7 Closet Organization Ideas to Maximize Space
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
It is well known that a clean and organized space creates a more relaxing environment. I am sharing 7 easy closet organization ideas to declutter your closet and reduce stress in your life! Whether you crave better functionality or simply want it to look pretty, these tips will help you reach your goals.
Maybe you already have an organizational system that needs a refresh, or your closet is a disaster and you feel overwhelmed at the thought of tackling it. I’m here to help!
#1: Where to Start
You may remember the DIY custom-look built-in closet project I did a few years ago. Part of the planning process was determining the best layout for my needs. I had questions like:
- What height is best to hang dresses vs. pants?
- How many pairs of shoes do I need to store?
- Where will I keep my hamper?”
Even if you’re working with a preexisting closet space, you’ll need to determine what your needs are. The initial stage of this project can be a little daunting, especially if you are starting from scratch. The first step is to review everything you currently have in your closet.
- Start when you have a block of uninterrupted time – if possible
- Separate items into categories: frequently used, seldom or seasonally used, never used
- Get rid of never-used items
Now that you’ve reduced the items you need to organize, I’ll share my favorite closet organization hacks. You’ll be amazed at the difference!
#2: Choose the Right Clothes Hangers
Hanging is the most common way to store clothes. When you sort through your closet to get rid of things you don’t need, wire hangers had better be one of the things to go! These are meant to be used temporarily, don’t support the weight of your clothes, and can cause damage to your garments if they have sharp edges.
My number one closet organization tip is to find the right type of hanger for your clothes. The material you choose depends on the clothing you plan to hang on it; therefore, you may need more than one type.
Wood
If you have plenty of space and want sturdiness, try wooden hangers. Thicker arms reduce the formation of “shoulder bumps” and are great for heavier items like coats and jackets. These are among my favorites because they are functional and give my closet a uniform look!
Bonus tip: If you have the space, fold your sweaters over the arms of the hanger in a way that prevents “shoulder bumps” altogether!
Fabric
Next, we have fabric-covered metal hangers. These are great if you need to save space because they are sturdy, yet thin.
Velvet hangers have a great non-slip quality that keeps your clothes where they belong. You can slide these hangers around while looking for something to wear and your clothes won’t end up on the floor.
If you have clothes made of delicate fabrics, give padded satin hangers a try. Here are examples of how I gained space as a result of switching to velvet hangers for certain garments.
While the velvet hangers didn’t save much space with thicker pieces like jackets, they had a big impact on regular tops and dresses.
Below you can see the difference between wood and velvet hangers made with my dresses. On the left, they are crammed in too tight. First of all, this makes it almost impossible to move things around when deciding what to wear. Secondly, clothes need space to breathe and hang properly to maintain shape and prevent wrinkles.
Plastic
On to plastic hangers. Not the highest quality of the bunch, but they do have a purpose. Since they are lightweight, they are not meant to hold heavy items. They can warp over time and your clothes will end up falling off.
However, plastic is a waterproof material. Since you may occasionally need to hang a wet bathing suit and towel or have clothes that need to air dry, it’s not a bad idea to keep a few around.
Collapsible
Collapsable hangers are my latest obsession when it comes to closet organization and I love them for skirts and pants. Designed with space-saving in mind, they are extremely versatile. Hang both ends for perfectly spaced storage or take one down to create a more streamlined effect. I use both hangers with clips and ones with non-slip rods in my closet.
If you don’t have a spacious laundry room, try a space-saving foldable drying rack. When not in use, keep extras tucked away on a stackable rack, hanging rack, or a fabric tote made just for hangers!
#3: Add Hanging Closet Organizers
Smaller, older homes likely have a single closet rod. If you can’t make any structural changes to your closet, you can certainly make this work. My second favorite tip for closet organization is to add inexpensive hanging organizers to give you the storage you need.
Easily add hanging shelves to store folded pieces like sweaters and jeans or your collection of handbags.
Keep your shoes separate from clothing and accessible with space-saving hanging shoe organizers. You can even get hanging organizers with drawers for neatly storing socks and undergarments.
#4: Organize Clothes in Drawers
Whether you have the hanging drawers mentioned above, or custom built-in drawer options, keeping contents organized can be a nightmare.
Drawer organizers can be used anywhere in your home. I have used these to keep my kitchen countertops clutter-free and to organize my bathroom vanity!
Drawer Inserts
Inserts with small compartments are the perfect way to keep socks and undergarments in order. No more digging around to find matching socks!
Drawer hardware | Drawer inserts | Marble floor tile | Wallpaper
Add an insert for jewelry and other small accessories too! Be sure to measure your drawers to find the right inserts for you. This will keep everything in view and help you choose the right pieces for your outfit.
Expandable Drawer Dividers
Dividers come in handy to keep your folded or rolled clothes lined up and easily accessible. The t-shirts or workout clothes that made it through step one of the closet organization process can become a jumbled mess.
Although we may do our best to follow those complicated folding methods we see on TikTok, things eventually fall out of place once you’ve pulled a few out of the line-up. Dividers help you keep things nice and neat. They are easy to install and don’t require any tools!
#5: Organize Closet Shelves
It’s easier to hide messes inside a drawer, but open shelf storage is different because everything is on display. Here are a few of my favorite closet organization tips that will save your sanity!
Baskets and Bins
Baskets and bins are great for storing things that you don’t necessarily need to organize but still want to group together. Maybe you have a collection of flip-flops you want to store for the winter or some heavy wool socks for cold weather hikes you won’t need in the warmer months.
Pop them in a basket and put them on the top shelf of your closet. This keeps them out of the way, but when the time comes you’ll know just where to find them.
You can also store your favorite travel essentials in a basket. They’ll be ready to go when all this organizing gets to you and need a weekend getaway.
Bonus tip: Use matching baskets or bins to make your closet look pretty!
Acrylic Organizers
I love the clear accessory organizers I recently added to my closet. Perfect for small bags, hats, belts, and sunglasses – they keep everything nice and neat.
Shoe Boxes
Are shoes your thing? Do you have a Carrie Bradshaw collection you need to store but also want to have on display? If you have lots of shelf space, line them up so you can take in the view each time you step into your closet.
No enormous closet, no problem! These clear plastic shoe boxes are a great solution! I like these because they are stackable, have easy access doors, and ventilation, and let you see what’s inside.
Shoe boxes are available in various sizes, colors, and materials so you can find the ones you like best. Just a little reminder, shoes get dirty so you should keep them separate from everything else, especially clothes.
Shelf Dividers
Another fabulous way to organize your open shelves is with shelf dividers. Keep your garments neatly stacked and prevent them from looking like a picked-over pile at a department store on Black Friday!
You’ve watched enough videos demonstrating the best way to fold your jeans and sweaters (folded edges out!). Now, show off your skills and keep your closet looking great!
Bonus tip: If you don’t use organizers, keep your stacks low so your clothes don’t fall over!
Like the other organizational tools I’ve mentioned, dividers come in different materials and sizes and can be used with wood or wire shelves.
#6: Hide the Ugly Stuff
When designing a closet, create a special place for the unsightly stuff that keeps it out of view but has easy access.
If your hamper is out in the open, make it a pretty one like this. Selecting one with a lid helps contain not only the clothes but any subtle odors that may accompany them. In the image below, you’ll see how I keep my hamper in a special cabinet – designed for easy access.
Drawer hardware | Marble floor tile | Cabinet latch | Rug (similar)
Another secret hiding behind closed doors is my retractable ironing board. This is an easy DIY project that you can add to any closet with deep enough shelving. Great for a closet or laundry room!
The retractable mechanism is attached to the base of the cabinet with screws. It folds up neatly in the cabinet and doesn’t take up much space. Slide it out, pull out the support post, and flip the board over. Piece of cake!
#7: Closet Organizing Methods
The method you choose to organize your closet is an important decision. We all want our closets to look amazing, but amazing looks different to everyone. The great news is that options are endless and not permanent, so if you try one and it’s not working for you…try a different one!
The trick is to choose a method of organizing your closet that will be easy to maintain long-term. Of course, consider your daily habits and routines because any method should be easy to keep up with. After all, this is about changing your life for the better!
- Everything by color – This method is used when you keep everything in your closet year-round and organize pieces by color, no matter the season it is for. A popular color lineup these days is the rainbow. This does sound like a happy way to start your day!
- Similar items by color – Another method used when you don’t change your closet for the seasons. This time, you group similar items together and then organize them by color. If you have a colorful wardrobe, the rainbow can be used here too!
- Rotating method – If you tend to wear the same few things over and over, try this system! Organize all your tops together and only choose from the same side each day. Once you wear and wash it, put it back in on the opposite side. You can work left to right or right to left, it doesn’t matter. This method helps you to utilize more of your clothes and forces you to create a variety in your outfits.
- Seasonal method – Closets with limited storage space benefit from seasonal rotation. When warm weather finally rolls around, pack up all your cold weather gear and put them in your linen closet until next year.
Additional Hacks to Maximize Space
If you need a few extra ideas to get your closet in tip-top shape, try these:
- Utilize unused space by placing hooks on the inside wall of a closet
- Hang an organizer on the back of the closet door to store shoes or other small items
- Keep long items like belts, ties, or scarves on space-saving looped organizers
- Collapsable pants hangers are another great option
- Install a retractable rack to hang clothes
- Add a hanging closet rod to double your space
- Use hooks for hanging jeans or handbags
Applying these closet organization ideas will undoubtedly reduce stress and anxiety caused by clutter and simplify your life!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
Organizing and condensing my closets in my older home is a top 2024 goal.
So appreciate your suggestions and the links to all kinds of products I had no idea even existed!
Wow!!
(Now trying to convince myself to part with items I have not worn in years will be another challenge and goal😉)
I’m so glad you find it helpful!