In the words of Eminem: I’m cleaning out my closet. First, a quick closet-themed dance break for fans — consider this the mental stage set before the real work begins.
(Video removed — on to the closet makeover.)
But seriously, the closet cleanout is already finished. We weren’t just clearing a single mess — it was both of our sides that needed attention. For a few months we’d been living with piles of socks, pajamas and random clothing on the closet floor because our old dresser had a broken drawer and we lacked functional storage. Once we finally brought in a proper dresser, the excuses were gone and the closet makeover became inevitable.
The first step was to tame the cubbies that were stuffed with miscellaneous items and decide which pieces would live in the closet cubbies and which would go into the new dresser. We focused on creating a logical system so things would be easy to find and put away.
We assigned the closet cubbies to John, and reserved the top two and middle drawers of the dresser for my items. In the dresser: socks and underwear in the top left drawer, bathing suits in the top right, and pajamas and bras in the middle drawer. That arrangement freed the bottom dresser drawer for John’s running gear.
On John’s side, his pajamas, underwear, jeans, swimsuits and shorts went into cubbies using old baskets that act as faux-drawers to keep small items from spilling out. We also moved the laundry hamper into the lower cubby opening and removed its lid so tossing clothes is quick and lid-free. These simple storage solutions gave the closet immediate visual order and made daily routines smoother.
Next, John pared down his wardrobe and we filled a donation bag. He also decided to hang many of his T-shirts, which turned out to be the best use of our vertical space — hanging keeps them together and easier to access than cramming them into cubbies or drawers.
On my side, I pulled out items I rarely wear and added them to the donation bag as well. I consolidated transitional pieces and maternity clothes into a bin for the attic. What remains in my section are the pieces I use regularly: T-shirts, tops, sweaters, cardigans, scarves, jackets, pants, dresses, suits, blazers, and skirts. My pajamas are in the dresser, and heavier winter coats live in the coat closet — everything else is hung so it’s easy to see and access.
We also organized the shelf above my hanging bar: only three pairs of everyday jeans remain out (the rest, including old maternity jeans, were stored away), and two frequently worn sweaters are neatly folded in the corner. Cutting down excess created an obvious spare shelf and a lower shelf with only a few items, giving us room to grow and preventing clutter from creeping back in.
Shoe storage deserved a little attention too. I keep most of my shoes on a dedicated shelf; John shares a small portion of that space since he only has a few pairs. I admit I love shoes and tend to collect special-occasion pairs that aren’t everyday wear, but they’re stored so they’re visible and easy to grab when needed.
On the opposite end of the top shelf, I organized a few favorite scarves, a wide belt, several clutches, and two purses that are currently out of rotation. Grouping accessories together makes outfits faster to put together and helps keep small items from getting lost.
With the floor largely cleared and the hamper tucked into a cubby, the closet instantly looks roomier. Giving each category a designated home — drawers for undergarments and pajamas, baskets for small folded items, hanging space devoted to shirts and dresses, and shelves for shoes and accessories — turned an unruly closet into a functional storage area.
And if it ever slides back toward chaos, we have a simple trick: turn off the light, draw the curtain, and hide the mess. But honestly, with a clear system and room to grow, we’re more motivated to keep it tidy — and the donation bag helps keep clutter from creeping back in.
What can I say? At least I’m honest.