20 Closet Organization Ideas to Maximize 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
Before you begin hanging shelves, labeling baskets, or color-coordinating clothing, start by editing your current wardrobe and shoe collection. It’s essential to get rid of items you no longer wear or need.
1. First Things First, Purge Your Closet
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! 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 Storage Space
To make the most of your closet, consider the following ideas:
- Maximize space by stacking shoes
- Carve out space for a mirror
- Arrange shoes by color
- Set up an area for accessories
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.
7. Set Up an Area for Accessories
Once you’ve chosen your outfit, stride over your dedicated accessory station complete with handbags in glass-front drawers, a jewelry box, and backlit mirror for admiring the final look.
DIY Closet Organization Ideas
If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly approach, consider these DIY closet organization ideas:
- Build bars and shelves with copper pipes
- Store sneakers in acrylic bins
- Label bins for small items
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.
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.
Additional Closet Organization Ideas
To further optimize your closet space, consider the following ideas:
- Hang double rods
- Group clothing by color
- Maximize vertical space
- Swap in matching hangers
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.
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 Accessories and Shoes
To keep your accessories and shoes organized, consider the following ideas:
- Use dividers for handbags
- Use a mix of storage solutions
- Categorize clothing by style
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.
Creating a Functional Closet
To create a functional closet, consider the following ideas:
- Incorporate comfortable seating
- Install recessed lighting
- Keep small accessories in drawers
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the first step in organizing a cluttered closet?
Edit your current wardrobe and shoe collection by getting rid of items you no longer wear or need.
How can I maximize storage space in my closet?
Consider stacking shoes, carving out space for a mirror, arranging shoes by color, and setting up an area for accessories.
What are some budget-friendly DIY closet organization ideas?
Building bars and shelves with copper pipes, storing sneakers in acrylic bins, and labeling bins for small items.
How can I optimize my closet space further?
Hang double rods, group clothing by color, maximize vertical space, and swap in matching hangers.
What are some tips for organizing accessories and shoes?
Use dividers for handbags, use a mix of storage solutions, and categorize clothing by style.
How can I create a functional closet?
Incorporate comfortable seating, install recessed lighting, and keep small accessories in drawers.
What type of hangers are recommended for a streamlined closet?
Matching hangers, such as velvet hangers, are recommended.
How can I keep my handbags organized?
Use adjustable clear shelf dividers to give each purse a home and help maintain its shape.
