Did you know that most people only wear about twenty percent of the clothing in their wardrobes?
That is a staggering amount of clothing going unworn and a lot of money that could have been saved or spent on things they would actually use!
Since minimalism is a movement that has well surpassed “trend” and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, it’s worth exploring if it could work for you, not only in your closets but the rest of your home as well.
There are many tips out there for decluttering and cleaning out your home, but let’s focus on your closet.
After all, you may have been thinking it’s time to do a closet reno, and these tips could stop you from needing one or inspire your renovation in another direction.
1. Start On Sight
While some minimalists might encourage you to go through every dresser drawer and closet and try on every item, this step is unnecessary. It can be skipped altogether for most people. It’s likely, you know, based solely on sight, plenty of items that no longer serve you.
So, open up those drawers, and with a box or trash bag at your side, start tossing in things that no longer fit, are out of style, or you have never worn.
It’s a good idea to have a separate container for items that aren’t in good enough condition to donate or sell – so socks with holes, t-shirts, or other clothes with permanent stains – they can all go in the “recycle” bin.
2. Dig A Little Deeper
After you’ve gotten rid of everything that is beyond repair from your closet and dressers, set that “recycle” container aside. There are several places where you can take textiles in such a state to be recycled – H&M, for example, always has drop boxes for textile recycling.
Now it’s time to dig a little deeper and see what else doesn’t make the cut.
During this phase, take a hard look at everything you haven’t worn in the last several months. Ask yourself if it’s an item you bought on impulse for your “fantasy self” or something you know you’ll never wear.
Many of us even have garments with tags still attached. Depending on the state of the garments, you can set them aside to be sold on popular selling platforms like Poshmark or Depop, or you can donate them if you don’t have the time or desire to list them.
3. Ditch The Duplicates
Unless you’re into uniform dressing, duplicates are unnecessary and take up a lot of space in your closet. Instead of four pairs of black pants, hang on to your favorite pair of ponte pants and sell or donate the rest.
Keep only what is most flattering on you, and you reach for first when getting dressed every day when it comes to duplicates. Freeing up this space in your closet helps esthetically and reduces decision fatigue when trying to decide what to wear each morning.
Let’s face it; we’ve all got a lot on our plates, so eliminating the mental clutter along with the physical is a great benefit.
4. Cash In
While some people don’t have the time or the drive to take photos and post listings of the clothing they’ve let go of after minimizing their closet, it can help relieve some feelings of financial guilt.
You spent your hard-earned money on these belongings, and now you’re giving them up. Sure, the freeing feeling is priceless, but if you have the time, it’s worth utilizing resale apps to try and recoup some of that lost money.
Make sure you set deadlines to sell, though; give yourself a short window (a month, for example) if the item doesn’t sell – donate it or give it to someone you know would use it.
While you may decorate the rest of your house as a maximalist, keeping a more minimalist approach when it comes to your closet is a healthy idea for not only your mental state but your wallet too.
When you start paying attention to what you wear and how much money you spend on items you never even wore, it can make you less likely to impulse shop on clothing moving forward.
That can add up to some serious financial freedom or savings for renovations or redecorating you’ve been dreaming of but felt financially out of reach.
Happy cleaning!
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