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.
Before You Begin
Before you start hanging shelves, labeling baskets, or color-coordinating clothing, start by editing your current wardrobe and shoe collection. Go through your clothes and separate them into three piles: keep, donate, and discard. Be honest with yourself – if you haven’t worn something in the last year, it’s probably safe to get rid of it.
19 Surprisingly Simple Closet Organization Ideas
1. Purge Your Closet
Courtesy of NEAT Method
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
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 a 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, making it 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.
About the Authors
Alyssa Gautieri 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 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 before organizing your closet? Start by editing your current wardrobe and shoe collection. Separate clothes and shoes into keep, donate, and discard piles.
What is the NEAT Method for closet organization? Organize clothes by keeping only what you wear, using storage solutions, and donating items you haven’t worn in the last year.
How can folding sweaters and sweatshirts improve organization? Display sweaters on open shelves to make each garment fully visible and easily accessible.
What is the benefit of installing glass-front closet doors? Allows you to see your entire wardrobe without having to open the doors, maximizing visibility.
What is a simple way to organize shoes in the closet? Stack shoes on top of each other using plastic slots, arranged by color for easy access. Stack shoes on top of each other using plastic slots, arranged by color for easy access.
Why should you incorporate a mirror in your closet? To quickly check your appearance as you select an outfit, enhancing your overall styling process.
What is an innovative method for shoe organization? Arrange shoes by color from dark to light to make finding specific pairs more convenient.
How can accessories be organized in a closet? Set up a dedicated area with glass-front drawers for handbags, a jewelry box, and a backlit mirror for viewing the final look.
What unique storage solution does the Project Makes Perfect use? Builds clothing bars and shelves using copper pipes for an industrial look.
What storage idea is recommended for sneaker collections? Store sneakers in clear, stackable acrylic bins to protect them from dust and moisture.
How can labels be used in closet organization? Label bins for small items like belts, gloves, scarves, socks, or underwear to stay organized.
What is the benefit of double hanging rods in your closet? Maximizes vertical space by avoiding overcrowding and separating long-sleeve garments from shorter ones.
What is a simple method for maximizing closet space? Use all available vertical space with tall racks, open shelves, and drawers, and stack wicker bins for seasonal items.
What is the advantage of using matching hangers? Streamlines the closet and makes it easier to find specific items by visually grouping like pieces together.
How can clear shelf dividers improve handbag organization? Clear shelf dividers provide a refreshing look and give each purse a designated space, helping to maintain shape.
What versatile storage solution does Urban OrgaNYze suggest? Uses a combination of clothing racks, drawers, shelves, and various bins to accommodate more than just clothing, such as baby items.
How can clothing be grouped within a closet? Separate clothing by type—dresses, short-sleeve tops, long-sleeve tops, and pants—and even designate sections for specific styles.
What is the importance of including seating in your closet? A comfortable seat can be useful for trying on shoes and shoes, enhancing the overall functionality of your closet.
Why is recessed lighting a good idea for a closet? Recessed LED lights illuminate clothes properly, allowing you to see colors and details clearly, ensuring matching outfits.
How can drawers help in organizing small accessories? Keep small items such as socks, sunglasses, or cuff links in drawers to keep them within reach and free up counter space.
