Wardrobe Storage Mistakes
According to Jennifer Baumgartner; a psychologist, author and wardrobe consultant, clothes and how you store them are a reflection of your emotional state. Below are a few wardrobe storage mistakes that many wardrobe consultant experts agree upon:
Streamline
An overstuffed closet is a sign of compulsive shopping and refusal to let go of items that no longer fit or are out of style. Try hanging your clothing on the hangers, backwards. After a couple months, those that are left backwards can be donated or tossed. Keeping clothing that you rarely wear takes up space and can cause you to become overwhelmed when choosing and outfit. Keep a few occasion pieces though such as a formal outfit, dress, or other item that you know you need for specific events. Once you purge and toss any clothing items that are stained, old, torn, fit poorly, or you just don’t love and wear, what you are left with should be those you wear frequently and they should be properly taken care of.
To help you continuously purge and to keep your closet streamline, a good rule of thumb is to get rid of two older pieces of clothing you don not wear or love for every new item you purchase. You can also be sure, before you shop, that you don’t already own a similar item, unless it needs replacing. Shopping should also be intentional and well thought. This method will not only prevent your closet from getting cluttered in the future, but it will also help you consider every future clothing purchase as you move forward.
Hang it Up
Hangers are available in a variety of styles, sizes and shapes and it is recommended that you settle on one style. For instance, if you choose hangers with clasps for your pants, then all your pants should be hung using this hanger style so they will be easier to find and select at a glance. You can also select specific colors for different types of clothing, for example, shirts or blouses on white hangers and sweaters on black.
If your hangers are too small, shirts have a tendency to become wrinkles more quickly. Also, hangers that are different heights may make it more difficult to get clothes out of your closet as they can snag on each other. Also consider the material of the clothing you have; will it slide off of plastic hangers? Does the garment have hanger straps? Find and purchase hangers accordingly. The last think you want is a frustrated start to your morning due to clothes snagging on each other or falling off hangers.
More hanging tips
If you have two rods in your current closet, it is common practice to hang your folded pants on the bottom rod and your shirts and jackets on the top rod simply because this is the order that your clothes are worn. But…pants usually don’t hang as deep as shirts and jackets (which are shorter than folded pants). It is for this reason that pants should be hung on the top rod and your closet will also appear to be wider and more spacious. Consider the lengths and style of your clothing and hang them accordingly. If you don’t have two rods in your closet, but have the room to add a second rod, consider doing so. If you have only one, you can hang longer pieces of clothing closest to the wall and the shorter pieces to the middle.
Clothes should be hung together by type (for example: dresses, shirts, jackets, pants) and then categorized further by color or patter (solids and prints), whichever you prefer.
Not utilizing other storage spaces
If you have all your clothes in your closet (including off season items), you will quickly begin to despise and become overwhelmed with your closet every time you open the door. Every closet, no matter the size, will have some extra storage space, such as space near the top. For example, a simple shelf can be added to the top of the closet to store out of season clothes or small corner shelves can easily be added to store shoes and purses. If you don’t have extra storage, such as in a very small closet, or if you don’t have enough, consider storing off season clothing in air tight space bags or bins elsewhere.
Poor Visibility
“Out of sight – out of mind” is an old saying that is true for many situations, especially for wardrobe closets. It is for this reason that it is important that everything is kept in sight, so you can quickly see what you have and determine your outfit effectively and without desperation and chaos. Keep two sets of clothing, one for the warmer months and one for the cooler months, depending on the climate of where you live. Keep your light sweaters, scarves, and basics available with both sets of clothing. Changing out your sets shouldn’t include more than a couple coats, appropriate pairs of shoes, and accessories. For summertime, the obvious staples of swim/beach wear, shoes, hats, and shorts/skirts.
When storing your out of season clothing, try to keep it visible if you can, such as folded on shelving above your closet rod. Doing this will help you prevent double purchases of items you already own when seasons change and clothing sales are irresistible!