time for summer cleaning

Am I the only one that loves cleaning closets??? I guess it's the feeling of accomplishment when you walk in and know just were everything is at your fingertips. There are tons of post, pins, and opinions on how to best clean your closest.

1. Get in the mood. This will take awhile so get into some comfy clothes, crank up the music, and dive in.
2. Be prepared. Gather a box (or two or three) for things to sell, donate, or trash. Clean out a space to put things as you begin sorting- I tend to use my bed as a staging area. 
3. Be mentally prepared too. Remember they're just clothing- if you haven't worn it in over a year, it doesn't fit, or just isn't your style any more- toss it. You can do it.
4. Now that you're prepped, pick a spot to begin. I usually start in the closet with all the folded items. It looks like a mess at first..... a towering pile of t-shirts, knits, and tops across the bed.
5. Take a good look at each item and ask yourself: is it in good condition?, does the item need to be laundered or mended?, when did I last where this item? (if you pull it out and wonder where or when it came from it's a toss). 
6. If it passes the first test, it's time for the fit test. I typically put all the possible "keeps" together and then try them all on at once. Here comes the big moment, try it on, take a good look in a full length mirror, and be honest- if don't love the way you look in it- it's got to go! Life's too short to hoard clothes that don't make you look and feel fabulous.
7. Anything that makes it through Round 2 is neatly folded or hung and sorted- ready to go back in the closet- but not quite yet.
8. Before you begin to reload that closet, take the time to clean up the space- vacuum the floor boards, dust anything that needs it, and take a look around. Are there other items that shouldn't be in there- relocate them to their rightful place.
9.  A place for everything & everything in it's place. Now's the time to think about organizational tools that you may be lacking. Begin by best utilizing the storage options that you have in place. Stack frequently used items front and center on open shelving. I love the modular systems available from the Container Store and big box stores like Lowe's. They offer you tons of flexibility to custom fit your needs. Keep like items together- it sounds simple but keeping your solid tees together, printed tees in another pile, etc. makes getting the perfect outfit together much simpler. Think about your favorite stores and how they are organized- use that as your inspiration. If you need a specialty storage solution for a particular item, make a list for your next trip out to pick them up at the same time.
10. Reload-  Now that you decided which items make the grade, it's time to put it back together. Make sure to think about how you get dressed each day and structure your area to fit your needs. Store off season items out of the way. 
11. Enjoy! Sit back, have a glass of wine and celebrate your accomplishments.

Next up- filling the void- finding those pieces that your {im}perfect wardrobe is missing. Also, perking up that recently re-organized closet to making it your dressing room dream.