How to Maximize Closet Space
- Beginner
We all wear clothes. Maybe not all the time, but often enough that they are a significant part of many people’s organizational struggles. Misplaced items, nowhere to put the clean laundry, hangers, and organizational systems weighed down to the point of breaking are common issues. If any of this sounds familiar, it might be time to reconsider the way you are using your closet. Here are some tips to maximize closet space.
Sort What's in Your Closet
Sort out the donations and garbage before you begin the organization process. It’s much easier to organize things you are passionate about, so don't be afraid to get rid of something you haven't worn in years. Remember: we typically wear 10 percent of what we own, 90 percent of the time. Consider what can go into deep storage, such as specialty gowns (the spare room, maybe?) and off-season clothing (box up and move to the garage or put under the bed).
Donate items that you haven’t worn in the past year. That means you’ve made it through every season without it and you’re not likely to wear it this year, either. Create a donation pile, sell items online, or sell nice items at a resale shop. Remember to go through accessories, too. Do you need all five pairs of black heels? Are any of your ties ripped or stained? Are you still hoping to get back into the size small belt from the '90s? Toss ‘em.
Take Inventory
Now that you’ve purged, figure out what you have. This will allow you to create your organizational plan. If a big majority of the closet is suits and ties, evaluate how much space is allotted for these. Do they need to be stored in suit bags? Could smaller hangers work just as well? Can you use a tie rack that mounts to the wall rather than one that takes up space on the clothing rod? Same with scarves. Can they be hung on a coat rack or hooks inside the closet? Are belts taking up prime real estate when you only wear them once or twice a month? How many sweaters do you have that you wear regularly?
Think about what really needs to be in the closet. Just because your shoes have always been there doesn’t mean they wouldn’t be better in the closet by the front door. Could you put your umbrellas in a nook in the hallway?
Create a Plan
The most important part of creating a plan for maximizing space in your closet is to make sure that you choose a system that works for you. If your husband is not going to hang each baseball cap on the back-of-the-door hat hanger, there is no reason to use that technique. Perhaps use a tote to stack them or an actual hat rack instead.
Look to the rafters for options. Much of the space above our heads goes to waste. Instead, add shelving and store off-season clothing, specialty hats, outdoor gear, costumes, and other infrequently used items out of the way. Similarly, look low. The floor is often the best place for shoes, but if you have a huge space between your shoes on the ground and the lowest hanging clothes, consider a shoe rack or cubicles for the storage of sweaters, jeans, and other easily folded choices.
Other Options
For a small closet, something as simple as hanger choice can make a huge difference. Rather than bulky plastic, choose a slim design. Try out the tiered hangers for skirts, slacks, and jeans. Create your own double-duty hanger system by attaching one hanger to another hanger by using a soda can tab. Simply slide the tab over the first hanger and use the lower hole to hang your second item. This uses your vertical space rather than your limited horizontal bar space.
You can also use one hanger for two articles of clothing. For example, hang a skirt or slacks with a shirt over it or hang the blazer over the shirt on the same hanger. Since we’re on the topic of clothing, consider changing around your dresser to make better use of it. Instead of hanging them, put your tees and shorts into drawers.
Maximizing closet space involves a few simple steps: only keep what you need, use all the closet space from top to bottom, and get the most use out of horizontal space with the efficient use of hangers. With these easy techniques, you can create a space that removes the frustration of crammed and lost clothing.
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![Dawn Hammon]()
Dawn Hammon has thrived in freelance writing and editor roles for nearly a decade. She has lived, worked, and attended school in Oregon for many years. Dawn currently spends her days convincing her children she is still smarter than them while creating new experiences with her husband of 24 years.  Her multiple interests have led her to frequently undergo home improvement projects. She enjoys sharing the hard-earned knowledge that comes with it with the audience of DoItYourself.com. Dawn and her sister make up a power-tool loving duo that teaches classes to local women with the goal of empowering them to tackle their fears and become comfortable with power tools. Tapping into her enthusiasm for saving money and devotion to sustainable practices, Dawn has recently launched a passion project aimed at connecting eco-friendly products and socially-responsible companies with consumers interested in making conscientious purchases, better informing themselves about products on the market, and taking a stand in favor of helping to save the planet. When she is not providing stellar online content for local, national, and international businesses or trolling the internet for organic cotton clothing, you might find her backpacking nearby hills and valleys, traveling to remote parts of the globe, or expanding her vocabulary in a competitive game of Scrabble. Dawn holds a bachelor's degree in psychology, which these days she mostly uses to provide therapy for her kids and spouse. Most recently, I worked for a small local professional organizing and estate sale company for four years where I learned a ton about organizing and/or disposing of just about anything. She was raised in a tool-oriented, hands-on, DIY family. Her dad worked in the floor covering business and owned local floor covering businesses, so of course selling floor covering was one of her first jobs. Her brother was a contractor for about 30 years and site supervisor for Habitat for Humanity. I worked with him often, building decks, painting houses, framing in buildings, etc. With her sister, she holds power tool classes to empower women who are scared or have never used them. Not quite homesteaders, she did grow up with a farm, tractors, motorcycles, expansive gardens, hay fields, barns, and lots of repairs to do. Plus she and her family preserved foods, raised cattle and pigs, chopped and hauled firewood, and performed regular maintenance on two households, outbuildings, fencing, etc. As an adult, she has owned two houses. The first one she personally ripped out a galley kitchen and opened it up to the living area, plus updated every door, floor covering, and piece of trim in the place. In her current home, she's tackled everything from installing real hardwood flooring to revamping the landscape.![Lindani Chirambadare]()
With over 20 years of professional home cleaning experience, Lindani has extensive knowledge about best practices, space management, and cleaning solutions. Lindani especially loves researching natural, non-harmful ways to clean. She holds an LLBS from the University of Zimbabwe, and is a lifelong learner who always seeks to improve the world around her.
