There is something uniquely attractive about open space in a closet.
When was the last time you saw a staged photo of a closet stuffed to overflowing with clothes? Rarely, if ever. Instead, clothes hang neatly and are organized tidily–with room for air and energy and open spaces. This is attractive to most of us but many of us don’t bother with learning how to get rid of clothes for a minimalist closet.
Instead, our closets are stuffed full of shirts and pants and shoes and belts and jackets. We run out of hangers or shelf space, and then we shop for storage solutions so we can store even more clothes. Our closets become cluttered all too quickly.
Still, we are drawn to the idea of a thinned-out, minimalist closet.
Of course, they offer more benefits than simple beauty. It saves time in the morning (and sometimes, the evening). It reduces stress and frustration. It saves money. There is a special pleasure reserved for those who look in their closet and love everything they see.
If you are looking for help on how to get rid of clothes and form a more minimalist closet, here are nine simple tips to get you started:
1. Start easy. Begin by removing the clothes that are stained, ripped, or faded beyond recognition. Items that are no longer in wearable condition can still be donated.
2. Remove seasonal items. Remove off-season clothing from your closet to free up some needed space. If you didn’t wear an item at all last year, get rid of it. Then, store the remaining pieces in a separate closet where they will not be in your way cluttering up your closet.
3. Get rid of clothes that don’t fit once and for all. If you’re in-between sizes, certainly keep some clothing from both. But if you haven’t cleaned out your closet for quite some time, there are likely a number of ill-fitting items that can be removed entirely—whether you changed sizes, the item shrunk or stretched, or it never did fit quite right. Those ill-fitting items are weighing you down physically, mentally, and emotionally. Pass them on to someone who can use them.
4. Reduce your need for additional accessories. If you’re holding on to something until you find the “perfect accessory,” let it go. Clothes often multiply in our closets because of the Diderot effect (one purchase leads to another, which leads to another). In the future, look for pieces that compliment your existing accessory pile. After all, if you’re constantly adding things to your closet, you’ll never get ahead (not in your closet and not in your checkbook).
5. Consider the idea of one. If one can be enough, embrace it. Rather than owning an entire assortment, try owning just your favorite black dress, belt, handbag, or jacket (just to name a few ideas). A closet filled with only things you love and use will be a closet that you love to use.
6. Reassess current trend purchases. The fashion industry gets rich on one principle: constantly changing fashion trends. You see, the fashion industry cannot survive on people buying only the clothes they need. So the industry invents false need by boldly declaring new fashion trends and colors for every changing season. But you don’t to have fall for their tricks. Find your favorite timeless fashion and start playing by your own rules.
7. Physically handle every item. If you want to make significant progress thinning out your closet, remove every item entirely from the closet. Return only the pieces you truly love. If that task seems too overwhelming, complete the process in sections (i.e. shoes today, shirts tomorrow). However you seek to accomplish this project, it is important that you physically handle each item at some point. The physical touch forces decisions.
8. If all else fails, pick a number. To start, choose 10. Thumb through the clothes in your closet and remove 10 items—any 10 you want. Put them in a bag and drop off at your nearest donation center. Likely, you will find the task was not that difficult. In fact, once you get started, you may find 15 or 20 things to remove without even breaking a sweat.
9. Experiment with less. Test your assumptions about the optimal amount of clothing with a few, simple experiments. Try placing half of your clothing in a different room for two weeks. You will be surprised how much easier is to function and get ready with fewer clothes in your closet. Most of us wear 20% of our clothing 80% of the time and would live much happier with fewer wardrobe choices than we have now. But you’ll never realize that until you test it out.
There are many reasons the capsule wardrobe movement is growing so rapidly. A thinned out minimalist wardrobe is less stressful, less time-consuming, and more convenient. You’ll love it once you experience it yourself.
And there’s no time like the present to get started.
Jeffrey Pillow says
A strangely powerful and freeing method I learned from Marie Kondo’s book is this: say thank you to the item (whatever the item; in this case, a shirt or pair of pants), then say goodbye.
We can thank the item if it was a shirt that we wore to threads and enjoyed, and even for an item we bought but never really wore and have a hard time getting rid of because it reminds us we wasted money. We can still thank the item for showing us what not to impulsively buy next time.
This method also works freakishly well with getting rid of kids’ toys. Allowing my kids to say “thank you” and “goodbye” has turned the previous scream-and-cry fest into warm gestures and salutations. I had no idea this would go over so well with my kids when I tried the experiment, but man has it ever.
While I mention Kondo’s book because it gives you permission to de-clutter, I actually recommend Joshua’s Simplify and Clutterfree with Kids more for an actual how-to.
tessa says
Wow – I think that would really really help me! (So much guilt associated with getting rid of clothes – “I didn’t wear it much,” “it was from my Mom,” “maybe it will miraculously fit soon for some reason”….). Thank you for sharing that tip! I think you just sold me on all those books, too!
Kate says
The Kondo approach also worked for me – both the thank you/goodbye to each item – and also the technique of removing all items of clothing from the entire house and placing them in one huge pile, where every item has to be held, evaluated and then put in its place. This was the only way I would really make progress. I eliminated half of all clothing and a third of books. May do it again in January!
Priya Puri says
I’m just in the process of doing this now. When I’m done it think I’ll get some nice wooden hangers and have space between items. Removing seasonal items definitely makes sense. It also stops me going out in clothes that are wrong for the season just because I felt like wearing them, and they felt fine indoors.
Jan says
Another tip that I found helpful is reflected in the photo at the top of this post, i.e. one of the three hangers is reversed. To see what you prefer to wear, simply hang those items you have worn in a week with the hanger reversed (or two weeks if you like). I not only reduced the number of items in my closet, but also discovered my “look” this way.
PK says
I heard the opposite of this, hang everything reversed and return any worn clothes the regular way. Anything that is still reversed after a set period of time should go.
MBF says
This is how I can tell which items have been worn in the season. Now to just go ahead and get rid of those things still hanging on the backward hangers.
Larry Green says
Some great tips on minimizing the closet. This was an area that I had the toughest time convincing my wife to start reducing. She did thin out her closet when we moved in together and she hasn’t complained once since then. It is amazing how we truly don’t need a lot of the stuff we hang onto.
Heather Mason says
I began my minimalism journey by decluttering my clothes about 18 months ago. I never realized how bad my “they will fit if I just lose 10 lbs” clothes made me feel until they were gone. As each item left my home I felt more and more relaxed. I actually simplified my wardrobe to the point of an outfit I wear to work and an outfit I wear at home. Same outfits every day. It is such a relief to know what I’m going to wear, how it will look, how it will feel. It probably sounds boring or extreme to some but for me the burden lifted is amazing!
amber says
For the two sets of clothes person: Glad to hear someone is so bold in our consumer culture. In some countries the people don’t even have that second set of clothes.
In reflecting on this, I realize when I backpack I only have two sets (dirty, cleaner dirty). The cleaner dirty is the wear to town set where I hope they have a laundry mat. Both sets get washed while i’m clothed in rain gear! I’m going to give your idea more thought. Thanks for the inspiration.
Hilda says
Yes, during spring break I went through my closet and got rid of about 100 items. I have enjoyed going into my closet since then. It is so refreshing to be able to find things and have the clothes hang correctly. I will be doing this again soon. Thanks for your blog. I love it and it has helped me tremendously. Here’s to Living!
liu says
I moved houses 11 times in as many years and dragged my entire wardrobe along; plus added to it with each move as I couldn’t find my rainboots/workout wear etc and kept buying new stuff. With my last move I donated 7 full boxes of clothes and shoes and still somehow ended up bringing 14 boxes with me. I ended up apologising to my family and friends who helped me move on the sheer volume of my stuff. It was over 40 boxes and I’m just 1 person! After settling in in my new digs I’m trying to reduce; I just cannot live with all of these items around me, it’s exhausting! Clothes and shoes are hard togive up when they’re still new/unused/designer brands/”might come in handy if invited to certain event” etc etc. I have so many “if my life was different I’dwear this”-items it just baffles me.
I read the Marie Kondo book on decluttering and started purging my clothes (not by having it all out on the bed as she suggests, my wardrobe doesn’t fit unless the bed in question is sized like a field). Donating makes me feel better about not having used $$$ items but there is still a lot of work ahead. I long for a wardrobe that makes me feel excited about what to wear, not exhausted. One where I can remember what I have and where it’s stored. Actually wear most of the stuff. Hope to get there soon!
tessa says
Ooh yeah, that’s the excellent marketing: “this cocktail dress would be perfect for the cocktail party I’m sure I would finally host if I had it.”
In my head, I refer to it as “the Ikea effect” because of their catalogs where it seems like if you buy their products, you’ll be having outdoor summer parties every weekend and suddenly everything you own will be perfectly organized. Extremely tempting to say the least!
Good luck – I’m trying to make headway, too! Thanks, Joshua, for all the great tips and motivation. :-)
Meg says
You can get cash back for unused/designer brands by consigning to thredup.com. It’s a great site. They’ll send you a big bag for free, with a return shipping label. All you have to do is stuff it and drop it off at your post office.
Good luck!
Stuti says
Even your writing style is similar to storing style it seems. Just drawing an analogy
Tonya says
Love this! I actually have a very similar post and video on my blog titled Bluff Your Wardrobe! Also one on creating a uniform to streamline your wardrobe. If you have time check it out. http://www.singlemomchiclife.com
Love minimalism and I’m trying to embrace it more. Your blog is very inspiring!
Janie Farnsworth says
Love it!!! I started minimizing about 6 months ago and I am actually having fun giving things away and my son, sister and others are loving it! I started with going through my clothes closet and then made a commitment to get rid on at least one thing a day whether it be a big knick-knack or small bobby pin. I also painted some of my rooms which made me go through more things. I am still learning but I am loving my freshly painted clutter free home.
Thank you Joshua and God bless you!
Helen says
I went on a mission a couple of years ago to thin out my wardrobe and it has been very liberating. My clothes only take up one side of the wardrobe.
I decided to adopt a capsule wardrobe where I can mix and match the colours. I only have three cardigans and around 5 dresses that I mix and match throughout the year.
Jan Ramsey Brick says
Yes yes yes to number Six! Isn’t it crazy how we let people we don’t know tell us our clothes, cars, even our couches are out of style?? And believe them?
Annie says
Yes! That’s why I stick with “classic” pieces. Then I take good care of what I buy so it lasts as long as possible. I had a peacoat that looked great for ten years before it finally wore out beyond repair.
Amy@MoreTimeThanMoney says
I agree. Often what is on trend doesn’t suit me or my tastes at all. I do a lot of my clothes shopping secondhand for this reason. Like your peacoat, I’ve got some great clothing that I have been wearing for years – I am so nervous about not being able to find good replacement pieces when they finally wear out.
Brenda says
Look for thrift stores in your area online