We hired a professional organizer to tidy our closet – here's what we learnt

Here's what actually happens when you let a stranger tidy your closet

illustration of girl with brown hair
(Image credit: Future plc)

Thanks to celebrity organizers such as Marie Kondo and The Home Edit, Instagram and TikTok are filled with wardrobes and homes curated by professional organizers

In the last year, Google searches for 'professional organizer near me' increased by 100 percent in the US. I decided to put the ultimate social media-fueled tidying trend to the test and arranged for a professional organizer to tidy my closet, and sort out my closet organization ideas.

Vicky Silverthorn, founded her professional organizing service You Need a Vicky in 2010. Based in London, Vicky and her team of organizers have helped tidy up the homes and wardrobes of celebrities such as Lily Allen and Rachel Stevens, and now she was helping me.

Clothes arranged on shelves

My closet before the professional organizer arrived

(Image credit: Rebecca Knight)

On the day Vicky turned up at my flat with an assistant ready to transform my large closet in 4 to 5 hours. It was an eye-opening experience, and my wardrobe has never looked better - here's what I learned.

5 things we learnt from a professional organiser

1. They don't turn up with a massive range of storage

Clothes arranged on shelves

My closest after the professional organizer left

(Image credit: Rebecca Knight)

If you've watched The Home Edit you might expect a home organizer to turn up with bags of storage to neatly arrange all your belongings. However, on the day Vicky explained to me that arriving with a bunch of closet organizers before exploring the space might actually make it harder to keep tidy. 

'I think there is a current trend of over organization. I think some methods can be extremely hard to maintain if you are a busy person who is time poor,' says Vicky.

Instead, Vicky and her assistant worked miracles with the storage I already had and suggested other times that might help if I wanted to invest in the future.

2. It is easier to declutter with a fresh perspective

Clothes spread out over a bed

All clothes were spread out on the bed before decluttering

(Image credit: Rebecca Knight)

During the morning sections of my wardrobe were pulled out of my cupboard onto the bed, and Vicky would hold up each item to say if it stayed or went. There was no pressure or gold star if I got rid of anything, but I actually found it much easier to let go of items with a fresh pair of eyes looking at my wardrobe. 

If you can't afford a professional organizer, consider drafting in a friend to help with this process to give you a fresh perspective.

3. Clothes care checks are vital - especially for moths

Before putting every item back in the wardrobe, Vicky checked every item for moth holes, stains, marks, or holes. Luckily, my clothes were moth-free, but organizing your wardrobe is the best time to work out if you need to research how to get rid of moths before they start nibbling your favorite cashmere jumper.

4. It is important to get your hangers right

Clothes hung up in wardrobe

My closet after Vicky and her assistant worked their magic

(Image credit: Rebecca Knight)

Prior to the organization, I had already invested in matching slimline velvet hangers from Amazon. However, Vicky let me in on a secret that while these are a great investment, they were a little too big for some of my clothes, in particular my favorite suede jacket, where it was pulling on the shoulders.

Instead, Vicky recommended trying the hangers with no bar on Amazon. 'They are slightly smaller in width and may work a lot better if you are around a women's size 6-10ish,' she explained.

5. Well-used labels are a game-changer

Clothes arranged in storage boxes

(Image credit: Rebecca Knight)

The final stage of my wardrobe transformation was labeling, for which Vicky cracked out her Cricut Joy to create custom labels for any boxes I had. 

Vicky explained that it is important not to go overboard with labels. However, using them in the right place can make all the difference in finding something quickly, and reminding you that the item is there. 

Cricut Joy | £179.99, Cricut

Cricut Joy | <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=92X1572902&xcust=hawk-custom-tracking&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcricut.com%2Fen_gb%2Fcricut-joy-category%2Fcricut-joytm.html&sref" data-link-merchant="SkimLinks - cricut.com"">£179.99, Cricut

If you're just dipping your toe into the Cricut world the Cricut Joy is the best place to start. It works with 50 materials including vinyl, sticker paper, and card. It is small enough to tuck away in a drawer or a shoebox, it is perfect for labeling wardrobe or <a href="https://www.realhomes.com/design/home-office-storage" data-link-merchant="realhomes.com"" data-link-merchant="SkimLinks - cricut.com"">home office storage ideas.

My closet tidying experience with Vicky was gifted, however, the average cost of a professional organizer can range from $75 to $169 per hour. My closet that has magically stayed in order for the last month is a testament to the value of hiring an organizer. 

However, if that isn't in your budget, you can still get the same effect by following the steps above.  

Rebecca Knight
News Editor

Rebecca Knight is the News Editor on Real Homes. She graduated with a Masters degree in magazine journalism from City, University of London in 2018, before starting her journalism career as a staff writer on women's weekly magazines. She moved into digital journalism and developed an interest in homes and interiors when she joined the Ideal Home website team in 2019. Since then she has written for a range of gardening and interior websites including Town and Country, Homes and Gardens and Living etc. As a flat renter, she is always looking for smart DIY hacks that can be easily removed without annoying her landlord, whilst also helping her save money towards her first home. 

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