Clothing storage solution

15 Best Clothes Storage Ideas for 2022 — Smart Closet Storage Solutions

Type keyword(s) to search

Today's Top Stories

Your Weekly Tarot Card Reading, by Zodiac Sign

Simona Tabasco Said 'White Lotus' Finale Is "Wild"

Do Yourself a Favor and Adultify Your Kitchen

76 Luxe Gifts That Are Actually Worth the $$$

Feast Your Eyes on These Thanksgiving Pickup Lines

We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we love. Promise.

NGL, I’m feeling pretty big brain right now.

By Kim Duong

Mar 4, 2022

Courtesy

If your home doesn't happen to have a huuuuge Carrie Bradshaw-approved walk-in closet—well, my deepest condolences. Believe me, I know the pain that is trying to squeeze your entire wardrobe into a tiny closet. It ain't fun! In fact, it may even be damn near impossible! Some people might tell you that the easiest fix here is to just simply get rid of stuff, but I'm gonna jump in and say That's! Not! An! Option! (Don't tell me I only need five pairs of shoes—I will end you???)

Listen. Listen to me. Don't listen to them. It's a good thing we live in this day and age because the internet is loaded with creative clothes storage ideas and space-saving solutions for hopeless people like us—and I've got 15 of the best ones outlined for you below. Maybe your closet is super tiny? Or maybe you don't even have one at all? (Praying for you.) Perhaps your wardrobe is overflowing and you're just in need of some more creative storage solutions to house all your precious stuff. Whatever your dire situation may be, consider any of the ideas below. And tell those minimalists to kindly heck off. Bye.

Get you an armoire

Homary

Woven Rattan Bedroom Clothing Armoire

Now 50% off

$1,980 AT HOMARY. COM

invest in pretty storage bins

The Container Store x Marie Kondo

Parchment White Calm Storage Bin

$25 AT CONTAINER STORE

use space-saving hangers

HOUSE DAY

Magic Hangers (12-Pack)

Now 31% off

$19 AT AMAZON

compress your storage bags

Amazon Basics

Vacuum Compression Storage Bags with Hand Pump (6-Pack)

$20 AT AMAZON

use shelf dividers

A & R

Acrylic Shelf Dividers (4-Pack)

Now 15% off

$17 AT AMAZON

get a storage bench

Article

Maribo Ivory Bouclé 32" Storage Ottoman

$249 AT ARTICLE

be selective about under-bed storage

StorageWorks

Under Bed Storage Box (2-Pack)

$33 AT AMAZON

Get some nesting storage bins

KonMari

Set of 5 Wooden Stacking Storage Boxes

$75 AT KONMARI

use a clothing rack

Simple Houseware

Industrial Pipe Clothing Garment Rack with Bottom Shelves

Now 20% off

$40 AT AMAZON $40 AT WALMART

Organize your drawers

DIOMMELL

Foldable Drawer Organizers (12-Pack)

$30 AT AMAZON

buy a shoe storage cabinet

Corrigan Studio

Burlywood 12 Pair Shoe Storage Cabinet

$84 AT WAYFAIR

consider a storage bed

Prepac

Monterey Full Wood Storage Bed

$426 AT HOME DEPOT $439 AT WALMART

hang a double closet rod

Whitmor

Whitmor Double Closet Rod

$23 AT AMAZON $25 AT WALMART

get a hanging closet organizer (with drawers!)

StorageWorks

6-Shelf Hanging Closet Organizer with Drawers

$38 AT AMAZON

build a closet system

17 Stories

White Benco 59 "W Closet System Walk-In Sets

$240 AT WAYFAIR

Kim Duong Senior Shopping Editor Kim Duong is the senior shopping editor at Cosmopolitan, overseeing shopping coverage online for all things fashion, lifestyle, beauty, and sex.

These Amazon Bath Towels Are *Unbelievably* Soft

Hot Sleepers, Ya Need These Cooling Comforters

You Absolutely Deserve These Super Soft Sheet Sets

Your Sofa + Slipcover = a New(Ish) Couch

Move Over Candles, Cute Reed Diffusers Coming Thru

Besties...Brooklinen’s Black Friday Sale Is Here!!

Chic Dressers That Don’t Cost a Million Dollars

Sleeper Sofas That’ll Make Hosting So Much Easier

Fact: Your Noggin Needs an Organic Pillow

Do Yourself a Favor and Adultify Your Kitchen

Clothes Storage Ideas: 19 Storage Ideas for Small Spaces

Every editorial product is independently selected, though we may be compensated or receive an affiliate commission if you buy something through our links. Ratings and prices are accurate and items are in stock as of time of publication.

No closet? No problem. These creative clothes storage ideas are the closet alternatives you've been searching for.

A room without a closet may seem like a travesty to regular watchers of today’s real estate, home design, and organizing shows, but the fact is that closets in every bedroom of the home were a rarity 100-plus years ago. Back then, folks had a lot less stuff in general, and their clothing was typically stored in a trunk or armoire. So if you fell in love with the charm of an old house or are renting an apartment that dates back to the 1800s, you may need to get more creative when it comes to your clothes storage ideas.

After all, closet or no, storing your clothes neatly and in an organized fashion is a must. When you don’t, not only is it harder to find something to wear in the morning, but your clothes are also more likely to get wrinkled and look messy.

So how do you create storage in small spaces? Start by doing a full closet cleanout to pare down the clothing you need to store. Then assess your space: If you have high ceilings, look for vertical storage options; if they’re low, shorter and wider storage makes more sense. Either way, you want to use whatever space you have to your advantage and fill it with the best closet organizers. Don’t forget to brush up on the best tips for how to organize a closet, too.

We’ve rounded up the best no-closet solutions and small room storage ideas for people without closets and anyone who has a small closet and is short on space. You may also want to consider creating a capsule wardrobe and you’ll definitely want to learn how to fold like Marie Kondo.

Flashpop/Getty Images

Create a “closet”

Invest in a bedroom wardrobe

An armoire, a clothes storage idea from the past, is a classic closet alternative. This piece of furniture is essentially an external closet; some come with a bar for hanging with enough room to hang longer clothes including pants and dresses, while others have a bar with only enough space to hang shirts and a lower half filled with drawer space. Still other versions are all shelves. Pick the version that works best for you and your current wardrobe. You can find armoires in a range of sizes and finishes to match your space and style.

Commit to a freestanding closet organizer

Basically, a wall-less portable closet, a freestanding closet system offers all the storage of a clothes closet—just without the walls. Look for one with built-in drawers that’s wide enough to hold storage bins and boxes for added organization. And brush up on your folding skills—since your clothes will be on display, they’ll need to be extra tidy.

Mint Images/Getty Images

Create zones with a bedroom cabinet

If you’re in a studio and/or want to section off your bedroom, a large freestanding organizer/wardrobe doubles as a way to store your clothes and divide the space. Bedroom cabinets typically offer a mix of hanging space, drawers, and shelves; they can be open or closed, and are large enough to function as a makeshift partial wall.

Try a telescoping rack

A tension pole garment rack is one of the easiest non-closet closet units to put up. If you tend to hang most of your garments, then this clothes storage idea is for you. Two vertical, tension poles get locked in place from floor to ceiling; then two tension poles fit side to side, adjustable from approximately 24 to 47 inches. You can make this adjustable rack work in almost any space, plus there are no screws or other hardware required, making it a smart choice for renters. Need some shelving? Hang a short hanging shelving unit from one of the bars.

Reclaim that dark corner

Replace the chair in the corner of the room where you haphazardly toss all your clothes at the end with a functional corner closet. This one from Wayfair packs a lot of storage into not a lot of space (it’s just 33 inches front to back and side to side). With two shelves and two closet rods, this corner piece makes use of the often-forgotten room corner space. Choose between neutral white and the on-trend designer-inspired bark gray color.

Aleksandr Zubkov/Getty Images

Get creative

Hang floating clothes shelves

Hung on the wall, floating shelves are a perfect place to set folded clothes. Another clothes storage idea: Attach hooks to the front or sides of the shelves to hold hats and scarves. Bonus: Being able to see everything you own means you know exactly where everything is.

Find hanging storage space everywhere

Upgrade the basic floating shelf with an under-shelf hanging rod. A valuable addition to your makeshift closet set-up, this multitasker is a shelf with hanging space all in one. You can purchase DIY add-on kits—just screw the brackets to the underside of a solid shelf; then add the hanging rod. Or go the easier route and buy a pre-made shelf with the hanging piece already attached.

Turn a clothesline into a decorative accent

Sure, you could hang a basic clothesline from hooks secured to wall studs. Or you could up-style your clothesline by stringing it with wooden beads for a simple DIY clothes storage idea. Keep it rustic-looking by leaving natural wood beads unpainted. Or for a pop of color, paint them a bold, contrasting shade or the same as your wall color to blend with your décor. The beads are not only decorative but also functional, as they prevent clothes hangers from sliding to the center of the line.

Repurpose a bookcase

One of the best no-closet solutions—a bookcase (or two), which can do the work of any closet. Consider mixing bookcase heights to get useable wall space above the lower bookcase. Organize your folded clothes by category before placing the stacks on the shelves. Distinguish your long-sleeve shirts from your short-sleeve shirts by keeping them in separate piles. Use a modular cubby system to create compartments for grab-and-go items such as workout tops. Attach hooks to the sides of the bookcase for hanging a few clothes on hangers or storing larger accessories such as statement necklaces.

Seating and storage

Storage benches and ottomans have a surprising amount of space to hold things—and you gain an extra seat. To avoid messing up folded clothes, use clear stacking boxes, that way you can lift out a box to reach the one underneath.

Stack your storage

Stacking cubes let you design an organizer to your specifications—it can be as tall or as short as you want. Because the cubes are easily changeable, you are not locked into one design. You can move the cubes or add more to the system as your needs change; stack two or three on top of each other, slide out the shelf and you’ve got hanging space.

via amazon.com

Use the corner

Transform the corner of any room into an impromptu closet with a corner hanging bar to maximize unused corner space with 19 inches of hanger real estate. Double your hanging space by installing two bars, one higher and one lower. The durable bar holds up to 45 pounds.

Make your bed do double duty

Trade in your basic headboard

Instead of a decorative headboard for your frame, buy one with a hutch or place a large freestanding closet system behind the bed to add storage space where there was none. Some come with racks for hanging, along with shelving. Store your smaller items in fabric-covered bins to keep things neat.

Raise the bed for DIY under bed storage

Optimize often-overlooked space under the bed by adding bed risers; these lifts raise your bed frame three to eight inches higher, creating more space for storage below. With more clearance, low-to-the-ground bins, cubbies, and containers easily slide under the bed. Place a fabric bin or basket on its side (with the open-top facing out) to contain items, so they won’t get lost under the bed and are easy to reach.

via homedepot.com

Hide things under the bed (in a good way)

If you’re in the market for a new bed frame, shop for a platform bed with built-in drawers. It blends right in with the decor of your room and keeps your clothes neatly hidden out of sight.

General tips

When you’re short on space, it’s important to store your clothes strategically.

Hang your garments by type: pants, skirts, dresses, button-down tops, and so on. Then within each category, line the clothes up by color: darks, naturals, lights, and brights, etc. The streamlined look is more pleasing to the eye than a jumble of pieces, and it makes finding what you need a whole lot easier, too.
If you don’t have drawer space, store socks, undies, swimsuits, and other smaller items in bins.
Give your everyday clothes prime real estate, whether that’s hanging space or more readily accessible shelves or drawers.
To gain the most useable space for everyday wear, cycle your seasonal clothing. Store out-of-season clothes in compression bags in the basement, attic, or under a bed, while not in use.

10 smart clothes storage solutions - INMYROOM

Tips

Want to keep everything in its place, but don't know how to? Today we will share with you the secrets of space organization and proper storage of clothes

When furnishing an apartment, one of the most important and difficult tasks is to fit everything you need in a limited space. A great helper in this matter will be a large closet or a spacious dressing room - they will help save as much free space as possible and provide convenient access to the necessary things. With the help of our tips, create your own storage system that will meet all your needs.

1. Two - better than one

If you store clothes on hangers, then there is no point in having a lot of shelves. One possibility is to add more space for storage - make two rods for short things instead of one.

2. New Purpose

A basic bookcase or shelving unit with adjustable shelves is ideal for storing multiple shoes and bags. The most used items should be at eye level, but what you wear less often, store at the very bottom.

3. Pulling forward

Many cabinets and wardrobe systems can be upgraded with drawers or shelves to store underwear and other small items of clothing. Shoes will not get lost in the back rows and will always be in sight. Thus, the capacity is almost doubled.

4. Doors down

In a small apartment, you can increase the space by refusing to swing doors. Replace them with something softer and take up less space, such as thick curtains. Install a ceiling rail around the perimeter of the cabinet, on which hang the curtains to the floor.

5. Reaching up

Make use of all the space available in the closet: very often the space above the ceiling is left unused, although one more shelf can be placed there. Use it to store unused or seasonal items in wicker baskets or boxes.

6. Hooks to help

Hooks and hangers help you make the most of all the walls in your closet. They can be fixed on any surface with a special double-sided adhesive tape. Attach hooks to inside cabinet doors and hang scarves, handkerchiefs, and small bags.

7. Divide and Conquer

Use drawer dividers to keep things in order. Convenient sections with small divisions of about 15x15 cm, in which you can store underwear, jewelry, watches, belts, ties and other small items.

8. A name for everything

Baskets and boxes are ideal for storing rarely used or seasonal clothes. So that the search for the right thing does not turn into a hassle, stick labels with the name of the contents on them. You can also purchase boxes with a transparent wall through which you can see where everything is stored.

9. Everything in view

To make the most of the room, consider an open wardrobe. It will not be difficult to make it - attach several rails and shelves to the wall or ceiling, or use a ready-made mobile rack for clothes. Outfits for the next week will always be at hand, and beautifully selected clothes will become a real decoration of the room.

10. No more

Do not forget to use even the smallest and seemingly uncomfortable space. Shelves can be arranged in any narrow opening - they will not take up much space, but you will have additional storage space.

Smart storage: 8 useful ideas

Tips

According to sociological research, the organization of storage and order at home is one of the main problems that worries modern housewives around the world. Entire volumes of the Household Encyclopedias are devoted to this burning topic, numerous online trainings and expert lectures are held. As practice shows, the kitchen, hallway, bedroom and dressing room cause the greatest headache. One of the reasons for the disorder in the house is called an overabundance of things that do not fit and are rarely used, as well as our apathy, lack of desire and enthusiasm to change anything in our lives. We have collected eight useful ideas that, due to their simplicity and easy implementation, can inspire everyone to change and put things in order in their apartment.

1. Batteries

Batteries can be hidden in such beautiful "boxes": in this form, they will not only decorate the room, but also create a new shelf on which you can put a lamp, a beautiful vase or a tray for storing various little things. An ideal solution for a small room where a full-fledged console or chest of drawers is unlikely to fit.

2. Corner shelves

Unfortunately, many homes have "dead zones" - places that are difficult to use practically and which often remain empty in anticipation of creative solutions. An easy way to use free space in the corner is to equip corner shelves there. They can be hung in two or three rows, or you can decorate the entire wall with them from floor to ceiling.

3. Hangers in the bedroom

For a small bedroom, hangers, rails, hooks or hanging rods for clothes are a good practical solution. In this case, your things will accumulate there, and not chairs and beds, as is usually the case. A silk dressing gown, hanging on the "shoulders" on the door, will become a stylish decoration of your interior.

4. Fill in the blanks

As long as there are unfilled empty spaces and niches in your house, it’s too early to think about a global repair: first you just need to measure all the “voids” with a centimeter in your hands and decide how and with what you can fill them. For example, custom-made additional storage spaces, retractable racks, vertical or horizontal shelves near existing storage systems. In extreme cases, you can hang a few hooks in a narrow corner or behind the kitchen door: you can keep string bags with vegetables or a work apron there.

Project by designer Olesya Berezovskaya.

Melbourne apartment designed by architect Jack Chen. The lounge area on the windowsill ends with built-in shelving.

5. Wardrobes instead of bedside tables

Bedside tables are convenient, but when it comes to the lack of space for clothes in the bedroom, it makes sense to replace them with wardrobes. In a high rack cabinet you can store not only things, but also books, shoes, accessories. It will help to better organize storage and greatly facilitate cleaning in the bedroom, because dust does not accumulate behind closed solid doors.

Apartment in a new building, designed by designer Olga Shapovalova.

6. Wall storage

If there is no room for a wardrobe, chest of drawers or nightstand, you can hang wall shelves. Choose from square or rectangular models and group them together to maximize storage. The bedside table in the bedroom can be replaced with an ordinary wooden stool, which will serve as a night table.

The apartment of the designers Stina Lofgren and Matthias Krisander. The shelf by the bed is made of table top.

7. Painted shelves

Open shelves above the door or just below the ceiling, painted in the same color as the walls, make a good and discreet storage solution in the hallway or hallway. To enhance the effect, you can buy the same boxes (for example, in IKEA) and completely unify the look.

8. Shelf-desk

Shelving system with top is a compact solution for small rooms. A narrow rack, of course, will take up part of the wall, but it is not as massive and dimensional as a closet or chest of drawers, and practically does not protrude into the room, which makes it convenient for storing a variety of things - from books, photo albums, CDs with music and decorative vases to pots of indoor flowers.