Everyone loves new clothes—until their closet starts overflowing, that is. If you can't find any space for your most recent shopping spree, chances are your closet is at its maximum capacity. 

As hard as it is to admit, it might be time to browse through your items, pick out your favorites, and make room for new options. This process may look…tough. 

Contrary to popular notion, a closet organization can be done in a painless and stress-free way. All it takes is a little elbow grease to get your closet back in tip-top shape. Restore your closet organization and purge unwanted items in three simple steps.

1. Evaluation

Remove all items (clothes, boxes, etc.) from your custom closet. This includes smaller items like shoes, ties, or jewelry kept in drawers or baskets.

Next, clear your floor completely to begin the next stage of the process: separation.

2. Organization

Go through each item to evaluate its usefulness—and we do mean every one of them.

Of course, it can be challenging to purge items that carry personal meaning. Many people get trapped in a “what-if” mindset that prevents them from being objective during closet purges. 

To combat this, approach the subject with logical questions. Ask yourself:

• If the item is clothing, does it fit? If it does not, consider removing it entirely.
• How often do you wear or use the item? If the answer is “rarely,” it may not be worth the space.
• Do you see yourself using the item in the future? Does it bring value by staying in your closet?

Using these as a guidepost, begin sorting your clothing into “discard” and “keep” piles.

3. Removal

Now that your items are tentatively organized, you can begin picking. 

For items in your keep pile, re-hang and re-organize as necessary.

For items in your discard pile, you could choose to:

• Donate to a thrift store or charity. Your items will be given new life in someone else's closet.
• Upcycle the item. Old T-shirts and jeans can be repurposed as grocery bags. Old shoes can be turned into outdoor flower pots.
• Hand clothing down to other family members. This is especially effective for children who often grow out of clothing quickly.

Recycling is an excellent option if the items are too ragged, stained, or broken to be repurposed. Here in Louisiana, you can reach out to American Textile Recycling Service, which is available throughout New Orleans. Gently used clothing, shoes, toys, and household items can be sent directly to the company.

Can't Purge Enough? It Might Be Time to Have a Custom Closet

Although removing excess items from the closet can be helpful, purges aren’t always enough to solve your closet organization woes. If you find yourself with a surplus you can’t bear to part with, maybe organizing isn’t the problem—perhaps it’s the closet!

At Louisiana Custom Closets, we've helped thousands of homeowners create custom closet designs that accommodate wardrobes of any size. From larger storage racks to accessory drawers and cabinets, we offer nearly two decades of experience to Louisiana homeowners.

Ready to get your free estimate first? Call us at (985) 871-0810 or complete this online form. You can also visit us at 13405 Seymour Meyers Boulevard, Suite #24, Covington, LA 70433.