Small Closet Organization: Smart Ideas to Maximize Space

How To Organize One Small Closet – Make One Small Closet Work

Do you have ideas for organizing clothes when the closet is too small in an apartment and you can’t afford a larger place?

-Virginia

Virginia, I’ve been there. One of my homes was a 750-square-foot cabin with no closets, so I learned quickly how to make limited storage work. My current house has two shallow closets—each about 18 inches deep and four feet wide—and no dresser. There’s also no linen closet and only a small medicine cabinet in the bathroom, so everything has to be organized carefully.

Practical strategies I use to organize a small closet

• Purge regularly. The most efficient way to organize a small closet is to reduce what you own. Get rid of items you don’t wear or use, then pare down a bit more. If an item doesn’t make you feel good when you wear it, consider letting it go.
• Limit shoes with a door shoe organizer. I hang a shoe bag on the bedroom door and only keep as many shoes as fit in it. That prevents overflow and keeps footwear tidy.
• Store seasonal clothes under the bed. Use narrow under-bed boxes for off-season garments—winter clothes in summer, summer clothes in winter—so they don’t take up precious closet space.
• Measure hanging space and be strategic. Measure how much room you really need for hanging items. I discovered I only needed about eight inches for long dresses and pants when I hang them by the cuffs on slim wooden hangers.
• Add an open shelf unit beneath hanging clothes. A small shelf with multiple tiers sits under where my tops hang and holds t-shirts, pajamas, shorts and sweaters neatly folded.

• Use the top shelf wisely. A single long shelf across the top of the closet can hold a basket for belts, a hat box for purses, one spare sheet set and a couple of large totes for items you don’t use daily.
• Utilize the inside of the closet door. Hang a divider bag or pocket organizer on the inside of the door to store scarves, jewelry or underwear—keeping small items accessible without taking up shelf space.
• Install hooks on the back wall. Hooks behind the hanging clothes are great for items you use infrequently—bags, hats or items on hangers—so they stay out of the way but are still reachable.
• Find storage around the room. Blankets can go under the bed or between the mattress and box spring when not in use. A tall, narrow coat or hat rack in a corner can display purses, scarves or necklaces attractively and free up closet space.
• Use towel rods and S-hooks. Small towel rods inside the closet can hold scarves and belts, and S-hooks make it easy to hang purses or other accessories.
• Think vertical: choose tall cabinets. If you need additional furniture, opt for a tall cabinet with doors rather than a wide dresser. A taller piece stores more while taking up less floor area and keeps items easier to access.
• Keep it tidy. Neatly folded and stacked clothing takes up far less space than smashed, overstuffed piles. Regularly maintaining order lets you store much more in a small area.

These are a few practical ideas to help you get started organizing a small closet. With a mix of decluttering, smart storage choices and thoughtful use of all available surfaces, you can make a small closet work much harder for you.

-Jill

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