How To Reset Your Closet After the Holidays

Want to Get Organized?

(So You Can Actually Find Everything)

The holidays are magical… and so is the mountain of new clothes, shoes, and accessories that suddenly appears in your bedroom. Whether you treated yourself during end-of-year sales or received gifts from family and friends, the “post-holiday closet situation” can quickly turn into overflowing shelves, jammed drawers, and that familiar feeling of “I have nothing to wear” while staring at a closet full of stuff.

A closet reset doesn’t mean a total overhaul. It means making your space match your life right now—so getting dressed is faster, easier, and way less stressful. Here’s a simple, step-by-step process to reset your closet in one focused session (or split over a weekend).

Step 1: Do a Quick “Inventory Drop”

Before you start shuffling hangers around, gather your new items into one place—bed, chair, floor, wherever you’ve been piling them.

Create 4 mini piles:

  1. Clothes
  2. Shoes
  3. Accessories (bags, belts, jewelry, hats)
  4. Returns / maybe (anything that doesn’t fit, duplicates of something you already own, or items you’re unsure about)

This first step makes the process faster because you’ll be organizing with intention, not randomly.

Step 2: Clear the “Landing Zones”

Holiday clutter tends to spread into the same hotspots: the top shelf, the closet floor, the chair, and the “mystery drawer.”

Do a 5–10 minute sweep and remove anything that doesn’t belong in your closet:

  • Gift bags, boxes, tissue paper
  • Random paperwork
  • Laundry (clean or dirty)
  • Off-season items that wandered back in

Put these in a laundry basket or bin and move them out of the room. You want a clean starting point.

Step 3: Make Space Before You Add Anything

Here’s the rule: new items shouldn’t be added until they’ve “earned” a home. That means you need space for them.

Do a fast edit using this simple filter:

Pull out anything that is:

  • Uncomfortable (itchy, tight, constantly adjusted)
  • Not your current style
  • Duplicates of a better version you already own
  • Not worn in the last year (with a few special exceptions)
  • Missing pieces (lost buttons, broken zipper) that you’re not realistically fixing

Use 3 sorting categories:

  • Donate
  • Sell
  • Tailor/Repair

If you need a quick guide: if it’s under ~$30 value and you don’t want the hassle, donate. If it’s high-quality or name brand, sell. If it’s almost perfect but needs a tiny fix, repair.

Step 4: Reset the Closet Layout (Zones then Detail)

Instead of organizing item-by-item immediately, organize by zones so your closet flows logically.

Create these zones in order, left to right (or top to bottom):

  1. Everyday essentials (work basics, daily shoes, go-to bags)
  2. Occasion items (dressy outfits, heels, event accessories)
  3. Seasonal items (right-now season up front; off-season moved back or up high)
  4. Specialty items (gym wear, travel pieces, uniforms)

This keeps your most-used things where your eyes and hands naturally go.

Step 5: Add Your New Items the Smart Way

Now bring in your new holiday items—one pile at a time.

For each item, ask:

  • What would I wear this with?
  • Where would I look for this first?
  • Does this replace something I already have?

If something replaces an older version, remove the older one immediately. That’s how you stop closet creep.

Pro tip: Try on anything you haven’t worn yet (yes, even gifts). If it doesn’t fit right now, it goes into “returns/exchange/tailor” immediately—don’t let it live in limbo.

Step 6: Fix The Hanger and Folding System (Fast not Fancy)

You don’t need a Pinterest closet. You need consistency.

Hanging rules that work:

  • Hang: blouses, dresses, jackets, pants you want crease-free
  • Fold: tees, sweaters, workout wear, denim (if shelf space allows)

Instant upgrade: switch to matching slim hangers. They save space and make your closet feel calmer without doing anything else.

Use a simple order while hanging:

  • Category (tops, pants, dresses)
  • Then by color (light to dark)

This makes outfit building ridiculously easy.

Step 7: Shoes and Accessories – Contain Them

These categories are the fastest to explode after the holidays.

Shoes:

  • Keep only your “current season” shoes accessible
  • Store off-season shoes in clear bins or labeled boxes up high
  • Use a door organizer or vertical rack if you’re short on floor space

Accessories:

  • Bags: stuff them (with tissue or small towels) so they hold shape; store upright
  • Belts: hang on hooks or a belt hanger
  • Jewelry: use a small tray for everyday pieces and a divided organizer for the rest

The goal is one home per category, not scattered everywhere.

Step 8: Create A Simple Maintenance Routine

A reset is only successful if it’s easy to maintain.

Try this:

  • One-in, one-out: when something new comes in, something old leaves
  • Intentional shopping: Impulse buying is the quickest way to a clutter closet. Consider leaving items in your online cart for a week before you make the purchase. You may find you don’t actually want or need new things
  • Sunday 10-minute reset: hang stray items, put shoes back, clear the closet floor

Return bin rule: keep a small bin for returns and set a deadline (7 days)

Final Thought

A post-holiday closet reset isn’t about perfection—it’s about making your closet work for you. Once your new items have a real home and your everyday favorites are easy to grab, getting dressed stops feeling like a chore and starts feeling like a win. But if you’re in a situation where you feel overwhelmed and hopeless, contact us today! Our team would be honored to make your closet (or your entire home) into a peaceful sanctuary you look forward to returning to every day.

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