How to Organize a Small Closet
One crucial aspect of organizing your home is properly using the natural storage space available. Of these, closets are your greatest and most versatile asset. There are many factors in tackling closet storage, including:
Storing by theme/purpose
Storing aesthetically
Using storage aides
Storing by Theme
The first step involves defining the closet’s purpose. Consider the location of a given closet - is it in a shared space of the home? Which room is it located in/adjacent to? Location can strongly influence theme, and your goal should be to store all of one item type in one spot. This creates one home for like items, crucial for keeping track of possessions and avoiding accumulation.
Circumstances may dictate some exceptions. For example, I have limited bedroom closet storage. To save on space, I keep 1 or 2 seasonal coats in the coat closet by my front door that I swap out as the weather changes.
A closet by the front door is suited for outdoor items (shopping carts, umbrellas, etc.) and guests’ coats. Being in a shared space, this is where family or roommates are likely to store a fair amount of their items. Discuss with the others in your home how to divide such communal closets fairly.
If you are lucky enough to have a linen closet outside of the bathroom, this can be a great way to not only store bathroom linens but also personal bathroom items. Bathrooms are very humid environments which can make cleaning difficult and impact the quality of cosmetics. By storing items in the linen closet, you protect them from moisture and make cleaning easier.
If a linen closet isn’t available, use any drawers and cabinets built into the space to minimize exposure.
Bedroom closets can handle a wide variety of themes and are the most personal to you. Beyond clothing, bedroom closets can accommodate a variety of personal items like specific hobby tools or mementos. In her book “the life-changing magic of tidying up,” Marie Kondo even suggests that people can store their book collections in the bedroom closet!
Storing Aesthetically
Storing aesthetically can enhance the joy in your space. There is a certain thrill in opening up a drawer or closet and seeing everything laid out orderly. I had one client who remarked their dresser was like a store display! Many storing principles can help to create a pleasing ensemble.
Reprinted from SPARK JOY Copyright © 2015 by Marie Kondo. Illustrations copyright © 2012, 2015 by Masako Inoue. Published by Ten Speed Press.
The image above features several aesthetic storage principles based on KonMari.
When hanging items, arrange from longest (left) to shortest (right), creating a diagonal line /
Store items standing vertically, rather than lying flat and stacked
Decorate/display cherished items as a private gallery/homage
Ensuring items are visible and can be easily accessed
Additionally, consider color gradients - I like to store my clothing by color, and sort further from darker to lighter shades.
If storing items with large text labels (such as food or bathroom items), consider facing the label towards the back or removing them altogether. The visual of so many words can make the space feel crowded or “loud.”
Using Storage Aids
Storage aids for closets come in two types - those that contain/group, and those that create more space.
The first type includes boxes and trays (essentially, tall and short containers). Containers can immediately help the shelf feel more tidy and group themed items together. Items have an easier time standing up thanks to the container’s walls and benefit from improved mobility. For example, my partner keeps all of their grooming items in one basket they can easily shepherd from the linen closet to the bathroom.
While you can purchase storage aids, don’t underestimate what you already have around your house. Shoe boxes, electronics boxes - even shipping boxes from online shopping. These can be repurposed to keep your closet items grouped. I myself use such a system for some of my closet storage. (Keep an eye out in the future for a deep dive into different ways you can create budget storage solutions!)
The second type of storage aid expands the available storage space vertically. Drawers can be stacked while keeping their contents accessible. Get drawers with clear doors to keep track of contents. Alternatively, clearly label opaque drawers.
Shelves offer a more open solution to creating vertical space. Many options exist that have legs to stand on existing shelves - just make sure to measure what height your existing closet shelves can accommodate! More permanent shelving solutions exist but require more installation and investment, such as the Elfa system.
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All of these considerations can maximize the usefulness of your space and ensure that every spot in your home - regardless how visible - brings joy and happiness when viewed. Interested to learn more?
