7 Life-Changing Tips on How to Declutter a Closet

Introduction

If you’ve ever opened your closet and felt like it was judging you, you’re not alone.

I can’t tell you how many mornings I’ve stood in front of my overflowing closet, whispering, “I have nothing to wear,” while staring at 200 options. Clothes I hadn’t worn in years, shoes that hurt my feet, and “someday” outfits were packed in so tightly that getting dressed felt like a battle.

Learning how to declutter a closet changed that for me. It wasn’t just about making space—it was about making peace with my stuff, my body, and my season of life. If you’re nodding along right now, this post is for you.

Today, I’ll walk you through 7 life-changing tips on how to declutter a closet without getting overwhelmed. Along the way, I’ll share the mistakes I made, the tricks that worked, and the mindset shifts that made it stick.

And yes—there are a few affiliate links here. They’re all products I’ve used or recommend because they truly help simplify the process. But you don’t have to have them to have a beautifully organized closet!

Ready? Let’s open that closet door together.

1. Face the Truth Before You Start

The first step in how to declutter a closet is admitting what’s really happening in there. For me, that meant facing:

• Jeans I swore I’d fit back into someday.

• Dresses with tags still attached.

• Just WAY too many shoes.

Sound familiar?

Here’s the truth: closets are emotional. They hold our past selves, our regrets, our dreams, and sometimes our guilt. If you’ve been avoiding your closet, it’s probably not because you’re lazy—it’s because it feels heavy.

💡 Tip: Before you touch a hanger, give yourself permission to let go of anything that doesn’t serve your life today. You’re not failing; you’re making room for peace.

✨ Related reading: 7 Reasons My House Is Still Sometimes Cluttered

2. Take Everything Out

Here’s the thing about how to declutter a closet: if you only pull out a few things at a time, you’ll end up shuffling clothes around instead of truly decluttering. That’s why step two is so powerful—you have to empty the whole closet.

I remember the first time I tried this. Honestly? It was overwhelming. Clothes were piled on my bed, shoes lined the hallway, and purses were spilling onto the floor. For a moment, I panicked. But here’s what I realized: when everything is out in the open, there’s no hiding from the truth.

The jeans I hadn’t worn in three years? Right there staring at me.
The blazers I thought I “might” wear again? Suddenly looked dated and unnecessary.
The mountain of scarves? Let’s just say no one needs 17 scarves.

By pulling everything out, you’re forced to see the reality of your closet. And that moment of truth is what gives you the motivation to finally make lasting changes.

Why This Step Works

• Clarity. It’s easier to spot duplicates (like five pairs of black pants) when they’re all laid out.

• Momentum. The empty closet motivates you to be choosy. You don’t want to fill it back up with clutter.

• Fresh start. Wiping the slate clean lets you put things back with intention, not by default.

How to Make It Manageable

If emptying your closet feels overwhelming, here’s how to make it easier:

1. Set a timer. Give yourself 30 minutes to pull everything out. (No scrolling Instagram until you’re done!)

2. Sort by category. Put all pants together, all shoes together, all sweaters together. It’s much easier to make decisions this way.

3. Keep your bed clear. Pile items on the floor or on a table so you don’t get stuck at bedtime with nowhere to sleep. (Trust me, I’ve been there!)

4. Clean while it’s empty. Wipe shelves, vacuum the floor, and maybe even pop in a fresh cedar block or lavender sachet.

Tools That Help

• 📦 Affiliate Pick: Clear storage bins with lids – Perfect for seasonal items you don’t need daily access to.

• 📦 Affiliate Pick: Over-the-door shoe organizer – Keeps shoes or accessories tidy without taking up floor space.

✨ Related reading: 10 Simple Common Decluttering Mistakes That Keep You Stuck

3. Try the “Would I Buy This Again?” Test

This one question revolutionized how I learned how to declutter a closet:

👉 “If I saw this item in a store today, would I buy it again?”

If the answer is no, it goes.

That scratchy sweater I never wore? Gone. The cocktail dress I bought for one event 12 years ago? Donated. Asking myself this simple question cut through all the guilt and “what ifs.”

💡 Tip: Don’t overthink. Trust your gut. The faster you answer, the clearer the decision.

📦 Affiliate Pick: Slim velvet hangers – when you keep only what you love, these make your closet look instantly streamlined.

4. Create a “Maybe” Box

One of the biggest obstacles in how to declutter a closet is indecision.

When I couldn’t decide whether to keep something, I started using a “Maybe” box. Here’s how it works:

• Place the item in the box.

• Seal it and date it.

• Store it out of sight.

• If you haven’t missed the item in 90 days, it goes.

This trick gave me the freedom to move forward without the stress of “What if I regret it?” Spoiler: I almost never regretted it.

📦 Affiliate Pick: Clear plastic storage bins with lids – so you can easily see what’s inside without rummaging.

✨ You might also like How to Get Rid of Stuff: 9 Powerful Tips That Actually Work.

5. Organize What’s Left (But Don’t Overbuy)

Here’s the trap: buying a ton of fancy organizers before decluttering. Been there, done that. All I did was organize clutter.

The secret in how to declutter a closet is to declutter first, then organize only what’s left.

Once I had fewer items, I invested in just a few essentials:

• Velvet hangers (so clothes don’t slip)

• Shelf dividers (to keep sweaters neat)

• Shoe racks (no more piles on the floor)

It wasn’t about making my closet Instagram-perfect. It was about making it functional.

6. Rethink “Someday” Clothes

I kept jeans from my 30s, dresses from weddings long past, and “maybe I’ll need this” outfits. You know what happened? Every time I saw them, I felt guilt—not joy.

One of the most powerful lessons in how to declutter a closet was letting go of my “someday” clothes. They represented who I used to be, not who I am today.

💡 Tip: Keep only what fits your life right now. Your future self deserves space, not shame.

📦 Affiliate Pick: Vacuum-seal storage bags – perfect for storing out-of-season clothes so they don’t overwhelm your daily space.

7. Set Boundaries to Keep Clutter Out

Here’s the truth about how to declutter a closet: you can spend hours purging, folding, and organizing—but if you don’t set boundaries, the clutter will creep right back in.

Think of your closet like a container. It only holds so much. If you keep adding without removing, it overflows. That’s exactly what happens when we buy “just one more” pair of shoes or snag a clearance sweater because it’s too good of a deal.

I learned this lesson the hard way. After my first big closet clean-out, I felt so proud. Everything was neat, organized, and breathing. But within a few months, the space felt jammed again. Why? Because I hadn’t changed my habits—I was still shopping the same way.

My Simple Closet Boundary Rules

To stop the cycle, I set some clear boundaries. Maybe they’ll help you too:

1. One in, one out. If I bring in a new item (say, a pair of black flats), I donate or sell an old pair.

2. Space limits. I give myself a set number of hangers. When they’re full, something has to go before I add more.

3. Seasonal check-ins. At the start of each season, I spend 15 minutes scanning my closet. If I didn’t wear something last season, it’s time to let it go.

4. Mindful shopping. I ask myself, “Do I really love this, or am I buying it because it’s on sale?”

These rules REALLY helped make a difference in my home. I’m not talking about restriction—it’s really about freedom. Following these simple rules keeps my closet manageable, which means less stress every morning.

Why Boundaries Work

Boundaries give you structure. Instead of guessing or relying on willpower, you have a system that makes decisions for you. The more automatic it becomes, the easier it is to keep clutter away.

And honestly? It’s empowering. You start shopping more intentionally and valuing what you already own.

✨ Also check out How to Organize a Closet Like a Pro.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to declutter a closet isn’t just about clothes. It’s about creating a space that reflects the life you’re living now—not the life you used to live or hope you’ll live someday.

When you:

• Face the truth,

• Take everything out,

• Ask the hard questions,

• Give yourself a Maybe box,

• Organize wisely,

• Release the “someday” clothes, and

• Set boundaries

You don’t just end up with a cleaner closet. You end up with a calmer mind and more freedom to focus on what truly matters.

Because at the end of the day, your closet should hold clothes you love—not guilt, not regret, not chaos. Just clothes that help you show up as the woman you are today.

So go ahead—open that closet door. Your peaceful space is waiting.

For more organization inspiration, be sure and check out 97 Best Organization Ideas.

Note: Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my work—it helps me keep creating helpful content!

💛 Ready to take the next step? Download my free guide, “Declutter Your Home in 30 Days“!

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