How To Organize A Closet

If you suffer from a lack of space, learning how to organize a closet can make a big difference. Most closets are not well equipped for the stuff with put in them and as a result, clothing often ends up piled on the floor or on a chair. You can make small changes, however, that will reap great benefits. For example, mounting a rack on the door can help get shoes off the floor, and hanging sweater bags can give you shelf space without the expense of constructing shelves.

Must-have Closet Organizers

If your closet is a mess, these organizing products found at hardware stores and home centers will help. They attach directly to the closet's rod, so installation is easy (see images below from Target). Before you start, it's a good idea to clean out unused clothing.

Handbag file: eight clear plastic sleeves attached to a single hanger. Each sleeve can take one large bag or a few smaller clutch bags.

Pocket shoe bags: Like a handbag file, but each pocket holds a pair of shoes.

Sweater bags: Vertical shelves designed to hold stacks of folded sweaters or shirts.

Jewelry organizer: Clear vinyl bags with 30-80 small pockets for organizing pins, earrings and other small items.

You can double your closet's hanging space by installing extra rods at heights that fit suspended clothes like skirts, blouses, shirts, jackets and folded trousers. If you are planning a fitted closet, you need to count and measure the length of the clothes you will be storing. You can inexpensively purchase a closet organizer, like the one below from Target, that allows you to double your hanging space.

Closet door

If you have a hinged closet door, this can act as a wall surface. You can fit the front and/or back of the door with hooks or hanging pouches and pockets. You can fill these with socks, scarves and any other small items. The only drawback of a hinged door is that it takes up space in the room. If this is a problem for you, consider an interior bifold door or interior pocket door that will allow you to access your closet contents without consuming precious room space.

Modular systems

If you want to invest in a fitout of your closet then there are many options available, such as the John Louis system pictured below, but to emphasize again, you must gain a good understanding of the items you need to store, how you want to store them and their dimensions before planning this type of installation, or you will find that you have spent good money on a system that doesn't work for you. For example, if most of your clothing are shirt length and you only have one or two full length garments, you will will want to take stock.

how to organize a closet

Top of How To Organize A Closet page

To Decorating Small Spaces

To Homepage

Source: Loecke, J. (2005), Organizing Idea Book

Before you buy anything...

...take a few measurements to ensure any pre-made storage you buy will fit perfectly. For example, these are common clothing measurements:

Handbags: 9" high
Shirts, sport coats & skirts: 38" long
Dresses: 65" long
Folded pants: 30" long
Shoes: 12" deep
Boots: 18" high

This site gives general information only. Always seek the advice of a home improvement professional for questions about your remodeling needs.