Make Over Your Closet

Step 4. Purge, purge, purge
Now turn your attention to those piles on your bed. Sort them into three categories: toss, give away, and keep. Toss anything that's damaged beyond repair or too worn out to donate. Give away pieces that are out of style, don't fit or that you no longer like. Only keep clothing that meets the following criteria: you love it, it fits you now, and you've worn it within the last year and know you'll continue to wear it. If you think you'll be indecisive about which pieces should go in which pile, enlist an unsentimental friend to help. Jettison the give away items either by donating them to a worthwhile charity (try dressforsuccess.org) or selling them at an online auction site, like ebay.com.

Step 5. Optimize your shoe storage
Where you decide to house footwear depends on your closet space, but you should be able to quickly put your hands on the pair you want, which means they have to be easily identifiable. We recommend using either a clear over-the-door shoe bag, stackable shoe boxes or an aluminum stacking shoe rack.

Step 6. Turn your closet into a boutique
Presentation is important, so arrange clothing in a neat and visually appealing way. One easy way to make the space inviting is to toss your wire hangers—they lose their shape and leave dents in your clothing—and invest in a matching set. Next, group clothing types together: blouses, jackets, dresses, skirts, and pants. If you want to be even more organized, arrange the clothes within each grouping by color.

Step 7. Create off-site storage
To stay clutter-free, only keep clothes in your closet that you're wearing now. Store everything else, like off-season clothing, special-occasion dresses, and maternity wear, somewhere else. If you live in a small apartment, pack a clear underbed storage container full, then slide it out of sight. Its snap-down buckles will protect your clothing from humidity and dust.

Step 8. Adopt a new shopping rule
Once you've determined how many items you can keep in your closet without it getting out of control, be rigorous with new purchases. When you buy something new, toss something old.  Another maintenance strategy: Use the change of seasons to review your wardrobe. Get rid of items you didn't end up wearing, as well as clothes for the upcoming season that no longer appeal to you.