10 Fresh Clothes Storage Ideas To Make The Most Of Small Spaces

From small bedrooms to spaces without closets, explore solutions and organization tips to optimize your clothing storage.

A large walk-in closet with organized storage, ample space, and plenty of shelves is what American dreams are made of, but having a closet you can do a cartwheel in, unfortunately, may not be a reality for your space. The key is to maximize, organize, and maintain the space you have to save time when dressing each day.

Indeed, we acknowledge that the process of organizing clothes in a small closet or even in a bedroom without a closet (yikes!) might initially seem like a challenging and overwhelming chore.

Meet The Expert

• Brittany Moore is a professional organizer and CEO of B. Moore Organized, based in Austin, Texas.

• Tara Bremer is the founder and owner at House Peace, based in Birmingham, Alabama.

Fortunately, with a little bit of ingenuity and a few fresh ideas, storing your clothes in an organized and accessible way can be done. Decluttering and cleaning out should be your top priority when you begin the process. It’s as simple as creating space in your day to devote small increments of time to decluttering. “Block off 20-30 minutes at a time so it doesn’t become overwhelming,” says Brittany Moore, professional organizer and CEO of B. Moore Organized, based in Austin, Texas.

Or consider spending a little more time digging in for a significant overhaul of what you don’t wear or use. “Have a friend help you, turn it into an event, get coffee, set aside three hours, turn off your notifications, and get to work,” says Tara Bremer, Birmingham, Alabama-based founder and owner at House Peace. “Just her presence alone (body doubling) will keep you on track, and you can ask her opinion on items you're not sure about,” Bremer explains.

Related: 10 Organization Mistakes You're Making In Your Closet

Fortunately, we’ve done some of the work for you by gathering some of the best clothes storage ideas for a small closet space. These ideas are easy to implement and will help you maximize and increase your wardrobe space.

Add a Garment Rack

If you have a small closet or don’t have one, adding a stand-alone garment rack is a simple fix to creating more space for clothing that must be hung. It can make all the difference when it comes to hanging your wardrobe by creating a space for hanging clothing or adding space to what you already have. Group clothing items by color to create an aesthetically appealing focal point in a bedroom or a closet. You’ll save time and eliminate frustration when you can quickly locate the item you need.

Add Hooks to a Wardrobe Rod

If shelf space for bags or purses is limited or doesn’t exist, a simple way to add a place for these items is by adding hooks to your closet clothing rod or garment rack. Purses, handbags, and duffles can be stowed on hooks and kept off the floor in an organized and accessible way. “The clear acrylic of these particular hooks creates an uncluttered look,” says Moore.

Utilize Under-the-Bed Storage

When working with a small closet space, utilize a separate space from a closet in your home for off-season storage. Under-the-bed bins are a practical use of space that otherwise might be empty. Be sure you choose a bin that has a lid to keep dust from collecting on your clothing.

Use an Over-the-Door Rack

The door on a closet or any bedroom is an underutilized and helpful space for hanging clothing items. An over-the-door rack with several hooks is ideal for maximizing this helpful area. It’s best to reserve space on the rack for daily-use items such as a bathrobe, a jacket, or a purse.

Use the Fold and Stack Method

Be sure to utilize shelf space in your closet, even if small. Folding and stacking more oversized items like chunky sweaters or hoodies instead of hanging them on the closet rod can free up more space. Chances are, as you choose items to fold, stack, and stow higher, you’ll come across clothing and sweaters from ages ago that you haven’t worn. Cull them out, donate, and only keep the ones you know you will wear. It’s essential to eliminate some bulkier clothing items taking up too much space.

Stack Your Shoes Vertically

A tip for shoe storage is to use clear bins for smaller shoes like sandals to maximize your shoe storage. Focus on stacking these and using vertical space rather than your horizontal space. This type of storage is ideal for storing off-season items such as summer sandals during the winter. These can be smaller boxes that don’t take up as much space and then when stacked. Clear acrylic boxes are ideal so that the contents are visible.

Add Hooks to an Open Wall Space

Hooks are the one thing we seemingly always need and never have enough of. Adding a hook or a row of hooks inside a large closet or on a free wall space is an instant way to maximize the use of a blank space. Small hooks with adhesive backing are an easy option for lighter objects such as hats, ties, and jewelry accessories.

Add Higher Shelving

“Always think–go up! Add a shelf in a high-ceiling closet,” says Bremer. Utilize the space above the clothing rod by adding shelving if it’s nonexistent. The wall space under the ceiling is a great place to add shelves for storing out-of-season clothing items.

Utilize the White Space

White space in a closet—the blank wall space visible when peering into a closet is valuable space that can be utilized for storage by adding containers. In other words, if you can see white space on a shelf, consider adding containers like the white modular shoe organizers at the bottom of the closet or clear container organizers on the closet shelf.

Alternate the Direction of Your Shoes When Storing

Just by alternating the direction of each shoe in a pair—one facing forward and one facing backward—you can free up inches of shelf space for storage, creating more space for more shoes. Warm-weather shoes like athletic shoes, sneakers, and flip-flops create more storage when placed in this alternating pattern.

For more Southern Living news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on Southern Living.