10 Ways to Fully Utilize a Small Closet

Shelves may not seem like the most convenient way to store clothes, but with a smart approach, you can significantly increase their utility. Wide shelves are great for stacking clothes, and to prevent them from sliding apart and creating a mess, you can install vertical dividers between them, as shown in this photo. In the resulting “compartments,” you can fit a lot of clothing.

Hanging Bags on a Pull-Out Hanger

A pull-out hanger with hooks is a great solution for bags so they don’t lie around everywhere and take up shelf space (leaving more room for clothes). In the photo, accessories are well-placed just below the main clothing on the rod. Therefore, to determine how high to hang the hooks, measure the length of the bag straps and the length of the clothing.

Hanging Accessories on Hooks on the Door or Wall

Other accessories—hats, belts, scarves—also often occupy precious space in the closet non-ergonomically. It’s convenient to hang them on wall hooks. For instance, in the photo, they attached them to the wall of a compact walk-in closet. But you can also stick them on the inside of the closet door or on the external side wall. Such self-adhesive hooks won’t damage the surface, and you can easily change their position if needed.

Storing Belts in a Rolled Form

An alternative for storing belts is to roll them up and distribute them in small compartments. If you have many belts, you can allocate a separate low shelf for such an organizer. If you only have 3-4, a smaller sectional container will allow you to put something else on that shelf.

Folding Ties in a Drawer with an Organizer

You can apply a similar method for ties. Those who wear them know how difficult it is to store them in a way that they don’t get wrinkled and create chaos in the closet. In the example in the photo, they placed transparent organizers in a low pull-out drawer. Each section holds 3 rolled-up ties. Compact and careful storage.

Folding Clothes Vertically

Vertical folding almost guarantees that all your items will find their place. This method is much more space-efficient, and the clothes are visible at a glance. T-shirts, pajamas, knitwear, and even trousers can be folded this way. Such “store-like” rows fit well in pull-out drawers.

Installing Baskets on the Door

The owner of this closet didn’t waste the free space of the built-in closet and utilized its depth. To do this, she attached a vertical rod, like those for wardrobe systems, to the door and fixed several deep baskets above each other. If you have a very deep closet or a mini walk-in with a door, this solution is perfect. The baskets are convenient for vertically arranging items, as well as holding tall bags, umbrellas, and other accessories.

Hanging a Large Shoe Organizer on the Door

To avoid shoes taking up too much space and not taking away from clothing space, it ‘s important to store them compactly without compromising convenience. In the example in the photo, they filled the entire door space of the closet with a transparent hanging organizer. Each compartment holds one pair of shoes. It’s clear, convenient, and the shoes stay dust-free and uncrumpled.

Placing Shoes in Transparent Boxes at the Very Top

It’s best to place rarely used shoes in less accessible places. However, to not forget about any pair and always find them easily, use transparent or semi-transparent boxes. This is what they did in the example in the photo. First, they don’t create visual noise as mismatched store boxes do. Second, they’re all the same size—stacks will be even and stable.

Combining Different Storage Methods

If you have a lot of clothes and only a small or single closet, it’s unacceptable to leave empty spaces in it. Use the space to the maximum. In the closet example in the photo, they hung rods close to the shelves at the top. They filled all the space of the narrow shelves with transparent and labeled organizers. And at the very top, they placed identical baskets with stickers for seasonal and rarely used items.