We’ve all have a least one closet in the house that frightens us every time we open it. Boxes and objects are piled on every shelf and we don’t even know what’s in them. Even if we do know what’s in them, we don’t care. If we do care, getting to the box is such a hassle that we decide it’s not worth trying to dig it out. So, why do we keep these things if we don’t use them or need them? That’s a question I recently asked myself. My answer was, “I don’t need these things and they’re going to go!” It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Follow along as I show you how to organize the closet.

1. Remove everything! Yes, I said EVERYTHING. This is probably the most important step. If you don’t do it, you will end up only getting rid of, and organizing part of the closet. Before you know it, your closet will be a disaster all over again.

2. The second step on how to organize the closet has nothing to do with the closet, but has everything to do with the things you removed from the closet. Separate the items into three piles labeled “Keep”, “Maybe”, and “Donate/Toss Out”. The “Keep” pile should contain items that you use on a regular basis. If you haven’t used it in six months, put it in the “Maybe” pile. If you haven’t used it in a year, it belongs in the “Donate/Toss Out” pile. Don’t kid yourself into believing that you will read those novels again or wear that polka-dotted skirt that you haven’t worn since 2002. If something as already served its purpose, no longer fits, is out of date, broken, or has missing pieces, you know where it belongs. Be ruthless!

3. Now that you have your piles… and have shed a few tears over your wonderful possessions in the “Donate/Toss Out” pile, the next step on how to organize the closet is to put the items in your “Keep” pile back in the closet. If you’ve purchased, or built, closet organizing units, put them in first. Then, reload the closet with only the things that you need. Whatever you do, do not touch the “Donate/Toss Out” pile. If the temptation is too great, donate or toss out the items in the pile before you start to put things back in the closet.

4. If you followed my sorting instructions on how to organize the closet, I bet you are pleasantly surprised by how much room you have in your closet. Does it echo? This leaves us with the “Maybe” pile. Chances are you put some things in this pile that belonged in the “Donate/Toss Out” pile. Give the “Maybe” pile one more go through and divide it into two piles. You guessed it; the piles will be “Donate/Toss Out” and “Keep”. Now that your closet is tidy, you will have an easier time getting rid of some of the “Maybe” items. After all, you don’t want to spoil your hard work by cluttering your closet all over again. As in step three, get rid of the “Donate/Toss Out” items and put the “Keep” items back in the closet.

That wasn’t so bad, was it? Now that you know how to organize the closet, you have no excuse. Get to it! You’ll feel so much better after it’s done. Believe me!

I recently started a new closet cleaning project. Follow my progress here. For other household tips, follow my blog, ModernStead.