closet

So you've cleaned out your closet (strike that off the New Year's resolution list!), but now what? You've got all these clothes lying around that you don't know what to do with. While you can always donate, you might also want to get creative and find other ways to sort through your leftover wardrobe.

• Organize a clothing swap: Have fun and be productive by getting your closest girlfriends together to share your excess apparel. You might have outgrown a dress or it might not fit anymore, but that doesn't mean your friend can't add it to her aresenal of clothes. The best part is that you'll get rid of what you don't want but also walk away with new items for nothing.
• Sell it: Making money back on used pieces can be well worth the effort. You can either try selling on online sites like eBay or take clothes in to consignment stores. Either way, just make sure the items are in good condition beforehand.
• Donate it: If for some reason you can't sell some items or don't think you'll get what they're worth, consider donating them. You can give them away to cousins or siblings, or head to your closest Goodwill, where you'll get a tax write-off while helping others out.
• Upcycle: There are standard ways to recycle old shirts (hello, new gym wardrobe), but get more imaginative! Did you know you can make scarves, pillow covers, and much more out of used t-shirts with just a few simple steps? It might be worth adding to your 2013 to-do list.

Fall can be a tricky time when organizing your clothes. Your Winter clothes may be used intermittently and your Summer clothes will have to be stored away somewhere. Organization expert Peter Walsh, a speaker at the O You! event in Los Angeles this Saturday, says that this season is actually a good time to go through your clothes. Here are some of his tips:

• Chuck your Summer clothes. "If you didn’t wear that summer dress or those shorts during the entire season, there’s very little chance you’re going to wear it next. Time to get rid of it — no matter how cute it is or how much it cost. It’s taking up space in your closet and it has to go."
• Get containers. "Once you’ve pared down the essentials that you want to keep, and after you’ve had a chance to clean them all, grab an airtight container (a closable bin, a zippered plastic bag, and/or a set of vacuum bags), fill it with the clothes and a couple of cedar blocks to keep away the bugs. "
• Find a place. "Find an out-of-the-way place to store these clothes until the weather starts getting warm again." One great option for clothing storage is to keep them under your bed.
• Examine Winter clothing. "Similarly, for your winter clothes which have been hibernating . . . examine each piece carefully. Make sure it still fits you, that it hasn’t been damaged since last season [by bugs, water, and smells], and make sure you still love it. If it fits all of those criteria, then move it to the front of the closet or the top of the dresser."

Getting dressed is a much more enjoyable process when you have a neat, organized closet to rummage through each morning. Stray belts, mismatched shoes, and a pole lined with tangled, broken hangers makes for extra, unnecessary stress. Sure, cleaning out your closet may be an elaborate process, but the results will have a major, time-saving payoff. Not sure where to begin? Follow this step-by-step guide for a smooth closet-cleaning experience:

Remove and Classify

• The first step is to take out everything — yes, absolutely everything. It's the only way to know exactly what you have and exactly what you need.
• As you remove your items, sort them into different categories: things to keep, things to store, things to give away, and things to toss. This applies to everything, from clothing and shoes to jewelry and handbags.
• Bag up the to-give and to-toss piles, then box up the seasonal items you'd like to stow away for a while. Sweaters, puffy jackets, and Winter boots take up lots of space, so keep them in a different closet or attic until the Fall.

Do a Thorough Cleanse

• Once your closet is completely cleared out, it's time to start dusting, wiping, and washing. Clean every shelf and drawer, then sweep and mop the floor.
• Consider adding an air freshener that's specifically designed for closets, like the Ornascent by Compac Closet Freshener ($12), to maintain a clean scent.

Keep reading for more closet-cleaning tips.

I take pride in the overall aesthetic and organization of my closet. After my relaxing morning ritual, I continue to keep stress levels to a minimum when opening my clean closet — clean being the operative word here. A messy closet can add unnecessary stress to your life and waste precious minutes of your day. And not only that, but sprucing up your closet can do wonders for your mind and body. Here's why . . .

1. Give away clothes that don't fit or don't make you feel good to Goodwill. By putting your closet through a mini detox session, you'll feel like a huge weight has been lifted off your shoulders. Oprah says that your home should rise up to meet you, and I feel that this extends to the closet zone as well. If your closet is stuffed to the brim with outdated shirts or dresses you know you'll never wear again — it's time to say so long. Once your closet is more airy, you'll have easy access to your wardrobe and you'll discover chic pieces you didn't even know you had! Trust me, you'll feel like a million bucks, which will translate to saying yes instead of no when your friend asks you if you want to join her in spin class.

Here are some more reasons why you should get your closet clean on.