ep 239: Clutter Clinic: Closets

Hi friends! Last week we kicked off our Clutter Clinic Series talking about garages- if you haven’t listened, I encourage you to go back and check it out. We gave a TON of practical tips to help you tackle one of the largest areas of the home.Today we are continuing with our series with the ever-popular CLOSETS!  I’m talking about 5 different types of closets including:Linen closetsHall ClosetsGuest Room ClosetsKids ClosetsMaster ClosetsBefore we get into it, let’s look at some statistics that may surprise you:97% of surveyed realtors believe that homeowners covet closet space more than basement and attic storage space. (Braun Research Survey)61% of people who have a hard time finding anything in their closet end up buying new clothes. (OnePoll Survey)1 in 6 people have resorted to taking dirty clothes out of their laundry hamper when they are unable to find anything to wear. (OnePoll Survey)1 in 4 Americans describe their closets as being disorganized. (OnePoll Survey)It’s estimated that 80% of clothes are worn 20% of the time. (National Association of Professional Organizers Study)Now for the good news, most closet disorganization is easily fixable, but like most areas of disorganization, the key to lasting change is to get to the root of the problem.  The two most common reasons for closet disorganization stems from either:Consumption (i.e. too much stuff)Lack of storage  The truth is that even with the proper storage, our daily habits play a crucial role in maintaining an organized space. Let’s look at how the 5 Clutter Pitfalls can manifest in our closets:Procrastination: I’ll get to it later…Otherwise known as the “closed door syndrome”(out of sight, out of mind).Indecision: I don’t know what to do with it, so I’ll stick it in the closet.Guilt/Fear: I feel guilty getting rid of “X” so I’ll shove it in the back of the closet.Overwhelm: I’m ready to tackle the closet, but not sure where to begin or what to do next  (ie: strategy).Time: I’d get to it if only I had the time (a common response from folks with calendar clutter).Below are some of my tried and true closet tips to help you along the way:PURGE FIRST: Using our ESP (empty, sort purge  method), make sure that you get rid of anything you don’t use, need or wear.ASSESS INVENTORY: Sort items into 4 piles:  KEEP (in current space), DONATE, RECYCLE (or trash) , & RELOCATE (to somewhere else in the house).FACTOR YOUR SPACE TO INVENTORY RATIO: Avoid having more stuff than you do space.Linen Closets:No more than 2 sets of sheets per person.Avg of 4 towels per personUse baskets to keep things organizedHall Closets:Cycle seasonally if you canPurge at least once a yearMake things accessible and easy (think hooks, pullout bins, baskets)Guest Room Closets:Define the purpose (Avoid making it the junk drawer)Purge annuallyKeep white space (allowing room for things to cycle in and out throughout the year)Kids Closets:Install adjustable or modular systems that grow with your kidsMake items accessible for themAvoid storing memorabilia (ie baby’s first shoes)  and “grow clothes” (aka: hand-me-downs)  in their closetMaster Closets:Balance your space to inventory ratio (how much stuff do I have in relation to my space)Design the space per your habits (ie: do I prefer to fold or hang?)*download our free checklistIdentify your patterns (Take the closet quiz below):1. Do you currently have more than 5 items in your closet that still have tags?   Yes  No2. Do you have items in your closet that no longer fit you?