Declutter your wardrobe in 5 simple steps

Struggling to squeeze new items into your wardrobe? It sounds like you need to declutter. Say goodbye to that holey t-shirt you’ve been clinging onto for years, whittle down your huge collection of jeans and start organising your items to make outfit planning easier than ever before. Discover how to declutter your wardrobe like a pro in just five easy steps today with Space Station.

1. Donate, sell or recycle unwanted items

The aim of decluttering is to ensure every item in your wardrobe has a purpose. So, before you make a start on organising your clothing, your first step should be focused around identifying unwanted items that are currently taking up precious retail space in your wardrobe.

Depending on just how much you own – and when you last had a clear out – this step might take a while (but it’s worth it, trust us). Leave the items you want to keep in your wardrobe, and create two other piles: one for items you definitely don’t want, and another for items you’re undecided on.

When it comes to clothing you don’t want to keep, you have a few options. If the items are in good condition, you could try to sell them on sites such as eBay or Depop, or even pass them on to friends and family. Alternatively, you could donate to a good cause, and drop off your clothing at a clothing bank or charity such as Oxfam.

A number of retailers, like & Other Stories, H&M and M&S, also offer recycling schemes. You’ll even receive a discount or voucher to spend in store as a thank you for doing your bit for the environment and recycling with them.

As for your uncertain pile, put it to one side for now – we’ll come back to it in a minute.

2. Locate your basics

Basics, such as plain white t-shirts and jeans, are essential no matter what the season is. But you only need so many. It can be easy to hoard items like this, so grab those year-round staples and start narrowing down your selection.

Owning 10 black vests, for example, really isn’t necessary, so pick out your favourites and remove any items that are showing signs of discolouration or serious wear and tear. Think about how often you reach for certain basics too – if you never wear a particular item because of an unflattering fit, add it to your donation pile!

3. Sort by season and occasion

It’s time to start creating some serious space in your wardrobe! One super easy way to do this is organising by season: think about the current climate, and remove anything you definitely won’t be able to wear for a few months.

For example, if it’s currently summer, you certainly won’t be needing your puffer coats, scarves and turtleneck jumpers. Pack your winter clothes away, either in boxes or any spare suitcases, and find somewhere in your home to store them. The same goes for occasion wear – evening dresses and suits for weddings can take up a lot of room, but will only be needed once or twice a year. Consider buying a few high-quality garment bags for protection before moving your occasion wear into storage.

Struggling to find space? If your loft is full, or you’re living in an apartment that’s short on storage, then consider renting out a small storage unit. Here at Space Station, we offer humidity-controlled storage units in a range of sizes for a low, monthly cost. We’ll even pick up your items for free, thanks to our handy removal service!

4. Get organised

After all that decluttering, you should now be left with a wardrobe tailored to your current style. The next step is to make sure everything in your wardrobe is accessible, and organised in a way that makes putting items together as easy as possible.

Here are a few wardrobe-organisation tips you might want to consider:

  • Fold bulkier items that don’t crease easily, such as jeans and jumpers, and place them into drawers or built-in shelves inside your wardrobe.
  • Hang clothing by colour, type or hang up ready-made outfits. Think about how you approach your wardrobe every morning, and organise in a way that works for you.
  • Invest in space-saving solutions: consider an over-the-door organiser for accessories and shoes, or pick up a specialised tie-hanger that can double up as a savvy belt holder too!
  • Make the most of the space available at the bottom of your wardrobe. Buy baskets/clear boxes, and place bags and shoes, or even gym wear here.

Revisit your ‘maybe’ pile

By now, you should have one seriously streamlined, organised wardrobe. But you have one task left – to go through your ‘maybe’ pile created in the first step.

We’ve left this until last, because by now you’ll have a much clearer understanding of what your wardrobe is lacking. Go through each item, and ask yourself the following questions:

  • Does it fit?
  • Do you feel good when you wear it?
  • Have you worn it in the last year?
  • Is there a place for it in your current wardrobe?

If you answer ‘No’ to any of these questions, make sure you add it to the other pile and give it a second lease of life by selling or donating it instead.

Want to continue decluttering your home, but worried about running out of storage space? Don’t forget, you can safely store clothing, furniture and so much more in our specialised storage units – click here to get a quote with Space Station today.