I like to declutter my stuff regularly. My new house is smaller, and I dislike clutter, so starting with getting organized was essential.
The next step was organizing the remaining items in the house, and I’m glad I managed to do that.
First, it’s important to mention that I’m not a minimalist when it comes to my wardrobe. Over the 10 years I’ve been in Singapore, my collection of clothes, shoes, and accessories has grown significantly. What started as a small wardrobe now requires several.
My job and my love for fashion contribute to this increase, but I still avoid letting my house get cluttered. Instead of just buying lots of storage units, I prefer maintaining a clean house with plenty of open space. I need to see all my clothes, shoes, and accessories easily. In a place like Singapore, with just one season, I need all my clothes visible year-round. For places with multiple seasons, it’s a good idea to store out-of-season clothes neatly.
I thought I might need another cupboard, given how much I held onto after decluttering, but I managed with some creative methods and by using most of the wardrobes in the house. Even though my things aren’t all in one place, it’s manageable and well-organized.
Main Bedroom
The main bedroom is smaller and lacks the walk-through wardrobe I had before. Instead, I have a small closet where I keep:
– Dresses
– Nice tops and shirts
– Skirts
– Jackets
– Underwear
There wasn’t enough space for my pants, so they’re in a different wardrobe. If the wardrobe setup was different, they would fit, but I’m working with what I have in this rented house. I only keep two pairs of shoes (my booties) here to avoid clutter. This setup gives me a clear overview of my favorite clothes. Usually, I start an outfit with a top or dress and walk a short distance if I want pants.
I also have a new makeup solution with a simple dressing table from Ikea and my jewelry is stored in cabinets and a stand, though I’d like to improve this setup someday, inspired by some custom solutions I’ve seen.
Office
I took the largest bedroom for my office since I work from home a lot. This space also serves as a major storage area now. I previously kept my office cabinet in a separate room, but now it’s in my office, providing space for additional storage. By getting rid of unnecessary files and old electronic items, I found space in the cabinet for some of my shoes, which fits well with my fashion business.
In my office cabinet, I store:
– Heeled shoes
– Bags
– Belts
– Scarves
My office has a wardrobe I use as a secondary closet, holding:
– Pants (as I wear dresses and skirts more often in Singapore)
– Casual dresses
– T-shirts
– Sport and lounge clothes
– Sports bras
– Toiletries (due to limited bathroom space)
– Swimwear
– Cardigans and jumpers
Despite calling it my secondary closet, I use it frequently for sports and lounging at home.
My Son’s Room
My son’s closet partly serves my needs too, as he isn’t interested in clothes. Here, I store items that aren’t my favorites anymore. This way, my main closet only has what I love, and eventually, I donate items from this secondary storage if I don’t miss them over time.
Small Extra Room
My husband uses this room for all his clothes, which keeps his things separate and organized.
Hallway (Living Room)
Our Chinese closet, which has been with us through five houses, now serves as storage for most of my flat shoes. In Asia, it’s customary to remove shoes indoors, and I’ve grown used to it. We also have a small cabinet for more shoes and store some near the entrance.
Overall, this storage plan is working well so far. I’m sure it will improve over time. There’s limited extra space left, which helps me keep my wardrobe small and effective. I did a bit of shopping to fill gaps in my closet during a recent trip.
I’m happy with how I managed the storage without buying new cabinets, except for one wardrobe for my husband. It’s great to work with what we already have.
How do you feel about your home’s storage solutions? Are you organized and have a good overview of your clothes, shoes, and accessories?