If you find yourself frantically digging through your closet and spending precious sleeping time finding something decent to wear in the mornings, it is probably time for you to organize your closet! If you’re unsure how to tackle the mountain of clothes piled in your closet, here are some tips to help you get started.

1. Do a closet purge! Make sure to start with a clean room to ensure you have enough surfaces to lay your clothes out on. Remove every item you own from your closet and sort them into three piles. In the first pile, add clothes that fit you well and make you feel confident, such as your go-to pieces that you wear regularly and are most comfortable with. In another pile, gather items you’re hesitant about keeping. Ask yourself: When is the last time I wore it? Does it match my other clothes? Do I truly feel comfortable and confident wearing it? The final pile should contain pieces that are unflattering, outdated, too big or too small that you do not wear often. If you haven’t worn it in the past few months, it is unlikely that you will wear it any time in the future.
2. Create a color scheme. The trick to always having a put-together outfit is making sure that all of your clothes match. Ideally, the color of the item you wear closest to your head, usually either a shirt or a hat, should match your shoes in order to unify your outfit. That being said, either your shirt or pants should contrast the color of your hat and shoes in order to balance out your overall color scheme. If you are a person that wears belts regularly, remember that it is always a good idea to match them to your shoes. Keep in mind that your overall complexion also plays a role in what color clothes will compliment your skin tone. If you have a warm skin undertone, earthy hues like darker greens, browns and yellows will give you a more composed appearance. If your skin undertone is more on the cooler side, chilly bright colors like frosty blues, purples, pinks and greys are guaranteed to complement your image.

3.               Take your time. Don’t rush to buy the staples you might still be missing. Staples are the items that you wear most frequently, like pants, coats and shoes. Remember, this is a process. For three weeks, wear only the clothes you have chosen to keep from your closet purge. Yes, this might leave you with only one pair of pants for a while, but it will help you find more clothes that work together in the long run and determine what items you’re missing. Once you have a clearer idea of what clothes you still need to purchase to have a fully functioning closet, don’t be afraid to make an investment. Pants and jackets are staples you wear everyday and therefore wear out easily. Make sure to buy quality staples that will last you a long time in order to prevent you from splurging on sales and overhauling your closet with unnecessary items. But if you just really love to shop, don’t forget that the thrift store is your best friend!
4.                  Less is more. Separate your clothes into different categories and strive for a maximum of three versatile items in each one. For example, if your categories include shirts, pants, shorts and skirts, you would have a total of three tops and nine bottoms. With a little help of basic division, you can determine that given your numbers, each top has to match at least three bottoms. But keep in mind that the more your tops match your bottoms, the closer you are to achieving a practical and effortless closet. Also don’t be afraid of having some statement pieces! An organized closet doesn’t have to be boring.

Of course, you won’t have a perfectly organized closet in the blink of an eye. It is a process that requires effort, but one that is definitely worth it in the long run. With enough time and willpower, you will be able to get those 15 minutes of extra sleep every morning and wake up with no worries, knowing that anything you pull from your closet will make you look and feel like a million bucks.