20 Simple Yet Effective Closet Organization Ideas to Streamline Your Space
Dealing with a cluttered closet is frustrating, with clothes falling off hangers and shoes piled on the floor. It’s nearly impossible to find what you need. And with spring cleaning underway, it’s the best time to rethink your closet design and establish organization systems that actually work. To help you streamline your space, we tapped professional organizers, interior designers, and bloggers for their best closet organization ideas, and they’re surprisingly simple to implement. Find inspiration for every budget, whether it’s investing in a closet organization system or trying a DIY hack, like clear dividers for handbags, small items corralled in wicker baskets, or rods built from copper pipes.
Before You Begin: Purge Your Closet
Before you begin hanging shelves, labeling baskets, or color-coordinating clothing, start by editing your current wardrobe and shoe collection. There’s no point in organizing clothes or accessories you never wear. Make a donation pile, and as you organize, add items you haven’t worn or used in the last year.
1. First Things First, Purge Your Closet
Make a donation pile and add items you haven’t worn or used in the last year. Here’s a great example of a minimal collection on display from NEAT Method.
2. Fold Sweaters and Sweatshirts
Take note from Lisa Jacobs of Imagine It Done and display sweaters on open shelves. Now, each garment is fully visible, making it easy to slide down the right one as you get ready.
3. Install Glass-Front Doors
Swap in glass-paneled closet doors, allowing you to see your entire wardrobe without looking inside. In this streamlined closet, LA Closet Design adds a few drawers and a pants rack.
Maximizing Space
4. Maximize Space by Stacking Shoes
Shoes take up less space when stacked on top of each other, and these affordable plastic slots make it possible. In this organized walk-in, Lisa Jacobs of Imagine It Done sets up slip-ons, sneakers, and dress shoes down low and boots above.
5. Carve Out Space for a Mirror
Hang a mirror nearby, so you can quickly check your appearance as you choose an outfit. Here, Strom Interior Studio creates a small vanity area in this luxe walk-in perfect for putting on jewelry or applying makeup.
6. Arrange Shoes by Color
Ranging from dark to light, thoughtfully arrange shoes by color, especially if you have a collection as big as this one. When everything’s on display, there’s no more digging around the closet for that pair of heels you haven’t worn in a while.
Organizing Accessories
7. Set Up an Area for Accessories
Once you’ve chosen your outfit, stride over to your dedicated accessory station, complete with handbags in glass-front drawers, a jewelry box, and a backlit mirror for admiring the final look.
8. Build Bars and Shelves With Copper Pipes
Here, Stefanie Fabrico of Project Makes Perfect embraces an industrial look with exposed wood walls. She skips the fancy closet system, creating shelves and clothing rods with copper pipe, instead.
9. Store Sneakers in Acrylic Bins
Sneakerheads need to adopt this organization method from The Curated Dwelling. Store sneakers in clear, stackable boxes to protect them from dust and moisture. Not to mention, it’s easy to see where everything is.
Staying Organized
10. Label Bins for Small Items
Tuck smaller items, like belts, gloves, scarves, socks, or underwear, into storage solutions, just as NEAT Method does in these decorative wood bins. Add labels to stay organized as you dress.
11. Hang Double Rods
Double up the curtain rods to maximize vertical space in your closet and avoid overcrowding. Here, LA Closet Design hangs long-sleeve shirts and jackets up top and short-sleeve shirts and pants below.
12. Group Clothing by Color
No matter how much clothing you own, organizing by color is an easy way to keep track of every garment. Feel like wearing pink today? You know exactly where to look.
Utilizing Vertical Space
13. Maximize Vertical Space
Take storage all the way to the ceiling, just as designer Anastasia Casey of The Interior Collective does in this bright closet. A built-in system includes rods, open shelves, and drawers, then wicker bins are stacked on top, great for seasonal items.
14. Swap in Matching Hangers
Streamline your closet with all matching hangers – personally, I prefer velvet hangers. Professional organizers Danna Bitton and Shira Rom Bitton of Organize Dwell group like items, so it’s easy to find exactly what you need.
Organizing Handbags and Accessories
15. Use Dividers for Handbags
Adjustable clear shelf dividers, which are super affordable on Amazon, instantly refresh this walk-in closet and give each purse a home. Added bonus? This setup will also help your handbags keep their shape.
16. Use a Mix of Storage Solutions
For a newborn baby, Laura Kinsella of Urban OrgaNYze installs clothing racks, drawers, and shelves, then adds various bins to accommodate more than just clothing.
17. Categorize Clothing by Style
Separate clothing by type – think dresses, short-sleeve tops, long-sleeve tops, and pants. And if you’ve got at least five sequined outfits, feel free to give them their own section.
Comfort and Lighting
18. Incorporate Comfortable Seating
If you’ve got the space, reserve a comfortable place to sit – it’s helpful for trying on shoes. In this modern setup, designer Nicole Hirsch opts for a curved bench.
19. Install Recessed Lighting
Brighten up your everyday items by adding small LED lights on each shelf, just as Organize Dwell does here. This way, you can properly see every color and detail, and can ensure matching fits.
20. Keep Small Accessories in Drawers
Those small items you tend to misplace, like socks, sunglasses, or cuff links, can be neatly organized in drawers. This keeps your must-haves within reach, while freeing up much-needed counter space.
Key Takeaways:
- Purge your closet before organizing to get rid of items you no longer wear or need.
- Maximize vertical space with double rods, shelves, and storage bins.
- Use dividers, bins, and labels to keep small items and accessories organized.
- Incorporate comfortable seating and good lighting to make your closet a functional space.
By implementing these simple yet effective closet organization ideas, you’ll be able to streamline your space and make your daily routine more efficient.
What is the first step in organizing a cluttered closet?
Purge your closet by getting rid of items you no longer wear or need.
How can I maximize space in my closet?
Use double rods, shelves, and storage bins to make the most of your closet’s vertical space.
What is a good way to organize small items like socks and accessories?
Use bins, baskets, and labels to keep small items organized and easy to find.
How can I keep my handbags organized?
Use dividers, such as clear shelf dividers, to give each handbag a home and keep them from getting damaged.
What type of lighting is best for a closet?
Recessed lighting, such as small LED lights, can provide bright and even lighting in your closet.
Why is it important to incorporate comfortable seating in a closet?
A comfortable place to sit can be helpful for trying on shoes and making getting ready easier.
How can I keep my closet organized over time?
Use a combination of storage solutions, such as bins, baskets, and labels, to keep your closet organized and clutter-free.
What are some benefits of a well-organized closet?
A well-organized closet can make your daily routine more efficient and reduce stress.
