4 Practical Tips for Downsizing Your Closet

*This post may contain affiliate links* or products that have been sent to me for review. You can find out more in my Privacy and Cookie Policy*

This is a collaborative post

Many people dream of having a large collection of clothes, but having a huge closet isn’t all sunshine and roses. There are downsides to this, as having a lot of clothes can lead to clutter. Also, having too many clothing options can make it more difficult for you to decide what to wear.

Tired of having to deal with these issues, there are fashion-forward folks who periodically downsize their clothing collections. Doing this helps them free up space in their closets and makes it easier for them to decide what to wear for the day. Downsizing also allows them to get rid of unused clothes in such a way that they can help others or recoup the amount spent on the said clothing items. 

If you’re aiming to downsize your own closet in the near future, here are some practical tips to help you make this process faster, easier, and more organized:  

Completely Empty Your Closet and Box Your Seasonal Clothes

For some people, the process of downsizing can take several days, weeks, or even months. If you’re aiming to fast-track this process, the best way to go about it would be to dedicate a day or a weekend to the task and begin by completely emptying your closet. If you want to be a bit more organized, you can start with one section, such as your office clothes. Get everything from that section out of your wardrobe, then slowly put the items back in if they deserve the space in your closet. If they don’t, add them to your “donate” or “dispose of” pile. 

There may be clothes that you’re not wearing right now because they’re out of season. If you’re downsizing in the middle of summer, these can include a down jacket or a pair of women’s tights that you typically wear during the winter. Stash these in a box and deal with them later. Next, put your clothes for the current season back into the cabinet and place the items that you use regularly front and centre. This will make it easier for you to see them when you’re deciding what to wear. 

Inspect the Clothes You Regularly Wear for Damage 

One of the trickiest parts of downsizing is determining which clothes should stay in your collection and which shouldn’t. There are a few ways that you can go about this. The first, of course, would be to choose the clothes that you wear on a regular basis. These should stay, and they deserve space in your closet. But before you put them back in your cabinet, check them for damage. If these items have incurred wear and tear due to regular use, repair the damage or look into replacing the affected items. 

Remember, too, that even clothes that are rarely worn can get damaged. Check if such items can still be repaired so that they can be donated to others or sold at a low price. If they no longer serve their original purpose, see if they can be recycled. You can turn old clothes into rags or quilts, for instance. Finally, clothes that are beyond saving can be donated to clothing recycling programs or disposed of properly. 

Check If an Item Still Fits You, and Get Rid of It If It Doesn’t

A lot of people hold on to nice clothes that no longer fit them because they feel it’s a waste to just get rid of these pieces. Still, there are others who can’t part with ill-fitting clothes because they are holding on to the hopes of fitting into them like before. If you’re pressed for closet space, though, clothes that are too small or too big for you should be the first to go. Understand that your clothes are made for the body and not the other way around. It’s best to reallocate the space that these clothes take up to pieces that will actually serve you. 

If the items that no longer fit you are still in good condition, consider selling them to other people so that you can get your money back. Perhaps the profits from the sale can be used to purchase the same style of clothes in the right size. Alternatively, you can use the money to buy clothes that are more reflective of your current personal style. 

Get to Know Your Style and Use Your Current Clothing Collection as a Reference for New Purchases

Speaking of, your style of clothing can change from time to time. Perhaps your style has shifted significantly in the past year or so, which is part of the reason why you’re not wearing your other clothes as often as you did in the past.

The items that are still in your closet at this point can give you a good idea of how much your sense of style has changed over time. Perhaps you used to wear jeans and hoodies all the time, but now, your wardrobe mostly consists of dresses or T-shirts and leggings. Understanding your current taste in clothing can help you become more conscious of the criteria you use to pick your clothes for the day. 

This, in turn, will help you choose clothes that will complement your wardrobe in the future. The next time you go clothes shopping, think about what your downsized wardrobe looks like. Instead of just buying clothes or accessories that fit your fancy, you can actually check if the said item fits the theme or overarching aesthetic that you’ve achieved for your clothes at home. If the item you want to buy matches your current set of clothes, then there’s a good chance that it’ll be worth its cost and you’ll be able to wear it regularly. 

Downsizing your closet may be a challenging task, but you can complete this undertaking more quickly by following the suggestions above. Remember that as your needs and style choices change, your wardrobe should also change—all for the purpose of keeping up with you and better reflecting who you are today.