Closet organization4 min read
How to organize a small closet and fit more in it.
How to organize a small closet: clear out first, add a second rail, use cascading hangers and the back of the door, and store off-season clothes elsewhere.
In short
- Take out what you don't wear and what is out of season first. A small closet only has to hold this season.
- Build up and out: a second rail, an extra shelf, a hanging organizer and racks on the back of the door.
- Store the other season in lidded boxes under the bed, and keep track of what is in each one.
To organize a small closet, clear out what you don't wear, then use the full height with a second rail and an extra shelf. Fit more on the rail with slim and cascading hangers, hang racks on the door, and store off-season clothes somewhere else.
A small closet can hold a working wardrobe. It just can't hold everything you own at once, so the real job is deciding what lives in it now and what waits elsewhere.
Edit before you buy anything
Every organizer you add takes up space too. Before you shop for bins and racks, take out the clothes you don't wear. Our guide on how to declutter a closet walks you through it in one afternoon.
Then move out everything you don't need this season. A small closet is for the clothes you wear now; the rest can live close by.
| Piece | Where it goes |
|---|---|
| This season's everyday clothes | Closet rail and shelves |
| Off-season clothes | Lidded boxes under the bed |
| Occasion wear | Garment bag at the end of the rail |
| Ski, beach or sports gear | Hall cupboard or a suitcase |
| Keepsakes | One memory box, outside the closet |
Use the full height
Most small closets have one rail and one shelf, with empty space above the shelf and below the hems. That is where the room is. Measure the width, the depth and the height under the shelf before you buy anything, and take the numbers with you.
- Add a second rail. A rod that hooks over the first one doubles the space for short pieces like shirts, skirts and folded trousers.
- Add a shelf above the one you have for bins of things you reach for less.
- Hang a fabric organizer with cubbies from the rail for folded sweaters and t-shirts.
- Use the floor for a low shoe rack or a small set of drawers that slides under the hems.
Fit more on the rail
A rail fills up faster than it should because hangers are bulky and mixed. Three swaps help:
- Slim matching hangers. Thin velvet hangers take far less width than chunky plastic ones, and clothes stay put on them.
- Cascading hangers. Hooks that hang one under another, so four or five tops take the width of one. They suit pieces you wear often, since you lift the whole chain to reach the bottom one.
- Hangers with several bars for trousers and scarves, all on one hook.
Put the door and walls to work
The back of the closet door is space many people never use. Over-the-door racks need no drill and come with you when you move. A side wall can take a few adhesive hooks too.
Here are the space savers from this guide side by side, so you can pick the two or three your closet needs most.
| Space saver | What it does | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Over-the-door rack | Pockets or bars on the door | Shoes, rolled scarves, socks |
| Cascading hangers | Hang tops in a vertical line | Everyday shirts and tops |
| Second hanging rod | Doubles a rail for short pieces | Shirts, skirts, trousers |
| Hanging shelf organizer | Fabric cubbies hung from the rail | Sweaters, t-shirts, bags |
| Adhesive hooks | Hooks on a side wall | Belts, bags, tomorrow's outfit |
| Under-bed boxes | Shallow boxes with lids | Off-season clothes |
| Shelf dividers | Keep folded stacks upright | Jeans and knits on a shelf |
Store the other season outside the closet
The biggest gain in a small closet is not keeping two seasons in it. Pack the season you aren't wearing into lidded boxes and move them out.
- Under the bed works best: shallow boxes with lids or zip covers keep the dust off.
- The top of a wardrobe, a hall cupboard or a suitcase works too. A suitcase that sits empty most of the year is storage you already have.
- Wash everything before it goes in. A stain you missed sets over a few months.
- Add a cedar block or a lavender sachet with wool and cashmere to help keep moths off.
Swap the boxes twice a year, when the weather turns. It doubles as a quick cleanout: anything you didn't miss while it was in the box can go.
Remember what is in each box
The catch with clothes out of sight is forgetting you own them. You buy a second gray sweater because the first one is in a box under the bed.
Clozzie keeps track for you. Snap each piece once and give it a location, like "under-bed box" or "top shelf bin". Filter your closet by location to see everything in one box, or open a piece to see where it is, even if it hasn't been out since spring. Mark pieces as in the laundry so you don't hunt for them in the closet, and archive the ones you have stopped wearing.
A small closet also gets easier with fewer pieces that all work together. A capsule wardrobe is one way to choose them, and our closet organization tips cover where everything else should go.
Questions people ask
How do I get more hanging space in a small closet?
Add a second rod that hooks over the first for short pieces, and switch to slim matching hangers. Cascading hangers fit four or five tops in the width of one.
Where do I put clothes if my closet is too small?
Store off-season clothes in lidded boxes under the bed, on top of the wardrobe, or in a suitcase you rarely use. Only this season's clothes need to be in the closet.
Should I fold or hang clothes in a small closet?
Fold knits, t-shirts and jeans on shelves or in a hanging organizer, and hang only what wrinkles. Folding saves rail space, and rolled t-shirts take up even less.
How do I organize a closet with no shelves?
Hang a fabric organizer with cubbies from the rail, put a small set of drawers or a shoe rack on the floor, and use over-the-door racks for shoes and small things.
