With the rising popularity of minimalism and Marie Kondo, more and more people are starting to declutter their homes and live lighter lives. Marie Kondo, the woman responsible for changing the way people declutter, is especially prominent during this time of the year—as many people turn to decluttering to start fresh and leave behind old baggage.
Decluttering your wardrobe might seem like a challenging task, but you’d be surprised how effortless it makes getting ready in the morning. To relieve stress and start anew in 2020, here’s how to Marie Kondo your wardrobe.
Break Down Your Clutter
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Marie Kondo recommends taking decluttering one step at a time. To avoid feeling overwhelmed, start by breaking down your clutter into separate categories. Take everything out of your closet and drawers and start categorizing items into “shirts,“ “shoes,“ and so on.
When you finish, compile everything that doesn’t fit into a category. It might seem like you’re making a bigger mess at this point, but it’s just part of the process.
The “Spark Joy“ Test
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Removing all of the clutter from your closet and drawers will show you how many pieces you actually own. The “spark joy“ test will help you cut down on clothes and decide which pieces are worth keeping. Marie Kondo recommends picking up each item individually, holding it close, and asking yourself whether it “sparks joy.“
Does your old high school class shirt make you happy, or is it too small to ever wear again? If the answer is the latter, thank your shirt for its service before placing it in the “discard“ pile.
Don’t Get Nostalgic
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As you use the “spark joy“ test on each piece of your wardrobe, you might start feeling sentimental. Sure, your friend gave you that shirt for your birthday, but you haven’t worn it since. And even though you love your marching band shirt, it has too many holes in it to ever wear.
Although old pieces might still “spark joy,“ it’s important not to let nostalgia cloud your judgment. If you find yourself feeling sentimental, taking pictures of old pieces will give you something to remember them by before placing them in the “discard“ pile.
The Folding Technique
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Do you attempt to organize all your clothes, but end up messing everything up when you can’t find the top you want to wear? The KonMari folding technique, which involves vertically folding pieces so that they stand up on their own, makes it easier to find clothes and fight clutter. To find out how to perfect the KonMari folding technique, click here.
Hanging Clothes
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Mario Kondo recommends hanging clothes so that they rise to the right. In other words, try hanging your heaviest pieces (long coats, dark shirts, or thick pants) at the left side of your wardrobe and hanging the lighter pieces to the light. Organizing your pieces from heavy to light is visually appealing, and you’ll know exactly where to find what you’re looking for in the morning.
After decluttering, there should be breathing room between your pieces. According to Kondo, everything in your wardrobe should have a home. So if you’re working with limited space, consider investing in a wardrobe from Stegbar. Stegbar’s wardrobes are designed and curated with individual style and expression in mind. And with customizable Galleria wardrobes, you’ll be able to create a beautiful, functional wardrobe to optimize your space.
If your wardrobe starts feeling empty after decluttering, it might be tempting to go shopping for new pieces. Minimalist experts recommend investing in high-quality, traditional pieces that serve multiple purposes, like the pieces from INHABIT. Investing in classic pieces means you’ll end up spending less money and accumulating less clutter over time.*
