The Best Way To Organize Your Small Walk-In Closet

Struggling to organize your small walk-in closet? Here are some simple tips to maximize storage in a tiny wardrobe.

An abundance of clothing, shoes and accessories makes most women happy but without streamlined systems, your wardrobe can very quickly become a cluttered mess. And while, you may dream of a large closet with an island and chandelier, the reality is that most of us face organizing a small walk-in closet instead.

So, unless you plan to convert the guest bedroom into your personal dressing room or move into a home with much bigger closets, you’re probably stuck with the space you have.

Here’s the best way to organize a very small walk-in closet.

How To Organize A Small Walk-In Closet

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1. Purge

I think you knew it was coming. The first step in any organization project is to purge because what’s the sense in organizing things you don’t use and love?

So, pull everything out of your closet and create three piles: Keep, Trash and Donate/ Sell. Sort through each piece of clothing you own and decide which pile it’s going into.

You need to be ruthless here! No pansy wavering about whether you may wear that cute sweater that hasn’t fit you in five years.

If an article of clothing ticks any of the following boxes, get rid of it:

It doesn’t fit
You no longer love it
You never wear it
It’s out of style
It’s not well-made or in good condition

Learn all my best tips and tricks for how to clean your closet and pare down your wardrobe here. It’s a must-read for this step of organizing your clothes.

2. Give Everything A Home

After you’ve decided which items you will keep, group everything that’s left into categories—clothing, bags, shoes etc. Sort your clothes into piles e.g. pyjamas, undergarments and jeans. Separating everything out makes it easier to see how many of each type of item you have. You’ll get a better idea of how much space you need for a specific category.

Once you’ve done that, make sure everything has a home. Knowing exactly where to put things and having adequate space for them, helps keep your bedroom clean and tidy.

3. Use All Vertical Space

Take advantage of the closet height. Hang multiple clothing rods along one or more wall(s) and place shirts on the top and pants or skirts on the bottom.

Shelves along the top of the closet will provide extra storage space. Hooks on the walls and hanging organizers on the back of the door are also great small closet organization ideas.

Keep accessibility in the forefront of your mind. Place your most-used items at eye-level, less-used below and the items you reach for the least up high.

4. Hangers Make A Difference

Coordinated hangers make the inside of your closet look great. Wire hangers are a big no-no as they are flimsy and can damage your garments. Plastic hangers are okay but clothes just slide off of them. Wooden hangers look good but being the thickest of all the hanger options, they take up more space. They are also the most expensive type of hanger.

I switched to velvet hangers in 2017 and highly recommend them. I love them! They are thin but sturdy and best of all, they are non-slip. No longer do I open my closet door to find clothing that has fallen to the floor.

Here are suggestions for clothing that should be hung:

Dress shirts
Dress pants
Dresses
Skirts
Blazers

5. Maximize Shelves and Drawer Space

In a tiny walk-in closet, space is at a premium. Adjustable shelves can be customized to your needs as they change.

Closet shelf organizers and drawer organizers should be used to maximize storage.

In lieu of fancy organizers, baskets are great options. Use them on shelves as well as inside drawers. Not only do they allow you to store more, they also hide clutter. If you’re not naturally neat, definitely consider baskets. You can throw clothes and accessories into them and your closet will still look great.

Here are suggestions for clothing that should be folded:

T-shirts
Pyjamas
Athletic wear
Underwear and socks
Sweatshirts and sweatpants
Shorts
Swimsuits

6. Accessories

Make sure to have a home for all of your accessories—scarves, belts, shoes and jewelry. Scarves and belts can be looped around hangers or you can buy scarf organizers and belt organizers.

Place shoes in hanging shoe organizers, on tension rods or use revolving shoe organizers to make the most of your limited space.

Hang purses and bags or place on shelves and in baskets.

From jewelry cabinets to drawer inserts, there are no shortage of options to display and organize your sparkly accessories. You can even DIY jewelry organizers, if the mood strikes.

7. Out-of-Season Clothes

If you live in a temperate climate, then you will surely have seasonal clothing. There’s no need to have all of these items out at the same time. If it’s winter, have your sweaters and warmer clothes out and if it’s summer, pack away the winter gear.

Store seasonal clothes in suitcases, in vacuum storage bags or under-the-bed containers. I love vacuum storage bags because they save a ton of space especially when it’s time to store those bulky coats and jackets.

Other Tips

Where there’s clean clothing, there will also be dirty laundry. Add a hamper to your closet to corral the dirty clothes and avoid getting them mixed up with the clean stuff or piling up on the floor.

Also, lighting is so important in a closet. You need to be able to see what’s inside.

Keep It Organized

Once you’ve got your closet under control, you want to keep it that way. Label all of the baskets and containers so you know where to find everything and where to put stuff back.

The One-In, One-Out rule is a good one to live by. It simply means that for every article of clothing you bring home, you have to remove the same number of pieces from your closet. This prevents an overflowing wardrobe and helps to keep you focused on only buying clothes you truly love.

A small walk-in wardrobe presents a challenge but use these tips to make the most of the space you have. You’ll be much happier selecting clothing and your morning routine will go a lot smoother.

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