How To Organize A Small Closet

Learn how to maximize space and organize a small closet with this comprehensive list of tips, ideas and resources for making the most out of the space you have! 

Does this look familiar?

True story – my first home was a two bedroom, one bath home, in a total of 785 square feet.

It was cozy and we loved it, but suffice it to say, the closets were small. To make matters worse, part of the small amount of space in the master bedroom closet was taken up with a large boxed in area that was built around heat ducts, etc.

So I’m one of those who can personally attest to the challenges of living with small closets!

While every closet and it’s storage needs are different, there are a few basic steps that can be taken to make the most of your small space. 

Put anything that you no longer want or need into a donations pile. Get rid of anything that you no longer need or wear.

The “golden rule” of clothing purging is that if you haven’t worn it in a year, it needs to go.

If you’re serious about maximizing your closet space. You must be ruthless when it comes to getting rid of the clutter!  

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Ask yourself these questions when deciding what needs to go and what to keep:

• Does it fit? Don’t hang onto an item that you intend to lose weight to fit into. Often, you no longer even care for the piece once the weight is gone.
• How long has it been since you’ve worn it? The general rule of thumb is to get rid of anything that you haven’t worn for a year or more.
• Even if you’ve worn it within the last year, have you worn it more than once?
• Interchangeable clothing items are wonderful, but having too many can easily lead to decision paralysis. For example: if you have five pairs of khaki pants, you probably aren’t going to wear them all.
• Is it something you’ve been hanging onto because you need to purchase something special to go with it?
• Is it worn or stained? 
• Is it comfortable?
• Is it out of fashion? If you think it might be, it probably is.
• Are you limited by how you can wear it? Do you have to layer a sweater over a blouse to hide a stain or tear? 
• Does it need to be altered before you can wear it? 
• Are you keeping an item for sentimental reasons or just for special occasions? If so, think about storing it elsewhere.
• And the #1 hardest of all – it may fit, but is it flattering? (That’s a tough one for me when I love something!)

Wallpapering a small closet might seem like a fun idea, but I would think twice before doing it in a clothes closet.

Unless you’re going to use a very subtle pattern and neutral color, a wall paper can be very distracting and make it difficult to choose colors or to put outfits together. And most of it will be hidden by all of the clothing anyway.

While the closet is empty, take measurements of each wall and make note of any oddities.

Some closets have bump-outs, lower ceilings, etc.  You’ll especially need these measurements if you’re going to add a small closet organizer.  

One of the most difficult obstacles to overcome with a small closet is storing seasonal clothes year round. For example, winter clothes are typically bulkier and therefore take up more space. 

Consider storing seasonal clothing in bins under a bed. Clothing can also be stored in an attic, basement or storage unit, as long as it isn’t damp at all.

You’ll want to make sure that any containers you use are airtight and will keep out bugs and dirt.

Vacuum storage bags are one of the most space conscious storage solutions. THIS ONE has over 110,000 reviews and can be used with your regular vacuum cleaner or the included hand pump.

• Cascading hangers can hold multiple pairs of pants or skirts, practically in the same hanging space as one garment on a hanger.
• Baskets and drawers can corral sweaters, folded shirts from the dry-cleaner, socks, underwear and other small clothing items.
• Hooks can hold belts, scarves, purses, jewelry and other accessories. Hooks in a row on the wall take up a lot of wall space – instead consider pull-out sliding hooks that mount to the wall or hangers made with hooks on them.
• A shoe rack can be hung from the closet door and can be used to hold all sorts of smaller items, in addition to shoes.
• Shelf dividers do a great job of keeping stacks of folded sweaters, shirts and pants in orderly piles.
• Hanging shelves, that hang from the closet rod, can hold stacks of folded clothing, shoes, purses and clutches.

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You don’t have to go to the expense a closet organization system to give yourself plenty of room in a small closet space. There are lots of DIY ways to add extra storage.

Utilize the entire space

There is usually a lot of wasted space in a closet, even a small one. Examine your closet closely for any empty spots you may not have noticed before.

• Don’t forget to look up! Do you have room to add an extra shelf to the top of your closet? The top shelf makes a storage space for things that you don’t need to access on a daily basis. 
• Also, don’t forget to look down. Raise the existing clothing rod so that you can add a second rod below. You’ll be able to hang jackets and shirts above and pants below. It practically doubles your closet space! Don’t forget to leave a spot for hanging those long items though.  
• Cardboard boxes can become budget friendly options for storage. Consider covering them with a pretty paper or fabric.

The back of your closet door and any unused wall space is valuable closet real estate – don’t waste it!

There are a multitude of over-the-door hanging closet organizers available. There are versions of them with pockets, pouches, bins and shelves.

You’ll find them made from canvas, plastic and wood and in all price ranges.

There are over-the-door organizers especially for holding jewelry. There are budget friendly ones made with pockets and pricier ones that are basically a hanging jewelry cabinet with a door.

You could even make one yourself, customized to fit your precise needs!

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SUSTAIN MY CRAFT HABIT

Adding shelves or a shoe rack is an obvious option to add to a spot of empty wall space in a closet. But have you ever thought about putting a small dresser in your closet?

Not only do the drawers provide lots of extra storage, the top of the dresser is an added bonus for holding jewelry boxes, makeup and even a tabletop mirror.

One more tip about closet doors – if your closet has folding doors, consider replacing them with standard doors so that you can take advantage of this valuable spot.

What if you still don’t have enough space?

Sometimes the simple fact is that after all of the purging, planning and organizing, you still might not have enough room to fit everything in.

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If this ends up being an issue for you, there are few more tricks to try:

• Can you relocate certain items? Maybe your suit jackets and blazers could be hung in a closet that holds your outdoor coats.

• If space permits, add an armoire to the room for hanging clothes in or rig an old tv entertainment center by placing a hanging rod where the tv used to go.

• Use the KonMari folding method for creating extra space in dresser drawers.

• Utilize suitcase space. If you store your suitcases in your closet, they can be a great place for storing off-season clothing.

• Consider adopting a capsule wardrobe, which involves minimizing your wardrobe to a limited number of essential and interchangeable items.

• If you only need a few more inches, consider removing the closet door and replacing it with a pretty curtain that compliments the rest of the decor in the room.

More tips!

Consider organizing your hanging clothes by type and color. This won’t increase your space, but putting outfits together will be much easier than trying to wade through all of your clothes in a small space.

An expandable accordion wall rack is a quick and easy way to add hanging space for scarves, belts and ties.

If your closet only has hanging room on one side, don’t forget about the end. You may be able to squeeze a small rod or some shelves in there.

Here’s a great tutorial for building your own closet shelves if you are working with a small budget. This be a great way to use up scrap lumber.

When organizing a small closet for young kids, don’t forget that they usually have different clothing and storage needs.

I love this idea for using labeled drawers in a young child’s closet!

If you prefer to store your shoes in a bin, snap an image of the shoes and place it in the front of the bin to easily see what’s inside.  Using a self laminating kit will keep the photo from getting destroyed over time.