Transform your tiny closet into an organizational masterpiece!
Are you tired of fighting with your cluttered small closet every morning? Do you have a tiny closet and a passion for being organized?
With the national average apartment size now at 908 square feet across the country, more of us than ever are living in small spaces.
It’s no secret…
Closet space is in high demand, and competition for real estate is stiff.
Every year new buildings come online with stylish, move-in-ready closets that have everyone else drooling. If you live in a small apartment or townhouse, though, you know that your options are limited, so you’re stuck with a closet that’s just not working for you.
But here’s the good news…
With a few small tweaks and smart hacks, that tiny closet space can become a better use of space than many closets that are double or triple the size.
What you’ll learn:
- Why Small Closets Are Getting Smaller
- The Best Use of Space Is Vertical Space
- Double Duty Closet Storage: What You Need and What You Don’t
- A Guide to Smarter Closet Organization Systems
- Budget-Friendly Closet Hacks: Save Space, Don’t Break the Bank
Why Small Closets Are Getting Smaller
The average closet is shrinking.
Between apartments that convert extra living space into oversized walk-in closets and new high-rise developments with more efficient use of space, getting a decent size closet these days is becoming a luxury.
The statistics paint a clear picture of the struggle for closet space:
- According to one survey, more than 57% of people are forced to rent self-storage units because they simply don’t have enough space at home
- Small homes make up a growing majority of new homes built every year
- On average, multi-bedroom apartments have only about 37 cubic feet of closet space per bedroom
What’s more…
Most people are going about organization in a completely backwards way. The usual trick is to try and jam more stuff into a closet that isn’t big enough for the stuff you have.
Closets need to work harder, not have more crammed into them.
For every person living with an already overflowing closet in their apartment, there are a dozen people debating whether to opt for a traditional closet or a custom closet design in Brooklyn when buying or renting a place.
So how do you make a small closet space you already have better?
Simple.
Stop thinking horizontally and start thinking vertically.
Stop focusing on how much space you’ve got and start focusing on how to use the space you’ve got.
Sound too good to be true?
Try some of these tested and true hacks.
The Best Use of Space Is Vertical Space
There’s a good reason we call it closet space.
Closet space is vertical space.
Look around.
The most common complaint about small closets is not that they don’t have enough space but that they don’t have enough usable space.
A closet that’s 6 feet tall but only 3 feet wide is four times as much space as a closet that’s 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide.
If you only have 18 cubic feet of space in total, you’ve only got a third of it to play with.
It’s simple math.
The problem is that many people use only a fraction of their actual closet space.
The most common waste of vertical space is the 1-2 feet between your hanging clothes and the ceiling of your closet.
Install a second hanging rod 3-4 feet below your main rod to double your hanging space for shorter garments like shirts, blouses, and folded pants.
Once you’ve freed up that additional hanging space, don’t stop there.
Add shelf dividers to your top shelf to create individual compartments. These inexpensive dividers keep sweaters and linens from becoming a toppling disaster every time you reach for something.
Install an over-the-door shoe organizer for shoes, accessories, or cleaning supplies. Just make sure the door can still close or you’ll have a closet door that fights you every time you open it.
Double Duty Closet Storage: What You Need and What You Don’t
If you’re working with limited closet space, every inch has to pull double or triple duty.
Closet ottomans are a great way to combine seating with hidden storage for bulky out-of-season items. A stylish ottoman at the foot of the bed or in your living space hides away sweaters, blankets, or shoes without taking up valuable closet space.
Vacuum storage bags are another great way to compress bulky bedding, winter coats, and comforters to a fraction of their original size. You can store these flat packages on under-bed storage or in high overhead cabinets.
Hanging closet organizers with multiple shelves can replace a dresser in a small space. These fabric organizers hang from your closet rod and have compartments and drawers without taking up floor space.
A Guide to Smarter Closet Organization Systems
Organization is more than storage solutions.
The key to smarter organization is systems.
Organization systems are designed to make life easier by working with the way you actually live.
Start by grouping similar items together to speed up getting dressed and make your search for specific items more efficient.
Work clothes in one section, casual clothes in another, and “special occasion” clothes in another. Accessories go with their most commonly worn clothes.
Use matching hangers to create a clean look. You’ll also maximize space and keep clothes from sliding off onto the floor.
Velvet hangers are one of the best closet organization hacks for two reasons:
- They are very thin, so they save space on a hanging rod
- The velvet grip keeps clothes from sliding off
- They have a clean, modern look
Folded clothing benefits from the filing method over the stack method. Fold or roll items so they stand up vertically in bins or drawers. This lets you see everything at a glance without having to disturb the whole pile.
Budget-Friendly Closet Hacks: Save Space, Don’t Break the Bank
You don’t have to spend big bucks to get organized.
Creative hacks using items from around the house or dollar store specials are just as likely to make your life easier than designer closet organization systems.
Tension rods are versatile and cheap. Install them vertically in a closet corner to add hanging space for tank tops or scarves. Install them horizontally beneath a shelf to hang items that don’t need full hanging space.
Ice cube trays are perfect for organizing earrings or other small jewelry items in drawer bins. Cereal boxes covered in decorative paper make custom-sized shelf dividers.
Shower curtain rings on the closet rod is one of those closet hacks that is so easy most people miss it.
Hang tank tops, scarves, or belts on them with multiple items on each ring for instant organization and easy access.
Command hooks applied to the inside walls of your closet create instant hanging spots for bags, belts, or jewelry without any permanent damage.
One of the most important rules for making a small closet work harder…
Before you implement any organization system, do a thorough closet audit.
Throw out anything that’s truly junk or hasn’t been worn in a year.
Rotate seasonal clothing into under-bed storage or vacuum storage bags.
Store out-of-season clothes for the other half of the year and swap them out twice a year.
Set a one in, one out rule.
Every time you bring home something new, something else has to go.
Make your small space “minimalist” again.
Floor space is often an afterthought in closet organization.
Rolling shoe racks or slim-line shoe cabinets keep footwear organized without eating up hanging or shelf space.
Closet design is a balancing act between space you have and the space you can use.
Closing Thoughts
Small closet spaces have challenges, but they also have advantages.
The most obvious one is that you don’t have to fill it up with crap.
The next is that everything in a small space needs to work harder.
Closets are no different.
The secret to a closet that works for you is not throwing more organizers at the problem. It’s being strategic about what you keep and what you toss.
Start small and build from there.
The only way to find your perfect organization system is to try a few different strategies and tweak them until you get the right mix.
With a little time and effort, that tiny closet space can work harder for you than spaces twice or three times the size.
