45 Closet Ideas for Better Design and Storage in Closets of All Sizes

From storage solutions for small closets to layout and design for the walk-in closet of your dreams, there are clever closet ideas to suit any size or style space. You can make your closet more organized, functional, and visually appealing with big and small upgrades including shelving, racks, rods, wall hooks, shoe storage, lighting, paint, wallpaper, seating, rugs, and decor.

Whether you are looking for budget DIY solutions or space planning a dressing room to rival your favorite clothing boutique, check out these closet ideas of varying sizes and styles to help you tailor your space to your wardrobe and interiors.

45 Best Closet Ideas

Convert a Spare Room

Turn a junk room into a walk-in closet by clearing everything out, donating unworn items, and starting fresh. Calimia Home turned a small pass-through room into a walk-in accessories and shoe closet by hanging simple wall-mounted shelves around the periphery of the room to keep everything organized, accessible, and on display.

Squeeze in a Vanity

Turn a galley-style closet with a window at the far end into a one-stop shop for getting ready with a small vanity table, mirror, and space-saving pouf. Studio Peake added color with blush pink walls and green carpeting. Pleated curtains hung from rods at ceiling height can be closed to hide clutter.

Install Glass-Front Doors

Make a galley-style closet of any size feel twice as big by adding a mirror at the far end. Sissy + Marley Interior Design paired closed clothing storage on one side and a wall of lighted shoe cabinets behind glass doors on the other for a high-end look.

Hang Wallpaper

Blogger Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona designed and built this DIY primary bedroom closet from plywood. Then she added a thrifted set of drawers, painted everything bright white, hung illustrated bird-themed wallpaper, and finished with plants and gold accents for a custom look.

Use Vertical Space

Create a super-organized space by utilizing vertical space. Marie Flanigan Interiors maximized storage by installing shelving and drawers all the way up to the ceiling, finishing them all in complementary tones of silver-blue fabric for a cohesive and decorative look.

Mirror the Doors

Double space in your closet with mirrored doors. Erin Williamson Design added mirror panels to this wall of closets that reflect and bounce around the light from the opposite window for a light and airy feel.

Build an Accessories Wall

If you are a fan of bags and shoes, keep them on display with a dedicated accessories wall outfitted with open storage cubbies. Marie Flanigan Interiors finished this accessories wall with crown molding for a polished look, but you can emulate the idea on a budget using freestanding shelving from your favorite Swedish retailer aligned along one wall to create a similar effect.

Remove the Doors

Emily Henderson Design left the doors off this small walk-in closet to maximize storage inside. A three-tiered shoe rack keeps shoes organized while leaving room for the dresser drawers inside to open. The top shelf in the closet stays tidy thanks to a series of matching fabric bins.

Hang Extra-Wide Shelves

If you live in a studio apartment or loft with limited closet space, turn a blank wall into an open closet that you can style like a boutique. Leanne Ford Interiors hung extra-wide open shelving for shoes, jeans, and accessories on either side of the hanging rod, and a double row of shoe storage below. The space is finished off with a sparkly crystal chandelier for a touch of glam.

Layer Rugs

Add carpeting or layered rugs in a small walk-in closet to create a soft feel underfoot while adding some pattern and color, like this London space from Studio Peake.

Include a Window Seat

If your closet has a window, add a window seat to give it a dressing room feel. Britt Design Studio added an upholstered cushion and throw pillows to make it comfortable.

Add a Sliding Door

Add a glass pane sliding door to a small walk-in closet to define the space while allowing natural light to flow in, like this Scandinavian apartment closet from Fantastic Frank. If you'd rather keep your closet hidden, swap the glass panes for a wood pocket or barn door.

Add a Jewelry Station

Make your closet a little more glamorous and practical by carving out space for a jewelry station. Marie Flanigan Interiors used the top of a chest of built-in drawers between closets to create a spot for storing jewelry and displaying fresh flowers. A gilded mirror provides a place to check yourself before you head out into the world.

Style Open Shelves

Create extra storage by adding narrow vertical shelving on the wall outside of your closet. Add a large leaning floor mirror for a boutique feel, like this space from Leanne Ford Interiors.

Make Every Corner Function

Use every inch of space to maximize storage in a smaller closet. Finding Lovely multiplied the storage in this small walk-in closet with a combination of hanging rods and open and glass-front shelving, adding labeled storage baskets that hide clutter while making everything easy to find.

Display Your Ties

Display a rainbow collection of ties on a central rack in an open closet that will make getting dressed easier and more fun, like this space from Marie Flanigan Interiors.

Add a Storage Bench

Make your closet more functional and comfortable with a small storage bench that will provide seating and place to store items underneath the seat, like this bright blue-and-white space from Marie Flanigan Interiors.

Add a Farmhouse Feel

Style your closet with the same aesthetic as your interior for a cohesive feel. Liz Marie Blog gave her hall linen closet a farmhouse makeover with a fresh coat of white paint, storage baskets for loose items labeled with chalkboard tags, and a back-of-door row of hooks. There's even a hamper on wheels to make doing laundry a breeze.

Make It Bespoke

The beauty of designing your own closet is tailoring it to your wardrobe to create a perfect fit. Add open storage to keep your most-worn clothing, shoes, and accessories visible and accessible, and plenty of closed storage to hide clutter or off-season items, like this handsome closet from Marie Flanigan Interiors that is finished with a mix of dark stained and painted charcoal wood and brass finishes.

Create a Mini Dressing Room

Turn a small walk-in closet into a mini dressing room by installing a custom closet organization system made up of open shelving, a row of drawers, and hanging rods of different lengths. Then add decor touches like a Persian-style runner, a gold-rimmed mirror, and a rattan chair, like this space from Casa Watkins Living.

Try Storage Baskets

Keep clutter at bay with matching storage baskets in a natural tone. Marie Flanigan Interiors filled open closet cubbies with storage baskets to keep clutter at bay and make upper shelving more useful.

Use Freestanding Wardrobes

Turn a spare room into a walk-in closet without expensive built-ins with freestanding wardrobes. Candace Mary Interiors painted the walls in forest green to match the adjoining primary bedroom. Tall white wardrobes with Shaker fronts and gold-toned hardware complement a central island with built-in storage.

Get Creative With Wall Hooks

Make your closet as stylish as your wardrobe with decorative touches like antique doorknobs repurposed as wall hooks for scarves, bags, or hats, like this DIY space from blogger Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona.

Add Labeled Storage Bins

Keep clutch bags, scarves, and off-season items neatly arranged and easily accessible with inexpensive matching storage baskets and a label maker, like this simple and well organized DIY closet from A Beautiful Mess.

Build an Accessories Closet

Save room in your clothes closet by outsourcing your accessories and shoes to a smaller space. Interior designer Maite Granda built a jewel box accessories closet with floor-to-ceiling open shelving and strategic wall mirrors that is lit like a boutique display.

Try a DIY Closet

If you live in an older home without a closet, DIY an open closet with a dresser, hanging rods, and wall-mounted shelving. A Beautiful Mess installed an open closet on either side of a central bedroom window. A pair of upper shelves with white fabric storage bins keep clutter hidden and blend in with the wall color.

Include Homey Touches

Dedicate a space in your closet to items like small accessories, fragrance, or jewelry. Back it with wallpaper, hang some art, and add a little LED lamp in the corner for a cozy feel, like this closet from Most Lovely Things.

Divide Up Space

A Beautiful Mess made some simple adjustments to this shared primary bedroom closet by adding a dividing wall in the middle. It gives each person their own space while acting as a support beam for wall-to-wall shelves that maximize interior space. The inside of the doors are painted in a sunny yellow for a mood-boosting surprise every time you open them.

Add a Three-Way Mirror

If you've got the space, add a dressing room-style three-way mirror so that you can see your outfit from every possible angle before the rest of the world does, like this large dressing room closet from Studio KT.

Add a Cubby Wall

Add a wall of cubbies to your closet to create storage and display space. A Beautiful Mess added a wall of cubby closet shelving that keeps items visible and accessible while optimizing vertical space.

Build a Sneaker Wall

Tailor your closet to your wardrobe and personal style. This dressing room from Gray Space Interiors has a custom-built wall of open shelving to showcase an extensive sneaker collection. A gold shoebox-shaped bench for putting on and taking off shoes is a witty touch.

Mix Freestanding Storage

If you have a shallow closet with extra room inside, outfit the inside with inexpensive freestanding storage to free up floor space in the bedroom. Emily Henderson Design added freestanding shelving units in varying heights and sizes, with open cubbies to store shoes, hyacinth baskets for small accessories, and fabric-covered pull-out drawers and bins.

Repurpose a Bookshelf

In a dressing room or open closet, look for storage solutions made from things you already own, like a small bookshelf or freestanding cubbies. Leanne Ford Interiors styled a white cubby-style shelving unit with accessories and decor items, adding an ornate gilded mirror above to add more decorative flair.

Paint the Inside

Paint the inside of your closet for an easy upgrade. Casa Watkins Living added DIY floating shelves inside this peacock blue linen closet to keep towels and toiletries neat and organized.

Light It Like a Boutique

Create a light and airy feel in a windowless or light-challenged closet by backlighting the walls. Interior designer Alvin Wayne lit this large walk-in closet like a boutique, maximizing vertical space and adding extra storage to allow a wardrobe to expand without looking cluttered. Create a similar look with a more modest space and budget using LED strips or adhesive spotlights.

Hang a Wall-Mounted Mirror

Hang a large pane of mirrored glass on the wall of your dressing room and finish it with wood trim for a built-in feel. Becca Interiors installed a wall-mounted mirror that that provides a view of adjacent rooms to make it feel more spacious. A patterned ottoman provides a place to sit and put on shoes.

Add Hooks for Bags

Reduce clutter in your entryway by adding wall hooks just below the hanging rod to hang up bags, and double rows of shoe storage below, like this space from Fantastic Frank.

Hang a Statement Chandelier

Add polish and a finishing touch to a spacious walk-in closet with a statement chandelier or pendant. Marie Flanigan Interiors chose an oversized pendant light with a floral motif that complements the illustrated wallpaper. Scale up or down according to your space or budget.

Use Every Wall

This u-shaped walk-in closet from Michelle Berwick Design makes use of the long and relatively narrow space with wrap-around shelving that is built up to the ceiling. Wood flooring runs throughout the space to create an uninterrupted flow to and from the bedroom.

Customize Doors With Trim

Give standard white slatted accordion doors a DIY makeover by swapping them out for flat-panel doors and adding new paint, knobs and trim, like this bedroom closet from A Beautiful Mess.

Use Neutral Colors

Use light neutral colors in a spacious walk-in dressing room to show off a colorful wardrobe. Mix open and closed storage to keep your prettiest items on display, like this luxurious space from Marie Flanigan Interiors.

Paint the Floor

Add stimulating color to a small, deep walk-in closet by painting the floor. This closet from Fantastic Frank has neon yellow paint on the floor, walls outfitted with hooks and a floor-length mirror, and a wall-mounted shelving and pull-out drawer unit mounted to the back wall.

Transform Awkward Spaces

As charming as an attic bedroom with a pitched roof can be, it can result in awkward or unused space due to limited headroom. Leanne Ford Interiors transformed unused space into an open closet with a hanging rod and some wall hooks. The wood floors extend into the closet to create a sense of continuity.

Paint It Dark

Paint walls and shelving in the same dark color to make a DIY closet feel cohesive. This space from Fantastic Frank has charcoal black walls that show off a light-colored wardrobe. Gold accents and an Edison bulb pendant add a modern feel.

Paint It White

Keep an open closet feeling light and airy by painting everything white. Leanne Ford Interiors hung white hanging rods equipped with white hangers that make a well edited selection of clothes look like they are floating. A set of white drawers along one wall offers closed storage for accessories and folded items.

Read the original article on The Spruce.