How to Feng Shui a Closet

Just because your closet is behind closed doors does not mean it is exempt from the need for feng shui, the Chinese art of manipulating your space to minimize bad luck and maximize good fortune. Your closet needs to be just as clean, clear and clutter-free as every other room in your house.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Wash cloths
• Water
• Vinegar
• Tea tree oil
• Vacuum
• White paint (optional)

1. Take every single item out of your closet to give it a deep-down clean. Try a bucket or pan full of 1 gallon hot water, ½ cup vinegar and 1 tbsp. tea tree oil. Vacuum first, then wipe down every surface, including the walls and especially the baseboards.

2. If time and interest allows, give your closet a fresh coat of white paint. After painting, leave the door open and allow 2 to 3 days to dry and air out. Pointing a fan into the closet can help speed the process.

3. Try on everything you took out of the closet. If it meets any of the following criteria, give it away: 1) you don’t love it, 2) you haven’t worn it in more than 1 year or 3) it doesn’t fit. If there are items with sentimental value that you cannot part with, reserve them for a special box or storage space that is not included in the same space as your daily wardrobe. By getting rid of your old, unworn clothes, you'll open up space that will attract new clothes you love into your life.

4. Arrange your clothes by function, then color. Hang all of your shirts together, pants together, skirts together and dresses together. Then sort each item by function even further. For example, hang all of your long-sleeve dress shirts together, t-shirts together and tank tops together. Finally, arrange each type of clothing item by color. For example, hang all of your white long-sleeve dress shirts together, blue t-shirts together and black tank tops together.

5. Organize your shoes in a similar fashion as you did your clothing in Step Four.

6. If you have shelves above your hanging clothes, use them only for a few light items, such as sweaters in the summertime or tank tops in the winter. Most importantly, never store anything in your clothes closet that is not part of your daily wardrobe, such as holiday decorations or books.

7. Maintain the cleanliness and organization of your closet on a regular basis.

Tips & Warnings

• If when choosing an outfit you tend to toss discarded clothes on the floor or throw shoes into a pile, take a minute to tidy up at the end of the day or at least once a week.
• If your clothes hang so low that you do not have a clear view of your shoes, display them on a shelf or in a shoe organizer on the wall.
• For walk-in closets, try hanging a full-length mirror on the inside door. It not only creates the illusion of more space and amplifies the light, but also makes it easier for you to choose an outfit without having to spend the time or energy finding a mirror in your bathroom or bedroom.
• If you keep a laundry hamper in your closet, empty it regularly, preferably on a daily basis.