Organize your Closet for 2012

Once you decide to organize your closet, the hardest part is the first step, committing to it. Once you commit, do it immediately. After that, the rest is easy; it’s simply a matter of learning the principles of organizing, following a sensible sequence, and visualizing and defining a precise objective.

First, you’ll need three large trash bags: Label each bag (you can write these words on masking tape and apply directly to the bag). 1) “Trash”, 2) “Sell”, 3) “Donate”

Music: Listening to music can increase your motivation, just like when you’re walking that treadmill. Music helps to pass the time during difficult chores.

Next, the rules:

If you haven’t worn it in a year, get rid of it. Sell it on EBay, give it to a friend, or donate it to the Salvation Army. Call them, they’ll gladly come pick it up, and give you a tax receipt.

Throw out all underwear over a year old.

Get rid of all fashion no-no’s: too low jeans that reveal your crack, tops that show your mid-section, tops showing too much cleavage, too tight clothes of any description, anything ripped or torn and scuffed and well worn shoes.

Assess each piece of clothing and determine which garbage bag you should assign it to:

Trash: Items that are irreparable (ripped, stained, etc.)

Sell: Items that will bring you some cash.

Donate: Items that you no longer want that are still in decent condition. Donate to friends, family or charities.

You’ll need organizational tools: storage boxes for sweaters to stack on the floor under your clothes, or overhead on the shelves above, or under your bed, and over the door hooks for belts and necklaces.

Organize your closet by classes and colors. Within the class category, divide into tops, jackets, skirts, pants, dresses, evening clothes. Then divide the classes into colors — white, ivory, beige, pink, red, blue, green, black, brown. One color fading into the next.

Now, shoes and handbags. It’s best to organize shoes by season, then divide into colors: boots, suede, evening, day, casual. I bought very inexpensive shoe racks that fit perfectly inside my closet, Bags should be kept in their dust covers and stacked on top of the closet shelves, with evening bags in one area and daytime bags in another.

Hang your belts and jewelry on the over-the-door hooks you bought, belts by colors, jewelry by silver and gold.

One last note: there are eight essentials every woman should have in her closet, regardless of age: 1) Black leggings, 2) Black pants, 3) Little Black Dress, 4) Slim fit jeans, 5) Cropped jeans, 6) Black boots or shoe boots, 7) Black Jacket, Scarf in any color, 9) white blouse, 10) V-neck White & Black Knit tops or T’s to wear under your jacket. You’re all set.

Organizing your closets can appear to be a daunting task. But with the right determination and well-crafted plan, you can work your way toward a well-organized closet — one that you won’t be afraid to enter.

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