Becoming Minimalist: Downsizing the closet!

I've been on a 'becoming minimalist' journey the last couple of months, reading articles and blogs that have encouraged me to de-own and purge. Some of the encouragement has been to get rid of physical stuff, and some of it has been to reduce non-stuff like negative thoughts, screen time, multi-tasking (great read here: http://www.becomingminimalist.com/the-10-most-important-things-to-simplify-in-your-life/). Over our winter break we spent time with my family at the cabin in northern California which was a great opportunity to unplug without cell service or internet access. It was an awesome way to kick off the new year with a focus on simplicity!

One Christmas request I listed this year, and my brother in law and sister in law indulged me with!, was a set of slim line velvet hangers (one of those totally adult gifts where you think man am I grown up getting giddy over hangers!). After reading this post by someone who created a 40 hanger closet, I was inspired to continue my minimizing path and thought a set of pretty hangers that would make me feel like I was choosing items from a boutique each morning would help. So today was a significant day of progress in that realm!

BEFORE

AFTER

I pulled everything out of the closet and onto my bed to carefully examine each piece's worthiness of the new hanger and a chance to return to the closet. 

I had been reading about such closet makeovers and clothing purges for awhile so I think my mind was set and made this process much easier. In all of the minimalistic outlook, I keep saying it is just mental. My mind was bought into this idea of the downsize and having fewer options to labor over each day. I've been so excited to go to my closet in the morning and start the wearing rotation through my remaining items. (30 tops and 8 pants are now in there, compared to the 65 tops and 20 bottom hangers; I did move ~10 items over to our guest closet to hold onto for spring). The closet is also looking a lot cleaner after purging a few pairs of shoes, unworn hats and items we will say 'went to the Christmas storage box for a white elephant party next year.

If you are interested in reading more about minimizing I love these tips- especially the questions to process in order to "Ruthlessly Purge!" http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/2013/08/27/clutter-free-forever-vintage-tips-for-an-organized-home/