Woman in gown standing in wardrobe

How To Declutter Your Wardrobe

Have you ever heard the phrase ‘tidy home, tidy mind’? Well this doesn’t stop at the door to your wardrobe. Having too many clothes in an unorganised space can definitely add unwanted stress to your life.

Not only will a clutter-free wardrobe make you feel better, but it’ll make getting ready in the morning much easier! Most ‘nothing to wear’ moments stem from not being able to see the clothes you actually have.

Here, we’ll take you through exactly how to declutter your wardrobe in the least painful way possible. Stay tuned for our top tips to declutter your wardrobe! 

 

Pile it up

First things first, you need to know what you actually have. Open up every wardrobe, cupboard and chest of drawers – and even that spare suitcase! Lay all of your clothes out on your bed, or even the floor. 

Every piece of clothing you own should be present and reachable. It might seem dramatic, but there is a method to the madness. Having all of your clothes in one place lets you see the scale of the problem and acts as the starting point for your epic sort-through. 

 

Pick out your staple items

There’s no reason to throw out clothes you love and wear regularly – unless you love everything in your clothes mountain. 

Pick out the pieces you simply can’t live without – the perfect-fitting jeans, the dress that makes you feel great, or that old jumper that holds many memories. Don’t throw out anything that holds a strong and positive emotional connection for you – successful decluttering makes you feel lighter and happy, not miserable! 

 

Pick out the ‘no’ items

Now it’s time for the flip side, picking out the definite ‘no’ items. These are pieces that you haven’t worn for ages, you don’t like anymore, or have absolutely no idea why they’re even still in your wardrobe – it happens more than you’d think. 

For anything that’s faded or worn, think about ways to either repair them or give them an extra boost of life. If they’re past it, though, don’t hesitate in slinging them out. 

 

Sort the ‘maybe’ items

Here’s the toughest part of it all – the ‘maybe’ items. These are things you kind of like and maybe you wear every now and then, but you’re neither in love with them or totally against them. To help you figure out whether or not to keep them, ask yourself these questions: 

  • When did I last wear this?
  • Does this fit me?
  • Have I worn it in the past year? 
  • Do I want to wear it this year? 
  • Would I buy this again? 
  • Does it fit my current lifestyle? 
  • Do I like how it feels and looks?
  • Does this need repairing? 
  • Do I know someone who would love this more than I do? 

If the answer to these questions is mostly no, the path ahead is clear – time to say farewell. Honestly if the answer to those questions is mainly no, there is more to be gained through passing this item on than keeping it in your cupboard. Namely room for a new item that answers yes to those questions.

TOP TIP: invite a friend over to help you decide. Sometimes a second opinion and a fresh pair of eyes from someone who cares about you is just the strength and encouragement you need. Plus, without the sentimental attachments to items you might carry (for whatever reasons) your friend will provide a more objective view and simply tell you what makes you look great.

 

How to give your clothes a new life  

By this point, you’ll have two distinct sets of clothes: those you’re keeping and those you’re not. For the clothes that haven’t made the cut, there are a few different ways you can get rid of them: 

  • Up-cycle/Re-imagine – get creative and re-work your old clothes. Turn those denim jeans into vintage shorts, or give a blast of tie-dye colour to a discoloured white t-shirt. 
  • Sell them on – there are loads of sites where you can sell your preloved clothes. Depop, eBay, ASOS Marketplace, and Etsy are just a few. 
  • Re-use/donate – if they’re in good condition, why not donate your old clothes to charity or friends? You’d be helping yourself and someone else at the same time. 
  • Re-cycle – even if some of your clothes are past the point of no return, they don’t need to end up in landfill. Many councils have recycling schemes that will pick up and sort your worn out clothing, and sell them on to repurposed either as new clothing or something completely different. Check with your local council to see if they’ve got a particular arrangement. Otherwise, it’s also worth knowing that many stores have their own recycling schemes; H&M, Monki, and & Other Stories all have schemes that allow you to hand in your old clothes in exchange for a voucher.  

 

If you follow these five steps on how to declutter your wardrobe, you won’t just have more space in your wardrobe, but also in your head. With only the clothes that you most cherish and need, it’ll be easy to find an outfit every day of the week. 

If you’re looking to fill up some of your new found wardrobe space sustainably, shop our pre-loved range at Reliked. 

 

(Image credit: Olivia Culpo)

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