A walk-in closet sure sounds fancy, but it can put your organization skills to the test within no time. When there’s a lot to accommodate and a limited space, your walk-in closet can become a hot mess express.
Since keeping a small closet neat takes some practice and a few cool hacks, it’s in your best interest to be a pro at it. Whether you’ve yet to set a walk-in closet or the one you already have looks like a trash box, I have some great closet ideas for you.
In today’s guide, I’ll explain a few small walk-in closet organization ideas to take one task off your to-do list and make your space look neater. So, let’s get to business and optimize your small walk-in closet right on!
Small Walk-in Closet Organization Made Easy
Organizing and decluttering a walk-in closet from the ground up takes time and planning. Therefore, it’s wise to divide this task into smaller portions and not burden yourself. Here are a few easy and quick tips you can follow to arrange your treasure:
1. Start With a Blank Slate
Since walk-in closets have multiple storage compartments paired with a whole lot of stuff, you should start by emptying it. Take the hanging clothes to your bed, your shoe collection out of the drawers, and the jewelry rack away from its stand to see how much stash you have collected over the years. Make three categories for your stuff.
- To keep
- To donate / sell
- To throw away
Start with checking your clothes collection. Gather the clothes that fit you well, are in fashion, or you see yourself wearing again in the near future.
Separate them as your ‘to keep’ collection. Next, if some pieces don’t fit you well but are in good condition, move them to your ‘to donate’ box.
Also, if you have items from a certain brand of high-end material, perhaps selling those is the better choice.
And lastly, if you find some pieces useless, worn out, discolored, or way out of fashion, take them out to throw away.
Do the same with your shoes, scarves, jewelry, and other accessories to make more room in your walk-in closet. Decluttering is the best way to start closet organization because now you know how much space you need to accommodate your collection.
2. Estimate the Storage Space You Need
If you had a cramped closet before you started the organization haul, recheck the storage space you need after separating the clutter and donation items. If your stuff can easily fit in the closet, start folding and arranging it.
But, if you need a neater look for the closet, look into some additional storage options you can try. If your small walk-in closet is fixed on the wall or ceiling, there is not much to do.
However, if you have straight shelves and racks, you can get creative with them and introduce new storage ideas.
3. Maximize The Vertical Space
Don’t forget to maximize your vertical space. You may add additional shelves way up the wall.
Even though you may not be able to reach those without a step stool, this harder-to-reach storage area is a great place for storing seasonal clothes, shoes, and accessories. Or store memory boxes or keepsake items up there. You will not need those every day.
Make sure you store everyday items in easier-to-reach areas.
Also, take your own height into account. If you are taller, you may be able to reach the upper shelves more easily. But if you’re not so lucky, make sure to use a step stool or a small ladder.
And last but not least: don’t forget the vertical space of the backside of your closet doors. This is a great area to hang jewelry or other smaller items like belts, scarves, or clutches.
4. Figure Out Your Storage Options
Do you have one of those old beautiful closet designs with a few smaller shelves, or did you get it custom-made? If your answer is the first one, we have a few practical suggestions to make it better for you.
Here’s what you can do with your walk-in closet’s space:
Long Hanging Rods
Using the walk-in closet’s wall space is the way out when you’re trying to make it look neater. Install a long clothing rod on one side of your closet for your cloth collection to keep it safe and accessible.
Hang your everyday items closer to the doors and gradually store off-season clothes and items further away on your hanging rod.
If you have a full-length closet, specify its biggest compartment for the hanging rod where you can store your entire clothing range.
Shorter Rods
Things like long boots, scarves, and dresses stay in good condition when you hang them. Folding them is never the answer. But since using a long hanging rod for boots and scarves is quite impractical, you can use a shorter metal rod for this purpose.
Stand-alone Drawer Chests
If arranging your belongings in the existing closet seems impossible, investing in a drawer dresser is wise. This dresser gives you extra storage space and relays a minimalist look, ensuring you always have an organized closet.
Shelves and Cabinets
Ah, you can never have enough of these. Managing a walk-in closet is only fun when you have extra space there. When you have to cram things in different drawers, it’s a stash, not a closet.
You can optimize a long empty closet cabinet with a hanging closet organizer that doesn’t require much work but easily categorizes your things.
These hanging drawers and cabinets are best for small walk-in closets when installing new shelves isn’t feasible. If you think you could use a few more drawers in the closet, a hanging closet organizer is your best bet.
Bins and Boxes
Use storage baskets, bins, or boxes for your miscellaneous and not-so-needed stuff. You can use these storage options to tuck seasonal items away and make room for in-demand items.
You can put these boxes under the bed, on the cabinet, or stack them by the wall for a neater look. Picking minimalistic but useful storage options is the key here.
Hangers and Hooks
You need space-saving and durable hangers for your walk-in closet that can stay solid for a long time. Since you won’t be spending another day arranging the closet any time soon, get good-quality hangers that don’t cram the hanging rod and that are sturdy.
Using hooks and hanging organizers is another smart idea for small walk-in closets.
You can hang an ergonomic jewelry organizer or a stand inside a drawer to keep it out of sight or mount it on a wall for easy access.
Drawer Racks and Shelf Dividers
Arranging small accessories is the most time-consuming part of walk-in closet organization. You want them to be separate, but you don’t have enough space for that.
But fret not because you can easily find smart drawer racks and closet dividers to optimize the existing space or make them from scratch as per your preference.
5. Add Character To Your Small Walk-in Closet
A classy-looking mirror, pastel-colored wallpaper, cool paint, and warm light will make your walk-in closet look bigger. You can keep a small closet neat but practical by investing in the right storage options and decorations that don’t cram it.
Keep things simple to maintain your closet’s neat look because otherwise, it gets real messy real quick!
FAQs On Small Walk-in Closet Organization
How do you organize a small closet with a lot of stuff?
Start with smart storage solutions. Same-colored small boxes, bins, and baskets will optimize your closet’s space and easily categorize your belongings.
Use your closet’s vertical space while organizing it, and don’t stuff things; declutter seriously and spread out the items you keep as much as possible.
How many pants should a woman own?
Although the answer to this question is subjective, having pants suitable for different occasions and outfits is smart. Casual, formal, comfortable, and in-style pants are a few options you can enjoy having. That’s why I recommend having about 4-6 pairs of pants for a woman.
How do I simplify my wardrobe?
Don’t hold onto the stuff you haven’t used for a year or so. Donate things that are still in good condition, but that you don’t longer love, need or use.
Invest in timeless pieces and keep rotating your wardrobe by donating and decluttering.
How do you make a minimal closet?
You need hanging space, a shoe storage drawer, an accessory organizer, and a few storage boxes for miscellaneous items. Specify the corner where you’ll hang the rod and build other storage compartments around it.
Don’t go overboard installing shelves and cabinets initially because your closet requirements will change over time.
Related article: How To Know If A Capsule Wardrobe Is Right For You
Final Thoughts on Small Walk-in Closet Organization
Maintaining a small walk-in closet’s aesthetic appeal and practicality is one tough job. You must categorize your valuables and optimize the available closet space to keep it mess-free. I recommend investing in smart storage solutions that don’t take up much space and using the vertical space as much as possible.
So, follow the tips shared above and free your walk-in closet from unnecessary chaos!
MORE ABOUT DECLUTTERING:
- How To Declutter Fast With The Shock Treatment Declutter Method
- Organize Closets: 12 Beautiful Ways To Create More Storage In Any Closet
- How to Declutter Your Wardrobe: 6 Simple Steps For Owning Less Clothes
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