It is far better to have a shelving system, especially for a small closet.

Is there anything specific I should look for in a shelving system? I've never bought one before.

I wish I could afford a higher level, but I've only ever used Ikea and ClosetMaid. ClosetMaid (a long time ago) was at Home Depot. Probably their less-expensive line. I recall using an online planner on various websites. People speak very highly of Elfa systems, though I've never tried that. Costco has a closet system vendor.

I think it pays to really, really evaluate what you keep in the closet, and plan for exactly that.

I have almost only casual clothes, so I would prefer drawers up to chest height, and then shelves above, with maybe only 5-8 inches of hanging space and none that goes floor to ceiling. So I would do a hanging bar up high, and then one lower, but only 6-8" in width. Any dresses that I have could be arranged over the hanger and wouldn't need to hang down all the way.

I am also a very big fan of Ikea. I did do a Pax system once in my son's closet, and I liked it very much. That was some time ago, and they may have re-named that system. But they had so many accessories, and handy storage ideas. They also had someone in the store who could help you, if you're there on a day when they're not busy. I recall that their online planner was very nice and user friendly, and it's probably even better now. Ikea is so diy friendly, too. I'm pretty familiar with their tools and instructions, so I guess I recommend that if you're on a budget. Their drawers slide really, really well, and my son's system has held up great for approximately 10 years.

If you're in the midwest, Dakota Closets from Menards are pretty easy to install, and can be built with hanging rods, shelves, drawers, and doors. I am not a fan of wire shelving, so I've replaced them in 4 closets.

In my last house, I had few dresses, and hung them on a rack over the back of the closet door, then had double rods for the rest of my clothes.

I have installed elfa from the Container Store in nearly every closet in my last 4 homes. It is so easy and nothing has fallen. And our shelves are well-loaded! It uses a rail installed at the top, into wood, and the standards hang from the rail, and the brackets go in the standards. They have wire and wood shelves, I have even used the leftover shelves from the pole-and-shelf that came with my closets.

elfa has been on sale a little more frequently lately, a couple of times this year already, and should be on sale again in December.

Thank you so much everyone! I'm going to look into all these options. Does anyone have any links to the product suggestions?