Welcome to the 30 Days to Less of a Hot Mess Challenge — a simple, practical plan to declutter, reorganize, and refresh your home so it works for you. If you’re new to the challenge, you may want to start at the beginning. Affiliate links used for your convenience.
One area of the home you interact with every day is your closet. The way your closet is arranged affects your mornings, your wardrobe choices, and the tone of your day. When clothing and accessories are in disarray, it’s easy to start the day frustrated. But when a closet is decluttered and thoughtfully organized, mornings become smoother and getting dressed feels effortless.
Closet Systems
Before you start decluttering, consider the closet system you have in place. A functional closet system makes the most of available space and keeps wardrobe items accessible. In our master walk-in, the built-in wire shelving that came with the house works well: two levels for most hanging clothes and a single higher rail for long items like dresses and suits. One wall was empty, so we placed a dresser there to store t-shirts, underwear, socks, and a few folded sweaters and nicer shirts.
For my daughter’s closet, we installed a customizable Rubbermaid HomeFree-style system a couple of years ago and we absolutely love how it functions. These systems typically start with a sturdy wire-shelf base and allow for added wooden shelves, drawers, and shoe cubbies. Customizable options are great when you want a tailored solution that adapts as needs change.
If you prefer a DIY approach, there are affordable plans and tutorials for building a wood-and-pipe style closet system that can be customized to your exact dimensions. A DIY solution can be both economical and highly functional — many people find it becomes their favorite room in the house once finished.
When planning a closet update, ask yourself: Is my current system working? Do I need more hanging space, shelving, drawers, or shoe storage? Thinking through daily routines and the types of items you own will guide smarter decisions and help you avoid wasting time and money on unnecessary fixes.
How to Organize Your Closet
Now for the hands-on part: decluttering and organizing. I started with my closet as my first KonMari task, following the method’s emphasis on tackling clothing early. The process transformed my closet from cluttered to calm — and the benefits lasted because I focused on keeping only what I truly use and love.
Here are practical, step-by-step tips to organize your closet efficiently:
- Empty the Closet: Remove everything so you can see the full scope of what you have. This “messy work” is essential to making clear decisions.
- Sort by Category: Group like items together — pants, shirts, dresses, outerwear, shoes, accessories. Seeing similar items side by side makes it easier to compare and choose what to keep.
- Ask the Right Questions: Hold each item and ask: Does this fit? Does it flatter me? Do I wear it? Does it bring me joy? If the answer is no, let it go.
- Make Tough Choices About Sentiment: I kept some high-quality clothes that no longer fit, but realized they weren’t realistic to hold onto. Letting go of pieces that no longer serve you creates space for what does.
- Donate or Rehome Items Promptly: Once you decide to part with items, bag them up and take them to a donation center, consignment shop, or give them to someone who will wear them now. Don’t let them linger in your home.
- Optimize Storage: Use matching hangers for a streamlined look, add shelf dividers or baskets for folded items, and incorporate drawer organizers for smaller pieces like socks and underwear.
- Designate Zones: Keep daily wear within easy reach, special-occasion items in less-accessible spaces, and seasonal pieces stored separately if space allows.
- Maintain Regularly: A quick sweep each month to remove anything you haven’t worn can prevent clutter from returning.
RELATED: Decluttering the Master Closet
Small, intentional steps turn a chaotic closet into a calm, functional space. Clearing out items that no longer fit or suit your lifestyle creates room for pieces you actually wear — and it changes how you feel when you get dressed.
The Messy Work: Remove everything from your closet. Pick up each item and ask yourself whether it fits, flatters you, and serves a purpose in your current life. Anything that doesn’t should be donated, sold, or passed on.
In the mess with you, Laura
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