Decluttering the Office Closet — Reclaiming & Conquering

Eliza teamed up with me during the start of the project — I tossed pillows at her and directed her on the color bag each should go inside.

Saying “Goodbye” To Good Stuff

My main struggle in my office and office closet was that there wasn’t anything that was trash. For the most part, everything I had was in good condition and I could make a case for every item. But, there was too much of it. There was too much for me to even see what I had. As a matter of fact, at one point, I was uncovering nice things that I had forgotten about and had since essentially purchased duplicates. Counter-productive, huh? You save something, just in case “one day…”, but then “one day” comes and you’d saved for so many “one days” that you forget and don’t use it anyway. So, I had to get real with myself. Anything that showed a good bit of wear or had damage was easiest to discard. In cases of near-identical items, things I hadn’t used in years, or things that I was only holding onto for rare hypothetical circumstances, I donated. Once I had whittled my collections down (especially pillow inserts and covers), I pared them down more to fit within my self-allotted space. There were a few pillows I know I’ll never use in main spaces again but thought Eliza may use in her room. I kept a few limited covers but forced myself to part with more than I kept. Again — hypothetical situations and efforts of “preparedness” is the main culprit for how I got here in the first place 😉

Things started spinning out of control when I outgrew my organizers. So, I stopped utilizing my systems and instead, started making piles, telling myself I was going to tackle it all “soon”. But, the next thing you know, the piles grow, time goes on, and well… this happens.

I had gotten to where I only wanted to grab the pillows that were on the floor (pillow cases with inserts inside) and totally neglected most of my collection because I couldn’t get to the inserts to match covers and I couldn’t stomach adding more entire assembled pillows to the pile. We’ll talk more specifics but first, I’ll share the after — not just the after clean-out, but the “after” I grappled with myself, the “after” of accepting where I was and what I had to do, and the “after” emotional decisions had been made.

Sources: Hanging Organizer | Collapsible Storage Hamper (similar) | White Storage Bins (similar) | Black Label Clips | Slim Velvet Hangers | Flush Mount Light | Chest of Drawer Pulls (Brushed Brass)

Priority Goal: Decluttering, Not Organizing

This effort and where the bulk of my efforts are focused right now are on lessening the load and minimizing. The organization is secondary, as I get things to a manageable state (for me), put good habits in practice, and commit to the systems organized solutions offer.

I ended up with around SIX big black contractor bags for donations, out of this closet. I didn’t even know six contractor bags of goods could fit in this closet! But once I got to that point, I could see, breathe, and actually appreciate what was left. When you get to a point of so much overwhelm that it hurts to face it, you (I) end up not using any of it.

When my collections were manageable, the way I’d like to organize became obvious. Again, not today, but as a secondary priority, once some more decluttering is underway. Using what I have works for now and with a single row of wire shelving from the builder, I think I did well with what I had, without doing any hard work. But, I think my ultimate goal to organize this space most efficiently is to add Elfa shelving to the entire closet and use bins up and down this wall, reserving some floor and ceiling space.

Sources: Hanging Organizer | Collapsible Storage Hamper (similar) | Labels Made with THIS Label Maker

When I set up this system, I used the short-hang fabric organizers to leave room underneath for pillow insert bins. THESE are fantastic quality and come in two colors, 3 (short) and 6 (long) compartment options, and even drawers. If you prefer Amazon for more robust options, free shipping, and quick delivery, you can find way more options HERE.

Sources: Hanging Organizer

I kept some of my most used/rotated pillow covers out for easier access, and stored my more colorful (specific) and holiday pillow covers in a bin I had on hand. There were a couple of pillows that were unique sizes that I decided were better to keep with their inserts, for now, that I housed as-they-were on the top shelf.

I kept a couple of my favorite types of inserts at various sizes, but forced myself to part with most. The fact of the matter is — there are lots of inserts that are on display with covers already, all around our house. Most switches are cover for cover, using the same insert. I don’t need to house 298349032 inserts, just in case. If I end up needing an insert for some obscure size I got rid of years down the road, I’ll deal with it then 😉

Sources: Labels Made with THIS Label Maker

Letting Go of Hypothetical Plans

Just like the pillows, I had a lot of spare throw blankets that literally haven’t been used since 2016, taking up limited hanging space. We keep a lot of throw blankets out, draped, and in baskets in several of our rooms already, so the blankets in this closet are extra/off-season. I let go of any specific, maybe-one-day, hypothetical, highly unlikely blanket plans and thinned the collection. Even perfectly nice neutral, linen-like throws. Even expensive chunky throws with runs that “if I used as a tree skirt you wouldn’t really be able to see” (that’s actually something I told myself even though I never used it as a tree skirt for the years and years it remained in this closet).

FYI — On the far left are dress-up outfits that haven’t been given to Eliza just yet. I also have a large basket on the floor with things and gifts I’ve collected for her but even storing those has become a pain point. As much as I like to be prepared, I’ll be doing a lot less ordering ahead because I don’t want to figure out how to store it all. Then, I inevitably forget what I have anyway. I’m not divorcing this practice completely (I mean, there are some things that you just gotta get when you can at a great deal, right?!), but I’m definitely slowing on the back-stock of things. Her Easter basket will primarily be made up of things I bought last year for warm weather — before even looking at my stash, I can pretty confidently say that her Easer basket is likely already done.

Sources: Slim Velvet Hangers

One allowance I did give myself (for now) is a saved a few thin blankets and rolled them into a basket to use for our outdoor spaces, since we’re gearing up for enjoying those more. We’ll see if that was just an excuse to keep some or if we use them this year. Regardless, we’re majorly progressing, y’all!

Getting Over the Gift Wrap Guilt

First of all, I should never have to buy wrapping paper, bows, or tissue paper again. If I was really being good, I’d probably thin my collection to only what fits in my back-of-the-door gift wrap organizer. Which, for the record, I will never be able to sing its praises enough. But, we aren’t there yet. What I was able to do was…

• Cull an additional five to size bins and bags of ribbons and bows (for boxes and Christmas trees)
• Relocate Christmas-specific and wired ribbon to basement storage with the Christmas stuff
• Part with just-in-case scraps that had seen better days
• Toss gift bags that I would never buy for myself (that had been received as gifts) — especially for super specific occasions, like baby showers
• Gathered everything and sorted into like items; brought in stray tags and such that were in the office to their rightful homes
• Give my mom bags and embellishments she is more likely to love and use

Sources: Gift Wrap Over the Door Organizer | Gift Wrap Rack | Chest of Drawer Pulls (Brushed Brass)

I did some work inside that chest of drawers too — I took extra office/craft supplies to Eliza’s school and even tossed lots of packaged old promotional notepads (with identifying contact information so they couldn’t be donated) from my old job that were over a decade old, still in the plastic wrap. Talk about freeing. Even though the promo paper pads were perfectly fine for scrap paper, there’s only so much scrap pads I can use in a lifetime. I kept a package and said goodbye to the rest that had done nothing but steal valuable drawer space.

Sources: White Storage Bins (similar) | Black Label Clips | Labels Made with THIS Label Maker | Slim Velvet Hangers

Somehow, I had a lot of wine gift bags. I don’t gift wine often and when I do, I typically tie a bow around it and call it a day. I think I kept one wine bag. Giving myself permission to let go of this stuff — as silly as it may sound — was so therapeutic.