How to Declutter Your Closet in One Weekend

Your closet is not actually too small. You just have too much in it. If you struggle to find what you want to wear, if clothes are crammed together on the rod, or if you have items you have not worn in over a year, it is time to declutter.

This is not a Marie Kondo-style transformation that requires you to hold every item and ask if it sparks joy (though if that works for you, go for it). This is a practical, two-day approach that gets your closet from overwhelmed to organized by Sunday night.

Before You Start: Gather Supplies

You will need:

• Large garbage bags or boxes — at least 5 (labeled: donate, sell, toss, repair, and off-season storage)
• Matching hangers — if your closet has a mix of wire, plastic, and wooden hangers, now is the time to standardize. Slim velvet hangers maximize space.
• Storage bins for the top shelf or floor (clear bins are best so you can see contents)
• A full-length mirror or good lighting — you will be trying things on
• Good music or a podcast — this project takes focus but not deep thought

Saturday: The Great Sort (3-5 Hours)

Step 1: Empty the Entire Closet (30 Minutes)

Pull everything out. Everything. Clothes, shoes, bags, accessories, that box of random stuff on the top shelf. Pile it all on your bed or on the floor.

This serves two purposes: it forces you to see exactly how much you own, and it lets you clean the empty closet — vacuum the floor, wipe the shelves, dust the rod.

Step 2: Sort Into Categories (60-90 Minutes)

Go through every item and sort it into one of five piles:

Keep

Items that meet ALL of these criteria:

• You have worn it in the last 12 months (exceptions: formal wear, seasonal specialty items)
• It fits right now — not "when I lose 10 pounds" or "when it comes back in style"
• It is in good condition — no stains, holes, pilling, or broken zippers
• You feel good wearing it

Donate

• Items in good condition that you no longer wear or need
• Clothes that do not fit but are not damaged
• Duplicates — if you have 12 black t-shirts, you can donate 8 of them

Sell

• Higher-value items in excellent condition (designer brands, barely worn shoes, coats)
• Only put items here if you will actually follow through on listing them. Be honest with yourself — unsold items become clutter again.

Toss

• Stained, torn, or worn-out items that nobody would want
• Stretched-out underwear, holey socks, and bras that no longer fit or support
• Items with permanent odors or mildew

Repair

• Items you love that need a button, hem fix, or zipper replacement
• Only keep items here if you will take them to a tailor within two weeks. Otherwise, they go to donate or toss.

Step 3: Handle the "Maybe" Items

There will be items that are hard to decide on. For these, use the reverse hanger method:

• Hang the item in your closet with the hanger facing backward (hook opening toward you instead of away)
• Set a calendar reminder for 3 months from now
• When you wear the item, turn the hanger to the normal direction
• In 3 months, anything still on a backward hanger gets donated — you proved you do not actually wear it

Step 4: Remove the Piles (30 Minutes)

Before you go to bed Saturday night, get the donate and toss piles out of the house — or at minimum, out of the bedroom. Put donate items in your car trunk so you drop them off tomorrow. Bag the toss pile and put it in the trash. List sell items or commit to a date when you will.

If piles sit in your house, items migrate back into the closet.

Sunday: The Organization (2-4 Hours)

Step 5: Group Your Keep Pile

Before putting anything back, organize the keep items into logical groups. How you group depends on your lifestyle:

• By category: All shirts together, all pants together, all dresses together. This works for most people.
• By occasion: Work clothes, casual, exercise, formal. Good if you have very different dress codes for different parts of your life.
• By outfit: Some people prefer to hang complete outfits together. This saves time getting dressed but limits mixing and matching.

Step 6: Organize the Hanging Space

Use matching hangers for a uniform look and to maximize rod space. Arrange items by category, then by color within each category (light to dark). This is not just aesthetics — it makes finding items faster.

• Hang items by length — shorter items on one side, longer on the other. The space below shorter items is free for a second rod, shoe rack, or bins.
• Face all hangers the same direction — this creates visual order and makes the reverse hanger test work.
• Leave breathing room — if clothes are crammed, wrinkles form and you cannot see what you have. If the rod is too full after decluttering, you did not declutter enough.

Step 7: Organize Shelves and Drawers

• Top shelf: Items you rarely access — off-season clothes in bins, luggage, formal wear garment bags
• Eye-level shelves: Frequently worn folded items — jeans, sweaters, t-shirts
• Floor level: Shoes (use a shoe rack to keep them organized and visible)
• Drawers: Underwear, socks, accessories. Use drawer dividers to prevent the "messy drawer" effect.

Step 8: Accessories and Extras

• Hang belts and scarves on hooks on the closet door or wall
• Use a jewelry organizer for necklaces, bracelets, and earrings
• Store bags either on a shelf or hanging from hooks — do not stuff them into corners
• Keep sunglasses and hats in a designated spot

Maintaining Your Decluttered Closet

The One-In-One-Out Rule

Every time you bring home a new clothing item, one existing item leaves the closet. This is the single most effective habit for preventing closet creep.

Seasonal Review

At each season change, spend 30 minutes reviewing your closet. Pull out off-season items and store them. Check for items you have not worn all season and consider donating them.

Laundry Discipline

A decluttered closet falls apart fast if clean laundry piles up unfolded. Build a habit of putting clothes away the same day they come out of the dryer.

Enjoy the Space

A decluttered closet changes the way your mornings feel. You can see what you have, find what you need, and get dressed without frustration. Most people find they feel like they have more clothes after decluttering, not fewer, because everything is visible and accessible.

If the closet declutter inspires a bigger home organization push, pair it with a professional deep clean from Otesse. A freshly cleaned and decluttered home is one of the most satisfying feelings there is.