You open your closet, stare intently at your clothes and feel a wave of dismay wash over you. Sound familiar? A study by Trunk Club, a personal styling service owned by Nordstrom, found that this scenario is quite common. Nearly 61% of Americans said they regularly find themselves struggling to find something to wear, despite having a closet full of clothing.

But by reimagining how you style your unworn garments you can substantially increase your options without buying even more clothing that you likely don’t need. Try these 10 tips for getting the most out of what you have.

1. Cull your closet and look for inspiration.

First things first: Go through all your clothes and if something no longer fits or it’s been ages since you’ve worn it, set that item aside to be donated or consigned. Simply cutting through the clutter and paring back to items you really like can do a lot to kick-start your creativity. After you condense your wardrobe, check magazines, apps like Pinterest or your favorite brands’ sites for styling inspiration for the clothes you’ve got.

2. Mix and match silhouettes.

Balance your outfits by incorporating both unstructured and structured items together to create interest. Wear a bodysuit under wide-leg pants or a structured blazer over a relaxed, flowy shirt. Consider your purse, too: match a slouchy bag with a blazer or an angular bag with an oversized sweater.

3. Learn to love layering.

Layering is another way to add dynamism to your outfits, and there are plenty of appealing ways to do it beyond wearing a sweater over a collared shirt. Try a fitted turtleneck under a jumpsuit, tights under your favorite shorts or an A-line or baby-doll–style dress over skinny pants. Layer necklaces and bracelets, too, freely mixing chain sizes and types.

4. Alter the utility of a clothing item.

Don’t limit purpose-bought clothes to their intended use. A sundress can work great in the fall when topped with a chunky turtleneck and paired with boots and tights. A silky button-front pajama top can lend a feminine elegance when paired with a blazer and jeans.

5. Upcycle boring basics.

With the post-pandemic trend toward more casual office attire, you can lend once-staid staples a modern edge. For instance, give a basic navy blazer a more playful look by banding the cuffs with different widths and colors of grosgrain ribbon or replacing the buttons with those with character.

6. ‘Visibly’ mend old favorites.

“Visible mending” is a trend that involves embroidering or stitching artistically over holes and other defects to highlight imperfections rather than hide them. It allows you to extend the life of old favorites and add one-of-a-kind details that turn them into unique conversation-starters.

7. Have a singular focus.

A monochromatic outfit, where you pair the same solid color (or color family), can look quite chic. Especially when you layer it with a piece of eye-catching jewelry.

8. Break ‘the rules.’

Many fashion dos and don’ts are arbitrary or arcane. So go ahead and mix black and navy, wear an all-denim outfit, don socks with your Birkenstocks, or rock your white jeans in winter. Bonus points for pairing them with a fuzzy white sweater for a monochromatic look.

9. Peruse your partner’s side of the closet.

If your partner doesn’t mind, raid his or her closet for clothes that turn your orphans into outfits. An oversized men’s shirt tied at the waist could pair well with a pencil skirt, as could a belted blazer.

10. Throw a clothing swap party.

Invite over your friends and ask them to bring items they no longer wear. It’s a great way for everyone to clean out their closets and a more sustainable way to shop for “new” clothes.