Small Closet Causing a Big Mess? Follow These 12 Tips to Conquer Clutter Now

If one of your dreams is to have a larger closet, you might get similar results by simply maximizing the space available in your small closet, instead. Major closet clutter is common in small reach-in closets, because most people find it difficult to get everything they have into them neatly and tidily. If this describes your situation, take a look at these great clutter-busting tips for making more space in your closet.

The goal is usually to make enough storage space inside of the closet. Most of the time, this can be achieved by simply taking a look at what you have and moving it around as needed within the closet space itself.

1. Pare down your possessions. We know, you didn’t want to read this tip. If you are still saving clothing that you haven’t worn in years, though, you know that some purging needs to be done. The general rule of thumb is that if you haven’t worn something in a year and it’s neither extremely sentimental (e.g. your wedding gown) or something that you would wear only for specific occasions, it’s time for it to find a new home. Going through your closet carefully and donating items that you are no longer using can make a big dent in your clutter situation even if you did nothing else.

2. Put in a second hanging rod. If most of your closet space is taken up by crammed-together hung clothing, putting in a second hanging rod a few feet below the original one will literally double your hanging space. If you have more than a few longer items, like dresses and full-length coats, to hang, you can hang the second rod across only half of the closet, leaving the rest of the top rod with nothing underneath. Note that you can also raise your top rod up a bit to make enough room for the lower rod plus extra room underneath for more storage.

3. Use tiered hangers. Using hangers that take advantage of vertical space can save you a lot of room on your clothing shelf. These come in several different variations. You can even make your own by hanging a soda-can tab over the hook of one hanger to create a hole for the next hanger to fit into. Hanging large chains vertically from the clothing rod or a hanger can also give you more space to hang more items.

4. Don’t forget about the space behind the door. Using hooks or racks on the backside of your door will allow you to store scarves, jewelry and other small items. You can also place shelves on the backside of the door (you’ll need to leave a margin on all sides so you can close the door without a problem) to keep shoes, socks, belts... just about anything you can think of.

5. Put in a small bookshelf. Do you have a lot of shoes that need to be corralled? A short bookshelf is a great place to store them where they will stay neat and off of the floor. If you can find one to fit, place it along one side wall of the closet so it will take up less space under your clothing.

6. Fold and stack knits and jeans. Knits, such as t-shirts and sweaters, should not be hung on hangers, because the hangers can leave marks on the shoulders. Instead, fold and stack these items. Use your shelf space inside the closet or try installing a small cabinet or a set of drawers, if you have the room.

5. Use a tie rack for something other than ties. You can hang this from the clothing rod or from a hook, and you can use each of the dowels for items like tank tops, belts, or even purses. Invest in a few racks, because you’ll probably think of more options for storage once you have them.​

While it’s always ideal to make more room inside of the closet, sometimes some items simply need to be stored elsewhere. Here are some ideas for making more room in other places in the bedroom.

1. Place a rack outside the closet. If you don’t have enough hanging room, consider getting a hanging rack to sit in your bedroom, outside of your closet. You can use this space to store a week’s worth of outfits to eliminate the in-and-out of rummaging through your closet all week.​

2. Use hooks as artwork. Hanging similar or varied hooks on the wall can provide storage space and double as visual interest. Don’t think you have to settle for plain white or steel hooks from the hardware store. Consider hanging antique knobs, interesting hooks that you find at a craft store, or even deer antlers to hold your scarves, neckties, jackets, nightgowns and more.

3. Roll, don’t fold. If drawer space is at a premium, try rolling items like t-shirts and shorts, rather than folding them. They will tend to take up less space and will look just as neat as their neatly folded counterparts. You can also roll small items like underwear and socks.

4. Make use of the space under furniture. You can get drawers that fit under the bed, or keep your flat shoes on a tray that slides under your dresser or night table. You can even put a small shelf or a couple of narrow drawers under your sink in your bathroom to hold undergarments or other small pieces of clothing or accessories.

5. Put out-of-season clothing away somewhere else. Ideally, all of your clothes would be able to stay in the closet, but in reality, many people need to do the seasonal switcheroo two or three times per year. In a climate where the weather can change on a dime, you’ll want to be sure to keep some versatile pieces or to keep the unseasonable clothing in a place that can be easily reached.

Keeping your small closet organized can be a challenge! Doing it yourself is definitely an option, but if you’re considering having a professional closet organizer create a custom storage solution for you, call Affordable Closets to schedule a free in-home consultation.