Ahhhh .... Welcome to OCTOBER, the month of HALL-O-WEEN, pumpkin spice lattes, fall leaves and cooler temps. October is also a great time to clear your closets of summer clothes and bring on the boots, long sleeves, sweaters and shawls.
Have you done a closet makeover recently? If not, here´s my A Step by Step Helpful Hints for your project.
Using my S.M.A.R.T. system: (S=Start simply, M=Mindset, A=Action, R- Repurpose, T= Transformation), you´ll be on your way to a newly organized, beautifully designed clothes closet for the winter season.
Step 1 - Turn on your fave tunes, get a tasty beverage, wear closed-toe shoes and let´s prepare.
Step 2 - Use the colored bag approach. Black bags = discards, White bags = donations. After making many decisions, you´ll want to deliver the right goods to the right location! Now, with music, beverag, and bags at the ready, set aside two-three hours for your transformation. Sure, it might take less time or more, but a three-hour shift is my timeframe for success.
Step 3 - With a clean open bed, start to EMPTY YOUR CLOSET of HANGING CLOTHES onto your bed. Now´s NOT THE TIME to make decisions, it´s ACTION TIME ... simply grab some hangers of clothes and pile them to the ceiling, just empty one side of the closet if you have a whopper sized space, or keep emptying if you can. The idea is to start with a clean slate, a new canvas of space if you will.
Step 4 - Once a closet side is cleared, remove the top and bottom items like purses, hats, and "stuff," Clear the bottom as well of shoes, purses, luggage and storage items and such.
Step 5 - Vacuum, wash, clean the floor and take a picture. You´ll want to remember what the empty, clean space looked like - so document it.
Step 6 - Here comes the decision-making ... you may want a friend of similar size nearby, so you can donate your undesirables to them ... or simply use the white trash bags for donations.
Step 7 - It´s fashion show time. Take one hanger, one garment and decide just two things: READY ??? "Do I want to keep it, or get rid of it?" That´s the whole game of organizing. Of course, for some people and some items, the decision is a quick, “Yuck! I can’t even believe I had this –— get rid of it,” or it can be more challenging. Set aside the challenges, and move into the easy and clear decisions first. Somethings are too tight (get rid of them), some things are so worn and wonderful, but you don’t wear them anymore (get rid of them), some things are your favorites but too big (bye, bye). The idea is to KEEP the items that work for you (that make you feel beautiful, make you look beautiful and are comfy, cozy, sexy, amazing!!) Life is short, get rid of the unwanted, out of style, worn through, or incomplete sets of things... they take up valuable space in your closet and your mind.
Step 8 - As you decide what stays (keepers), place those items back on the closet clothing rod, no matter color, shape or fashion... there’s time to fine tune your wardrobe later, but for now, just decide “Should it stay or should it go now?” Keep it a simple process, rather than adding pressure of how should I display my stuff... (that’s after you purge)
Step 9 - The clothes you keep can now be better seen, appreciated, and used... you´ve done it!! You´ve cleared your closet for clothing.
Step 10 - “Why do I have so many unworn shoes, hats, wigs, tops, boots, sweaters?” Sift through your fashions and decide if you haven’t worn it in ?? months (you decide, 6-12-24 months... it’s an individual choice). But if it’s unworn stuff, you might want to look at your pattern of buying, holding onto, and appreciating. So, start with shoes, and gift, donate unwanted items. Boots, hats, wigs, and belts — if you´re not wearing them, or haven’t worn them in a long, long time, what makes you think you´ll start wearing that belt you´ve never worn - now??
Make room for new stuff, make room so you can APPRECIATE your valued property.
Step 11 - Once you’ve removed the unwanted, donate to charity, and you will make another person happy with these items. It’s a tax write-off, sure, but it’s an intrinsic feeling of doing a good deed as well.
Step 12 - Overwhelmed? “It’s not that simple” “I thoughts in your head, never have the time,” "I´m fundamentally ill-equipped to do this,” and any other internal dialogue that blocks you from the goal, well, it’s time to bring in an expert to help you sort through and color coordinate your wardrobe. It may take a few hours twice a year, but a pro can easily support your decisions, handle the donations, and make your closet makeover a fun-filled adventure!
Consider A Clutter Clearing your local expert in decluttering, home organizing and utilizing feng shui principles. For testimonials, before and afters, and to reach out to me, David Hall, Call 561-706-7779 for a free consultation. AplusClutterClearing.com
Good luck with your makeover! You´ll feel so accomplished once you take on this vital area of your home! Until next month...
Clear the Clutter... Clear the Mind™
