My Road to Minimalism- Project #2 MY CLOSET

My closet has been an eyesore for some time now but I just didn't have the energy or motivation to edit it UNTIL, I watched the Minimalists on Netflix (they have a great podcast by the same title) and it motivated me to completely change my home and purchasing habits in 2017.  Please see my first de-cluttering project titled, Minimalism: What it Looks Like to Me (before and afters).

Gives me angst just looking at this.

Since today was a holiday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I had Gracie home with me and knew it was the perfect time to tackle our closets and entry way coat closet.  I had NO idea how much I truly had to give away, how many articles of clothing and shoes that no longer added value to my life.  I put on a good podcast and was able to complete my closet in about 3 hours.  I made a pile for Goodwill, and another of higher end items to sell to consignment.

I probably only wear 6-7 pair of shoes each season, no one needs that many.

No order or rhyme or reason, just stuff thrown on shelves, I didn't even know what I had.

The best way to organize a closet is to pull almost everything out and then replace each item back in, and really evaluate why it goes back to the closet and not to the thrift store pile.  Have I worn this in the past year?  Is this still on trend or a classic?  Is this a quality piece?  Do I feel good wearing it?  Is it comfortable? DO NOT base your decision on if it was a gift and could hurt someone's feelings, you're not wearing it anyway.  DO NOT base your decision on how expensive it was, I've kept things for YEARS because I dropped good cash on an time but then let it sit in my closet or drawers for years without wearing it, so who really cares how much it originally cost?  

 Ready for all the piles of "stuff"?

Here's the GW pile and it doesn't even include Gracie's stuff OR the shoes from our entry way closet.

Here's the consignment pile: that bag is holding about 15 pair of denim and corduroys

and consignment shoes, hopefully I can get an appt this week, I want it all GONE!

OK, Ready for the reveal?  It's not perfect but I'd say about a 85% improvement.

My shoe rack makes me happy and now I know every pair I have.

Instead of hanging all of my jeans which took too much room on my bottom rack, I've decided to stack them.  I probably only wear the same four pair anyway and now they're easier to grab.  I also found scarves and knit hats that I haven't worn in years.  Now I can use them again.

Denim and sweaters just make more sense folded and stacked.  They'll hold their shape better this way.

Now all of my tops, shirts and jackets have room between them and aren't crammed tightly together.  I actually found half a dozen or so black tops that I forgot I had.  I have a lot of black, it's a makeup artist thing.

Hard to see but the very tip-top shelf is where I now keep a couple fine handbags and my tall boots,

I'll be honest, there were quite a few things I questioned yet kept but I'm going to edit my winter clothes when spring arrives and I'll know better by then if it's worth keeping an item for another year. At least now I know what I have, it's refreshing!

And here is my Goodwill haul, a giant contractor's trash bag of clothes, 5 bags of shoes, bags of decorator pillows, and a box of housewares.  Good riddance, and may someone else find value in my discarded things.  

I really need to tackle my drawers and accessories but I find the common areas of my home are more pressing so back down to the main floor.  You can be sure that I'll post any before and afters when I do.

I hope this has helped inspire you to edit your wardrobe, and your family's.  You can subscribe to my blog by adding your email up top AND/OR following me on my Facebook Fit By 50 page, link below.
https://www.facebook.com/michellespielerfitby50/

Please check back this week and as always, I hope this has been A Good Fit!