One of my New Year’s resolutions is to organize my closet once a month. It’s the only way I can keep my closet in check. Otherwise things get out of hand…or lost. Below I’ve put together a few of my best tips for getting your closet in order to kick off your spring cleaning:

Once a Month: Organize! By the end of the month the contents of my closet and dressers look like a bomb went off. It’s not that I’m intentionally messy; I just forget to fold things when I’m in a rush. Plus I don’t always put things back in their proper place. Needles to say, when I organize my closet once a month I find that my closet is easier to navigate. I put together better outfits because I can find (and see) everything too. I like to organize the hanging pieces by cut, color and length. As for my folded items, I group things together based on cut.  

Every 6 Months: I suggest going through your entire closet every 6 months or so. Try everything on. If something is permanently stained or ripped, trash it. If you are unsure about something, ask for a second opinion. That’s what friends are for! Just channel your inner Bradshaw:

Once a Year: It’s time to break up with the old and make room for the new. Donate things or organize a clothing swap with friends. I realize that breaking up with pieces you’ve had in your closet for years can be tough. Nevertheless, it’s important to remember that sentimentality should not warrant a precious piece of real estate in your closet. Another idea is to do the "switcheroo." At the begining of the year, turn all of your hangers backward (like this). As you wear items, turn the hanger back around so it's facing the right way. By the end of the year you will see which pieces you wore and what you can get rid of. Easy!

Do you have any space saving tips for your closet? If so, share your suggestions in the comments below!

XO Lauren

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Last year Lauren blogged about a few of her favorite ways to deal with unruly jewelry in her post, Operation Organize: The Necklace Nightmare, so when we found Amanda PeQueen’s adorable DIY jewelry storage solution we had to show it off to everyone!

By affixing a couple strings of wire to empty frames, Amanda created a wonderfully chic place to store all of her bits and baubles. For an extra lovely finish, back the frames with some pretty fabric. According to Amanda, it’s a “$3 craft project!” To put it all together, she  “picked up the frames from the dollar store and used wire, scrap fabric, and leftover spray paint.” Brilliant right? She said that it’s “an organized and beautiful way to store jewelry!” And we couldn’t agree more!

In honor of Amanda’s creativity we have crowned her our newest Chic of the Week!

Congrats Amanda!

Be sure to add Amanda as a friend so you can take a peek at her album, Some Crafty Things, that’s filled with other simple DIY décor projects!

Are you going to give Amanda’s DIY a try? How do you keep your jewelry organized?

XO Team LaurenConrad.com

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If you have read my book Style then you know what I think when it comes to cleaning out your closet: If you can’t see it, you won’t wear it. The solution? Overhaul your closet and get organized. (Check out Chapter 4 of Style for helpful tips on editing and arranging your closet.) So what do you do with all of the pieces you want to ditch? Pay it forward. And no, I don’t mean watch the movie.

Think of it this way: As your unused homecoming dress sits in the deep dark depths of your closet, there is someone out there who is looking for, or needing, that very dress. They don’t say, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” for nothing. Instead of tossing or selling closet rejects, donate them—but do it wisely. Certain organizations specialize in distributing specific clothing items. To inspire you to make smarter donation decisions, I have put together a list of helpful suggestions on disposing your closet castoffs:

Shoes. If you are tossing a pair of shoes, give them to someone who really needs them. I recently learned about Soles4Souls, which is an organization that collects shoes and gets them to those in need. In many countries, children cannot attend school or church unless they have a pair of shoes and Soles4Shoes makes this possible.

Prom Dresses (and special occasion dresses). Let’s get real. Most of us probably won’t wear our prom dresses again. Instead of leaving the destiny of your dress in the hands of moths and dust, give it a second life by donating it to someone who will really appreciate it. There are plenty of organizations that help facilitate the distribution of special occasion dresses to those in need such as Donate My Dress and Project Princess. (If you’re afraid to take the financial hit that may come with donating an expensive dress, you can also sell it on eBay or Smashion.)

Professional Clothing. If my Dress Coding series has inspired you to clear out the old and bring in the new, then this is just the tip for you: Donate your old work wear to someone in need. There are countless shelters full of women who are ready to get back into the workforce, but do not have the appropriate attire (or funds to purchase work clothing) to do so. By giving your old professional clothing to a local women’s shelter or to an organization such as Dress for Success, you are providing someone with the tools for change and opportunity.

The next time you decide to put your chaotic closet in check, keep these donation ideas in mind and let your clothes spread some kindness. After all, sometimes all it takes is one act of kindness to change someone else’s world. So pay it forward…

Do you support a clothing-related cause? Share links to you favorite local charities and shelters in the comments below.

XO Lauren

P.S. If you don't have it already, pick up your copy of Style here!

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Nowadays, it’s all about downsizing. Many of you may soon be heading to a dorm room (comparable to the size of a shoebox) or moving into your first, lets just say “petite,” apartment… Regardless of your homeward destination, I think we can all agree on the importance of breathing room. When space is limited it’s time to get creative! So, how does one take an inch and make it a mile? The answer is clear.

One of my favorite tricks of the trade is to incorporate clear acrylic or glass furniture or accents (Plexiglas and Lucite are also nice “clear” materials). Just one see-through piece can entirely reshape a room by giving it a more spacious and less cluttered feel. I love classic pieces crafted in clear materials because they maintain a sophisticated look while giving the traditional shape a cheeky and modern spin. (Note: Be forewarned… Clear accents can be dangerous for unwary guests, so please refer to my CFW* precaution at the foot of this post.)

Have a small space? Consider clear your new BFF. If your room is particularly tight, swap out that big black desk chair for an acrylic alternative. Or, if you’re living room is just a bit too cozy, incorporate a clear coffee table or footstool (your pretty rug will thank you for the extra press).

Transparent pieces are not limited to tiny spaces though… Clear furniture is perfect for balancing out rooms that are very ornate or heavy with wood or bold colors. The weightless feel of acrylic and glass furniture allows you the practicality of storage and use as well as the beauty of a sleek, seemingly uncluttered room.

If the see-through thing is just way too space age for you, try flirting with smaller room accessories like lamps, trays (see photo on left) and vases. Even slighter scaled items make a clear difference.

What do you think about clear furniture? Are you inspired?

P.S. If you have clear accents in your home or dorm room upload and submit a photo to your LaurenConrad.com profile page and share the link in the comments below. I will share my favorite personal photos in a Member Spotlight post. Click here to learn how to upload and submit photos.

*CFW (Clear Furniture Warning): Many, if not most, unsuspecting guests might not spot that clear chair or stool amidst your beautifully decorated home. For the sake of safety and to avoid inevitable embarrassment, accessorize the clear item with something (i.e., book, throw, vase etc.). Let’s just say, I know someone who has fallen victim to an “invisible” chair after a girl’s night out... We’re still uncertain as to where to place blame. Some say the chair possessed Cheshire Cat-like abilities, while others—such as myself—believe it was due to this friend’s martini-impaired vision. The verdict is still out.

Photos: house&home, referans, decorpad