Expert-Approved Closet Organization Ideas to Transform Your Space
Dealing with a cluttered closet can be frustrating, especially when clothes are falling off hangers and shoes are piled on the floor, making it nearly impossible to find what you need. 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’ve 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
Before you start 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 add items you haven’t worn or used in the last year.
1. First Things First, Purge Your Closet
Courtesy of NEAT Method
There’s no point in organizing clothes or accessories you never wear. 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
Lisa Jacobs, Imagine It Done
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
Meghan Beierle O’Brien
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.
4. Maximize Space by Stacking Shoes
Lisa Jacobs, Imagine It Done
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
Amanda Archibald
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
Lisa Jacobs, Imagine It Done
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.
7. Set Up an Area for Accessories
Meghan Beierle O’Brien
Once you’ve chosen your outfit, stride over to your dedicated accessory station – complete with handbags in glass-front drawers, a jewelry box, and backlit mirror for admiring the final look.
8. Build Bars and Shelves With Copper Pipes
Amanda Archibald
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
The Curated Dwelling
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.
10. Label Bins for Small Items
Courtesy of NEAT Method
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
Meghan Beierle O’Brien
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
The Curated Dwelling
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.
13. Maximize Vertical Space
Madeline Harper
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
Courtesy of Organize Dwell
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.
15. Use Dividers for Handbags
Meghan Beierle O’Brien
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
Courtesy of Urban Organyze
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
Meghan Beierle O’Brien
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.
18. Incorporate Comfortable Seating
Nicole Hirsch
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
Courtesy of Organize Dwell
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
Meghan Beierle O’Brien
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.
Expert Bios
Alyssa Gautieri
Associate Lifestyle Editor
Alyssa Gautieri she/her is the associate lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things home and interior design. Prior to joining GH in 2022, she wrote for publications including ELLE Decor, Chairish, BobVila.com, Unique Homes Magazine, and LODGING Magazine, in addition to crafting product copy for home brands like BrylaneHome and VIGO Industries.
Mariah Thomas
Assistant Editor
Mariah Thomas she/her is an assistant editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home and lifestyle content. Mariah has more than four years of editorial experience, having written for TLC, Apartment Therapy, Women’s Health, and Avocado Magazine. She received her master’s degree in journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and published her first book, Heart and Soul Poems of Thoughts and Emotions, in 2019. She’s also the founder of RTF Community, a platform for creatives of color to connect, learn, and showcase their work.
What are the first steps to organizing a cluttered closet?
Start by editing your current wardrobe and shoe collection. Make a donation pile and add items you haven’t worn or used in the last year.
How can you display sweaters and sweatshirts more effectively?
Display sweaters on open shelves, making each garment fully visible for easy selection.
What are the benefits of installing glass-front closet doors?
Allows you to see your entire wardrobe without looking inside, maximizing visibility.
How can shoes be organized for optimal space usage?
Stack shoes using affordable plastic slots, saving space and making shelves more organized.
Why is it useful to add a mirror near your closet?
Hang a mirror nearby to check your appearance as you get ready, enhancing your styling process.
What is the benefit of arranging shoes by color?
Arranging shoes by color, from dark to light, helps you find items quickly and maintains a visually appealing setup.
How can an accessory station improve your closet organization?
A dedicated accessory station with handbags in glass-front drawers, a jewelry box, and a backlit mirror keeps all items in one place and easily accessible.
What is a unique way to build shelves and clothing rods?
Use copper pipes to create shelves and clothing rods, giving your closet an industrial look without a fancy system.
How can you protect and organize sneakers in storage?
Store sneakers in clear, stackable acrylic bins to protect them from dust and moisture, and keep them visible.
What method can be used for organizing small items in the closet?
Store smaller items like belts, gloves, scarves, socks, or underwear in labeled decorative wood bins to keep boxes organized.
How can double rods maximize closet space?
Hang double curtain rods to maximize vertical space by separating long-sleeve shirts and jackets on top from short-sleeve shirts and pants below.
What is the advantage of organizing clothing by color?
Organizing by color makes it easy to find and match any piece, regardless of your garments’ quantity.
How can you utilize vertical space in your closet?
Build a closet system that includes rods, open shelves, and drawers, and use wicker bins for seasonal items, reaching up to the ceiling.
Why is it recommended to use matching hangers?
Using matching hangers, such as velvet ones, maintains a streamlined look, making it easier to find specific items.
What is the purpose of using dividers for handbags?
Adjustable clear shelf dividers help organize handbags neatly, keeping them in shape and ensuring they don’t warp.
How can a mix of storage solutions cater to various needs?
Combining clothing racks, drawers, shelves, and various bins allows you to organize more than just clothing, fitting additional items like baby essentials.
What is an effective way to categorize clothing?
Separate clothing by type, such as dresses, short-sleeve tops, long-sleeve tops, and pants, and dedicate sections for specific styles if you have multiple items.
Why is adding comfortable seating beneficial in a closet?
A comfortable seating area, like a curved bench, is helpful for trying on shoes and fitting clothes in a spacious closet.
How does recessed lighting improve the organization of a closet?
Brighten and enhance visibility by adding small LED lights to each shelf, ensuring you can see colors and patterns clearly.
What is an effective way to store small accessories?
Keep small accessories like socks, sunglasses, or cuff links in drawers to keep them within reach and free up counter space.
