Mum's genius solution to wardrobe mess

Sydney mum Lyndall Tolhurst has broken down the steps to complete a wardrobe rotation. Photo / Instagram

"I have nothing to wear."

It's a frustrated feeling most of us can relate to, even when standing in front of our open wardrobe that just so happens to be chock full of clothes.

All too often it can seem like an impossible task to find that perfect sundress for your friend's barbecue among a rack of heavy winter coats, or you can't justify throwing out expensive work suits even though you don't wear them anymore.

And while lots of us might like the idea of a capsule wardrobe, it can be unrealistic considering all the different items you need — activewear, work dresses, winter woollies — for modern life.

But don't despair because there's a solution, and the season change right now makes it the perfect time to do it.

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H E L L O 🖤 . With over 30k of you lovelies now following House Home Love, I thought it was time to put a face to the name and introduce myself properly. . My name is Lyndall. . I’m in my mid 30’s, married for 12 years tomorrow (!!) and mum to three lively + lovely boys! . I’m the eldest of three sisters & between us we have nine kiddies 7 & under 😅 We live relatively close and have a weekly ‘cousin day’. . I have a degree in marketing & public relations and have worked for some large companies including Sony, Leighton Contractors, Bovis Lend Lease and Solahart. I currently help hubby run his industrial electrical company. . I have been sharing my home on HHL for the last three years but had a loooooong break after the birth of my third son and have only been back at it since last year. . I loooooove organising to make the most of the available space as well as creating stylish systems that are easy to maintain! . I hate motorbikes yet have a garage full of them 🤣 I can’t live without Maltesers, my morning coffee + Ultraceuticals skincare!! . I’d love to get to know YOU! Drop me a line to say hi below and I’ll check out your page and show you some love back 😘

A post shared by ORGANISE + STYLE WITH LYNDALL (@househomelove) on May 25, 2019 at 12:10am PDT

'IT GIVES YOU MORE SPACE'

Sydney woman Lyndall Tolhurst has been sharing home organisation tips on her Instagram account @househomelove for the past two years and says doing a wardrobe rotation makes that overwhelmed feeling just melt away.

"It gives you more space," she told news.com.au. "You're able to make your outfits quicker and easier because you're not rifling through things that aren't even an option to wear."

Twice a year the mother-of-three sets aside a weekend in which she can spend several hours switching out clothes and accessories in her wardrobe for the new season. She says the simple task has been life-changing.

"It's how to maximise the space in your wardrobe for that particular season so you put away the things you're not going to wear," Tolhurst said.

"So in summer you put away your heavy jackets, your boots, your scarfs, all that sort of thing.

"You put them away whether it's under the bed or if you've got shelves higher up where you can put them."

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W A R D R O B E 🖤 . The season’s are changing and I am so excited for the warmer weather☀️#happydaysarehereagain . Soon I will be doing my wardrobe rotation - packing away the winter woolies, coats & boots and bringing out the summer shorts, skirts & sandals 🙌🏼 . I do my rotations twice a year (March & September) and it makes finding outfits each day so much easier as I’m not rifling through clothes that aren’t even season appropriate #whosgottimeforthat 🤷🏼‍♀️ . I always leave jeans, t-shirts, denim jackets and cardigans in my wardrobe as they can be mixed and matched with seasonal pieces all year round 👖👚 . I then categorise my clothing by type and by colour to make creating outfits super easy. I also only buy clothing in certain colours and patterns that I know will mix & match with items already in my wardrobe #capsulewardrobe 🖤 . Grey storage boxes from @ikea_australia Rose gold acrylic tags + labels from @pretty.little.designs Leather drawer handles from @interiormotivesaus . Tell me, do you rotate your wardrobe for the new season? Would you like me to walk you through how I rotate my wardrobe on stories? . . . . . #wardrobe #wardrobeorganization #wardrobeorganisation #wardrobegoals #dreamwardrobe #walkinwardrobe #hinchmystorage #hinchmyhome #hincharmy #konmarie #konmarimethod #mariekondo #iheartorganizing #homeorganization #homeorganisation #organization #lifestyleblogger #professionalorganizer #hhlovedit #stephed #hinchyourselfhappy #ikeaatmyplace #ikea #pocketofmyhome #realliving #adorehome #hbmystyle

A post shared by ORGANISE + STYLE WITH LYNDALL (@househomelove) on Sep 14, 2019 at 12:25am PDT

HOW TO DO IT

Tolhurst uses grey felt boxes she purchased from Ikea for her wardrobe rotation, moving the clothes she doesn't need for the next few months to hard-to-reach shelves at the top of her wardrobe.

Others options include storing unneeded clothes under a bed or in a spare wardrobe in a guest room. For those who don't have the luxury of storage, Tolhurst recommends moving out-of-season items to one side of your wardrobe.

Lyndall Tolhurst labels all the boxes she uses for her wardrobe rotation. Photo / Instagram

She always leaves trans-seasonal clothes like jeans, T-shirts, denim jackets and cardigans out as they can work all year round.

Finally, Tolhurst organises her clothes first into type (skirt, blouse) and then by shade of colour, meaning you'll never struggle to match your clothes again.

THE BENEFITS

Besides saving space, the benefits of a wardrobe rotation include being forced to examine all your clothes twice a year and take stock.

"Once I can see what outfits that I have I can see any gaps that I need to purchase for that season," Tolhurst said.

"It also gives you a good chance to go through your clothes and work out what doesn't fit or is worn out or needs mending or what you just don't like anymore.

"So you're culling things at least twice a year … I think also with my shopping it's helped in I can see the sort of pieces that I like, the colours that I like to wear.

And so now I just shop in those patterns and colours so that everything works together."

A wardrobe rotation also doesn't need to be limited to the seasons, with Tolhurst packing away anything she doesn't wear weekly.

"I've also put away all my eveningwear because as a mum you don't go out that often, you're not dressing for work or functions very often," she explained.

Ms Tolhurst organises all her clothes by type and then shade. Photo / Instagram

"I've actually even put away like dresses that I would wear to a friend's wedding or engagement party or whatever it is.

"I'd roll those and pop them in boxes as well, just so that I'm not looking at that stuff and it's not taking up valuable real estate in my wardrobe."

Tolhurst doesn't just limit the wardrobe rotation to her own clothes and does the same for her three sons, who are aged three, five and seven.

"I do it for my children, also in the fact that I have three boys so I'm always constantly handing things down as well," she explained.

"At the end of the season I would get rid of anything that's worn out, choose anything I want to hand down to the next one or next one and just put away their heavy jackets and that sort of thing."