How to Make a Small Closet More Efficient

Doug Haines • August 17, 2022

It’s easy to feel stuck when you have a small closet. You clean and reorganize it regularly, but it never seems like you’re able to get the most out of the space you have available. There are a few simple tricks that can make even the smallest closet more spacious and efficient.

If you’re ready to make your reach-in closet do more work, you’ll need to get creative with your organization and invest in some clever storage solutions.

Once you’re ready to maximize the space in your small closet, you should:

Do a deep cleaning.
Get clear measurements.
Take advantage of vertical space.
Use your floor space.
Invest in a door organizer.

Now that you have a handle on the basic steps, let’s go into detail on how to maximize your closet space.

Do a Deep Cleaning

The first step in organizing your closet has nothing to do with organizing per se, but it’s vital nonetheless. You’ll want a blank canvas to start with, so your first step should be to empty your closet and do a deep cleaning.

The last thing you want is a new and revamped closet with persistent odors clinging to it. Be sure to handle any mold or mildew that might’ve taken root in the closet, and take this opportunity to sort through your closet and remove anything that doesn’t need to be in there.

Get Clear Measurements

Now that the space is clean and clear, it’s time to get detailed measurements of all shelving space and hanging areas. The key to working with a small closet is optimizing the space you have, and that means getting down to the square inch level.

Once you have all of your measurements, invest in some affordable shelf liners. These will give your closet a fresh look and a fresh smell all at the same time.

Take Advantage of Vertical Space

Stackable drawers, bins, and shelves are your best friend when you’re dealing with less closet space. Instead of dumping everything on a single shelf, you can have a much smaller footprint with a drawer tower.

If you have a lot of hanging clothes and your closet will accommodate it, you can also invest in a double hanging rod. Not only will this double the total hanging space available to you, but it will also allow you to separate your clothes by color, season, average use, or any other category that works for you.

Use Your Floor Space

Over time, closet floors tend to become a universal dumping ground for shoes, unwanted clothes, or even long-term storage. This can quickly get out of hand, however, and make it much harder for you to navigate the space.

By investing in a shoe rack and sliding rack system for your clothes hamper and other bins, you’ll have much more space available to you. You’ll also once again be able to access your closet with ease.

Invest in a Door Organizer

As the staff at Better Homes & Gardens point out, when working with a smaller closet it’s best to take advantage of hanging space, including on the back of the closet door itself. Closet door organizers are inexpensive and take seconds to install. These organization tools are perfect for catch-all storage of small items like scarves, ties, socks, or even toiletries, makeup, and more.

This is one of the most overlooked solutions when it comes to closet organization, but it shouldn’t be. Within a few moments, you’ll be able to clear up entire shelves’ worth of items from your closet and store them where they’re sure to be out of the way. You can even get creative here with color coordination, so you can decorate while also keeping things tidy.

Conclusion

Just because you have a small closet, that doesn’t mean you have to have an untidy or disorganized closet. By following these simple steps (and customizing your approach to suit your particular wants and needs), you’ll be able to have the closet of your dreams in no time at all!