I know that it can be hard when you have a small closet, clothes pile up and you never know what to do so it looks tidy. Let’s sort that today with simple, actionable tips and ideas that you can do without going down the route of expensive renovations or even moving.
When it comes to small closet organization ideas then you have picked the right article to read. Not only are we looking at tips for clothes storage we are also looking how you can keep it organized with accessories and shoes too.
Small closets can feel impossible to fit all the things that you need. They have limited space and are often not presented in a way that actually works well. But, don’t panic, we can do this without spending money and it doesn’t need to be perfect either.
Let’s stop fighting the tiny closet and lets find ways to make you win the closet war.
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Use Vertical Space In Your Small Closet
Often there is space that is more awkward to reach, but it’s actually perfect real estate. This space is often under-used and could be put to work straight away.
Options include:
These are all viable ideas for that vertical space. If you are tight on space make the most of what you actually have. This space is often ignored because it’s difficult and awkward to reach. But it’s ideal for those who are renting or have a lot of out of season items that aren’t always needed daily.
It’s a great place to start!
Maximizing The Hanging Space
If you need more hanging space in your closet there are ways that you can maximize what you have without going mad.
Options to consider:
- Folding clothes hangers, this means you can get two rails of clothes where normally only one would fit
- Multi-layered hangers, these are great for trousers, you can get multiple pairs of trousers on one hanger.
- Have a rod that is higher and use this one for the out of season items that still need hanging up.
- Use hangers that hold loads of clothes but take up less space as the clothes fold flat
- Rotate clothes depending on season and only have the clothes that you are going to wear hanging up.
When your closet is organized and the items are easy to grab it makes the day start smoother. But not everything needs to be hung up, there are times folding and storing in a drawer is just as good an option.
Clever Shoe Storage
Shoes can be bulky and difficult to store especially when you only have a small space to work with. Organizing shoes without ending up with the pile of doom at the bottom of the closet can feel impossible. These ideas will help you avoid that problem altogether.
Options to consider:
- Shoe racks
- Cubbies where each box is used for certain types of shoes
- Hanging organizers, sometimes used for clothes, use these for your shoes instead
- Clear boxes are great for keeping shoes tidy, you can even put the ones you don’t use often high up on those vertical shelves that you seldom use.
- Perhaps have underbed shoe storage instead of putting them in your closet.
Shoes are important, some people have a lot, some not so many. The important thing is to find a balance for you in this season of your life. If you don’t have space for too many shoes think about purging the ones you do have. If you have more space by the front door where you can store shoes maybe this is an option and only your best shoes are stored in your closet.
Storing Accessories And Bags In Your Closet
There are always other items that go with your clothes that can be more bulky and more difficult to store. Think bags, scarves, belts, gloves and purses.
Options for organizing:
- Using cubbies for bags and gloves is a great way to keep them organized and looking good
- Use speciality hangers for scarves and belts, this makes it easier to find what you want.
- Use hooks on the backs of doors for things that you can hook, like the current bag you are using
It’s easy to let the accessories get messy, they are often the after thought, and tend to be the smaller items. Many times the accessories don’t get their own space and this is what causes the problem.
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Renter Friendly / No Damage Solutions
Sometimes you just need those no-damage solutions so not to affect your deposit when you leave.
Ideas to think about:
If you are a renter then you are going to want to think outside the box and sometimes these solutions are better.
The tension rods for example are great not only for hanging up clothes but also great for shoes, belt storage and scarves too. What matters most is choosing solutions that won’t cause damage. If you are short on space for hanging but can’t add more to the closet think about getting a freestanding rail instead, this is a perfect example of thinking outside the box.
Decluttering Tips Before Organizing Your Small Closet
If you are limited to the space you have in your closet, sometimes it’s a good idea to declutter any excess that you might have. This will make keeping it tidy easier as you will have less things to keep in the small space.
This will help you from overstuffing your closet and making it even more difficult to keep organized.
What to do with the clutter?
- Donate the items you don’t want
- Sell items that are still in good condition
- Trash the items that really are too far gone
Organizing is always better when you spend the time to declutter, going through the clothes and making sure you are only putting the ones that you need back into your closet. If it doesn’t fit, you don’t like it then it has to go.
Decluttering before organizing makes a huge difference, and experts agree that reducing what you own is the first step to creating a functional closet.
If you don’t want to get rid of items how about swapping clothes out seasonally?
Small Closets Can Be Organized!
It is possible to organize your small closet so it’s manageable and even functional in your home.
Systems only work if you practice them everyday so they become habits that you use. Just start small, one section that you can tackle right now! Pin the post so you can come back to it when you have your next closet organization session.
Decluttering the items you have will have the biggest impact on how much you need to store.
Don’t forget you don’t have to do it all in one go, take your time.
Check out these other organizing posts and see if they too can inspire you to organize your home.