absolute sense to you!

So, here is a look at my book shelf from afar:



Now, lets zoom in:


Can you guess some of the categories I might have conjured up in my mind?

Pull It. Roll It.

If you are like me and you need to seriously update your kitchen cabinets, but absolutely do not have the budget for a complete overhaul, I have a small solution. A trip around the local home improvement store conveniently lead me to the new kitchen cabinet section. So my curious little self went rolling through the faux kitchens opening every drawer and cabinet in sight trying to get up to date on the new innovative conveniences that a new kitchen can offer. What did I find? Every thing pulls or rolls out to you.

Now, picture this: Me, on my hands and knees, head in lower kitchen cabinet, banging pots and pans sounds ringing in your ear, and probably a few items that belong in the cabinet strewn about on the kitchen floor. My house was built in the 1940's and I swear it still has the original kitchen cabinets...just painted over a few hundred times. The half an hour of faux kitchen shopping makes me think there is hope.

So, I seriously doubt I will be getting a whole new kitchen anytime soon. What shall a girl do? There are many options! Every where I look, there seems to be a new gadget that I (or someone I ask very nicely and bat my eyes to) can install in my cabinets that will make my cabinet digging woes a little less woeful.

Cabinet-Sized elfa® Mesh Easy Glider™ ($26.99-$35.99)


Chrome Roll-Out Cabinet Drawers ($34.99-$49)


8 gal. Undercabinet Pull-Out Can ($39.99)


2-Drawer Mesh Organizer ($19.99)


The items above are from The Container Store website. I have also found the same or similar products at Bed, Bath & Beyond, and Target ...to just name a few.