​Saving space: small closet ideas

Johannes van Graan Johannes van Graan
homify Modern dressing room
Loading admin actions …

Not all of us are fortunate enough to enjoy hectares of legroom in our homes – and that includes storage spaces like closets and wardrobes. But don’t fret, for living in a small apartment or home can also have its own joys, like being able to reach everything quicker and easier!

However, one will have to have quite the creative imagination to find the joys associated with a tiny closet.

But let’s take stock for a second: does your closet seem hard to organise because it’s so small? While it’s true that smaller closets (especially those with weird shapes or situated in quirky corners) can be harder to deal with, it is not impossible. Especially not since we here at homify have gathered a few interesting small closet ideas to make them work better for you…

1. Small closet ideas: refrain from cluttering

Imagine this scenario: you still have every piece of clothing you’ve ever purchased, plus a small closet. The end result? That tiny closet will drive you mad! 

The first step to sidestep a mental meltdown is to streamline the contents of your small closet. Remember that, with teeny tiny storage space, you have less legroom to work with, making it all the more crucial that you weed out what you don’t wear. 

homify hint: Treat yourself to a decent purging. Unpack your entire closet (since it’s small, it shouldn’t take that long) and toss out everything that doesn’t fit, you haven’t worn in a year, or isn’t in style anymore. This is sure to conjure up some much-needed space for your small closet.

2. Small closet ideas: don’t use the wrong hangers

A closet with hangers in a variety of shapes, styles, sizes and colours might ensure some visual interest, but it can ruin the most well-intentioned organising plans. This might sound crazy, but why should it matter if your hangers match or not? 

We’ve done our research on small closet ideas and our conclusion: they don’t have to match! However, they should still be of the same size and type. For instance, you can hang pants from hangers with clasps or fold them over regular hangers. But if you are not consistent with your closet’s hanging methods, it can become harder to glance at your clothing, see them all at once, and choose a pair quickly and easily. 

Similarly, large shirts draped over small hangers will wrinkle more easily, and hangers at varying heights can make it trickier to get your clothes out of the closet. After all, the last thing you need on those rushed mornings is the annoyance of clothes catching on one another, falling to the closet floor or vanishing altogether. 

We recommend opting for a basic hanger with a bar that works equally well for blouses, pants and skirts.

3. Small closet ideas: don’t cram all your clothes into the closet

Trying to organise your fashionable wear into a small closet is hard enough. But if you try doing it not only with the clothes you wear every day, but off-season clothing as well, things can become downright impracticable. 

If it’s at all possible, rotate your clothes according to the weather. Even some small closets have enough extra space to do this without resorting to the basement or attic. Try your closet floor or high shelf as an extra storage spot. Or opt for other storage areas like under the bed, the hallway closet, etc. 

We know that it’s not ideal to climb on a step-stool to reach your sweaters every day, but doing it once or twice a year is fine if it gets them out of your way during the summer.

4. Small closet ideas: don’t buy too many organisation products

There’s a myriad of organisation tools out there to help us make the best of small spaces, but that doesn’t mean you have to use all of them in the same area. Remember that there’s a limit to their usefulness and that they also take up space of their own. 

If you depend on too many organisers to do your work for you, you’re still going to end up with an unnecessarily cluttered closet. The only products you should introduce into a small closet are those that really save space.

Take it from us: large shelving units and racks will just get in your way and end up making that small closet more frustrating. Instead, look for flat shelf dividers, small belt holders, and similar tools.

Our interior designers can help you to create the perfect closet that meets your needs

5. Small closet ideas: have a system that works

Think that just because your closet is small you can find whatever you’re looking for in a jiffy? After all, how difficult is it to lose a pair of jeans in a space that’s two by three metres across? Pretty easy, as it turns out! And it can be even more of a struggle to find a given item when clothes are packed tightly into a little closet rather than hanging in a large walk-in. 

Our recommendation? Sort your clothes by type (jackets, pants, shirts, dresses, etc.). Then, within those categories, sort them according to colour. This makes finding your dark-blue jeans, light-green sundress, or any other specific type of clothing much easier!

6. Small closet ideas: get hooked

Step into your small closet (or as far as you can get into it). Are there any bare walls not occupied by clothes or shelves? Put a hook there! And if you have adequate wall space, put up a whole rack of hooks.

This is a fabulous way to reclaim wasted space, and you can use those hooks for practically anything – from jewellery and bags to belts and clothes that you’ve worn for half a day and which aren’t dirty enough for the laundry basket.

7. Small closet ideas: what to do with folded clothes

• Fold all your knitted items to prevent hanger bumps (including sweaters, most t-shirts, and some blouses). 

• If you are using a dresser or other drawers, stack clothes vertically instead of horizontally. Do this for everything, including socks, pyjamas and even underwear.  

• With open shelving, be sure not to stack your clothes so high that they tumble. Leave a bit of ‘breathing room’ above the stacked clothes and your closet’s top. 

That takes care of clothing; now, let’s see some Crafty kitchen storage solutions.

What other tips do you have to make a small closet work better for you?

Need help with your home project?
Get in touch!

Highlights from our magazine