We are working our way through our homes in this block of 52 weeks to simplify your life. So far we have conducted a home audit and decluttered our “stuff”. This week we are going to tackle all the clothes and accessories in our homes – yours, mine and theirs. Start with yours and then make plans to tackle the wardrobes of any children you may have at home and your other half if you have one and they are willing and invested in this process.
I already wrote a very thorough post (Get rid of your old undies once and for all) last November so will only recap it here – please go and read it in full. I assure you if you follow the steps and are honest you will cull your clothes.
5 steps to declutter your wardrobe
1. Sort “like with like” so that you can clearly see what you own (if you don’t currently maintain a sorted wardrobe / drawers).
2. Get rid of items that belong in the trash – if you would be embarrassed to pass it on to a close friend, or a charity shop would reject it, let-it-go.
3. Assess what you have left to see what you have too much of or need to replenish thanks to a good purge (ie if you finally got rid of your bras that were horrible you will probably need to go bra shopping now).
4. Ask yourself hard questions (listed in that post above) about what remains to see if it really deserves space in your closet or drawers.
5. Fill in the gaps to intentionally create your new wardrobe that you will use and love.
Challenge this week: Go through the above process with your clothing and accessories so that the wardrobe you are left with is one that serves you well. Getting dressed will be easier as you know what you have and know that it fits, makes you feel good and matches your needs. Make a list of items you need to replace or look out for so that when you do shop you are bringing home things you need and want rather than more of what you just let go of.
Bonus challenge: Do the same for your children and bring your spouse / other half on board if they are willing. You cannot do this for your spouse (unless they give you carte blanche), but can lead by example and involve them in the process.
Is this process easy or hard for you? Do you regularly purge your wardrobe or do you tend to keep things forever?
Find your simple,
Deb
Link up for week 22 (or any week of SYL):
photo credit: Tidy wardrobe by flickr user Magnus d
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m a regular purger but this is a timely reminder for me as I have three bags of clothes sitting in various closets and I really just need to pop them in the car and take them to a charity!
kirri recently posted..The importance of relationships
Amazing how that last step can sometimes take a while (i drove around with purged kid’s books for 3 weeks until we dropped them at the doctor’s office for their waiting room)
Debra Dane recently posted..Top 10 tips to declutter your bookshelf
Oh yes, this is on my list of things to declutter – mine, and the 2 kids….
Bec S recently posted..Life challange – week 22 – declutter
You can do it bec – feels so good when it is done.
Debra Dane recently posted..More is not necessarily better
Deb am I the only person who cant see where to link up! I’m finally ready to go after 4 weeks and I cant see the Linky!
Thanks off to tackle my wardrobe!
Annaleis x
Annaleis Topham recently posted..{SYL12} Routines/Home Audit/Decluttering
Thank you so much for pointing it out – somehow none of my revisions saved (including adding the linky). Have updated it and now off to find my photo source again. Got to love technology!
Debra Dane recently posted..Creative Ways to encourage kids to try new foods
That’s ok just thought it might have been me! Thankyou!
Annaleis Topham recently posted..{SYL12} Routines/Home Audit/Decluttering
Read this post this morning but wouldn’t allow myself to comment until I had actually done something! So, you guessed it, I did something. I have been buying new underwear these past few weeks, yet kept wearing the old ones, so my little challenge came from your title of the linked post ‘get rid of your old undies once and for all’, and so, they are gone. All gone! Thank you for the kick in the butt!
Simply Kate/My Dear Angel recently posted..Beautiful, like a rainbow
missed your comment Kate – so funny about the keeping the old along with the new – i think we have all been there (just a few more wears…they’re not THAT bad etc) yay to “all gone”
Debra Dane recently posted..Letting go
I am a pretty regular purger and I have been really working on only buying things that I love in recent times. That said, I usually give it a good go every Spring and Autumn, and that time is now! Seeing as my body has changed a lot in the past 4 years (2 pregnancies) I think I have a fair bit of too big clothes that need to go.
I like the idea of having three awesome outfits in the wardrobe ready to go. I don’t like spending too much time deciding what to wear, a case of being paralysed by too many choices…
Lee recently posted..Peace out, clear out.
Too many choices is a big issue for many of us – better to have fewer options but like them all right?
Debra Dane recently posted..10 Tips to simplify your email
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