Having a small closet can be challenging when it comes to keeping things tidy and organized. With limited space, it’s easy to make mistakes that make the closet even more cluttered and disorganized. Avoid these common organizing mistakes to maximize your small closet storage and keep things neat.
Not Making the Most of Vertical Space
One of the biggest mistakes people make with small closets is not utilizing all the available vertical storage space. Focus on installing shelves, racks, and organizers that go all the way up to the ceiling to take advantage of every inch.
Use Tall Hanging Racks
Look for tall, double hanging racks that allow you to double up clothes on each rung. Hang longer items like dresses, coats, and pants on the lower rungs and shorter items like shirts and skirts on the upper rungs. This allows you to hang more items in the same footprint.
Install Shelving Racks Above the Hanging Rod
Shelf racks installed above the hanging rod are great for maximizing vertical storage. Use them to store items like purses, bags, hats, shoes, sweaters, and other accessories.
Consider Wall-Mounted Racks
Wall-mounted racks and shelving let you utilize wall space above and around the closet. Install racks designed to hold belts, ties, scarves, or jewelry on the walls. Floating shelves are great for keeping sweaters and folded clothes off the floor.
Not Purging Unneeded Items
Clutter is the main enemy in a small closet. Not ruthlessly purging items you no longer wear or need takes up precious space.
Be Ruthless About Purging
Go through everything in the closet with a critical eye. Get rid of clothes and shoes that don’t fit, are out of style, or haven’t been worn in over a year. Toss or donate accessories, old bags, single shoes, and anything else you don’t absolutely need.
Store Off-Season Items Elsewhere
Only keep daily essentials and in-season clothing in the closet. Box up off-season clothes like heavy coats and sweaters so they don’t take up space you need for current items.
Go Through Again Every Season
Get in the habit of purging the closet out each season. As styles change and you stop wearing certain items, continually purge so the closet doesn’t start filling up again.
Not Grouping Like Items
Grouping like items together in sections makes a closet feel organized rather than chaotic. Storing different types of items all mixed together makes it hard to find what you need.
Use Dividers to Create Sections
Use built-in or removable dividers to section off different categories. Separate hanging clothes, folded clothes, shoes, accessories, bags, linens, and miscellaneous items into their own areas.
Limit Each Section
Don’t allow any category to take over the entire closet. Give each section only the space needed to neatly store a reasonable amount of items. Prevent overstuffing by limiting shelves, hanging rods, and floor space per section.
Frequently Used Items Get Prime Real Estate
Give sections like daily hanging clothes and often used shoes and accessories the most accessible prime spots. Sections used less often can go in harder to reach areas.
Disorganized Shelves and Drawers
Small closets tend to use a lot of shelves and drawers to maximize space. But if these storage areas become messy free-for-alls, the closet still feels disorganized.
Use Shelf Dividers
Sliding dividers, drawer organizers, and bins help divide shelf and drawer space into organized sections. Assign a section to shirts, another to pants, another to accessories, for example.
Fold Using KonMari Method
Use the KonMari vertical folding method for shelves and drawers. Folding this way allows you to see everything at a glance so items don’t get lost. Folding vertically also lets you fit about 30% more in each drawer.
Put Limits on Shelf Height
Stacking folded clothes and items too high on shelves makes closets messy again. Limit stacks to a reasonable level so things don’t fall over or get buried.
Failing to Store Bulky Items Efficiently
Bulky items like luggage, bedding, and out of season clothes can quickly overwhelm a small closet. Storing them inefficiently monopolizes valuable real estate.
Invest in Under-Bed Storage
Under-bed storage bins on wheels neatly corral bulky items while keeping them accessible. Use for storing off-season clothes, shoes, bedding, or travel items.
Use Space Bag Compression Bags
Space bags use vacuum-sealing technology to compress and flatten bulky items like blankets, pillows, jackets, and sweaters down to a fraction of their normal size.
Hang Longer Items Near the Door
Hang bulky items like long dresses, formalwear, and coats near the closet door so they don’t block access. This prevents having to move everything around to reach items in the back.
Not Using the Back of Doors
The back of the closet door is prime real estate that often gets ignored. Use this space to hang items, add shelving, or store accessories.
Install Over-the-Door Hanging Racks and Shelves
Over-the-door hangers and shelving units instantly create storage space on the back of the door. Use them to hang robes, coats, purses, belts, shoes, jewelry, scarves.
Add Wall-Mounted Hooks
Simple wall-mounted hooks on the back of doors are handy for hanging bags, belts, hats, even jewelry. Spacing hooks 2-3 inches apart lets you maximize the hanging storage.
Use Magnetic Bars and Containers
Magnetic bars allow you to securely hang lightweight metal items like scissors, keys, hair clips, and jewelry on the door. Magnetic containers hold smaller items.
Forgetting About “Dead Space” Corners
Often the small corners in closets get ignored and end up wasted. But small organizers fit perfectly in these spots.
Install Corner Shelves
Corner shelves utilize wasted space in corners for extra storage. Use for shoes, bags, or rolled items like scarves, belts, ties.
Use Hanging Shoe Organizers
Hanging shoe organizers with mesh pockets are perfect for slipping into corners. Use for storing shoes, accessories, toiletries, underwear, socks.
Use Small Rotating Corner Units
Small plastic lazy susan-style spinning units for corners store spices and condiments in kitchens, but also work great in closet corners. Use them to neatly corral small items.
Frequently Asked Questions About Organizing Small Closets
Organizing a small closet presents unique challenges. Here are answers to some common questions people have about maximizing closet organization in tight spaces.
How can I add more hanging space in a small closet?
- Install double hanging rods to double hanging capacity
- Use space-saving hangers with multiple rungs
- Use hanging shoe organizers on the back of doors
- Add over-the-door hanging racks
- Mount wall hooks for belts, purses, hats
What kind of shelving works best in small closets?
- Wall-mounted shelving around the perimeter
- Shelf racks above the hanging rod
- Corner shelving units
- Floating shelves (great above hanging rod)
- Use shelves fully from bottom to top
What’s the best way to fold clothes in a small closet?
- Use the KonMari vertical folding method
- Fold clothes into small, neat rectangles you can see easily
- Avoid stacking folded clothes too high
- Use dividers and trays to organize shelves
How can I create separate sections in a small closet?
- Use removable closet dividers if available
- Repurpose tension rods horizontally as dividers
- Hang separate categories of clothing together
- Group like categories of accessories together in trays or bins
What are some handy organizational products for small closets?
- Hanging shoe organizers
- Under-bed bins on wheels
- Over-the-door racks and shelves
- Space-saving velvet hangers
- Shelf dividers and drawer organizers
- Lazy susans for corners
- Space compression bags
Conclusion
Small closets may be limited on space, but with some smart planning and innovative solutions, it’s possible to keep them organized and clutter-free. Focus on making the most of vertical storage, regularly purging unnecessary items, using space efficiently, and not overlooking any potential storage areas. Embrace solutions like under-bed storage, over-the-door options, compression bags, and corner organizers to maximize your small closet. Staying organized does take diligence and maintenance, but it pays off in always being able to find what you need.