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We’ve all been there. No matter how many times we’ve organized and decluttered our closet, mess always seems to creep back in. Is there no way to stop closet mess? And keep it that way?
The good news is that there are ways you can stop your closet from getting messy again.
But before I get into that, a quick side-note on why mess, and particularly, the return of mess – triggers us.
Science has found correlations between increased mess levels and stress levels in women. A 2009 study of 60 dual-income couples found that women living in cluttered and stressful homes had higher levels of cortisol and even heightened depression symptoms.
What does all this mean?
It simply means that if there’s a sustainable way to keeping mess away – that would just be good for our mental health.
After going to multiple cycles of clearing and re-clearing out my closet and identifying problem areas, I’ve finally arrived at a system that works. A few ground rules that if I stick to, I can (hallelujah!) keep the mess away – for good.
So if you’re interested in finding a long-term solution to keeping your closet tidy, save the pin below for later and read on.
Stop Storing Clothes in Piles
Stacking my clothes up in piles was one of the prime reasons my closet was becoming messy again.
Invariably, the piles would fall over, mix with each other, and create a royal cesspool of hell.
After a point, I felt I couldn’t be bothered to keep fixing it – making me perpetually pissy about finding anything.
What changed the game completely for me, was to file, instead of pile.
So what are the advantages of filing your clothes, over piling them?
Here’s a quick comparison:
| Storing Clothes in Pile System | Storing Clothes in File System |
|---|---|
| Piles topple when they get too tall | If folded well, clothes filed stay put |
| You take one out, the whole pile gets messy | Taking clothes out, even from the middle, does not impact the rest of the file |
| Takes up more space, especially for bulkier clothes like jeans | With proper folding and storage bins, much more compact |
So overall, it’s pretty clear that the file system works better to stop closet mess, and keep clutter away longer.
To make the best of this system, you’ll benefit from a few simple folding techniques and file-style organizers bins. I get into more detail on how to get the best out of this system, in my closet declutter guide.
Having said that, there are a few ways to make piles work. You can take the help of shelf dividers to keep the piles from mixing. Piles can also be a good option when you have a lot of vertical space, in that case you can use a stackable drawer organizer, or even add a hanging shelf.
Create Catch-all Storage Spots
One of the reasons for mess creeping up is when you start digging for stuff.
This happens very quickly if you are always looking for your frequently used accessories and clothes.
A simple way to avoid this is to have designated, catch-all spots. In my closet, I keep a basket handy, below my hung clothes where I store my everyday sunglasses and belts. I’ve also organized my jewelry in easy-to-grab trays, organized in my drawer.
You can even hang your everyday coats and umbrellas on a nifty closet door organizer.
The idea is to keep your frequently-used stuff always visible and easy to grab, so you stop the mess from accumulating in your closet – at the source.
Organizers are Your Friend
The great thing about adding bins, baskets and organizers, is that you don’t need to go pulling out stuff and creating a mess. You can simply pull out the whole bin or basket, without disrupting the rest of your tidy closet.
There is a variety of super-helpful and smart closet organizers available in the market today, like a pull-out shelf organizer that I used for my closet (above). These smartly help to stop closet mess and keep things looking neat. If you are unsure about which ones will actually fit your needs and your space – you can check out my tried and tested list of the best closet organizers.
Arrange According to Frequency Of Use
This again is a bit of a no-brainer, but sometimes, even though we know this, we haven’t really arranged our clothes around our lifestyle and space.
In my own closet, I have arranged most of my clothes around frequency of use. I have a lot of depth in my shelves so I’ve found a system that makes the most of this.
I’ve arranged two bins, which I slot, one in front of the other. The bin behind contains the clothes that are occasion-wear (those sparkly leggings that I’ll only ever wear at a party). The bins in the front are my everyday-wear things.
The best part about this system is that I can easily pull a whole bin out, fish out what I need and slot it back in, without creating any clutter.
Follow the One in, One Out Mantra
A simple way to keep your closet super-efficient and edited, is to keep in mind the one-in, one-out rule.
Every time you add something to your wardrobe, you give away something you don’t use as much anymore.
This has been very helpful for a serial-hoarder like me. And even though I’ve cheated sometimes, overall, the awareness to regularly purge has helped keep my closet streamlined and the clutter away.
But letting go of clothes is not particularly easy. And if that’s something that evokes complicated feelings of guilt and regret for you – I try to unravel this from a mental health standpoint and find a solution on how to let go of clothes without feeling guilty.
Make Putting Clothes Away a Ritual
Trust me, I’ve been guilty of dumping clothes back in my closet willy-nilly. While this has saved me time and energy in that moment, it actually contributes to me getting stressed with the mess of my own creation, later.
So I’ve learned the hard way, to keep the clothes back in their designated spots regularly.
What helped me was to keep a realistic schedule of doing this. I’m mostly exhausted on weekdays after work, but on weekends I try to start my day with keeping my clothes away, back in order.
Do what works for you. And then stick to it.
Curate and Edit a Capsule Wardrobe
One of the best ways to avoid future mess is to curate your current wardrobe. This doesn’t need to mean you get obsessive about having a 12 piece capsule wardrobe, and that you go shopping to create one, dumping everything else.
Start by focusing on what you already own. Identify a few timeless pieces that you already own, and declutter the clothes you never actually end up wearing.
We all have a few pairs of trusty denims, a few basic tees and blazers we keep coming back to. Make that the anchor-point of your wardrobe. And build combinations around it. Slowly you can build on the staples, and buy a few more basics if you need.
The advantage of having an edited, streamlined wardrobe is that you will no longer be foraging for what to wear. Not only will that improve your mood and declutter your mind, it will actually prevent your closet from quickly becoming messy. If you need help purging clothes from your wardrobe I’ve a handy list of things you can purge from your closet today.
And if you want a detailed guide on how to build a capsule wardrobe from scratch, check out this helpful video by Christina Mychas:
So those are a few simple steps that I find work well to keep closets from getting cluttered. What are your pet closet-clutter peeves, and what do you do to get around them? Would love to hear your ideas and thoughts, hit me up in the comments below!
