Organizing vs Decluttering Pt. 2 (Your Closet)

Do you find yourself constantly hunting for the perfect bins, baskets, or organizers to finally get your home in order? Well, I’ve got a secret for you: you don’t need better organizers...you need less stuff.

The best advice I can give anyone who wants to declutter their home is this: take an honest look at what you actually need to have in it.

I spent years thinking I just didn’t have the right organizing tools. Don’t get me wrong—there’s definitely a place for clever storage solutions. But before you go buying more bins, let’s focus on what you can let go of first.

Take your closet, for example. How many pieces of clothing are hanging in there? How many are folded away in drawers? A great place to start is your sock drawer—because let’s be honest, we all have socks with holes, missing matches, or pairs we never reach for.

Here’s what to do:

1. Toss out anything damaged or worn out—they’re just taking up space.

2. For what’s left, ask yourself these questions:

   • Have I worn these in the last 6 months?

   • Will I wear them in the next 3 months?

   • Would it take me more than two days to replace them if I got rid of them?

If you answered “no” to any of these, it’s time to let them go. If they’re still in good shape, add them to your donation box.

Decluttering starts with simple choices—and your sock drawer is the perfect place to begin.

Why start with your sock drawer? Because socks are easy. We’re not emotionally attached to them the way we are to other clothing. Cleaning out that drawer gives you an immediate sense of accomplishment and the motivation to keep going.

And why move on to your closet next? Because your closet is the first challenge you face every morning. You open it and make a decision: What am I going to wear today? Every. Single. Day.

Now imagine how much easier your mornings could be if your closet only held pieces you actually love and feel good wearing. No more sorting through things that don’t fit, don’t flatter, or don’t make you happy. Just clothes that make getting dressed simple (and even enjoyable).

For years, I read all those tips about how we should have our children lay out their clothes the night before school to make mornings easier. But why did it never occur to me to do the same thing for myself? Let me tell you—it’s a game-changer.

After I went through my closet and got rid of about half of what I owned, I still found myself facing too many choices each morning. So I started a new routine: each night, I’d go into my closet and decide what to wear the next day. The next morning, after my shower, I’d simply grab what I’d already chosen and get dressed. No stress. No second-guessing.

It streamlined my mornings and made me a lot less grumpy.

Think about it...when you go shopping and nothing seems to fit right, you start to feel frustrated, unattractive, maybe even a little defeated. You end up walking out empty-handed and wishing you hadn’t gone at all. Why would you want to start your morning like that? Simplifying your closet means starting each day with confidence instead of frustration.

Trust me. Start with that sock drawer. Then move on to just one section of your closet. Even if you only tackle your short-sleeve tops, you’ll feel instant relief knowing you’ve kept only the pieces that make you feel good.

If you’re hesitant to part with certain items, take a note from my previous post, Happy Fall: A Season of Letting Go, and try the one-month rule. Place your “maybe” items in a box, tuck it somewhere out of sight, and set a reminder on your calendar for one month later.

If you haven’t reached for anything in that box during that time, it’s safe to donate or sell it. And if you do find yourself needing something, you’ll know exactly where to find it; no guilt, no clutter.

Clearing the clutter from your closet is just the beginning! Once you experience how good it feels to let go of the excess, you’ll be inspired to bring that same simplicity to every room in your home.

And I promise you—I’m here for it. Let’s declutter together!