How is it time for this already?!
Welcoming in Another Change of Season
Somehow we are sliding into September. Yeah, it hurts to say that. Looking at the post to the right (lol), which season do you think Columbus is currently in? These 95 degree days have me thinking Second Summer but I feel like September might have some more hot days. So maybe still just summer? *Fingers crossed* Do you agree? Even if we’re still basking in that summer sun, the official start of the fall season is a little less than a month away. Once the air turns to a consistent chill, here in Central Ohio we’ll all be trading our t-shirts for sweaters. I don’t know about you, but I don’t currently have any of my sweaters, long-sleeve shirts, or jeans in my primary closet. Soon, though, I’ll be changing that using the Seasonal Wardrobe Swaps method.
Closet Clutter Stress is Kind of Universal
Not to be dramatic, but do you dread opening your closet? Maybe you feel overwhelmed by the amount of stuff in there, the fact that your items are just jumbled together, the way you can’t find what you’re looking for, just the general lack of organization, or a mix of these! If so, you’re not alone! The infographic below shows just how many people can relate with bedroom and clothing clutter.
Source: Joybird
According to the Joybird survey, the most cluttered room in peoples’ homes are bedrooms! If I had to guess, I would say closets play a major part in that clutter. In addition, the top source of clutter in people’s homes is clothes! Clothing is a difficult category to keep organized, since it’s common to bring new clothing into the home often. But if you don’t have a solid organizational system for all of your clothes from the start, your dresser and closet can get out of control fast. If your closet is causing you stress, decluttering and establishing a functional organizational system tailored to your lifestyle will make you feel so much better.
Keep Your Closet Dialed Into the Current Season
It’s important to maintain easy access to the clothes and accessories that you actually want to be wearing for the current season. If you’re a person who stores all your clothes together all the time, consider this: In the summer it’s not the most practical idea to keep your heavy wool sweaters and boots next to your tank tops. Your primary closet is prime real estate and should be used as such! I believe that you should be able to reach into your closet and (for the most part) be able to wear whatever you grab. This helps minimize stress because your closet is, essentially, decluttered all year. Any clothes that are out of season should be washed and then properly stored away to wait on you for next year.
Set Yourself Up for Success with a Decluttered and Organized Closet
If you’re interested in developing a really organized closet, I recommend starting by decluttering. Pull out all your clothes (hellooo, clothes mountain!) and decide what you want to keep. As you’re doing this, place the clothes that you want to keep into a couple piles: in-season and out-of-season. The in-season clothes are clothes that you could wear today (today’s 95 degree day called for a tank!) and the out-of-season, for a few months down the road.
Once you have everything sorted, look at how many clothes you have in the out-of-season pile. Think about where you could store this amount of clothing until you need them next season. Maybe a guest room closet, the basement, vacuum sealed under the bed, a hall closet, or another closet in your room. Go ahead and move those clothes to their new temporary home.
Now you can focus on organizing the clothes you want to be able to access daily. Create an organization plan for them that is highly functional for your lifestyle AND easy to maintain! Then get to work folding, hanging, and placing your clothes in their new, intentional home. Make sure you leave some breathing room as you’re organized to allow for some new clothing to enter the picture. Enjoy your organized closet!
So How, Exactly, Do You Execute Seasonal Wardrobe Swaps?
When you feel that nip in the air it’s time to take action! Set aside a couple hours for this so you don’t need to rush through. You’re going to pull all your clothes out (again!) and decide if you want to get rid of anything. Are there some items that you honestly hardly wore at all, didn’t feel comfortable in, or are in bad shape now that the season is coming to an end? Take this opportunity to say goodbye and donate or recycle if you can.
Then, fold or set these aside, and bring in your *new* current season clothes than have been in storage! Since your closet is currently (hopefully) empty you can choose how you want to place or hang your items. KNOW your inventory and get organized as the seasons are changing. This also helps you identify if there are any key items that you should think about buying for an upcoming season, like a new coat, boots, sandals, etc.
The Many Advantages of SWS
Seasonal Wardrobe Swaps are a way for you to keep tabs on your clothing inventory throughout the year. There are other advantages to them, as well. They help you keep less items in your daily closet so it appears less cluttered. In addition, keeping only what you could actually wear for the current season in your closet can help you feel less overwhelmed when getting ready. Swaps allow you to assess the quality of your items more regularly so you’re less likely to let unworn clothes pile up. Seasonal Wardrobe Swaps also help you maintain your organizational systems in your bedroom! They take some effort but are so worth it. I’ve been doing them for years and am always so happy once I’ve completed a swap.
Let Me Help You!
If this is something you’re interested in but don’t want to complete yourself, thank goodness you’re here because I would love to do it for you! Organizing is my passion. I love to see people’s lives changed for the better through it.
