7 Small Closet Storage Ideas to Make Over Your Tiny Space

“Adding shelves above hanging rods in a small closet will make you feel like you hit the storage jackpot,” says Ann Arbor, Michigan—based Krista Nye Nicholas, principal designer and partner at Cloth & Kind. “The additional surface [over the closet rod] can easily accommodate anything from folded clothes to small baskets to shoes.”

To further up the ante and bring your small closet ideas to life, create peek-a-boo moments for unexpected pops of pattern and color. “Wallpapering a child’s closet is an ideal space to do this,” says Nye Nicholas, nothing that it’s something that a kid won’t necessarily grow out of and an easy swap in a small space.

You can organize a small closet with custom cubbies and a vibrant pop of color on the inside. Viñas introduced a bedroom closet where there was none. The built-in added extra storage in a secret way since it was hidden in the architectural details. “The room feels seamless and is not interrupted by closet doors,” Viñas says. “The trim is carried throughout the bottom of the space with the wallpaper above it. It’s a sneaky way of hiding the closet and providing uniformity to a small room.”

Utilize closet shelving in a way that designates a special spot for your accessories. Your small closet is a perfect spot for teeny bins that hold hair accouterments. Hilary Matt Interiors takes a bedroom closet and transforms it into a hair styling enclave with dividers that keep it all decluttered.

Meluskey and Bright take a strategic approach to effectively making the most of teeny spaces. The duo believes that categories are the backbone of closet organization. “Audit your inventory and be thoughtful and thorough as you jot down the categories that make sense for you,” Meluskey says. “Let your inventory dictate the categories.” Bright also stresses that an entire category (swimwear and coverups or athletic wear) should stay in one spot. “Plan your closet layout around where the entire category can fit,” Bright adds.

According to Gill, laying out the closet according to how often you use items makes it easier to get dressed each day. “Set up everyday essentials front and center for easy access, and put formal, seasonal, and occasional items in the very back, up on a top shelf, or relocate to another storage area in your home,” she says. “You may also choose to organize and arrange hanging items by type, style, and color.” Storage bins are particularly handy here.

Organizing a closet can feel daunting, but the key is tackling the process in an orderly fashion. Gill believes in a five-step process: clarify, edit, organize, elevate, and maintain. “Before you dive into the hands-on work of organizing your space,” she says, “it helps to ask yourself a few clarifying questions: How do I want my space to look, feel, and function? Which items do I need frequent and easy access to?” Once you narrow it down, think of storage ideas that elevate your small closet. Open Spaces storage bins have the option of wooden lids, so you can stack these together to make the most of your vertical space, for instance.

“No wire hangers…ever” is not just a chilling line from an iconic scene in Mommie Dearest, but it’s also an essential rule for an organized closet, according to our experts. “You can instantly improve the look and feel of your closet just by swapping out your mismatched hangers with a nice matching set,” Gill says. “Slimline hangers are a small closet’s best friend because they maximize space and prevent slipping. Group your hanging items by both type and usage so you can easily find what you need at a glance.” For a more modern look that holds strappy clothing and heavy jackets, the neon-hued translucent hangers by Staff will add extra pep to your small closet design—especially one filled with drab seasonal items like black coats.

Bright says, “You’d be shocked at the visual and functional impact streamlined hangers make. It helps create a clean slate to let your clothing really pop.”