Those of use who have to deal with a small closet, which leaves no room for storing all our belongings and possessions, know how much clutter builds up in our lives and are often jealous of our friends with large walk-in closets that seem to be completely free of clutter. While your closet may be small, that doesn't mean it has to be disorganized. When you learn to use the space you're given to its full potential, you can find clever ways to store your clutter. The proper supplies will have your small closet under control in no time.
Sorting Clutter to Create Space
- Take everything out of the closet. Choose a time when you won't need to use the room and won't be interrupted during your sorting.
- Have a trash bag and a large box or storage container handy. Throw broken items and garbage into the trash bag, and sort items you plan to sell or donate into the large box. A small box works well for sorting items that go in other parts of your house.
- Pick up each item from the remaining pile and decide whether to keep it or not. Take less than 30 seconds to decide for each item. If you can't decide right now, set the item aside and come back later.
- Get rid of items you have more than one of and keep only one. Sell the rest and use the money for storage supplies.
- Return to your pile of items you cannot decide whether to keep or toss. Ask yourself if you use the item often. If not, sell or donate it.
Once you've finished sorting, it's time to find a home for all your items. Since a small closet gives you limited space to work with, you'll have to be diligent about keeping your stuff to a minimum and maximizing the space you do have. For every new item you buy for your closet, get rid of one item. You'll keep your clutter under control and think twice about buying items you don't need.
Cheap Supplies for Organizing a Small Closet
- Hanging shoe organizers
- Various sized storage boxes
- Decorative boxes with lids
- Metal shelf with wheels
- Cork boards
- Extra clothes rod
Before you get started, identify what you use the closet for. Do you store clothes, or is the space too small and used only for miscellaneous items? Write down what you use the most and what you use the least. As you rearrange your stuff, place the items you use the most in easy to reach places, such as shelves that are at your eye level, or hang them in front of other items. The least used items, such as off-season clothes, should be stored in the back.
How to Store Your Items and Maximize SpaceIf your closet is large enough to hang clothes in, adding a second metal rod below the first allows for double storage. Fold large items in half over the hangers so you'll have room to use both rods at once. When limited to only shelves, use the closet for other storage and use a dresser for clothes. Out-of-season clothing can be folded onto a bottom shelf, or stored in air tight bags for more room.
Use a rolling shelf to store loose items that you use often. This shelf can be placed inside the closet and easily rolled out when you need to get to the shelves behind it. These shelves are available in cheap, metal versions at most local stores.
Hang a plastic shoe organizer on the inside of the closet door. These can hold much more than shoes. Socks, scarves, and other miscellaneous items can be sorted into the pockets. Make sure they are clear so you can find your items at a glance. If you have enough room, hang an organizer on one or both of the walls, between the door frame and the beginning of the shelves.
Cheap boxes or plastic storage containers with lids can be used to store more items on each shelf and cut down on junk. Label each box by the type of item inside it. A box for shoes works if you have a large collection. Store the ones you rarely use inside it. Boxes with sliding drawers work for storing jewelry or other small objects. Insert a drawer liner to keep items from sliding around. Measure the width and height of each shelf before shopping for containers. That way you'll always get one that fits.
Tips for Creating More Space and Storage
For extremely tiny closets, you can store larger items by removing one or more of the shelves. If possible, you can cut extra grooves into the walls to adjust the shelves to fit your items. Hang a cork board on the inside of the closet door or one of the walls and hang jewelry and small, light-weight items from hooks. Hooks can also be screwed into the wall, or even the edges of shelves, to hang items. Make sure they're not in the way of other items you frequently use. Use higher shelves that you are less likely to access on a daily basis.
When you've finished sorting and storing your stuff, keep clutter away by changing your method until you find one that fits. Each closet and each person is different, and there is no single quick fix-all that fits all closets. Play around with what you have and you're sure to find a method that works for you.
Organizing Small Closet Space
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