Most of us clean out a closet the same way. We pull everything out, hold up each piece, and try to decide what to get rid of. According to the creator behind That Practical Mom, that is exactly where we go wrong.
Her message is friendly but firm: you are probably doing it wrong. Not wrong exactly, she is quick to add, because decluttering is decluttering, and anyone who is doing it deserves some props. But she says there is a better, faster, easier way to downsize a wardrobe, and she calls it backward decluttering.
Start With What You Love
The usual approach, she explains, starts with deciding what you do not want. Since the point is to get rid of things, we naturally focus on the stuff we are done with. Backward decluttering flips that. Instead of deciding what to toss, you start by pulling out what you definitely love.
That means the pieces you love to grab, the ones you wear all the time, the ones that fit you well and make you look good. By starting there, you skip the hardest step, which is deciding whether each item is a keep or not a keep. You are just gathering your favorites.
Shrink It To A Small Capsule
Once you have pulled out a lot of favorites, she says to step back and remember the goal. If you have too much of something in a category, you do your best to pare the pile down. The target she names is a capsule wardrobe of 30 to 40 pieces.
Take that small group of favorites and push it to the side. What is left is everything that did not make the cut. Now comes a gentle twist: you are not necessarily getting rid of those items yet.
Do Not Toss The Rest, Store It
Your favorites, the little capsule you created, go back into your closet or dresser. The less favorite pieces get stored somewhere else, whether that is an attic, a basement, a linen closet or anywhere else in the house. The goal is to live with your minimized wardrobe for as long as you can.
As time passes, she says, you find out what you really need. The idea is that what goes back into your closet is just the “tried and true.” And if you find you never reach for the stored pieces, you have your answer without the stress of a snap decision.
Why Closets Are So Hard
She points out that we get hung up on “just in case” items in the closet a lot more than in other parts of the home. We think, well, I might need this for a wedding or a business meeting. That reasoning makes it harder to let go.
There is also a lot of emotional connection to clothing. It might be pieces that no longer fit us, or something that was very expensive but that we never really loved. Backward decluttering sidesteps both problems, because you are not arguing with each item. You are simply choosing the best of what you have.
The Ten Pairs Of Black Leggings Test
Here is a question she asks that is worth taking seriously. Say you have pulled out all of your favorites and you have 10 pairs of black leggings. She admits she is a huge fan of black leggings and wears them about eighty percent of the time in winter. But she asks how many pieces you realistically need, and whether every pair is truly one of your favorite favorites.
Swap in whatever you own too many of: black cardigans, white blouses, navy slacks. If your favorites pile has a lot of near duplicates, it is a sign you can trim further.
How To Try It This Weekend
- Pull out only your favorites. Pieces you wear all the time, that fit great and that you feel good in.
- Look for doubles. If one category takes over the pile, narrow it to the best few.
- Aim for a small capsule. Her target is 30 to 40 pieces, but use a number that works for your life.
- Put the capsule back in the closet. Make it the only clothing you can see and reach.
- Box up the rest. Store it out of the way instead of sending it out the door right now.
- Check back in a few weeks. Whatever you have not missed is ready to donate or sell.
A Kinder Way To Let Go
Many of us were raised to hold on to things in case we need them someday. Telling a person like that to “just get rid of it” can feel like a lecture. This method is gentler. It lets you test your wardrobe in real life, and it gives you permission to keep a safety net for a while.
It also changes how getting dressed feels. A closet with only the pieces you love means fewer mornings staring at clothes that do not fit or do not feel like you. If you have been putting off the job because you dread deciding what to part with, this might be the nudge you need. Start with the favorites, and let the rest sort itself out.
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