My Best Tips for the (Dreaded) Seasonal Clothing Changeover 

I kind of do both - I've decluttered down enough that all seasons fit in my closet, but I switch them out seasonally anyway. This results in a very limited "capsule wardrobe" effect in my closet, which makes getting dressed in the morning super easy because everything is an option. Because I've pared down my clothes so much, the switch is super fast and painless, and it also forces me to touch every item of clothing twice a year which helps me declutter whatever is no longer serving me

Yep!! Everything fits in my closet!! I also keep only so many hangers. When something new comes in, something has to go or I don't have enough hangers! It's not my fault I can't keep everything , it's the hangers fault! 😆

I just wear the same stuff and add a hoodie when it’s cold lol I could use some style but it definitely makes things simpler

Dana, I'm never this early to your videos, but I want to let you know, your podcast and subsequently your books, changed my life and my family's life. So thank you.

I keep my winter clothes (and bathing suits) in an under the bed storage tote. I use it as an extra drawer. I don't switch it out. That's where they go. I could never have a Murphy bed 😆

Future me will have it all together. Lol. True. 😂 I live in Phoenix. We only have pre-summer, summer, and post-summer here. Winter clothing is wishful thinking.

"It makes me want the SPACE over the STUFF" Boom, Mic Drop! Thank you, Dana. That quote is worth a million to me!

I live in NH and need various extreme weather options as it can be -5 or 95 in a year. So I allow myself ONE bin for serious seasonal clothing. It takes 10-15 minutes to switch the real seasonal stuff twice a year and keeps me from staring at wool sweaters in July. 😆 Using the container method this way (ONE bin for this) keeps it maneagable.

For me ( I live in Canada), the changeover is an event. But I look forward to it! I have thought about keeping everything out all year now that I have so much more space in the closets (thanks to your clever tips) but I would miss the joy of pulling out the beloved fuzzy sweaters and snow boots, and the pride of hanging the pretty sundresses and cute flip flops... For me unboxing the best of the seasons and the anticipation for the new weather is joyful. Thanks in no small part to only keeping clothes that I love and are looking forward to wearing again!

I love the idea of having no seasonal change over. Why haven't I heard of this before??? Great video, Dana! Oh Reid. LOL 😂

I am living in Finland. We have 4 very different saesons. Temperature can be from 92F to -31F (33 celcius to -35 celsius). I have decluttered my clothes and my off season clothes fit in 2 bins. I strore those binn in my closet. I have 2 bins for outdoor clothes and those bins are in my basement. I like to be outside all year round. We have a saying that there is not bad weather, there is just bad clothes for that weather. I don't have a car, so I am walking, going by bike or using a bus or train. Yesterday I was biking and it was hevily raining. I didn't have my rainproof trousers, but I was thinking: it is just rain. And I was happy that it wasn't snowing yet 😂

Earliest I have ever seen one of your videos. I wanted to say how much your methods have helped me!!

I have the space but my threshold is lower. Realizing I want the space more than the clothes is an aha moment for me. (Also my “least favorite” works for me-like you I can justify ANYTHING)

I don’t have so much stuff that I *have* to do a swap. But it’s nice having the extra space that non-seasonal clothes would take up. And taking ~6 months off from seeing those clothes gives a new perspective on those items than if I just got used to them being there.

I live in Wisconsin so it is very necessary for me to have seasonal changeovers, what I do is have one long bin that fits under my bed. and in winter weather I put long sleeve shirts and pants in dresser and swap out the tee-shirts and shorts into the bin. sweaters always stay in a organizer in my closet. and it works very well for me and takes maybe 5 minutes to do.

As a person with a problem in weight stability (yo yo), I have bins with the clothes I love in size S, M, L, XL... Every year I go through them to look if there is anything I can donate. It`s a huge job. There are just some things I cannot part with, even though they do not fit anymore, I still hope I will get there again. I have the same for `working clothes`, for when I work in the garden or do a painting job. I guess I can toss the latter. But it`s true about the boxes and the future me..... I am definitively going to keep your tips in mind when I will have the courage to tackle the switch this year... Thank you!

Living in Scotland I used to have a huge changeover, but following your decluttering process I now have a closet that mostly can layer for any season. Yes, I have a winter coat that is very large that just comes out for 3 weeks if we get a freezing winter, but otherwise I love having everything available all year round.

I’m that weird person that will wear the same stuff year round. When it’s cold, I just add a jacket and whatever else will keep me warm 😂

Thanks for always giving me a new perspective that makes life easier. You are appreciated!

*cries in canadian* lol we have much winter and we have to have do a seasonal change over if we don't want to root through winter clothes, but I totally get what you're saying!

FOR CHILDREN: I have made the “seasonal” and “future/when they grow into it” the SAME BOX. That way you are bound to find it when you need it. If it is still too big, it goes right back in to see if it is useful next season change. The box is still a limit. My boxes (1 for each child) are not that big. When you do the change over, de clutter all of the too small items. If there are some pieces that will be handed down to the younger kid, put it in that kid’s “seasonal” box NOW! This is one of the very few things I feel like I have a handle on, in my cluttering journey.

I understand your concept of having less and decluttering at the end of each season. I live in an area with 4 distinct seasons. Our temps can fluctuate well over 100 degrees. I feel we actually need more items. Of course some things can be worn longer than one season. But it’s not just a matter of putting a sweater over a top. I’m talking flip flops vs winter boots and heavy duty snow gear!

Thank you for motivating me to tackle the closet…again 😂Your books have helped me declutter my entire house, garage and attic. I’ve listened to them multiple times, especially nice while driving, and am motivated each time to do a little more decluttering. It is an ongoing process as life circumstances change.

This is helping me so much this year! Last spring I was doing the switch and my winter sweaters overfilled my container. I had an empty extra container and stuffed that one too. I had the room so i kept them but now I'm ready to let my container be the limit and get rid of the extra one. Luckily, it's the correct season to start donating sweaters and jackets

I live in a true 4 season climate. I hang all my clothing except pajamas and underpinings. Spring and fall i do an assessment of the last few months, pulling out things i no longer wear to donate/trash, shift any caregories to the front that i will need more frequently and then finish by turning all the hangers backwards so i can easily cull six months in the future.

I don't know if you value a feedbacl, because I want it to be understood as such and in no way should it represent a devaluation. I like you personally, but whenever I listen to your videos, I get the impression that someone conveys the content in a complicated and rushed manner. That may be because you're slightly short of breath, or seem like that (maybe it's just your speaking technique), but then there's the sometimes complicated explanation of things, in my opinion. There is a lot of rambling, talking about something, not thinking it through, following an afterthought, etc. As a listener, I find that exhausting and then I always stop watching your videos, even though I would be interested in the content and your point of view. Kind regards!

I finally found the denim jacket I've been looking for forever to use with my outfits. Yesterday I went in my closet and took out 4 jackets that didn't fit me right, were not the color I wanted to make room for my denim jacket. 😊 thank you, Dana, for encouraging us.

But really, how cold does it actually get in Texas? (Michigan girl here)

As a SoCalian I have a closet dedicated exclusively to seasonal clothing. but because we don't get real seasons here, my definition of seasonal is COMPLETELY different! lol For me it's all my holiday thematic clothes that i only wear annually around each holiday! I also keep all my outerwear (no matter how thin or thick) in there!

I felt very encouraged by what you said in this video Dana, because I keep all my clothing for all the seasons in my wardrobe. It helps me get creative with my outfits too. On cold Autumn days I'll wear my thermals and then over that a plain summer/spring dress and then a jumper over the dress. It looks as though I'm wearing a jumper with a skirt. It's warm and comfortable. I like your way of decluttering too. That's how I like to do decluttering myself. I too find it really stressful to have piles of items out all at once and then try to sort through them. I find your method of decluttering one item at a time works really well. Keep up the good work. Your advice is very helpful. 😊👍

I so agree with you, Dana. My comment is long because I hope it can help someone else. I am a sewist working on my me-made wardrobe for my new season of life, early & still healthy retirement. As a former 4-H member and sewing project leader, I have always been pretty good naturally and from my career required moving at using the container concept for my wardrobe (Books are a whole other story, friends.) In my first month of retirement, July, I quickly discovered I did not have enough clothes for this new life season. I could not do full loads of laundry weekly, but I had to do laundry weekly to be able to get dressed. What I decided was that my daily wear capsule wardrobe needs 7 bottoms and 14 tops + toppers (I collect these and almost never wear them in my Midwest summer.) Tops I wash after one wearing because I don't have a great sense of smell, but my dear husband does. Bottoms I usually wear 3 times before washing. Now that I am into fall bottoms, this seems to generate two or three full loads for my laundry day every week and I can still get dressed well daily.

Im so glad you are covering this!Living in New England for 33 years (Maine now 🧥🦞) I have a necessary wardrobe for 100° to -25°. I do not want to look at my wool sweaters in July, or sort past flimsy sundresses in February. No matter how many clothes I reduce a seasonal swap out helps manage essential gear. Minimalism was not born in a cold climate! Some clothing stays put with 10 months of use (long sleeve shirts and blouses) I rotate the bulky wool sweaters and microfleece in before Thanksgiving. Cotton sweaters go away at Christmas, but come back out around Easter, when wool goes back into hiding. Except as a coat because as a yankee I'm too stubborn to put that down puff coat back on!!!! Summer clothing is sometimes swapped in a little too soon after an early warm spell. Also, I've found storing summer clothes in my suitcases handy for winter travel to warm places, and a moth free storage space for wool in the summer.

So helpful!

I don’t do seasonal change over. I just focus on sweatshirts and sweaters.

My closet is seriously small. It is only the width of a standard door, and I have to share it with my husband. The seasonal switch is going to have to happen. Plus it helps limit my choices when I’m dressing in the morning.

The space I have does not allow for as much storage space of clothes. Also, as I just got married in April, we are struggling with how to handle both of our clothing

I have no difficulty pulling clothes out of my wardrobe to be donated, thrown away, or mended. And I can easily manage my current-season wardrobe. But my volume is still too high to allow off-season clothes to fit in my closet and drawers. So after several years of both routine and seasonal decluttering, I'm at an in-between stage where my fall & spring (temperate-weather) clothes stay in place all year, but summer and winter clothes get rotated in and out. It's already a lot less work, and more convenient when there's a short-term weather shift. As my clothes wear out or I tire of them, I'll get them down to a volume to fit everything inside year-round. Until then, this system works for me.

I did my changeover yesterday. I live in the northeast so definitely need warmer clothes for winter. Got rid of summer clothes I had not worn. I have a second bureau and closet in another room. Off season clothes go in those so change over for me is easy. Helps that I had already declutterred the stuff I don’t wear.

It was such a revelation to me when I started this decluttering journey last winter that other people have that problem as well. I mean, that others pull everything out, get overwhelmed and leave it there until forever. Such a relief!

I also do not do change over, I have a pretty small amount of clothes so it all fits.

Easy stuff first, always! I never used to do seasonal changeover, but now I do. My closet is fairly big and I've never filled it. Still have about 2-3' of empty space. But I do put obvious seasonal stuff on one half (coats, sweaters, warm jackets, or hot weather things), and the other half is my current working closet, organised by colour and item type. Some things I don't move, if I can wear them in fall and spring. Caveat: I live in Southern California.

I'm moving to a different, colder climate, and have been thinking about seasonal changes, and that it would be efficient to limit my Spring and Autumn weight clothing to "seasonless" colors. I know, it's fun but complicated to mark the seasons with Spring or Autumn colors, so I will limit this to scarves/seasonal accessories. Then for winters, just add my winter colors in outerwear, hats, gloves, etc. Anyone living in four season climate doing this?

My closet is incredibly tiny. However I do try to declutter regularly.

I do have seasonal clothes that get switched around, but I love it! It gives me the opportunity to look at my upcoming seasons clothes with fresh eyes. I also ask myself if I really am looking forward to wearing the pieces I’m putting away. If that’s a No, then it goes away. I’m at a manageable level now and my clothes easily fit in their containers. (I don’t have a closet too, so that makes it exciting 😅)

This was so helpful! So I have 1 container in the shed that I keep my seasonal clothes that I switch out twice a year (which i hate doing). I do only let myself keep what fits in the 1 container, but now I'm thinking(💡light bulb moment)...what if I don't do that and I only keep what will fit in my closet. That sounds so freeing. I'm gonna do it! 💪😁

If a closet has been reduced, I guess I don't get why people change over.

Thank u, Dana. I relate to you so much. Future me does not want to deal with present me's failings! 😂

I also do not have to do a seasonal changeover, despite living in a full four season climate ( 🇨🇦). It’s fantastic. I just have a small tote with shorts and tank tops that I get out during the summer and there’s already room on my dresser for those without taking anything out. Decluttering has made the difference

I decided to listen because I really don't have seasonal clothing. I have shorts, jeans, sweats, bathing suits, etc. that I wear all seasons. Yes, I live in San Diego! Also, I use a large garment bag that I keep my heavier items in (to keep dust off of them) which I can easily open if the weather changes plus a pair of boots to wear when the weather is wet. I'm a shoe hog but have limited my shoes to my boots, two pairs of flats (no longer wear heels), flip flobs, two pairs sneakers, crocs, and sandals.

I live in Canada ... but I mostly only wear t-shirts or short sleeved things. If I am cold I just put my sweater on. The only seasonal thing I do with clothing is swap the winter coats and boots to the hooks by the back door for winter with the running shoes and lighter jackets. The ones that aren't being used are in the front hall cupboard but still accessible during fall/spring if the weather acts undecided as it always does. I'm sure it was different when our 5 kids lived at home but we lived in a different, larger home then.

😆😆😆Editor's notes are always great!

I’m not sure how you can do seasonal in WY. We’ve had snow storms in June and days nice enough in January to go for a ride… other than long underwear and snow pants my clothes are used year round. Course we also have people that live in shorts and flip flops year round so maybe they just deal with it.

Removing clothes is hugely apparent with a 3yr old. If a shirt barely fits I need to take it right off and put in donate box. Or else I get in the cycle of let him wear it one more time, wash it, tell myself to put it in the box clean but instead it gets put right back In the closet and repeat. 😅

I love changing out clothes for the season. I have a large walk in closet. I keep out of season in my dresser. Everything in season is in my closet. I keep a box in my closet for things we no longer want. Husband donates the box when full. As I set up my closet I will declutter. My previous house we stored everything in the garage. I had 12 kids and loved setting up everyone's clothes. They are all adults now so only have my own to do. I hang all the pants and put the top, bra and underwear on the hanger. I wear my clothes in order unless a special occasion. I wear a dress to church on sunday. Take it off when home. Turn inside out on hanger and put at the back of the row to rewear. Then it gets washed the 2nd wear. I wear it for 1.5 hrs so I can wear it twice.

I love that Reid is getting all these lessons too. 🤣

This was a eye opener for me. Thank you 🙂

Reid's notes are the best!

I have no seasonal clothing, I have stuff that I can wear all year round and the things that I have that are considered thin, I just wear long leggings under them. Also, I only have maybe two or three sweaters at best.

But what if you really like all your clothes & you DO WEAR all the stuff in your closet? And I've always done the change over cause there is limited space in there.

Is it wrong to use the closet in an extra bedroom?

@8:29 you speak my language 😂 thank you for these videos

Thank you for this suggestion. It is very helpful. I moved from San Diego (not really wanting to) to Colorado. This is 1stvtime livingvin seasons & extreme cold. So, because of needing thick bulky clothing now & long sleeve clothes..ugh, it feels impossible to have everything in my only closet. So, bins it is from summer to winter. But, the words that you said makes sense. Which do i love more so i can clear stuff out & actually have space to see what i have iny overstuffed closet..& learn to stop buying more.

Thank you for this suggestion. It is very helpful. I moved from San Diego (not really wanting to) to Colorado. This is 1stvtime livingvin seasons & extreme cold. So, because of needing thick bulky clothing now & long sleeve clothes..ugh, it feels impossible to have everything in my only closet. So, bins it is from summer to winter. But, the words that you said makes sense. Which do i love more so i can clear stuff out & actually have space to see what i have iny overstuffed closet..& learn to stop buying more.

p.s.s. I love that jean jacket, super cute 😋

The only difference between my summer and winter wardrobe is... jumpers and cardigans. No need for a totally different wardrobe. I also don't own a lot of clothing.

Removing out of season clothing from one's closet was a completely foreign concept to me until I started watching RU-vid.

Very helpful! Thank you!😊

I myself didn't have seasonal changeover even i live in 4 seasons climate. I work i filmmaking, and all year around, i have cold and hot situations: day and night temperature fluctuations have up to 40°f/25°C. So i am in the middle of summer have my winter coat in my bag for nights.

I've been working down my clothes to deal with all 4 seasons. 1 wide cabinet for all of my bottoms (shorts, pants/jeans, skirts), and 1 wide cabinet for my tops (t-shirts, long sleeves for Autumn/Spring), and another for my undergarments/socks/accessories. I keep my outer layer winter clothes (sweaters, cardigans, hoodies), one-piece dresses, and blankets/bedsheets/towels in my closet.

Hi from Michigan! My only changeover is sliding summer tops to the side left of my closet, & stowing away my sandals in a box on the top shelf. There’s room for sandals with my other shoes, but I enjoy that feeling of moving into the next season. And, next spring I always find a pair I forgot about over the winter. Free “new” shoes! Love your videos. Compassionate, common sense talk

I love the flip, it's a whole new wardrobe. We also have every single season. Who wants to look at jackets in July?

I love your method for long term decluttering. At this point it has the most utility. My first declutter was the kondo method. I no longer want or need that method. Yours is much more doable and works great

I was only just swapping out my winter clothes for my spring/summer ones here in Australia and thinking I wonder if I could reduce the amount of clothes to have all seasons fit in my wardrobe at once. Seeing this was exactly the motivation I needed. Thanks Dana 💕

Have decluttered. Live in Wisconsin. Grateful to swap out summer clothes with winter clothes & vice versa. T’s & crops swap out for fleece tops & lined bottoms. Easy peasy. Thanks! 👍

My winter clothes are my summer clothes with a sweater. lol

Many of us live in a climate that is near 90 in the summer and below zero in the winter. So that can present a challenge as well.

Dana, this video is very helpful to let go even more. Love from Germany 🤗

I’m going to go to the garage and do this with the shoe rack. Where I live it rains for months and why dig through sandals when I can’t wear them for months anyway. Hey, maybe some I don’t like or are worn out anyway. I’ve been following you and I’m getting down to the last things around here. It feels great!

Thank you for the very timely lesson

Never thought I wouldn’t have to do a seasonal change over. This is an amazing idea.

I'm decluttered enough to not do a seasonal swap, and i still do a swap because i find it easier to get dressed when only clothes that are in season are visible and available. In my area temperature swings from -40 to +40C. Most of my wardrobe is the same, i only change over one box.

Your son is so great! I was hoping he'd be clising the video

This is the only area I find REALLY HARD. I know I have too much. I have so many favorites. I have too many containers, and I have room for them. But I hate the seasonal changeover, in spite of the excitement of feeling like I have a whole new wardrobe when I switch out. It's the sheer amount of work doing the switch. Since I'm starting my first winter with Dana's system, I'll start with one handful at a time. I'm going to go thru my summer dresses and weed out the ones that don't fit my style perfectly, even if they're new. I'll only store my faves. Then, I get one handful of my winter selection of pants, looking for donations, and only stocking my closet with faves. Then what? You do a little every day until the whole inventory has been gone through? And hopefully there's less? So next year won't be overwhelming? Help me. The idea that everything will fit in my closet right now is truly not possible, and weeding out everything not fitting there will be so overwhelming for one try. Is doing this during the yearly switch outs using the steps above the way to go for someone like me? Btw, I'm an artist and I love selection. Putting together fun outfits on the fly doesn't stress me out or slow me down.

Anyone else from San Diego? Beautiful sunny days. ❤ And yes, we pay for this weather.😂😏👎🏼

I live in Northern Illinois. Bins and clothing out of sight, not my thing. I wear all my clothing year round. I layer summer dresses with cardigans n tights. My blazers ate linen and cotton not necessarily fall n winter but year round when needed. We have 1 closet for all our coats n jackets. I also practiced 1 in 1 out because I sew. All clothing that gets folded fits in the dresser drawers. Thats it for me. I still constantly think in terms of decluttering so the clothing situation never gets out of hand.

I actually enjoy my seasonal swap out! It only takes about 30 minutes spring and fall, and when I 'm done, I feel like I have a whole new wardrobe. 😁

I have never done a seasonal clothing changeover.

Funny you mentioning San Diego...LOL! 😹 Last week during the TYHB ADD, I took all the cold weather clothes from one bin, & replaced them with my tank tops & shorts. I do have way more clothes, but I've been going through them slowly (started a 3rd bag for donations during ADD). 😸

It’s not my clothes that are the problem for seasonal change over- it’s my kids clothes 😭 the outgrowing of things, etc. adds a whole other layer of complexity that is so overwhelming

Dana, your explanations help me more than anyone else in having hope that I can live more peacefully in my home. You understand my thought process in a way other youtubers don't fully understand or express. I'm so grateful for your sharing!

Thank you for the video. I'll get rid of some of the things I don't use 😅

So inspiring, Dana. I watched this while I cleaned out a sink drain - yucky, but so necessary. I missed the all day declutter, but will check in as I find the time. Luv ya ❤ ~ Maggie

I have gotten down to one dresser and half a closet of clothes. If I buy anything "new" its from a thrift store, and I take the number of items I bring in, out. I will demote my old towels to the dog, and then to the garage for rags. I have even used stained shirts for rags in the garage. I am trying to do some "death cleaning" as well.

Unfortunately I live in a tiny house. We have 2 closets, 1,000 sq feet of a house. We have 4 seasons, I have a very hard time with space. I love your channel, I’m trying to declutter my clothes. I fluctuate in weight 😢so I have a few things in each size. Not a lot, but I don’t want to rebuy clothes when I go up sizes. I try really hard to stay at my “goal” weight, but life happens. I’m past menopause, so it’s really hard to maintain for me.

I have found seasonal changeovers imperative for my boys who dress themselves to keep them from picking complete ridiculous, out of season outfits 😅 Each boy has 1 bin for out of season clothes & clothes to grow into.

I stopped changing seasonal, because I decided to put the summer things in a seperate wardrobe. It helps very much with seasonal decluttering too.

I look forward to Reid’s notes at the end so much! 😂

I 1000% agree with you Dana. I live in Melbourne, Australia and we literally can have the 4 seasons in 1 day ( like The Crowded House song🤭) It use to bug me so much putting away things only to need them a few days later. I now have every item of clothing I own in my WIR but have decluttered enough that I am not over or even close to my clutter threshold ( gives me room for the new things that I might buy) I look back at a photo of my WIR and can’t believe the change in there ( it only took 4 years to get there🤭) It’s definitely worth the effort❤️

Since Saturday's ADD I can now comfortably, one-handedly remove and return every item in my closet. I tried everything on, donated what didn't fit perfectly or no longer suited my season (yes, you short-shorts!) I have packed my case with "holiday clothing" also tried and tested pre-packing and decluttered the hot-press to store my holiday ready suitcase 😊 It feels awesome 👏👏👏 Thank you 💜💜💜

another thing that helps me is to not purchase synthetics - narrows the field of potential future purchases - came up w/ a bag of jeans to donate today - I've drastically reduced summer clothing (live in Minnesota) so I have space for more cool weather things