How I Decluttered 70% of My Closet with This Method

[@joelleaittama1416]

I love “pulling the loves,” because yes you can better see a theme in your wardrobe. I have a closet that has been collecting for twenty years, and I am ready to thin it out!

[@EmilyWheatley]

This will help make it a lot less over whelming. Happy declutter! :-)

[@silviasauc8570]

Love it. I remember the terrible sadness you experience last year. Sending love.

[@EmilyWheatley]

Thank you so much! That means a lot 🥹

[@teck1a]

I pray this year is a good year for you and brings you lots of peace.

[@karenberube8739]

Praying for a better year.

[@lisanester3338]

I love this idea. I try to purge my clothes at least once a year and if I haven’t worn it in awhile out it goes….yikes! Not a foolproof method. This seems like a more gentle approach that makes sense to my mind. Thanks Em😊

[@EmilyWheatley]

I like that word, gentle, great way to describe it!

[@alyssarosengard6674]

I love the explanations you give. Being stylish isn’t easy sometimes. I did as you suggested and started a Pinterest board. I like this thought process as you declutter. It helps me so much. My hubby and I have been minimalists for about 7 years for physical and mental health but I like being fashionable and kind of lost that in the process of downsizing. You’ve been really guiding my process in getting it back. I’m plus sized and 54 yrs old so I feel like it can be more complicated. I don’t have to look frumpy. I can be a rocker chick.

[@EmilyWheatley]

I can soooo relate to that. I had a similar struggle. Realized being minimalist isn’t about needing to get rid of everything just the things that aren’t essential or don’t bring joy. Fashion brings me joy! 😍

[@emmar3035]

What a fab idea!!! I’m going to do that! Thank you soooo much 💕🩷

[@clemmytinelyday6536]

Lol i agree wirh store the things you are not using. But ive learned to keep. I had things in my parents garage for 10 years, and then i started wearing most of it.

[@allyirvine7537]

Well this is a new idea and a good one! So much easier to declutter from a place of love, as you say. I’m going to try it myself. Somehow my things have expanded into the closet of my guest room and I’m well on the way to needing a 3rd bedroom closet. Something has to give! Xx

[@EmilyWheatley]

Yea I get that for sure! Definitely try this method. Much more enjoyable

[@suzanschneider6163]

Great that you start from a place of love/positive stance! May 2025 be a healing, nurturing year for you and your family.

[@barbarah6002]

Hey Emily, I applied this video immediately and my wardrobe looks so nice and tempting to wear again!!! Just by feeling what I love and seperate everything that I didn’t immediately love - and store that. Wauw… clarity!!!🎉

[@EmilyWheatley]

Yay!! I love that! So glad it was helpful!!

[@BBurnett333]

OOOOooOO! I never thought of decluttering my closet this way! I am drifting away from my comfortable/security color, navy and plunged into a 'Go Find Less,' antique black wardrobe excursion. Would you consider linking the closet organization/cubes, and the clothing rack? Gonna live dangerously via fine tuned organization. Thanks Emily!

[@EmilyWheatley]

If you go into the description you will find the link buttons there 👍 Yay! Happy Organizing

[@bcvc3365]

I love to declutter! 🖤 I usually try everything on and have a runway show (and videotape myself) then I get rid of stuff I don’t like anymore. 😆

[@EmilyWheatley]

LOVE THAT!!!!

[@TheLifeTidy]

"But if you don't have a rolling rack....like a normal person..." 🤣🤣😊 I really enjoy your videos!

[@EmilyWheatley]

:-) I'm so glad that you do!!!

[@T.T.M.60]

I’m not normal though…..😂

[@cynthiarome1356]

Emily! I LOVE this method! I'm all in. Thank you for all you do. 💖

[@EmilyWheatley]

Yay!! I'm so glad! Let me know how it goes!

[@DP-dr6gi]

Excellent method! Been looking for a different way to declutter my clothes this year. I have to say, I Love you I. The grey and soft cool color shirt. I wish all good things for you this year. ❤

[@EmilyWheatley]

Thanks, I appreciate that! 😊

[@starrysky2223]

After decluttering and refreshing some new clothing purchases to better work with, and neutralize my wardrobe … it’s the Amazon account thats going BUH BUY. Too many Katniss Everdeen tributes to that place. Kiss mwah + finger salute! Wishing you a much better 2025, love your style. 🥰👍👍

[@EmilyWheatley]

Haha I feel you! That's the best way to say it!

[@jlynd5526]

I do what I call the backwards hanger method. I turn all my clothing on my hangers backwards and when I wear the clothing piece the hanger gets turned the right way. Whatever is still facing backwards at the end of the season is then discarded. I figure 3 months is plenty of time to let me know what I love and don’t love. Thanks for this method, I’m going to give it a try.❤

[@EmilyWheatley]

I like that method too! Very logical which I like. 👍

[@emmar3035]

I love this idea..thank you for sharing 💕🩷

[@user-cy4fs5li5c]

Yassss! I feel your sweater frustration! There’s no good way to put them up.

[@EmilyWheatley]

I know right!! 🙌🤪

[@galebecker3487]

Hi Emily thank you so much for your video❤. It was much needed for me. I agree starting the day with Chaos, ends with chaos. After a very stressful 2024, I'm hoping to start this method as, soon as i can.❤❤❤Gale x

[@EmilyWheatley]

So glad you found it helpful - I hope it brings you some peace and joy!

[@pamelakeys6190]

Love, love, love this approach !!! Stellar for my mind’s bandwidth. lol😂😹

[@EmilyWheatley]

Oh good! I'm so glad!

[@cheryldes104]

Great plan

[@Justmenicolette]

Love this! Totally just going to use my loves and store the rest for the next 4 weeks.

[@EmilyWheatley]

Yay!! Love that!! You can do it along with me at the same time.

[@laurahuddleston6285]

I also have the problem of storing my sweaters so they don't flop over and end up in a messy pile. Looking forward to what happens after the two weeks. Wishing you a joyful 2025.

[@barbarah6002]

Wonderful for januari Emily!! Yes! I am going to do this immediately today🎉

[@EmilyWheatley]

Yay!! Have fun! And we can check back together in a few weeks!

[@Ubercourage]

Lovely video ❤. I did this with refining color/neutrals for the past 6 weeks. Yes, the detox works.🎉

[@SilviaN1]

You give SOOO great advice! Thank you for sharing. It really motivates me to declutter my closet.

[@EmilyWheatley]

Oh good! I'm so glad! Have fun with it!

[@SilviaN1]

@@EmilyWheatley Thank you! I just did!

[@deborahwalsh3335]

First, love your hair at this length. Second, did you really store away the blue Ralph Lauren sweatshirt you were wearing as you decluttered?! Please pull it out. I love that piece on you!

[@EmilyWheatley]

No, that was being organized into my new sweater boxes. It's my current favorite layering piece so that guy is going no where :-)

[@charlottejohnk6712]

I love to organize, does that count as a hobby? Anyway, I love that you have added a new way of looking at organizing my closet❤️

[@Pubslife]

Same here!

[@EmilyWheatley]

Haha it definitely is! And I’m the same. I love organizing!!

[@aliciavelice3806]

I find myself loving everything, I I have decluttered it down to the point where what is in my closet are pieces i love. however, I do not wear them all due to cooler than normal weather and menopause, but i do not want to get rid of them. also, nowhere to wear some of the stuff I own. I own a horse and try to keep horse wear and nicer wear separate or else it all becomes horse clothes with pockets filled with hay lol.

[@EmilyWheatley]

Maybe try just pulling what you enjoy wearing the most

[@aliciavelice3806]

@@EmilyWheatley Will try that, and report back :)

[@aliciavelice3806]

Okay so I pulled out all the things I did not wear this season so far from Sept till now, most of which were wool sweaters, and i adore and love my cardigans. The weather here in the PNW has been wet but not cold. Put those in the hall closet so I know where they are if I need them. Got rid of a couple things I do not like they fit badly. Decided that until i get a real job my life is PNW casual so jeans T-shirts sweatshirts and cotton Cardis are all left in closet Alongside horse clothes because I am not a neat clean horse gal, I am a come in with mud and horse gook from head-to-toe gal lol. Will redo this when i get a job and need the nicer stuff in my face.

[@yilomina2047]

Perfect timing! I was just thinking that I'm ready for another closet purge. Ready for 2025!

[@EmilyWheatley]

You've got this! Happy decluttering!

[@CreaNedda1]

New subscriber here, glad to have found you! Eagerly awaiting the second part of this project, which seems a much kinder way to curate than many other methods. Fingers crossed that it will work for you (and me 😉)

[@EmilyWheatley]

Yes me too! I've done it in the past and I only pulled a few pieces back in. So hopefully it'll be the same this time around, if not, hopefully pulling nothing back in :-) So glad you found the channel and welcome to our community here!!

[@tereclemmer7923]

Thanks for the inspiration to clean out my closet. Now I will pray for the energy and the time to do it. 🤔

[@EmilyWheatley]

I hear that, it is a process🤪

[@ritah9913]

Perfect timing. I'm moving in 6 weeks and can declutter and pack everything but the "loves".

[@EmilyWheatley]

Ahhh perfect way to do it!! Hope you have a good move!

[@bettismyth]

Hi Emily, I love the idea of this, however, as I was thinking about doing it, one question came up. As a mom, how do you deal with practical stuff? In my case, not all of my practical items are pieces that I love. They are just there for practical reasons, ie going to the woods with family or walking the dog or gardening. Basically occasions where I most likely end up being dirty. 🙈 Are those pieces exempt? How do you deal with that? Or are all of your practical pieces also fashionable pieces that you love? 🤔 Would love your take on this. Thanks in advance! 🤗

[@EmilyWheatley]

For me yes, I have some outdoor gear that I don’t include in this either.

[@mhtammi]

Since we retired, we’ve downsized. Big mistake. Not enough room for people to stay (I love having people visit), I lost my sewing/craft room and hubby lost his office, workshop, and gym. The worst thing is that I lost my custom walk in closet. I now have a 2.5 foot double hung closet rail with all my clothes, coats and shoes. I pack away seasonal clothes in suitcases wherever I can and when I travel I have to dump them out. Now looking for a bigger house🙁.

[@lindacurtis7267]

We sold our house and downsized to a 3 bedroom apartment. Two of the bedrooms have walk-in closets, the 3rd bedroom is my husbands den and the apartment complex has a pool and a gym. If we need a lightbulb changed, maintenance do, they take care of HVAC filters too.We travel a lot so it works well for us! Good luck with your search.

[@Nancy-mk4bb]

@@lindacurtis7267my goal!

[@EmilyWheatley]

I am so sorry to hear that! It’s really frustrating when you lose storage space! Hopefully, you can find a bigger place soon!

[@sixtenjohansson4246]

I hope you find a suitable one soon.

[@Pubslife]

We did the same thing. Ended up moving again and are much happier. Sometimes you really don’t know until you downsize the first time and live in the space.

[@EnfysDebs]

Argh!! My closet is my second bedroom, beautifully organised in rainbow colours as per my neurodivergent needs....but it's FULL. I mean REALLY FULL. Watching this has helped me get past 'oh I'll regret it if I get rid of that' which has put me off looking at it. I am never going to have a teeny capsule wardrobe, it's not me, but do I really need 25 coats, 40 pairs of Oxfords / brogues, 67 handbags and 28 of the same t-shirts in every colour / print they do..... Uhmmm..... Probably not.... Starting from a place of love also goes for not beating myself for ending up here in the first place too ❤ P.s. I roll my sweatshirts, I don't know if it's better than folding but you're right, they are so hard to store!

[@marciagarcia8486]

Same here ❤

[@EmilyWheatley]

I'm suuuuuuper jealous! Would love to have a whole room to make my wardrobe look like a high end showroom. But I totally get it, you don't need to have a super minimalist wardrobe to like having it organized. I think this method will really help you not feel so overwhelmed with a larger wardrobe. Have so much fun!! And I like the idea of rolling the sweatshirts :-) Thanks for sharing with us!

[@carolbailey8019]

Wow! I love your thoughts on this!

[@EmilyWheatley]

Thank you!!!

[@carolblagg3859]

You're so funny! And have great ideas!! Really enjoy your vedios.

[@margarettaylor7918]

Hi Emily, I do hope 2025 is much better for you I am sorry it has been a tough one, love your concept of place of Love for decluttering...I should try that! you certainly have a lot of nice clothes! and you are so organised...I tend to mull over too much and sometimes go around in circles!!! I must get ruthless!!!!!....I noticed your hair has grown out a little are you growing it this year! I love your hairstyle it really suits you, you wear it well!!!..(sounds like a rod stewart song!!!!)...cheers emily, from Margaret , South Australia.........

[@EmilyWheatley]

Try this method, it will help with the overthinking. I am growing it out. I really miss having hair to style. 😄

[@sandyfisbeck9488]

You really crack me up with your dry wit😂

[@EmilyWheatley]

😂

[@kathyesargent9088]

Happy New Year❤❤❤❤❤

[@EmilyWheatley]

Happy New Year to you too!

[@joywhitley3141]

How about seeing the sweater storage on one end so you can see each sweater? Ike think it would be handy and they wouldn't accumulate any dust that way. What do you think?❤Love your style!

[@giangiulio]

I love this idea, but I would have to do it twice: once for work clothes and then for normal clothes. For the life of me, I don't know why I code switch between my work/personal wardrobe. I also tend to keep a lot of things for "what if" formal occasions that never come!

[@reneel2502]

Are you doing this for each season or do you store all your seasons at the same time in your closet? Love the video as always!!

[@EmilyWheatley]

I try my best to have an evergreen wardrobe. So all my seasons are in my closet usually. Sometimes I may store my really heavy sweaters in warmer months. But I do declutter each season but this is more of my annual new year declutter and the rest are smaller clean outs. And usually my New year declutter wouldn't be this big.

[@plarsen2654]

Great idea!

[@EmilyWheatley]

So glad it resonated!

[@hermytools]

Cliffhanger ending! 👍❤️😂

[@EmilyWheatley]

Love a good cliffhanger 😄

[@lucjagrabowska2726]

... 'if you don't have a rolling rack like a normal person'..... ❤

[@EmilyWheatley]

:-)

[@uhhuuhhuhuhhh]

Sigh...if only I had space for a rolling rack. Someday maybe lol

[@elisabethsteel3382]

I use my shower rod, it helps to put things I want to donate, or to declutter! 👍

[@MjHolt-08]

I put outfits hanging together.

[@HeidiMeigs]

I used to do this too. But I've gotten out of that habit.

[@likewise6867]

i like your hair now!

[@dagnolia6004]

good luck!

[@EmilyWheatley]

Thanks!

[@janjentz1053]

Your closet looks so nice and organized. Only my opinion but it seems like such a huge amount of the same color tops. I love black and white and mostly neutrals; with a small pop of more colored items. I only have 2 white and black short sleeve shirts and same long sleeve in a couple styles. I am new to your channel, so maybe you need a lot more of the same color tops for your lifestyle or work?

[@EmilyWheatley]

I have different fits and styles for each of the colors I like wearing. So it may look like I have 5 white t-shirts but each one has a different length sleeve and shape.

[@joelleaittama1416]

Where are you selling your clothes? Can you recommend a website. I know of Poshmark. Is there another choice?

[@EmilyWheatley]

My other favorite is TheRealReal 🙌 But I also use eBay too.

[@chrismctague5015]

I like it

[@MelissaAnderson-y1k]

So happy you’re back!! Good luck for two weeks 😊

[@EmilyWheatley]

Yay! Thank you!

[@bcvc3365]

Happy 2025!!! May all of your wishes come true this year! 💕👼

[@EmilyWheatley]

Thank you so much! Wishing you the same!

[@NiTeFiSe.collie]

Genius! All the best for 2025.

[@EmilyWheatley]

Same to you!

[@MjHolt-08]

I pull out what I do wear first.

[@EmilyWheatley]

Great approach!

[@carolgoodwin6118]

Where are all your summer clothes?

[@EmilyWheatley]

I try to keep an evergreen wardrobe. So my tank tops are hung on the side of my closet on one hanger. shorts on a shelf underneath hanging clothes. If I need to store any larger season specific things like coats or thick sweaters I put them in my guest closet.

[@alexrodriguez5370]

Thank you for your content. May 2025 bless you BEYOND measure!!!

[@EmilyWheatley]

Aw thanks, I appreciate that!

[@HeidiMeigs]

Emily, I hope 2025 is kinder to you than last year.

[@EmilyWheatley]

Thank you so much! Appreciate that :-)

[@cmeo7642]

All the closet decluttering videos never work for me. I am tall and now a senior w/a bad back. NOTHING fits a tall senior with a tummy, nothing is comfortable and I live in the boonies so shopping is a pain. Finding clothes for a tall older person is a joke. I hate it all, so I can't get rid of it, because finding anything to replace what I may need is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. My clothes are ugly and what I own is because it suffices. Sigh. I hate my entire closet.

[@EmilyWheatley]

I hear you! It's so frustrating when it feels impossible to find clothes that fit and feel good. Maybe try searching online retailers or trying to find a local tailor.

[@apriljoklumb9573]

Could get rid of ones you really don't like. No point in holding on to things you hate.

[@megjones9171]

You have way to many pieces...

[@susangoodrichlerner7819]

I had fun looking at your closet! I keep my sweaters on the top with dividers, instead of jeans. I don't own that many, so they go in my dresser. I simply place the bulky sweaters on the bottom of each pile. It works for me. Now to pull out what I haven't been wearing. We'll see what I can't get rid of! I hope that 2025 is a great year for you!

[@EmilyWheatley]

That sounds like a great system! Hope you have a great 2025 as well!