When you open your closet at home, do you see something that looks like this?

SWEET BABY JESUS.

Just…the masses of stuff. Piles of clothes. Of shoes. Drawers full. Head Aching.

I mean, I know it’s not *that* bad. But it’s annoying. And I also knew there were masses of things that I didn’t wear anymore. Or maybe never had. So it was time for some spring cleaning.

Now, I’ve gotten pretty good at saying “Don’t need this. Don’t wear this. All done with this.” And getting rid of it. It also helps that I have a great group of ladies I am friends with, and we have a monthly gathering that clothing swaps have become a pretty regular part of. So with an unemotional eye, things started getting sorted. And four bags went to the gathering.

And I walked away with one. ONE. (Which I will donate.)

Then came the hanging and organizing.

On one trip to Ikea, in the “scratch and dent/reused/resale/awesome” section of the store, I found this:

It’s one of those hanger closet thing-ys. I needed folding space. My dresser is forever getting full, and I have no more floor space to offer up to the furniture gods. THIS was my solution. And BAM:

SO MUCH BETTER. Not 100% yet. I could use a couple more hangers behind the door (I really luff me some scarves), and make the top shelf double (since the closet has so much wasted space to the ceiling.) And the closet actually goes back to the left. I have my hamper and more hanging space and more hooks for “winter” scarves back there.

All in all, I think it took me two hours to clean it up, and now when I open my closet door, it doesn’t stress me out. Time Well Spent.

PRO TIP: If you want to *really* get your closet sorting on: grab your closest, most trusted friends, and try on everything in there. They can tell you if it is worth keeping, or flattering, or maybe how to wear a combination you have never thought of before. You will see your clothes in a whole new light! It’s like free shopping! (MAKE SURE you choose friends whose style you admire. Some people will be not fashion forward enough for you, some too fashion forward. Pick friends you want to emulate.)

Now…onto the front closet…full of tools/winter coats/scarves/cookbooks….how am I going to organize THAT one? Yeesh.