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20 Small Closet Organization Ideas

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Brilliant storage solutions for clothing, shoes and accessories.

By Monique Valeris

Updated: Apr 30, 2021

It's no secret that a well-organized closet can start your day off right, but if you're working with a cramped space, getting dressed in the morning might be a stressful experience. While carving out just enough room in your small closet for clothing, shoes and accessories may seem impossible, practical organizing solutions can make all the difference. And believe it or not, they don't have to be pricey.

Here, we've curated a list of useful small closet organization must-haves, from an over-the-door option that just snagged a Good Housekeeping Storage Award to a few clever ways to better utilize the space at the bottom of your closet. Pick and choose the organizers that work best for your lifestyle and budget (consider decluttering first, too), and then get ready to create a more functional closet that proves limited square footage doesn't always have to be a hassle.

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Place Clothes in Mesh Baskets

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Monique Valeris Senior Home Editor Monique Valeris is the senior home editor for Good Housekeeping, where she oversees the brand's home decorating coverage across print and digital.

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30 Great Small Closet Organization and Storage Ideas

Let's face it, we're not all blessed with luxurious, Carrie Bradshaw-level walk-in closets, so coming up with clothing storage ideas that help stay organized while also looking good is of utmost importance. And the smaller the closet, the more difficult it is to stay organized, which is why we're highlighting organizational tools and styling tricks that can help make it easier. Whether you're someone who thinks there's no such thing as having enough closet space or, like me, you live in a city apartment with limited storage room, you can use these 30 small closet ideas to create twice as much space as you had before (Instead of having to cit your wardrobe in half!). We even included some closet-free clothing storage ideas.

Remove the Door

Zeke Ruelas

If you have a closet in your room but the closed door makes it feel cramped and even smaller, consider turning it into a pocket door or removing it altogether. In this bunk room designed by Dee Murphy, the wallpaper and paint make the sleep zone feel distinct from the closet, but going door-free helps open it up.

Optimize a Corner

Shawn Henderson

If you have an awkward and empty corner, invest in a great dresser or armoire that can bring it to life while also giving you an extra place to store all your items. This texture-rich corner in a small bedroom designed by Shawn Henderson can hold intimates and more.

Use Internal Dividers

Ngoc Minh Ngo

This small closet by David Kaihoi shares a home with a washer-and-dryer unit, so everything is arranged just so. Trays within drawers help keep things sorted and in their rightful spots, and two rows of rods take advantage of all the vertical space.

Mirror Your Closet Doors

Ngoc Minh Ngo

Here's another small closet in this bedroom designed by David Kaihoi. We spot several great small-space tips: 1) Mirror the inside of your closet doors. 2) Add hooks to the interior side of the doors for extra items and outfit planning. 3) Use bins to stay organized.

Rehouse Your Shoe Collection

Joshua Greene

Rehouse your shoes in a linen closet or hallway coat closet if your bedroom closet is getting too full. They're the last thing you put on, so it's okay if you need to go to another area to find them (which can't be said for underwear, for example). This en-suite linen closet by Joshua Greene is also a shoe cubby. How you arrange your shoes can also save space: You can fit more pairs on a shelf when you position each shoe facing the opposite direction. Try some cubbies to help keep everything tidy.

Use a Mannequin

Brie Williams

Designer Ariene Bethea's bedroom features a fun bedspread and wild Etsy bolsters. The mannequin and mirror give it a swanky dressing room vibe. Plan out and display outfits with a mannequin or use it as a makeshift coat rack. It's a pretty way to stay organized in an open space like a bedroom when your closet is too small. A vintage or antique-inspired option is the way to go.

Use a Rack

Fantastic Frank

For anyone whose tiny closet is already packed to the brim or who doesn't even have a closet to begin with, a freestanding clothing rack is a lifesaver. Besides, since your wardrobe is exposed, it'll force you to keep your clothes nice and organized instead of in an avalanche pile in the closet.

Find Another Location for Shoes

Amanda Reynal

Shoes can take up a lot of precious space in the closet, so why not designate a separate storage area in another room for them? Here, Amanda Reynal incorporates shelving into a bench in the entryway for extra storage that clears up space in the bedroom. Plus, it makes it easier to enforce a no-shoes inside rule.

Build Vertically

Kevin Scott

Build extra storage over the bed! This is especially smart if you have high ceilings and can afford to use more of your vertical space without eating into useable floor room. Designed by Studio DIIA, the exposed shelf houses books, the upper cabinets corral linens, and the closet across from the bed stores clothing.

Mount Shelving to Walls

Flagnese

A wall unit like this one creates both a shelf for accessories and a place to hang coats and bags. Designer Tom Scherer mounted a white shabby chic organizer to the wall to align with the farmhouse style throughout the home.

Stay Flush With the Fall

Shapeless Studio

Flush with the walls, this closet disappears into the primary bedroom designed by Shapeless Studio, providing plenty of clothing storage without infringing upon the living space physically or visually.

Hide Items Behind Glass Doors

Anna Spiro Design

If your storage includes glass or wire doors, line them with a pretty fabric. This will hide all your stored clothing and add a little style to your space. You can use velcro to fasten the fabric if you don't know how to sew. We love the floral print designer Anna Spiro chose here to complement the moss green paint.

Call On Wicker Baskets

Isaac Mendelson

Thanks to those woven baskets on the top shelves in this closet designed by Gideon Mendelson, we can focus on the beautiful finishes and materials and keep unseasonal items of rarely-used essentials out of sight.

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Or, Place Them Below

Courtesy of Dorsey Designs

Stack storage baskets to hold shoes, jewelry, accessories, workout clothes, PJ's, and more somewhere you can reach. You can throw a ton in those bins without making your space look cluttered, as Dorsey Designs did here.

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Build Storage Pieecs

Corinne Mathern Design

If you don't have a closet, but you do have a clothing collection, stay organized and polished with custom wall built-ins that store everything behind closed doors. In this bedroom design by Corinne Mathern, the built-ins provide extensive storage and accommodate the irregular ceiling structure. They're also less deep than your typical dresser and armoire—a win for small bedrooms.

Add Storage Under Clothes

Courtesy of Sugar and Charm

If you're cramped on space, place a small dresser and shoe rack beneath your hanging clothes. The top of the dresser can hold accessories, like hats or jewelry, as Sugar and Charm did here.

BUY NOW Shoe Organizer, $36

Get Shelf Dividers

Regan Baker Design

Even though shoe organizers are handy for your sneakers, they can also be used for bulky items like sweaters that you don't want to accidentally stretch out on a hanger. Rolling them up into baskets is also a great solution. The canvas ones in this space designed by Regan Baker are a stylish option. Alternatively, you could use a shelf divider to keep stacks intact. The sides let you stack piles higher without fear that your sweaters will just topple over and end up on the ground.

BUY NOW Acrylic Shelf Dividers, $33

Get Creative With Furniture

Thomas Loof

This genius small space solution gets a lot done while taking up as little of the floor as possible. Juan Carretero flanked the bed with two custom, ceiling-high armoires that function as closets, and the niche beneath the built-in sconce functions as a bedside table.

BUY NOW Astoria Wardrobe, $899

Re-Organize Seasonally

Shari Francis

Store all unseasonal items either under the bed or in hard-to-reach spots in your closet. This bedroom designed by Shari Francis has bonus storage space above the closet, which may not be convenient for everyday items but is perfect for extra suitcases or outerwear.

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Install Task Lighting

Paul Raeside

A cramped closet means it'll be even harder to find what you're looking for, but you can make it easier by installing a task light. Recessed lights are best when you're trying not to take up any vertical space, but a small sconce or adjacent sconce can also help. In this closet by Les Ensembliers, the nook is equipped with recessed lights.

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Hanng a Curtain

Laure Joliet

In this primary bedroom designed by ETC.etera, the closet is separated by a curtain. This will keep an exposed closet from distracting from the interior design scheme. And, if you don't even have a closet, then just hang a rod in a corner behind a curtain and make one!

BUY NOW Gold Curtain Rod, $85

Utilize Modular Shelving

Leanne Ford

Another great way to make extra space for things that don't fit inside the closet? An étagère or modular shelving system in your bedroom. Tuck away the essentials and then display the prettiest items out in the open to double as decor. Leanne Ford made sure this shelving unit didn't take up too much visual real estate by painting it white so it blends in with the wall. You can also use brackets to hang accessories.

BUY NOW Folding Metal Bookshelf, $239

Install Sliding Doors

Courtesy of Vintage Revivals

Never again will you have to walk from end to end in search of what you need. These bypass doors will save your life, and are easy to DIY. They're great space-savers, especially in tight corners where two doors would swing into each other. Get the full tutorial from Vintage Revivals. (A barn door or just some curtains will do, too).

BUY NOW Sliding Barn Door on Track, $126

Purge You Closet

Before you even reorganize the closet, do a thorough cleanout and decide who will get the castoffs, whether it's to a friend, favorite charity, homeless shelter, or local thrift shop. Then, organize clothes by type strategically (like making sure you hang long items high enough so they won't drag on the floor). For some style points, line the back wall with some cool fabric or wallpaper scraps like Arent & Pyke did here.

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Level Up

Leanne Ford Interiors

Doubling up your closet space is as easy as hanging up another bar. Choose a system that also includes hooks for maximum versatility. You can double up the number of clothes you store in your closet by adding a second level with a rod. Not to mention it has hooks on the side for purses and other accessories. Even that early 2000s fedora you STILL can't part with (it's never going to happen, okay?!).

BUY NOW Curtain Rod Extender, $12

Use a Coat Rack

Fantastic Frank

It helps to buy hangers specific to the item to maximize what little space you do have. Pants, for example, can easily slide on and off of pants hangers thanks to their open-ended design. And you'll be able to fit more into your closet since they hang flat against each other. But when you truly have no space for bulkier items like coats, keep a coat rack in the corner of your bedroom so it looks organized even if it has to be out in the open.

BUY NOW Coat Rack, $29

Repurpose Office Supplies

Studio DB

Get creative with on-shelf storage. It turns out magazine files are the ideal shape for storing clutches, wristlets, jewelry, and more. And that frees up space on your desk or vanity table. We also love the stylish rods Studio DB hung up in the corners of this walk-in closet.

BUY NOW Acrylic Chanel Magazine Basket, $130

Hang Accessories

Danielle Colding Design

Shower hooks are perfect for hanging purses in your closet on the hanger rod. Bonus: This approach also keeps handles from getting misshapen. Or use a sliding organizer secured to the interior door of your closet, perfect for hanging scarves and belts, to ensure easy access to the depths of your closet. Or, designate a corner near your small closet in your bedroom to be a "dressing room" by hanging accessories on wall hooks and placing a vanity table and stool nearby like Danielle Colding did here.

BUY NOW CB2 Hex Wall Hook, $10

Use All Existing Space

James Merrell

Don't worry, your hat addiction is in good hands. A series of hooks can turn an empty wall space or the back of a door into the perfect place for storing your caps, sunhats, and beanies, as Kate Reid proves in this cozy bedroom.

BUY NOW Project62 Faceted Rod, $34

Think Techie

Stylebook

If a swath of nearly identical items chokes your overly-full closet, consider giving Stylebook a try. The app helps you log everything you own and makes it easy to create new looks you didn't even know you had. Basically, it's Clueless come to life.

BUY NOW Apple iPad, $300

Storage in a small closet: 9 ideas

Keeping things in a small closet: in search of perfection

Keeping things in a small closet is a reality for most people. A large beautiful walk-in closet full of your clothes, shoes and accessories is a dream come true.

In fact, the shelves are full of things, half of which are just lying in a heap on the floor. Are you tired of rummaging through the mess and are you ready for a change? Here are 9 ways to make the most of a small space.

one

Maximize space

Hanging rails and multiple shelves allow you to use the entire cabinet space.

Furniture for children's things from Closet Factory

2

Install several rungs

Position them at different heights. On them you can place more clothes and make them more accessible than in drawers.

Model by Incredible Closets

Boys Room by IHeart Organizing

3 Hang everything! Scarves and sunglasses can be kept on hangers. For example, like this one from Ikea. This will make room for things that can only be folded.

Ikea offers this solution

four

Remove doors

This will give you a few centimeters to work with. Also, this method will make it easier to access your closet.

Another idea from a renowned manufacturer

5

Add module

Instead of ready-made furniture, get a storage system that can be configured in different ways. You can change it with your wardrobe.

PAX cabinet furniture from Ikea

6

Increase Hangers

This chain idea will multiply your hanging space with just one piece.

Lifehack from Brit+co

7

Add boxes and baskets

This is the perfect way to hide items you don't use often.

There is no need to store them openly. Additional points will give stickers with inscriptions about what's inside.

Photo and inspiration from Container Store

eight

Make use of every millimeter

Even the door! Attach pockets and hooks to it to further expand the closet area.

Shoe storage, Bed Bath & Beyond

9

Organizer inside

Why stop at adding shelves and drawers? You can add storage systems inside them. More places will be added!

Compartment box SKUBB

Share your ideas for wardrobe storage in the comments to the article.
Categories: Original design of lofts and mansards

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How to organize a very small closet

books wardrobe

Can a closet one meter wide be comfortable and tidy? Chinese Lu Wei, a popular blogger and designer, proves that anything is possible. Designing apartments for her clients, she learned a lot about how to and not to store things, and wrote the book “Home for Life. How to store maximum things in a small space.

The closet, which will be discussed below, belongs to Lou herself. She tested all the tips and accessories herself and drew all the illustrations herself - Lu Wei is also an artist!

Cabinet in “Before” condition

The hero of this story is not much different from most of the wardrobes inhabiting our apartments. It is poorly designed, has small dimensions - only one square meter of area. It has several impractical compartments that only hinder its use:

The section for long clothes is convenient, but the space below (almost 30 cm) is not used.

The drawers are shallow, suitable only for underwear.

There is a small niche under the drawers, but even a box does not fit in it.

Therefore, 's first task was to redesign the interior space of the cabinet, although due to its small size, there are not so many possibilities here.

Second tasks and - cleaning the wardrobe itself. When storage space is at a minimum, things should be selected especially carefully. The main thing is to learn how to combine things and not store what is not worn. As Lu writes, her closet used to be packed to overflowing, but gradually she became more confident in her choice and taste and learned to clearly adhere to her own style. There are no more forgotten things in the wardrobe, all clothes are chosen wisely and are a reflection of the taste and personality of the hostess.

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Innovation #1: Transparent boxes

The old shallow drawers, which were only suitable for storing small things, were replaced with more spacious ones. Their advantage is that they are convenient not only for linen, but also for clothes, and they are also transparent and mobile, they can be placed side by side or one on top of the other. And most importantly: their depth makes it possible to store clothes upright !

The Marie Kondo method, namely the one in question, allows you to store things compactly and conveniently, with this method of folding, they wrinkle much less than in piles. The most pleasant thing in such an organization of the wardrobe is in the emerging sense of order, like in a library, where all the books are arranged on the shelves. Things are neatly arranged in rows, everything is clearly visible, getting the right one will not be a problem, while not disturbing the rest.

In order for the drawers to become convenient for small things and accessories, it is worth getting organizers and dividers. It is possible to fold things compactly and neatly only in sections that are suitable in volume, that is, for linen, the cells should be small. The vertical method also works only in the correct size compartments.

Innovation #2: Accessories

Where to store earrings, brooches, bracelets and necklaces, if there are a lot of them? As Lou writes (and she has a lot of accessories), she tried different options: individual bags, multi-tiered boxes, jewelry cabinets. And none of the methods turned out to be convenient - every day it is very difficult to pick up accessories stored in this way.

But the solution was still found - a hanging organizer for accessories! It is made of non-woven material and has many small pockets and loops for small items. Such an organizer can be hung on a bar or on a hook. Lu bought two at once and placed them on the inside of the closet door - one on the right, the other on the left. Now you can see both clothes and accessories at the same time, which greatly facilitates their selection.

Innovation #3: Suitcase

A tip for those who often travel or go on business trips. In order not to drag the suitcase from the pantry or hallway every time, it can be placed in the closet. The journey will only take a few minutes! You just need to shift things from the wardrobe to the suitcase.

Innovation No. 4: Laundry basket

Laundry basket is an aesthetic and convenient solution for storing clothes that need washing or dry cleaning. During the week, everything that can no longer be worn is added to the basket. When enough things accumulate there, it is easy to take them out and send them to the washing machine.

Feature #5: Steamer

What to do with used clothes? Return to closet or store separately? Here's what Lou suggests. She believes that it is not worth washing absolutely any thing after one day of wearing, but it is not hygienic to mix it with clean ones. A steamer comes to the rescue - hot steam disinfects and straightens the folds that have been wrinkled on the fabric during the day. As a result, clothes always look great!

However, if the steamer is somewhere in the pantry or in a box on the top shelf, you are unlikely to want to get it every time. It is better to keep everything you need at hand, leaving no chance for laziness. A steamer in the closet is very convenient and a minimum of hassle!

Innovation No. 6: Shoes

Step one is to set a limit on the number of shoes (for example, Lou has 15 pairs). Such a limit is the best prevention of impulsive purchases and clutter. When you want to buy new shoes, you need to be ready to part with the old ones.

Step two is to purchase the appropriate number of stackable shoe containers. Even drains from the same boxes look very neat! They do not take up much space, while allowing you to keep all the shoes at hand and in plain sight.

Innovation No. 7: Clothes for tomorrow

Life hack: in order not to waste time in the morning thinking about what to wear today, pick up clothes in the evening.

For a set for tomorrow, you can attach a hook or a folding hanger in a convenient place. And if you pick up accessories in advance, then there will be even more free morning time!

Sometimes less is more. As Lu Wei advises, sacrifice quantity for quality. Buy something that you can never throw away and love for a long, long time. Leave only your favorite things in the house, and love will determine your style.
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