It’s normal to have your shoes take up half the space in your small closet right?? I should probably reprioritize but that’s not what this post is about.
For reference, this closet is 3’5″ wide and is shared by me and my husband. We also have a 5-drawer dresser in which my things occupy 3 drawers. This is less closet space than we had in our 180 sq ft tiny home that we lived in for 6 years. However, moving into a van and having even less space helped me learn how to be very efficient regarding what I actually need. As you can see, I don’t color coordinate, I probably have more shoes than I need, and there are things hanging in this closet that I only wear once or twice a season (hello, special occasion dresses). I am not a minimalist and I don’t have a capsule wardrobe. So how do we do it? How do we share a 3.5-foot closet space and still feel like we have enough?
5 TIPS:
- I switch out my clothes every 6 months. This is my fall/winter wardrobe. My spring/summer items are in those big blue Ikea bags under my bed. I think most people do this if you live in an area with distinct seasons but even if you don’t, it’s still fun to do. You don’t see half of your wardrobe for 6 months so by the time the swapping comes around, you’re ready for the change and your “old” clothes feel exciting and new again. At the end of every 6 months, I take stock of what I have as I’m swapping my clothes out and get rid of anything I didn’t wear or that I’ll need to replace. I keep a “To Buy” list on my phone of what I need to replace and I have approximately 6 months to get those items. I don’t feel rushed in doing so and it never feels like a big expense because I’m spreading it out over time.
- We use space-saving hangers. This is a no-brainer. Truthfully, I love wood hangers and there was a time in my life when my closet was full of only wood hangers. It looked so organized and pretty. But when you have a tiny closet, big fat wooden hangers are not your friend. These non-slip hangers are truly a tiny closet bestie. Invest in them. They’re not expensive and so worth it.
- Here is my type A peeking through…I have a system for when I wear my clothes by where I hang them in the closet. For example, I have 6 dresses and every Sunday when I go to my bible meeting I wear the first dress hanging in my closet. When I’m done, I hang it at the end of my dress line. This way, I never have to think about what to wear and I’m not wearing a dress more than every 6 weeks. By the end of the season, I’ll have worn that dress around 4/5 times. That keeps my clothes in good shape and I can switch up the dress with different accessories and sweaters. The trick with this is to only have dresses you feel so good in. If you keep some that you only feel good in when you’re looking your best, this system won’t work. Only keep the best of the best and this little tip won’t fail you.
- I keep a “Sartorial” folder in my notes on my phone with a list of skirt/shirt combinations that I like and feel comfortable in. On the days I’m feeling uninspired and can’t think of what to wear, I pick an outfit off of this list. This does take time to build as it requires me to stop and take note of an outfit I like. But it saves me so much time and brain energy on those challenging “I just don’t have anything to wear!” days. I end up using this list a lot so it’s worth it to take the extra minute to jot down what outfits I’m loving.
- I don’t deprive myself. I love clothes and shoes. If you’re not a minimalist but you have to limit yourself in these areas, I have a strong “only buy it if you LOVE it” policy. If it’s not perfect and I don’t truly love it, I don’t bring it home. This prevents me from keeping and buying things I don’t actually wear and makes what I have in my wardrobe curated and special.
BONUS TIP.
And perhaps the best one! I’ve done this for over 15 years now. I have a bag in my closet (or the trunk of my car if I don’t have space in my closet) for things I’m not wearing and any time I realize I’m not loving something anymore or I’m hardly wearing it, I throw it in the bag. When the bag is full, I donate it. I don’t even look to see what’s in the bag. If I didn’t miss it, I didn’t love it and don’t need it.
This is a process that took me a long time to refine. Getting rid of clothes and shoes before we moved into our tiny house was one of the hardest things to figure out. How do I know what to keep and what to get rid of?? What if I need that item I got rid of and now I have to go buy a new one?! Don’t put pressure on yourself to get rid of everything and start with next to nothing. That’s not realistic. If you don’t love something but you need it, wear it till you need a new one and then buy a replacement that you do love. Take your time in purging. Pay attention over time to what you’re wearing, what you’re comfortable in, what makes you feel good, and what shoes you really need, and from here on, only invest in those things.
And don’t forget to have fun with it. Clothes are fun!
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