Woo! Let’s get started!
1. Do a Massive Purge.
For someone who loves shopping, collecting and generally subscribes to a #moreismore attitude, I VERY MUCH enjoy a good purging session. It’s so satisfying!
Before you spend a bunch of time organizing your things, make sure you aren’t holding onto ANYTHING you don’t love. Closet purges are my favorite. Every season or two I like to try on all my clothes and toss anything that doesn’t fit, doesn’t flatter or doesn’t make me at least feel cute into a big pile. Sometimes I’ll sell the good stuff in a closet sale, sometimes I’ll let friends rummage through it (they LOVE it), and sometimes I’ll just fill a couple bags for Goodwill. Bye!
Letting go of what you don’t love allows you to focus more on the things you do. You’ll reach for the right stuff more in your less cluttered closet!
2. Implement Open Storage Solutions.
I am definitely an open storage enthusiast. If I hide things away, like jewelry, shoes or scarves, I’ll forget I own them and stop wearing them. So as much as possible, I try to keep the things I want to be wearing daily in my eyesight!
Here are couple solutions from my closet that help me keep my things where I can SEE them!
Maybe this is common sense to you, but for whatever reason, I have always struggled with keeping to this!
Try storing all your scarves together, all your flare pins together, all your heels together. This makes seeing the options at hand 1000x quicker and easier!
There are tons of creative ways to label things! Try labeling clear containers with paint pens or labeling drawers with hand painted lettering or using instant photos as labels. The ideas are endless.
And for those of you who want something quick, easy and handwriting free—a label maker is an obvious choice!
Get more info about the DYMO MobileLabeler here.
See how pretty my labeled closet bins look??
No matter how big or small your space, there are areas you can optimize with extra storage!
Hope you enjoyed this post! Let me know if you have any questions about my set up OR any suggestions for ways I can improve it further. I always love hearing your ideas! xx -Elsie
Credits//Author: Elsie Larson, Photography: Elsie Larson and Collin Dupree. Photos edited with A Beautiful Mess actions.
41 Comments
Amazing tips! I’m definitely gonna be following them, thanks!
I love that little cactus holding your bracelets! x
Jessica — NinetyCo
The DYMO makes me miss my label maker from back when I was in primary school – except it looks so much more chic!
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
…my personal favourite way to organise is to cover over any out of season items so that only what is current can be seen. I use those white, scented garbage bags you would use in your kitchen bin: simply snip a small cut in the center of the base of each sack so that the hanger hook can pass through + and pull down the bag over your items.
Not only does this eliminate visual clutter but is stops things from getting dusty in storage.
Have fun!
Thank you! You can find them vintage on eBay and Etsy!
xx- Elsie
Awesome- thank you Marta!
xx- Elsie
Great tip!
xx- Elsie
Me too! I’ve always had the old school ones that click before!
xx- Elsie
Love this post! Very inspiring to get me going to organize my closet.
Edwige | http://www.hypnozglam.com
Love this post, totally!!
Keeping and organized closet is one of the hardest things! I love these ideas, specially the labels!
http://thatsmagsforyou.com
…you’re welcome! Larger black sacks can be used the same way for heavy coats + winter gear too 😉
xo, B
Yes, I sooo love purging. I’ve purged so much I don’t have anything left to purge, so I go to friends’ houses to help them purge. One of the big things that has helped me from having to keep purging over and over and to keep me organized in general is to stop consuming without seriously considering whether or not I really need the item, or if I could better spend the money on something more important. Different people have different desires and needs, so this will look different for different people. For me, it means having a smaller amount of quality basics with some fun accessories and accent pieces. I avoid fast fashion, both because of quality issues, and, most importantly, because of ethical issues. Additionally, I try to keep spending on personal items in check so I can spend on others who don’t even have their basic needs met. Again, spending is a personal issue, so there is a lot of gray area here and one must personally decide what they are comfortable with. Aesthetics are important, too, including one’s personal aesthetic as expressed through clothing! 🙂 I also really appreciate that you girls have posted recently about charities that help those in need in Syria, and that you have done food drives and projects for Habitat for Humanity. Way to use your visibility to remind people to give back to others! 🙂
I so love this! I have recently purged. But only the hanging things in my wardrobe – I still have to go through jumpers and I just know there are drawers full of things I no longer wear!
P.S I love your shoes.
I love the feeling after purging my closet. It feels like i’ve hit refresh on my wardrobe =o) Great tips!
https://dreamofadventures.blogspot.com
I’ve recently taken unworn (some with tags) clothes to a local family centre for a clothes swap, it has made a big difference to my closet. I agree with things being on show, especially shoes. I found a pair of boots I had forgotten about so am planning similar shoe storage to what you have. ps….I think we had a Dymo label maker in the 70’s, looks like they’ve come a long way.
I so need to get rid of things http://www.likehanna.com
These are some great ideas, I guess I do have to do another purge at the beginning of next year to make some room. The idea with the labels is awesome!
https://www.makeandmess.com/
The cactus jewelry holder is so cute. I want one. I love organization and anything that helps me keep my life organize. So I had to look up the DYMO MobileLabeler and $129.99 for a label maker. That’s crazy!
Very nice tips! thank!
I am the exact same way with my closet – if i can’t see something, I won’t use it. I just recently got all matching bins and a hanging organizer from Ikea and now I feel like a proper adult 🙂
I just love your shoe sidetable! It looks great
These are indeed helpful tips. For someone so unorganized like me, I really need to implement all the points. What I usually do is de-clutter all the things that I don’t really need anymore. Great post. 😀
beforbeauty.com
Great post as always! Organizing your closet can get so tricky!(nostalgic)…I have a similar post on my blog with closet organizing tips that you might find useful, maybe you can check it out! I need to get my hands on that label printer!
XX -Kaylee K
Great tips! Thanks for sharing 🙂
http://www.memoriesandmacchiatos.com
There is nothing that brings me more joy then an organized closet!
http://www.shopthecoconutroom.com
Your star headband is gorgeous!!! Would you mind sharing where it’s from?
Also, I’m in the middle of a big closet purge, and I find your tips extremely helpful! However, I’m pregnant (yay!) and finding that I have to stop mid-purge because I can no longer tell if something doesn’t fit cause it doesn’t fit, or because of how my body is changing… 😉
Ok, now I have to know. Which Target side table is that? I’m looking for a similar solution for our closet 🙂
I love cleaning out my closet. I usually do it at the beginning of every season. I really need a Dymo label maker! I used to use one at one of my old jobs all the time but I need one for personal use.
baby? hint
Nice tips, but I’m disappointed that the post seems to encourage buying a bunch of clothes and throwing them away- it has a horrible impact on the environment and goodwill can’t keep up, so encouraging this is irresponsible,
Would love to see a post about how you can balance ‘more is more’ whilst being ethical,
Thanks!
Nope. That is not at all what I said. 🙂 I specifically said that what I do with my clothes when I clean them out and it’s definitely not “throwing them away”. I can always use a challenge to do better, but please don’t put words into my mouth. :)) Thanks! Elsie
We announced this month that we are adopting a baby! 🙂
-Elsie
I found it this month in the aisle with all the holiday stuff!
xx- Elsie
It’s from Nasty Gal.
xx- Elsie
Loving the organization of it all. The boyfriend wouldn’t go for it but so my style. Thank you for sharing.
http://www.throughmyowneyes.com
Tasks like this are necessary but always feel overwhelming to me- and I’m sure I’m not alone! This post is inspiring and do-able, thank you Elsie! -And if I might ask, where is that awesome stackable jewellery box from?- I’ve been looking for something similar for ages? xx
I love the glass container to the left of the cactus jewellery tree. Where did you find it?
Where did you get those cool white bins from? Thanks!
I am way late to this post, just saw it referenced on buzzfeed. Would you mind sharing where you get your clogs? They’re all fabulous, but holy beck, the pink maryjanes?! Amazing. And the red woven?! I’m in the restaurant biz and love a new clog style. Thank you ❤️
Thank you! They are from Swedish Hasbeens. xx