If only everything was as easy as it sounds. Ever begin a project with the best of intentions? You get this great idea to clean out your closet. You run to the store and buy the cutest baskets and containers, maybe some paint or shelf liners, and let’s not forget the candy bar and cola, at the checkout counter! Great you have everything you need. Right? Well maybe not! How would you know for sure? Let’s go through all the steps and see if you bought enough baskets.

First things first, let’s start at the beginning. What’s that? Good question!

Step one: Decide where you will start. Some organizers say to start with your clothes, others say to start where you need the most work, and some say do whatever you are in the mood for. Well that’s not very helpful. You choose to organize your linen closet, now it’s time to empty the closet out completely! Yes everything! Now just to make sure it’s ready for your cute baskets! Wash the walls, and shelves. Paint them if needed, and vacuum the floor!

Step two: Sort, purge, or edit everything. Put them into 3 piles, keep, love/joy, can’t live without, and can’t see my future without it. Next pile, “thank you” for showing or teaching me what I don’t need, don’t like, and don’t want. (Donate this pile, you could be holding on to something that someone else has been praying for). The last pile is my favorite! Black trash bags (black bag, so you can’t see what you have thrown away, so you don’t take anything out). It’s okay to let it go!

Step three: This step can be challenging! Take ownership of everything you choose to keep!What does that mean? Take ownership. It means remove all packaging, tags, and labels from each item. If your keeping it, then you are not going to return it to the store. If your returning the item then you have 24 hours to get it returned or take ownership of it! (No pressure at all). Now that you have taken ownership of all of your possessions it’s time to put away everything back into the closet.

Step four: Sort, group, and categorize each item. Place items on shelf in baskets, according to frequency of use. With lite items like pillows or blankets on the top and heavy items placed in baskets on the floor. Way to go, you did it!

This is such a proud moment! I know you did an amazing job. I would love to hear from you. Please send a picture along with your story.