Amélie Saint-Jacques 6/20/26 Amélie Saint-Jacques 6/20/26

Simplify

You know how there are some concepts that seem obvious if you’re very familiar with them, but to someone else, those concepts are not at all clear? I’ve had that experience recently when saying “less is more” and I was reminded that some things need explaining. I am going to use some client examples in this post, and I want to make it *abundantly clear* that I would never shame anyone; I am using these examples precisely because *they are so relatable*.

Some people have a lot of clothes. So many clothes that the baskets never empty, the clothes never all get put away, and there are always piles of stuff in the laundry room. Most often, these people feel overwhelmed by their laundry. And all too often, their reasoning is that since they have so much trouble finding clean clothes and putting together an outfit each day, the solution must be that they need *more* clothes. They are very taken aback when I tell them that the solution is actually that they need to *get rid of* a lot of clothes!

The shortest, least complicated way to get dressed is to have fewer options in our closet.

Shannon Leyko

Let’s take the example of socks. I worked with a not-atypical client who had three drawers full of socks in her closet, plus a few bins of orphaned socks elsewhere in the house. The drawers had the intention of order (lights, darks, and hosiery), but everything was pell-mell inside them, and there were many orphaned socks and strays in the wrong places, along with some mismatched socks paired together out of desperation. They had taken over too much space and were a thorn in my client’s side each day because it was so hard for her to find what she wanted!

Now, how many socks does one person need? It depends. I mean, I would say that since there are different seasons, it is absolutely appropriate to have wool socks that you only wear in the winter and cotton socks for the summer. Life also presents different types of occasions, so sure, you might need knee-high stockings, black dress socks, white crew socks, ankle sports socks, and a pair of ugly Christmas socks thrown in for good measure. I’m all for variety!

Here’s what happened with this client: Even when I pointed out socks with holes or stains, my client did not want to get rid of them or thought she would need to replace them, because she was in a scarcity mindset. The remedy was easy, if a bit tedious: sort through all the socks, pair them up properly, then organize them by type/length/color. From that point on, not only were they easy to find, but she could see what she had at a glance! At the beginning of the session, she was afraid that she couldn’t get rid of any knee-high stockings, and that was because she genuinely couldn’t always find a pair when she needed one. But once we were done, she had enough to wear a different pair every day for almost three weeks if she had wanted to, and that is when she was able to let go of the excess.

Order allowed her to simplify, and simplifying made her life easier.

Let’s use another example inspired by a different client. Imagine doing a load of laundry and ending up with (among other things) 43 socks; after putting some order in things, you determine that you have 11 orphans and 16 pairs, each of them different. Now imagine instead doing a load of laundry and ending up with 14 socks, comprised of 7 pairs, 5 of which are identical. Isn’t sorting (and putting away) the second load so much easier? The way you get there is by having fewer socks, doing a load every week, and buying bundles of identical pairs whenever possible. David Tennant gets it!

And when this client realized that even if we did match all the orphaned socks that had accumulated, the drawer wasn’t spacious enough for them, her reaction was to say that she would need to purchase more storage. And I said that actually, her storage was fine, it was just that she had too many socks! It just felt like it wasn’t enough because they didn’t get put away properly once they were clean, ang again, that’s easier to do with fewer socks.

Because here’s the thing: The fewer items you have to manage, the less energy it will take from you – and therefore the more energy you have for important things. You can pare down to the essentials, switch to only one sock color, limit the number of special-occasion socks, and simplify both your closet and your life.

By the way, it’s easier to keep up than it is to catch up. That’s why clients hire me to help them catch up – then they are set up for success!

Here are some tips for success: It’s not about how many socks you can fit in your space or how many you could afford to buy; it’s about how many will make your life more manageable. To translate this more broadly, build a system that meets you where you are today. Which routines feel easy? Which routines (or spaces) do not serve you? What drains you and what would you need to feel better about it?

Hi there! I’m Amélie, a professional home organizer in San Antonio, Texas. I help people like you declutter their home, organize their belongings, and simplify their life. I love cleaning out a closet and removing a carload of donations from a home! My goal is to help you create a functional space that will make your life easier and more peaceful.

Interested? Check out my personalized services or book your complimentary consultation!

Amélie Saint-Jacques 5/15/26 Amélie Saint-Jacques 5/15/26

5 tips for organizing a closet

Your closet is often the first thing you look at in the morning, and it sets the tone for your day. Ideally, it should feel like a party where you know everyone and, more importantly, actually like everyone! Having an organized, functional closet not only helps you set yourself up for success, it also allows you to start off your day on the right foot because it will help you feel at peace and in control. Apparently, the New York Times said that 31% of people were more satisfied after clearing out their closet than after sex. Regardless of where you fall, read on for 5 simple organizing tips! (See here for product recommendations. As for decluttering tips, you get my list of 10 things to declutter from your closet when you sign up for my newsletter.)

*This photo was taken by Curtis Adams for Pexels.*

1 – The easiest way to make your closet look better is…

There are small details that will help your closet look and feel more organized, but here’s the most effective one: use matching hangers. And absolutely get rid of the flimsy ones! Replacing your hangers is a simple step to take, but it will make such a big difference! Velvet hangers are inexpensive, yet look stylish, and are functional in that they help prevent your clothes from slipping off. Slim wooden hangers are also a great option, as are very sturdy plastic ones. You won't realize how good it feels to have all those hangers looking uniform until you try it!

2 – The floor is not for storage.

Another common issue is using the floor for storage. Ideally, you shouldn't have anything on the floor of your closet – I don't mean simply that it shouldn't be messy or cluttered, I mean that it should not be the designated home for items such as shoes, sandals, and boots. Try storing those on a shoe rack or on shelves, which will not only make them more visible and accessible, but will also help ensure that you are not tripping over your shoes when you reach for something else. The same is true of handbags and purses – try storing them on the top shelf in clear bags or acrylic boxes, so that they remain visible but do not get dusty. Alternatively, there are purse hangers that will keep them handy without bending the handles and straps.

3 – For the small things.

It is also worth looking at small accessories such as jewelry, belts, scarves, hair ties, etc. If you do not have the luxury of drawers with divider inserts, try a jewelry box (in a closet, I especially like the tall, shallow ones behind a full-length mirror that swings open) or specialty hangers for your belts and scarves. Again, the important thing is to keep your belongings both easily visible and easily accessible. You should also get rid of extra packaging, which I often come across in clients' closets (even if it's from a fancy store and looks nice, it will prevent you from seeing what it contains, and you will lose track of those items - or you will realize that the packaging was empty and just taking up space for nothing).

4 – Plan for the way you use your closet.

Next, see if specific items tend to pile up and see how you can remedy that. I suggest having a hamper in your closet for dirty clothes, as well as a donation box for those items you no longer want (when the box is full, simply donate the contents). I also pack all my travel items inside my largest suitcase, which keeps them contained until the next trip. Keep spare hangers directly on the hanging rod instead of making a pile elsewhere.

Consider installing a few hooks in your closet, too. Spare hooks can be great for those clothes that you wore once and therefore cannot be hung back in your closet, but that are not quite dirty enough to wash yet. You can also use a hook to set up your outfit for the day or for an upcoming special event.

5 – Use bins for folded items.

Most of the time, I recommend getting rid of hanging fabric shelves and stacking plastic drawers – they tend to be flimsy and really not as practical as one would think. Also, try not to stack folded clothes in piles – it’s impossible to reach the items on the bottom, and the piles will eventually topple over anyway. Instead, assuming vertical file-folding in a drawer is not an option, get some open bins and use those the same way you would a drawer. This helps keep items such as t-shirts visible and accessible. Bins are also great for swimsuits and coverups, or winter accessories like hats and gloves.

*This photo was taken by Chastity Cortijo for Unsplash.*

Interested? Check out my personalized services or book your complimentary consultation!