Do you know how to organise your whole closet in less than 10 minutes? If so, I’d like to meet you and learn your magical ways. I really don’t think any of us can truly organise our closets that fast!

The thing about organising closets is that it’s not an all-or-nothing proposition. You might keep thinking to yourself that you’ll tackle the closet on Saturday, and then you push it back to Sunday, which turns into next weekend and then next month. 

Few mums have the kind of time to spend a whole day or weekend on closet organisation, and those who do are not about to give up this gorgeous summer weather and fun times at the beach with the fam to stay home and sort through clothes. 

However, one thing that all of us can do is organise our closet in less than 10 minutes per day. It might take a few days to get it under wraps, but it won’t feel so overwhelming when you break it down into manageable chunks, and you’ll still have plenty of time for the fun stuff!

1. Divide and conquer

You absolutely have to use categories when you are organising your closet. It’s the only way to see just how much you have and what you don’t need. So on the first day, your ten minutes will be spent planning. Make a mental note of anything you might need to make it easier, like more hangers or some garbage bags to haul off unwanted clothes for donations.

Take stock of what you have and devise a plan. Use logical groupings, like shirts, dresses and skirts, shoes, accessories, and so on. Consider what you have and how you’ll break it down. We’re going to tackle each section across three days: one for sorting and purging, one for trying on items you’re not sure about (these two days may be combined if there’s not much to try on) and one for placing and organising.

2. Start with the biggest section

I suggest starting with whatever comprises the bulk of your clothes, whether you’re overflowing with shirts or you just can’t resist buying jumpers in every colour. Not only does this help you get the toughest category out of the way first, but it lets you see how much space you’ll have left for the other sections. If you really do have a lot of garments in one category, break it down over two days – for example, casual dresses one day and formal ones the next.

Here’s what you’ll do with each section:

Day 1: Gather, assess and purge

First, pull out everything you have in your closet in this category and lay it out on the bed. With each garment, ask yourself if you love it and if it still fits well. If the answer to either question is no, into the donation bag it goes. If you’re not sure, put it in a pile to try on tomorrow. Set the definite keepers aside.

Day 2: Try on questionable items

Try on anything you are unsure about. Be honest with yourself, and only keep it if you are truly happy with how it looks on you and it fits into your lifestyle right now. Ask yourself: if this were hanging in a store right now, would I buy it? Then, add the ones you’re keeping to yesterday’s pile of keepers to deal with on Day 3.

Day 3: Hang, fold, or roll

Now it’s time to put the items in this category back into your closet. Don’t forget that not everything has to hang – and if your closet is like mine, not everything has room to hang anyway. Save hanging and drawer space by folding and stacking bulkier items, like winter sweaters and jeans, and putting them on shelves or even in boxes. This comes with the added bonus of being able to find what you’re looking for so much easier!

Some items lend themselves so well to the roll-and-tuck technique. Softer, thinner clothes like leggings, polyester shirts and cotton shorts can be folded in half and then rolled into tubes, which can be tucked easily into open boxes on sliding drawers or bins or baskets on shelves. This is a great way to organise your closet smarter!

3. Colour code each section

Organising by colour might be a little bit of extra work, but it makes it easier to put outfits together. And let’s be honest – it’s just so satisfying! You don’t have to go in rainbow order if you don’t want to, but just grouping similar colours together is enough to make your closet easier to navigate.

Little by little, you’ll chip away at this monumental task and before you know it, you’ll end up with a closet you’re not embarrassed to open up in front of other people. 

When it comes to how to organise your closet, there are lots of different approaches you can take. Check out my free Step-by-Step Guide to Organising your Closet for more guidance. It can help you switch wardrobes seamlessly across seasons and store clothes in a way that makes it easy to get dressed every day!

I promise – the results are worth the little daily effort you will put in!

Love,

Nakita xxx