How to Declutter Your Wardrobe in 5 Steps

One of the best places to start your minimalist or simple living journey is to declutter your wardrobe. Depending on the size of your wardrobe it can be completed in a few hours or a weekend. Quick wins like that when decluttering keep the momentum going and help you strengthen your decluttering muscle. Here are my tips to make decluttering your wardrobe simple and stress-free.

Step 1: Take everything out and pile it together

This is one of the most useful tips I read in the “Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” by Marie Kondo. The visual impact of seeing all your clothing heaped into one spot can shocking, yet motivating when decluttering. Often, a big pile can bring up feelings of guilt or shame. You see this huge pile of clothes, many pieces you forgot about or don’t wear and then you think of all the money you’ve likely wasted. Trust me you’re not alone in those feelings!

Step 2: Start by pulling out the pieces you love and put them back in your closet

I find starting with picking up the pieces I love to be the easiest. I hang them back up in my closet. By doing it this you quickly pull together you wardrobe (or capsule wardrobe if you’re doing one). The visual impact of seeing just the pieces you love together makes it easier to decide when pieces from the remainder of your pile actually fit into your wardrobe cohesively.

Step 3: Discard the “no’s”

After you have pulled out all the pieces you love out the big pile of clothes on your bed, move onto “no’s.” These are pieces that you no longer love or use, don’t fit, and broken beyond repair. Add them to a pile to be donated if you can or recycled if they are beyond repair.

Step 4: Sort through the remainder of the pile, which is filled with “maybe’s”

The pile of clothing you now have in front of you should be all your “I don’t know’s.” This is usually the hardest part for many people when decluttering. I like to follow Marie Kondo’s plan by picking up a pieces are asking myself does it bring me joy? If the answer is yes, it goes back into my wardrobe. If I’m unsure I usually follow up with these questions…

Ask yourself these questions when decluttering your wardrobe:

1. Does this bring me joy (Marie Kondo style)?
2. Have I used it in the last year?
3. Will I actually use this in the next year?
4. Would I buy it again?
5. Does it fit me and if so do I feel good when wearing it?
6. Does it fit my current lifestyle?
7. Does this piece add value to my life and worth my time to maintain?

These 7 questions help me weed through my entire wardrobe and declutter it down to just the pieces I love and are practical for my lifestyle, fit me well and in my personal style.

Step 5: Donate, swap, sell or recycle

After you’ve sorted through your entire wardrobe you’ll likely be left with some items that need to be discarded. You have a few options. You can donate them to your local thrift store or donate spot for gently used clothes. Another option is to host a clothing swap with your friends and family.

A great way to make a little money from your gently used, but no longer wanted clothing is to sell it. I often start here and then what doesn’t sell after a few days or weeks, I simply donate. One of the easiest ways to sell you unwanted items is through thredUP! You can order a free clean-out kit to make getting rid of your unwanted items simple. Thanks to thredUP for sponsored the video below and this post!