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When it comes to organizing my home, the one area I seem to neglect is my closet. And while I’ve tried every hack online to declutter my closet, it isn’t too long before I fall back into old habits again.
From the FhiFho method to the 'House Purse', not even Marie Kondo could help with my daily closet management. That was until I came across a rather strange-sounding hack that was making the rounds on social media — the closet ‘meal prep’ trick.
Intrigued by its name, I decided to give it a go to see if it would create order in my chaotic closet and make organizing less of a chore. Here’s why it worked for me.
What is the closet ‘meal prep’ hack?
So, what exactly is the closet ‘meal prep’ hack? Essentially, it’s treating your closet like a fridge by organizing each item of clothing like an ingredient. Then you can easily mix-and-match your outfits (the way you’d create meals) — around staples you will actually wear regularly. Basically, only add in the clothes that fit into your daily lifestyle or ‘meal plan’. This way, you can cut through the clutter and eliminate clothes that you won’t wear.
Coined by former fashion designer and stylist, Tessa Hughes, she explains this in her Instagram post. “I seriously think about outfits like a recipe with ingredients. Think about your FAVORITE outfit, and make a note of what types of items are in it. Think: long-sleeved t-shirt, stretchy jeans, and sneakers with a blazer. Those are your ingredients.
"Look for similar items: other t-shirts (that also go with said jeans), cute blazers, and sneakers. Thinking in terms of ingredients will help you avoid weird impulse items that don’t “fit” with the rest of your wardrobe!”
Sounds simple enough? With that in mind, I decided to give it a try in my overstuffed closet and bedroom storage.
How I 'meal prepped' my closet
Admittedly, I’m a creature of habit and live in the same favorite staples —primarily my cozy cardigans to keep the chill at bay. But as a result of having a disarray of items taking up space in my closet, I’d spend most of my mornings rummaging through them. With the ‘meal prep’ concept in mind, I decided to give my closet a good declutter. First, I cleared out all the ad hoc items that I haven’t worn (or even noticed) for years.
I then went through my closet ‘ingredients’ and prepped them into ready-made outfits. For instance, I’d pair a casual top or sweater with my favorite black jeans, and of course, top it off with my go-to knit cardigan or blazer. Or if I wanted to prep for a party or event, I’d group items to have at the ready.
In fact, the closet ‘meal prep’ hack is ideal to do the night before commuting into the office in the morning. And I found this saved me so much time frantically searching for items to wear — plus, a stress-free way to start the day.
Although this hack took me less than five minutes to do each time, it does require a little patience and dedication. This is especially true if, like me, you procrastinate on what to wear. However, my closet certainly looks all the more organized and tidy for it. In addition, I’ve invested in neat storage boxes to help me organize the smaller items such as belts, hats and gloves.
So if you want a quick and simple way to declutter your closet and save more time in the morning, the closet ‘meal prep’ hack is the one to try.
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