A closet full of amazing clothes is only half the battle when trying to elevate your wardrobe. For the next step, let’s talk about how to create your dream closet.

If you haven’t seen one of the many popular home organization shows springing up in recent years, chances are, you’ve at least heard of them. There’s a reason the concept of home organization has become so popular. A clean, organized, decluttered living space can feel utterly blissful. Sometimes we don’t even realize how much of a damper it puts on our mood to live in a disorganized space until we fix it. This also applies to your closet – especially if you’re someone who already struggles getting dressed in the morning.

While we encourage you to have a wardrobe full of clothing that works well together and makes you feel great, it’s equally important to properly display your clothing and accessories in your closet. This means having your items attractively displayed, ensuring they are easily accessible, and organizing them in a way that works for your lifestyle. Otherwise, it’s easy to fall into old habits of reaching for the same hoodie and leggings every day. Don’t let your efforts on improving your wardrobe go to waste! Consider revamping your closet to make getting ready for the day stress-free and even fun.

Declutter

As you could probably guess, the first step to this closet makeover on a budget is to declutter. It’s free and ultra-satisfying but will require some hard work. This step is all about getting rid of the pieces that you don’t wear anymore, are out of fashion, don’t suit your current lifestyle, and are looking worn. Holding on to these pieces makes sorting through your clothing in the morning much more difficult because they prevent you from seeing the gems in your wardrobe. You’ll be surprised at just how much you’re able to get rid of!

Contrary to popular belief, having clothing items in every style and color for every occasion is not what will help you achieve great style; it’s about being able to see the potential in your clothing and working them to your advantage. For better or for worse, we can form serious emotional attachments to our clothing that make it hard to get rid of deadweight when the time comes. It helps to have the insight of unbiased professionals. If you’re struggling to declutter your wardrobe, reach out to us for a closet clean out! This is the most difficult step, so let us guide you through the process.

Decluttering means getting rid of anything that’s unnecessary and visually distracting. That may include more than just old clothing. To ensure your closet is inviting and frustration-free, remove any non-clothing items that are taking up space in your closet. Find new places to store cleaning supplies and kids’ toys if possible. If this is not an option, we’ll address this using some organizational strategies in the next step.

Get the Right Organizational Tools

A closet re-do doesn’t necessarily have to include expensive renovations for shelving and storage. To complete your closet makeover while on a budget, the trick is utilizing the right organizational tools. A few affordable fixes will work wonders to keep things easy to find and out of the way. Check out our before and after photos to see the difference for yourself.

Even though guests probably won’t see your closet, you still want it to look just as tidy and cohesively styled as any other space in your house. Remember, this is an essential step to giving you the frustration-free morning routine that you deserve. Start with a closet organizational system. The best solution for your closet will depend on space dimensions, numbers and types of items you have to store, and your personal preferences. Are you looking for small space solutions for your overflowing closet? Do you want clear bin storage so that you can see your items that are not in use? Be sure to measure your space before buying!

If you’re unsure, bring a few potential solutions home and play around with them until you decide which combination is best, then return the rest. Be sure that these organizational tools match or look cohesive. Some ideas to consider are additional drawer storage, shelf and drawer dividers, shoe racks or bins, and matching nested hangers.

I love using clear shelf dividers, especially if you don’t have many shelves to work with so that there are designated spaces for your handbags, belts, scarves, and hats on a single shelf. Every item should have a distinct home. A set of non-slip hangers is a great idea, too. Trust me: mismatched hangers with your dry cleaner’s logo on half of them makes your closet feel so much more chaotic. Velvet hangers are easy, cheap, space-space-friendly, and make an impact.

Still dealing with a bit of overflow from your closet? Try some under-bed storage for your off-season clothing. Not only will this add some breathing room into your closet, but it will visually eliminate off-season clothing from your options when you are getting dressed to further simplify your morning.

Merchandise & Style Your Dream Closet

Now that all your clothing and accessories have a designated place, it’s time for the final step: merchandising and styling your closet. This is a game-changer for any closet makeover on a budget. Merchandising will help you find what you’re looking for faster, provide styling ideas as you put together your outfit of the day, and even decorate your closet using its own contents. This is what your favorite boutiques do so that their clothing racks look beautiful and feel intuitive to shop. Our goals for your closet are the same.

Have fun with this step! There’s no one-size-fits-all way to do it. Instead, consider how you approach your closet when getting dressed. Do you look for pants first, then choose a top depending on the weather, then add accessories and shoes? Organize accordingly. I suggest hanging your tops by ascending sleeve length and weight, or from sleeveless to long sleeve to sweaters, jackets, and coats. Within one sleeve length, sort by color using the color wheel or use your best judgment. This will make your items visually flow. Alternatively, it may work better for you to organize your clothing by occasion, or a combination of these approaches.

Consider adding feature areas. A hat hanging from the wall might look decorative and remind you to accessorize before heading out for the day. If you like the pick out your outfit the night before, find a place to display your full outfit in your closet so it’s ready to go in the morning.

Wrap-Up

Achieving your dream closet is easier than you might think and doesn’t have to cost you a fortune. Follow these tips to complete your closet makeover on a budget. Be sure to maintain your closet season-to-season, too! Over the course of the year, you should be revisiting which items are stored versus on display, getting rid of pieces you don’t wear anymore, and refreshing the organization to help you stay inspired. For more inspiration, as you implement these ideas, watch how Alli organizes her closet. Alternatively, we would love to help you with the process from start to finish! Reach out to us for an appointment to discuss your closet goals.