Why Organizing Your Closet Isn’t Always About Decluttering
During a recent home organizing session, I met with a client who’s been steadily working her way through each room of her house. We’ve made incredible progress together—and she’s feeling great about the transformation so far. But when it came time to tackle her closet, she hesitated.
She told me, “I have plenty of space. I love my clothes. I’m not sure I even want to get rid of anything.”
That hesitation is completely normal. In fact, it’s something I hear a lot.
Her closet was already functionally organized—neatly arranged, no visible clutter. But here’s something every professional organizer knows: organizing isn’t always about getting rid of things. Sometimes, it’s about getting reacquainted—with your space, your belongings, and your current lifestyle.
To help her see the purpose of this session, I drew a comparison to her own profession. She’s a CPA, so I asked her to think of it like going through a financial audit. When she meets with her clients, she isn’t always changing the numbers—they’re looking at habits, identifying patterns, and reevaluating priorities.
That’s exactly what we were doing with her wardrobe.
Even a well-organized space can feel overwhelming if you’re unsure of what’s actually inside or whether it still fits your life. That sense of “I don’t even know what’s in here anymore” is what creates stress—not necessarily the quantity of stuff.
So we approached her closet like a closet audit, not a purge.
We gave her clothes a chance to breathe. We pulled items out, touched the fabrics, tried things on. She began to rediscover favorite pieces she hadn’t worn in ages. We looked at what felt good, what was easy to access, and what might be standing in the way of a smoother daily routine.
Once she had that visual clarity, the next steps became much easier to see:
◈ Do we need to reorganize any zones or categories?
◈ Do any items need to be let go—not out of guilt, but because they’ve served their time?
◈ Is there anything that needs to be added to complete the wardrobe?
◈ Or maybe—was everything just fine all along, and she just needed to reconnect with it?
That’s the heart of true professional organizing. It’s not always about donating half your closet or becoming a minimalist. Sometimes, it’s about pressing pause and conducting an intentional review of what’s already there.
So if your space—especially something personal like your closet—feels “off” even when it looks tidy, it might be time for your own mini audit. The goal? Not perfection. Just peace of mind.
Because it’s not about how much you have—it’s about how it feels to live with what you have.
If you need expert organizing help, don't hesitate to reach out. Visit pinkyjackson.com to schedule a free assessment. We would love to help you with our Onsite Organizing services if you are in the Louisville, KY area or our Virtual Organizing services if you are more remote or prefer to work online.
Pinky Jackson is an Organizing Expert and Decluttering Specialist. She and her team organize homes & small businesses in Louisville, KY. For more information about Pinky’s pricing & services or to schedule your free assessment, go to pinkyjackson.com
Photo: Becca McHaffie @beccamchaffie
