Day 28: Coats & Jackets {31 Days of Easy Decluttering}

Welcome back to 31 Days of Easy Decluttering! If you’ve missed any of the previous posts, there are links to them all here.

Today’s Easy Decluttering Project

Today we’re talking about decluttering your coats and jackets.  Whether you have a hall closet, coat rack, or mud room, coats and jackets can take over and make the space cluttered.

If you can’t get the jacket you want out of the closet because the hangers are so squished, it’s frustrating.  When you come home, the last thing you want to do is fight to get your coat to stay on a hook that’s already overflowing with coats, so when it falls on the floor for the 17th time, you just leave it there, adding to the clutter of your entryway.

So, instead of having to struggle with the coat clutter every day, spend 10-15 minutes decluttering your coats and jackets today and enjoy coming and going from your house more!

Easy Decluttering Steps

Throughout the series, you’ll follow these steps to complete each daily task.  {Don’t forget to take before and after pictures to share too!}

Note: The main purpose of this series is to declutter so don’t get overwhelmed doing too much cleaning.  Once your house is less cluttered it will be easier to clean so you can always come back and do it later!

Also, if you have the time, you can organize the space while you’re doing this step, but don’t get overwhelmed with too much organizing this month.  We’re focused on decluttering!

Purging Tips for Coats / Jackets

Follow the steps listed above, and use these tips as you purge (step #5) your coats & jackets:

• Throw out any coats that are ripped, torn, or completely worn out
• Give away or donate any jackets that no longer fit anyone in the family
• Give away or donate all coats that have not been worn in the last year (that allows for seasonal changes)
• Consider limiting each family member to 1 dressy coat and 1 daily coat per season and then give away or donate the rest (except maybe for small kids – you may want an extra day-to-day coat for when they get dirty or wet)
• Store off season coats and jackets somewhere else so you have plenty of space for those you currently wear

If you keep the number of coats and jackets limited, it will help keep your closet or entryway clutter free.  Space between hangers is always a good thing 🙂  Plus, you’ll even have room for guests to put their coats now!

And if you need any extra motivation, there are lots of needy people who really need jackets and coats, so please don’t keep more than you need, especially if you don’t wear them.  Share with those who can really use them 🙂

Pictures and Links to Inspire You

There are lots of pretty pictures of mud rooms and coat closets.  Depending on your space and your family’s needs, use these links to figure out the best way to organize your coats to keep them from getting cluttered.

• I love the use of space in this closet. I use over-the-door shoe pocket organizers for many things besides shoes, and entry/mudroom closets for hats, mitts, sunglasses, umbrellas, or anything else you may want near the door. They also have shelves for shoes, boots and bags. Plus hanging space for jackets and coats.

•  Designated hooks for each family member limit the number of coats that can be kept, which decreases clutter in the entryway

*Please share from the original source if you choose to share these pictures. If you want to share this post please use the image at the top.

If You’re On A Roll…

You can declutter the rest of your hall closet, mudroom, or entry area.  Or you can organize your space to keep the coat clutter away in the future.

Check out these posts for more coat closet & entryway ideas:

Organizing Our Hall Closet

31 Days of Organizing Tips: Day 25 (Entry)

• Visit my Entryways, Drop zones, and Command Centres board for more ideas on organizing your coats to combat the clutter.
• You can find more decluttering tips and lots of motivation and inspiration for decluttering on my Decluttering/Purging Tips & Ideas board.
• For DIY organizing ideas, take a peek at my DIY Organizers board.
• For cleaning tips, you’ll find a bunch on my Cleaning & Cleaning Supplies board

Good luck with today’s decluttering project!  I’d love to hear how you did, so please leave a comment and use the hashtag #31DaysEasyDecluttering when you share your pictures.

How many coats and jackets did you declutter today?  How do you organize your entryway to help keep it clutter free? 

If you need help decluttering, contact me for in-person organizing services in the Mississauga area, or virtual organizing services anywhere else.

Happy organizing decluttering!