Is it just me or does the start of a new year just make you want to organize and purge?! This year as I was taking Christmas down, I also got the urge to reorganize spaces and purge items that were taking up physical and mental clutter. I managed to get through my spice drawer, our family's junk drawer, our freezer and my closet. Your closet is something that should support you in your everyday life, not add stress to your schedule.

So much goes into how I design a closet for myself and my clients. A closet audit session is much more than a 'keep this and donate that' session, it's a time to really get to know you. To understand how your closet should function to support your schedule and a time to determine what should stay to truly support your lifestyle and personal goals. This week, in light of this new year and new energy, I'm sharing 5 of my top mistakes I see women making in their closet:

1. Not all items visible - This is huge! So often I go into closets and clients have things shoved in the back, in a drawer in another room or stuffed in a mysterious box. If you can't see it, you won't wear it. The only exception to this are items that are for special occasions, but when it comes to your daily wardrobe, you should be able to access and see it all. I always talk about 'prime real estate' in a closet. If you are a fitness instructor, your athleisure should be one of the first things you see. But if you are going to an office, your athleisure shouldn't be in prime view, your office clothing should. Sometimes I also think moving things around helps you to see your items in a new light.

2. Not organized in any way - Similar items belong together. This means dresses with dresses, pants with pants and tops with tops. They also should be color coded. Remember good 'ol ROY G BIV from elementary school? Organize your clothing in color order to streamline getting dressed. I like to start with white, cream, then brown and then go into the rainbow and finish with grey then black. This makes getting dressed so much easier and allows you to see what you have.

3. Holding on to items that represent a junior version of themselves. This one is MAJOR! This doesn't just apply to items in your closet from years ago, but also applies to items that represent a past stage in your life (which could be just last year). Your wardrobe should represent the trajectory of your life and where you are going, not where you have been. This will also help to align yourself with your goals and achieve them!

4. Keeping damaged clothing. I'm rolling my eyes as I type this... I've seen too many stained, ripped and damaged items in the closets I audit. 'If you wear a jacket over it you can't see the stain.' Immediately no. Let it go.

5. No matching hangers. Matching hangers help to elevate the 'shopping' experience you have in your own closet. It helps to create a uniform, organized space that feels calming. I personally like the felt hangers because they take up less space and ensure tops don't fall off. Swapping out hangers to those that match is such a small thing that makes a big impact.

Of course, if this all feels like too much for you but you know it needs to be done, let's chat! A closet audit service is such a game changer!

Shop my favorite closet organization items here.