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How can I better utilize my closet space?

5 years ago

My closet is a pretth good size but I have a horrible eye when it comes to organizing. im teying to find a way to better utilize my space. I mainlu have clothes, shoes, small purses, and 2 backpacks. Anyone have a better way? 😫



Comments (9)

  • 5 years ago

    Looks pretty good to me! Here are my suggestions: A good thing is your hanging clothes don't look so sqwashed together that you can't reach through your clothes - that is crucial. One thing you might want to do is replace your current hangers for hangers that are those thin suede types. You can get them at most stores. That will take up less hanger space, and clothes will not slide around on hangers like plastic ones. Keep clothes categories apart with a peice of thick paper stock (I make them myself, but you can buy them online - see link below) that has a hanger like hook, and an area below it where you write down and define the category with a marker - like casual, dressy, work, iron, alter, etc. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Y35LCLX/ref=sspa_dk_detail_5?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B07Y35LCLX&pd_rd_w=ny4uC&pf_rd_p=5d846283-ed3e-4512-a744-a30f97c5d738&pd_rd_wg=jzYB1&pf_rd_r=56N1Q4N2D9P6J1ENT6GB&pd_rd_r=8a7350d6-fc41-489a-8163-b577e205d3d0&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFVWjNMRk1XV0pHQUUmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTAyNDUyNzYxSzlBT0RRUzNLSk9TJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA5MjY0ODkxSURJTEVGU0RRQUZFJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfZGV0YWlsX3RoZW1hdGljJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ== One way you may want to organize your clothes in this order: (this is how I do it) - work clothes together, dressy clothes together, casual clothes together. Within those categories, I hang separates like this - pants together, blouses together, cardigans together. Professional organizers suggest that ALL shirts go together in color order, all pants together in color order, all cardigans together, etc. I use my dressy items very little, so they are in the very far corner of my closet. I also have a separate area in my closet for clothes that have to be ironed, and another section for clothes that have to be altered. I know that I am terrible at keeping up with those, so I might as well keep them in a separte area of my closet. I use my casual and work clothes the most, so those categories are closest to the middle of the closet. Also, the shoe boxes you have on the floor - you may want to put those in clear shoe boxes from the Container Store online. What are the items that you have that are in the top shelves? Make sure to have items that you use the most assessable to you. The items you have at the very top of your closet should be items that you use with the least frequency. If you want to purge clothes that you don't use in one year, use the "backwards hanger" trick. Note on your calendar the date you start this. Put all clothes hanger hooks backwards. Each time you use an item of clothing, turn the hanger hook forward. After one year, all the clothes that still have hanger hooks backwards are clothes that you haven't worn in one year. Look at those and consider donating. You can use that same process on your clear boxes on the shelf by using a removable sticker or a string tied with a bow around the box and remove the sticker/string when you use the item.

  • 5 years ago

    Can you do a new system like from Container store? You could do double hung on the majority and then full height shelves.

  • 5 years ago

    fold more stuff and put tall dresser either in closet or in room

  • 5 years ago

    I love to organize closets!
    Economy method. divide the closet with a small space for long hanging items like dresses and robes. Hang the rod high enough that you can reach without a stepstool so you have more space below for shoes. on the other side of the divide double rod with space to hang blouses, etc., on top, skirts and pants (folded on hanger) on the bottom. put a shelf between the two areas so shirt hems don’t get caught in the hangers below. I did buy a furniture style shoe cabinet from Joss & Main to hold shoes without all of those boxes. (I moved from a house with a large walk-in closet to a traditional closet shared with my husband).
    More money, but worth it is a closet system designed and installed with a consultant.
    Key to success either way is sort, and purge. 1. Try everything on, and if it’s not you send off to a new owner. 2. If you have definite seasonal items, pack clean items in storage container until needed. Repeat 1 & 2 every seasonal changeover.
    Install lighting if possible.
    Have fun with this, it’s like shopping! 😊

  • 5 years ago

    Assuming you have sliding doors and seeing only half of closet. Replace with bifold doors, no louvers, so can see and use whole closet at once. Install double hung rods. Your above shelving holds a lot. If fits install new sturdier 14” deep shelves going all a round including sides. Two sets 12-14” high ideal. With double the rod length you may be able to install some easier access shelves, 12-16” wide from top to bottom on one side and still have more hanging space. No wire shelving, solid material only. I see a lot of pictures of new closets by professionals with drawers, shelves etc, taking up the space. Looks lovely, costs more, but left with less hanging. You want as much hanging space as possible. Get a dresser if want drawers. Measuring carefully to see what fits, especially enough clearance from front wall to access top shelf.

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    I would add two wood shelves along the bottom, ending at the beginning of the long dresses. I would also add shallow shelves along the left wall, creating an L, meeting with the other bottom shelves. I would also add wall hooks, hung high along the left wall for the hats.

  • 5 years ago

    I think you have pretty much maximized the space available to you. Job well done.

  • 5 years ago

    The wall on the left is not being utilized. Shelves as mentioned would be a good idea or one of those behind the door hangers. Hang it high, fill with scarves, gloves, perhaps some shoes, smaller items that could be stored and easily accessed.


    I use these storage bins, turned on its side and put folded tee shirts in.

    That would give you a bit more hanger space.


    Also getting those fuzzy hangers are so much thinner and take up less room.

    Sometimes the hangers take up more room than the clothing on them.


    I would mark the shoe boxes with the color of shoes for easy access.


    Try to put on an item of clothing you haven't worn for a long time and decide

    if you still like it. One item a day and you will go through your closet.


    I am now going through my shoes that I haven't worn for a while.

    Yesterday I put on a pair I hadn't worn for a long time. Wore them to pop

    to the drug store. Couldn't wait to get home and take them off.

    Into the recycle box they go. Now I know why I hadn't worn them !






  • PRO
    5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    I used to have a small closet and a ton of shoes I took a pic of each pair in the box and pasted it into the clear box then I stored almost 1/2 of them under my bed on a large tray I could just pullout.I see alot of things that could be folded and put on those shelves if the shoes were moved. I really hate it when clothes are so crammed they need ironing before I can wear them. I do not see how any shelves would be useable on the left. Do you have a resser or is this all the storage available. I do agree doulble hanging can be a great idea and can free up space for sure but you would need to remove everything and then see if you could still reach a higher rod for all your long items. I did a cloest for my grandaughter it was pretty much the same size as yours but i removed the doors and we installed Ikea Pax in the space so much better organized .

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