No matter how many Marie Kondo books you read, you might still struggle to have enough space for your most prized possessions. It might even get to the point where you’re scared to open your wardrobe for fear of clothing, shoes, and accessories falling down around you.
And while it might feel like there’s no way you could organize your messy closet, you can. You just need to try a few of these clever organization ideas.
Mount a pegboard on the inside of your closet door
Everything can have its place, and you never have to worry about digging through the dark depths of your closet to find what you need. You’ll also be pleased to know that most pegboards are affordable to buy and easy to install – even if you don’t have a single DIY bone in your body. Pictured: Skådis pegboard from IKEA
Make More Room In Your Closet by Storing Seasonal Clothes in the Attic or Basement
Purchase transparent plastic storage bins, organize your seasonal clothing, extra blankets duvets, pillows, etc., into piles based on what they are, and label the containers accordingly. Pictured: SAMLA containers from IKEA
Create More Storage in Your Closet With Cascading Hangers
These hangers allow you to hang multiple garments from a single hook, which immediately saves up to 80% of your available space. Cascading hangers are also affordable, require no installation, unlike the average clothes rack, and can give you easier access to your everyday clothing. They are an excellent solution for small closets. Pictured: Cascading hangers from Amazon
Save Space in Your Closet by Storing Shoes Under the Bed
If Your Closet Lacks Shelving, Opt for a Hanging Organizer
Hanging organizers secure onto your closet rod and have cubby spaces and side pockets for shoes, shirts, purses, and other items. You might have a tiny closet, but that doesn’t mean it can’t also be an organized one!
Top tip: Before buying a new hanging organizer, measure the distance between the floor and the closet rod to ensure you buy one that will fit within the required space. Pictured: Hanging organizer from Amazon
Showcase Your Accessories on the Wall and Save Closet Space
However, unlike other storage solution options like hanging cubbies, some handy skills might be required. Most rails and hooks need to be drilled into walls to ensure they’re as strong as possible. Photo: IKEA
Use S-Hangers for Your Pants
S-hangers are hangers with an ‘S’ component that takes up as much space as a single coat hanger. However, they can provide hanging space for up to five garments. It’s like magic! Whether you need space for your scarf collection or need to organize your work pants a little better, you’ll surely find that an S-hanger ticks all the right boxes. You can then free up your beautiful wooden or velvet hangers for dresses, sweaters, and other garments. Pictured: Pant hangers from Amazon
Add an Extra Garment Rod to Your Closet
While you can add extra garment rods to your closet, you can also install them on free-standing clothes racks if you don’t have a wardrobe or storage cabinet. Enjoy twice as much storage space without needing to actually use any more of your valuable space. Pictured: Hanging closet rod from Amazon
Don’t Forget the Top of Your Closets
If there’s a large enough gap, you can use the free space for bulky items you don’t want to have taking up valuable space within the closet itself. You might even like to measure the distance between the top of the closet and the ceiling, as well as the width, to purchase storage boxes to fit neatly along the top. Pictured: FLÅDIS Baskets from IKEA
Mount Straps With Hooks on Closet Doors
Closet door straps can simply attach to the tops and bottoms of your doors and feature hooks for accessories like bags, hats, coats, towels, and scarves. Out of all small closet ideas, this would have to be one of the most straightforward and less invasive options.
If there ever comes a time when you no longer need as much space, you can simply unhook the straps and store them away. It’s genuinely that easy. Pictured: Over-door-strap from Walmart
Store Shoes on Top of Each Other
Whether you have shoes or sandals, you can use up to half as much space with one simple purchase. Shoe organizers can also fit neatly within the average shelf divider, which means they can take up even less space. While you might not be able to use stacking shoe organizers for boots and large shoes, they are bound to be more than suitable for sandals, ballet flats, and sneakers. Pictured: MURVEL Shoe organizer from IKEA
Get Your Clutter Under Control With Compartment Drawer Organizers
These organizers can take pride of place in the average chest of drawers or wardrobes and have space for all those little easy-to-lose items. Whether you need easier access to your socks or a better storage solution for underwear, jewelry, scarves, or ties, you’re bound to find that drawer organizers tick all the right boxes. Pictured: SKUBB boxes from IKEA
Light Up Your Closet
This excellent closet idea doesn’t even require an electrician’s assistance. Some of the best in-closet lights come with 3M tape, magnets, and rechargeable batteries. Once you’ve chosen the lights you need, you can install them at regular interviews throughout your closet until there are no dark or poorly lit spots. Now, you’ll have no qualms about using those hard-to-see top shelves hidden in the dark depths of your wardrobe. Pictured: Closet lights from Amazon
Use a Hanging Organizer With Cubbies and a Garment Rod
Store hats, toys, accessories, and footwear, in the top component, and hang your clothes as usual underneath. With this tiny spaces solution, you can have your wardrobe mess cleared in no time. Pictured: Hanging organizer from Amazon
Store Shoes on the Doors
Take note of your current shoe collection and browse the available shoe organizer options. You’re bound to find one that has enough space for your shoes, sandals, ballet flats, and other footwear. All that’s left to do is organize your favorite shoes, and you can enjoy easy access whenever you need it. Pictured: Shoe organizer from Amazon
Store Seasonal Clothes Under the Bed
Underbed storage can be suitable for everything from shoes, blankets, and towels to seasonal garments, jackets, and books. Just don’t forget to rotate your clothing with the changing of the seasons and wash anything that has spent a little too much time under there. Pictured: LYCKSELE Storage box from IKEA
Line Up Your Boots
Simply clip your footwear in place and hang them with your clothing. If you have an expansive collection of boots, you might even like to purchase multiple hanging boot racks and organize your boots by style to make them easier to find. When the job is done, you’ll be amazed by how much floor space you can free up in your closet or dressing room. Pictured: Boot hangers from Amazon
Store Bras and Tops on a Tank Top Hanger for Easy Access
If you have a collection of tank tops and bras you use often and want to easily access, purchase a tank top hanger. You can store multiple tops on a single hanger and have it only take up as much space as a single coat hanger.
These storage solutions are perfect for small closets, school dormitories, and simple clothes racks. Even people with limited space deserve to have a clutter and mess-free bedroom, and this hanger can help. Pictured: Tank top hangers from Amazon
Use Transparent Storage Solutions
Such containers can be ideal for items you don’t often use, such as bedding, seasonal attire, and extra blankets. However, instead of having to unzip each bag and create a giant mess just to see what’s stored inside, you can view the contents through the transparent panels. Give your closet the makeover it deserves with these clever storage solutions. Pictured: Transparent containers from Amazon
A Garment Rod and Inexpensive Shoe Cabinets Make for a Low-Cost Wardrobe Solution
Purchase a garment rod, install it on your wall, and pair it with a shoe cabinet underneath. Just make sure you install the clothing rod high enough to avoid clothes draping over the cabinet below. Some people might like to take this idea one step further by installing corner rails around the top and adding curtains for privacy. Pictured: TRONES Shoe cabinet from IKEA
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