Is Your Wardrobe a Black Hole? Read This

Everyone has had their “just put it in the closet” moment.

Sometimes it is minutes before guests arrive for a dinner party and we want to hide our dirty laundry. See: closet. Other times, we return from a long trip and don’t feel like unpacking our luggage. See: closet. And often, we are just too sentimental to do anything permanent with those boxes filled with old trophies. See: closet.

If we’re being honest, our closets tend to be where our messes hide. The problem is that our closets are also where our clothes, shoes, coat and bags live. Meant to be one of the more functional elements of our homes, closets can quickly turn into the black hole for our big and small belongings.

No one sets out to live in this kind of disarray initially. No, complete disorganization can often start with just one pile. But then, before you know it you’ve spent 15 minutes looking for that one blush pink tank top; you know, the flow-y one that your friend gave you for your birthday last summer, and you can’t get past the chaos. Finally, you call it quits and grab something from the top of the heap or you go and buy something new.

We comfort ourselves with the thought that there are probably worse off closets elsewhere. We say things like, “I’m too busy to care,” or “I’ll get to it when _______.” The truth is, the busyness won’t quit and no one finds time to organize their closet. In order to get a hold of the mess and really get a fresh start, we have to make time.

But why? What is the pay-off for a more organized closet? Simply put, an organized closet has the potential to provide you with more time, money and peace of mind. Here’s how:

1. More time.

Benjamin Franklin said, “For every minute spent organizing, an hour is earned.” I can’t imagine how much time a day we spend looking for our own belongings.

When we commit to an organized closet, where things have place and order, we no longer have to waste time searching. You can go to bed that night knowing right where that black blazer is that you intend on wearing to that big meeting tomorrow. When you wake up in the morning, there it is, right where you left it. You can spend a little more time eating breakfast.

As you prepare for that business trip or vacation, you don’t have to ask, “Have you seen my…?” Instead, you save yourself time and pack with efficiency and ease.

2. More money.

Organization isn’t just about tidying up. An organized closet should only carry what you truly want and need. Instead of acting as storage for those “maybe” purchases or old trinkets you never use or look at, your closet should store what you wear, use and love on a frequent basis.

Start by going through your closet and separating everything into four piles: 1) Keep 2) Give 3) Toss 4) Up-cycle. From there, invest in quality hangers, a nice diffuser and some storage solutions to keep everything in its place. Voila, a restored space! Reworking what you already own develops contentment, saving you from unnecessary purchases. We often waste money on adding to our belongings without knowing what we already have and making that enough.

3. Peace of mind.

A messy closet doesn’t always equal a messy life, but what is happening on the exterior can often be an indication of the internal. A closet overrun with stuff could be the result of a life without proper rest or margin. Taking a moment to ask ourselves why this chaos exists could teach us more than we imagined.

Ultimately, when you care for your space and your belongings, you are caring for yourself. There are many elements of our life we cannot control, but this is one of them. Why add unnecessary stress? Whether you have a whole afternoon or a few hours here and there to tackle the mess, an organized closet will bring relief and peace of mind to your life and morning routine in particular.

Maintaining an organized closet isn’t about perfection; it’s about the quality of life we want to live. Decluttering, organizing, simplifying and looking at why we do what we do are all vehicles for change! Peter Walsh said, “What I know for sure is that when you declutter, whether it is your home, your head or your heart, it is astonishing what will flow into that space that will enrich you, your life and your family.”

So instead of falling into those “just put it in the closet” moments, may we set the standard a little higher, inviting the enrichment that organization brings to show us a new way.

If you had to guess, what would your closet say about you?

Feature Image via Beth Cath