How to make your closet feel more like a boutique

You know that rush of anticipation you get when you enter a beautiful store and head to the fitting room with some lovely garments in hand eager to see how they look?

At some point, we have purchased the majority of the clothing currently hanging in our closets.  And, most likely, felt some sort of excitement and promise for those pieces.  However, somehow that same level of enthusiasm or calm doesn't always translate when looking at those same garments once in our own closet, or when frantically trying to put an outfit together.  

I'm not suggesting that our closets need to be set up exactly like a shop, however; we do need to enter them twice a day, so it is a good idea to make the space as user-friendly and pleasing as possible. 

Here are a few things to think about to make your dressing area feel more boutique-like:

Closet Cleanout

Your closet will not feel boutique-y if it is overstuffed, dusty and disorganized.  Set aside some time and get rid of what isn't serving you well.  Need help?  Email me at lori@stylesmarts.ca for a copy of my Closet Cleanout checklist.  

Uniform Hangers

I know I've said this before, but it is definitely worth saying again.  Everything in the closet looks better when on uniform hangers.  Things fall at the same level, and are spaced more evenly.  There are so many options - I love the velvet ones as they are great space-savers and garments tend not to slip off.  They come in a wide arrange of colour, which also can spruce up or personalize the area nicely.  Homesense has almost every colour in the rainbow.  Velvet not your thing?  A lot of my clients love the Ikea wood hangers.

Sort Garments by Like Item

This makes getting dressed so much easier.  You know what you have and where to find it.  If everything is jammed together with no sense of organization, getting dressed can be confusing.  Not the vibe we are going for!  Want to take it a step further?  Organize by colour within each grouping. 

Imagine shopping in a store with no organizational system? You'd probably never go back.  Yet, often we end up putting ourselves through this (daily) by not taking the time to get a system in place. 

Full-length mirror

Because proper fit is one of the key foundations of good style, it is important to have a full-length mirror.  It makes such a difference when you can see an outfit from head to toe. 

Beware that some stores have trick mirrors.  They tilt a certain way so that when you are in the store you appear slightly more long and lean.  Ever get something home and feel it fits differently on you than it appeared in the store?  It's not just you, it's most likely the mirror.  A good way around this is to ask someone to take a photo of you wearing the garment before you purchase, so you can get a better idea of how it looks.

Personal touches

Because we need to enter our closets every day, it makes good sense to do all we can to make the space pleasing and reflect our taste and personalities. Little personal touches such as:  fresh flowers, candles, photos, proper lighting, floor rugs etc. can make such a difference.  

An extra boutique-type item

A couple of years ago, my husband surprised me with a Rowenta clothing steamer as a gift.  I have never been one for ironing and, in the past, whether or not something needed to be pressed was almost a deal breaker on whether or not I would purchase.  You know how the clothing in stores always looks so fresh and hangs so beautifully?  It's been steamed! My steamer has been a closet game-changer.  Costco and Amazon both have a good selection at a range of pricepoints.  Mine has definitely earned its cost-per-use between both myself and Mike.  

I would love to know what you do to make your dressing area more enjoyable, user-friendly and personalized!