Learn to Love Your Closet, Big or Small

Closets are as varied as people themselves, I think. They come in all shapes and sizes, from the full-room-sized to the tiny shared wardrobe, and everywhere in between. Closets are so important, though, that they are required for a room to be considered a “bedroom” in real estate listings. Interesting, isn’t it? So, if closets are so important, why do we neglect them? Why do they rarely, if ever, get beautified? How often are our closets organized or cleaned out? Probably, for most of us, not often enough.

Small Closet Design Organization

This is a guide on closets, complete with closet organization tips and style ideas and all things closet-related. Because closets are important, that’s why. While these ideas won’t work for everyone or in every situation, we hope you find some of these ideas interesting, inspiring, and individually useful. Let’s get started, shall we?

Hang a mirror.

Small Closet Design Organization

The closet, by its very nature, aims to help us get ready for the day. What better way to accomplish that than by having a mirror somewhere around? It brightens up the space and gives us an opportunity to check ourselves out before committing to one piece or another for the day.

Use boxes and baskets to store odds and ends.

Small Closet Design Organization

Let’s face it, we all have miscellany that somehow ends up in the closet. Or items that are oddly shaped and hard to store. Decorative yet functional boxes and baskets swallow up the chaos that these items may inevitably present and instead showcase a soothing structure.

Use furniture pieces within the closet.

Small Closet Design Organization

Where space permits, feel free to throw a side table or dresser into the mix of your closet. You’ll appreciate the additional shelves/drawers, and if the piece itself is cheerful, it will add a bit of fun to the closet overall.

Fold sweaters instead of hang them.

Small Closet Design Organization

Far too often, a sweater’s lifespan is cut short due to its having been hung up for too long and inevitably stretched out. Fold sweaters and store them on shelves to prevent this tragedy from happening on your watch.

Install some “clothes lines”…but not necessarily for clothes.

Small Closet Design Organization

This classic idea is perfect for organizing the tiny closet – simply string some wires across an unused or small wall, and you’ll create a prime real estate for storing your hard-to-organize jewelry pieces.

Keep shelves wide yet short.

Small Closet Design Organization

Closet shelves will most likely hold shoes or folded clothing items – neither of which require much vertical space. Maximize your closet storage by having more shelves with less space between each one.

Use quality unified hangers.

Small Closet Design Organization

Good hangers will maintain the shape of your clothes better and make your closet feel more consistent and organized, even without changing anything else.

Build your own garment rack.

Small Closet Design Organization

This might quite possibly be the smallest closet known to mankind, but look at how chic and functional it is! The galvanized piping makes the rack a fabulous industrial, urban vibe, which translates onto the clothing itself. One option would be to add wheels, making this the ultimate transportable closet.

Hang accessories on easy-to-navigate hooks.

Small Closet Design Organization

Belts, bags, even ties will be easy to find and pull out when they hang from hooks on closet walls. Tip: Use smaller hooks so you can’t get too many things on one hook, which makes it impractical to access the items on the bottom.

Keep everything visible and accessible.

Small Closet Design Organization

Labeled boxes are a good way to store things you may not use often but that you don’t want to lose. You’ll easily find the items when you’re on a hunt for them, but they won’t be falling all over the place and in your way all the time.

Keep like things together.

Small Closet Design Organization

Pants, skirts, shirts, sweaters…you get the idea. Group similar pieces together so you can find what you want efficiently. (Or, if you don’t know what you want, you can at least quickly find something weather-appropriate.) Depending on your available space, you could take this a step further, and group clothing by type and also by function – work, play, night out, etc.

Use S-hooks.

Small Closet Design Organization

On a wire across the top of your closet or from a slatted shelf, s-hooks are versatile, efficient, and a closet’s BFF in the organization department. Hats, bags, scarves, and a plethora of other oddly shaped items can benefit from the strategic use of s-hooks.

The wall-less closet can still be a closet.

Small Closet Design Organization

Say your bedroom simply doesn’t have the architectural capacity to have a closet, or the existing closet isn’t big enough for two. Get creative, then, with a blank wall by hanging shelving in a manner that resembles a closet interior. You’ll love the extra space. Just be sure to only buy clothes that coordinate with your bedroom…

Place trays on shelves for extra storage potential.

Small Closet Design Organization

Even if it’s a mere 4” of vertical space between the top of one shelf and the bottom of what’s above it, that “dead space” can be put to excellent use with a tray or two! Store some chunky jewelry for easy access and a pop of color.

Opt for clear glass panels on closet doors.

Small Closet Design Organization

This allows you to see, and easily find, what you’re after before you even start opening doors right and left. Plus, it provides a little more incentive to keep things organized overall, which is either a curse or a blessing, depending on your habits…

Store bracelets on towel hooks.

Small Closet Design Organization

This not only looks glamorous (and might inspire you to buy bold and beautiful jewelry in and of itself), but it’s a highly functional way to store bracelets. They’re within sight all at once, making choosing the one(s) you want to wear faster and easier.

Organize clothes by color.

Small Closet Design Organization

Although it may take a few minutes to put into place initially, this strategy makes finding what you need much faster in the long run. Not only that, it makes your whole closet look neat and tidy without changing anything else. Seems like a win-win to me.

Hang a chandelier.

Small Closet Design Organization

Okay, so it really doesn’t have all that much to do with organization… at least, not directly. But a chandelier usually designates a special space, and if your closet is made to appear special, perhaps you’ll take more care in turning it into an organized and, well, pretty space.

Pretend it’s a mini-department store.

Small Closet Design Organization

Try to “sell” yourself on your clothing and accessories by keeping everything within sight and neatly accessible. This makes getting ready for the day a much smoother, and much more enjoyable, process.

Paint the back wall a cheery color.

Small Closet Design Organization

When a vibrant color peeks out at you every time you open your closet door, it’s sure to make your day a little brighter. Choose a bold color that you love but may not have the guts to paint elsewhere in the house.

Add a place to sit.

Small Closet Design Organization

If you’ve got room, in the middle of your walk-in closet or just outside your regular closet door, place a chair, bench, or stool. The seat comes in handy for putting on shoes and what-not.

Maximize the back of the closet door.

Small Closet Design Organization

Over-the-door organizers (or even stick-on command hooks) are a great way to use that otherwise wasted space. Use the bonus door space to store jewelry, hats, bags, or even shoes.

Expand your closet’s holdings into room décor.

Small Closet Design Organization

While it might be a challenge to find a place outside the closet for a winter coat and three pairs of trousers, it’s food for the creative soul to play around with accessories as décor. Pepper hats on the wall outside your closet for a fun, retro feel…and easy accessibility.{found on abeautifulmess}.

Small Closet Design Organization

What do you love about your own closet? What would you change? Or what one thing does your dream closet have?