Small Closet Ideas: How to Maximize Your Space
Have big dreams for organizing a small closet?
Having a small closet isn’t uncommon, but optimizing it can be tricky. Whether you moved into a new place and are in need of some reorganization or you live in an older home with a teeny-tiny closet, we’re here to help get your closet under control with a few small closet ideas.
1. Clean Out Your Closet
Since you’re working with limited space, it’s best to evaluate your closet and see whether any of the items can find a new home. Sort through your clothes and determine which pieces you should keep, donate, or sell. This is also a good time to see if you need to take any clothing to get repaired or altered.
2. Rotate Seasonally
Not all of your clothing and accessories need to be in your closet at all times! From ski pants to swimsuits, not every item needs to live in your small closet at the same time. Use your closet space to hang clothes that are in season and stash the rest. Consider adding underbed storage for seasonal items so that you can easily transition your wardrobe for each season.
One of the easiest ways to upgrade your closet is to organize your shoes. An over-the-door shoe rack is a great option for tiny closets. It utilizes the space on the back of your door, which is often neglected. If you have bifold closet doors, you can use a hanging shoe organizer instead. These don’t hold as many shoes, but they can fit bulkier pairs. You could also take your shoes out of the closet and use a shoe rack or keep them under your bed.
Once you’ve got your shoe situation mastered, it’s time to move on to your clothes. One of the best small closet ideas for maximizing a tiny space is to add in a closet organization system. These range in size and give you the ability to add in drawers, a second clothes rack, cabinets, and more. Traditional closets often only offer one rack for clothes, leaving a lot of unused space underneath hanging shirts and sweaters. By adding in a second clothes rack or drawer system, you can get twice as much storage out of the same space.
Another way to get more out of your closet is to replace plastic hangers with velvet ones. Not only are they thinner than traditional hangers, but they keep clothes from slipping off.
Now that you’ve got your shoes sorted and your clothes organized, you’re probably left with odds and ends like scarves or workout tops that still need a home. The solution for these items is a basket or bin. Bins fit snugly on the floor or on top of a closet shelf and are ideal for corralling loose items. Use shelf dividers to compartmentalize folded clothes, such as piles of sweaters, or loose items like clutches and purses.
After all of your organizing efforts, what are you to do if you still just don’t have the space? Consider adding another storage area by way of a clothes rack or armoire. A clothes rack is a great option if you have a few statement pieces you want to show off. An armoire is ideal for keeping things tidy and stored away.