What you keep when you cut down to one drawer

Short answer: When your clothes need to fit in one drawer, you keep what you wear most often and what you can put on without thinking. It is soft everyday clothing that goes together and handles washing again and again.

Start with what you wear every week

First find the clothes you put on at least once a week. That is your real starting point, whatever else the wardrobe holds. Set them aside and let them be the core. Everything else must prove that it deserves a place in the small drawer, or it has to find somewhere else to live.

Count the days between washes

The number of pieces depends on how often you wash. If you wash every week, you need no more than a week of clothes of each kind. This gives a clear limit that is easy to stick to. It often turns out that the drawer holds far more than your washing pattern requires.

Choose pieces that go together

If everything in the drawer can be combined with everything else, you need fewer things. Stay with a calm colour palette so a top does not demand one particular pair of trousers. This makes the morning quicker and the drawer smaller. See what is in the range for women if you want to see how pieces can work together.

Prioritise what sits closest to the skin

What you wear next to your body you feel all day. That is why underwear, socks and tops are the last place to save on comfort. Have enough of them to change, and choose them soft and without rubbing seams. The rest of the drawer can be simpler.

Keep a few warm layers

For the cold days you need a couple of layers that can go on and off. A few soft, warm pieces to wear over one another cover many situations. This is where bamboo sweatwear can be worth a look, if you are missing something cosy for home and relaxed days.

Let go of what is never worn

Anything you have not worn for a whole season should leave the drawer. It might be clothes that do not fit well, or something you keep out of guilt. Pass it on, or take it to second hand. The drawer should only hold what you like to put on.

Give the drawer a fixed limit

Decide that the drawer may never get fuller than it is now. When something new comes in, something old goes out. It is the simplest rule, and it keeps order without big clear-outs. Space between the pieces lets you see everything and choose quickly.

Shop with a purpose

Once the drawer is cut down, you can shop thoughtfully. Ask yourself whether the piece could be worn weekly and whether it fits with the rest. Look at the bestsellers for women to get an idea of what others choose again and again, and buy one good piece rather than three halfway ones.

Frequently asked questions

How much clothing fits in one drawer?

It depends on the size of the drawer and the type of clothing. Fold pieces so they stand on edge and leave some air, so you can see everything and take it out without rummaging.

Does all my clothing have to fit in the drawer?

No, you can have a hanger or two alongside for what does not suit being folded. The drawer is for the everyday basics.

How do I know what I can do without?

Ask yourself whether you have worn the piece in the last season. If not, you can usually do without it. You can also take out one piece at a time and see whether you miss it.

You can find the full range at Copenhagen Bamboo.