The Top 83 Closet Organization Ideas

“I like my money right where I can see it… hanging in my closet.” –  Sarah Jessica Parker

Do you shove things in your closet and then force the door closet to hide the mess? This is no way to live. Embrace a simpler life by tackling the closet clutter. When you have a messy closet, it makes getting ready more challenging and doesn’t preserve your clothing or accessories in their top condition.

Closet organization ideas go beyond your bedroom closet, though. You can apply these storage solutions and organizational systems to all of the closets in your home. You’ll realize that you have more extra space than you thought you had.

1. Accessories Storage Ideas

If you have lots of accessories, then you need a way of keeping them organized. Otherwise, you’ll forget what you own and never find what you want when you want it. Dividers are a must for keeping your accessories organized.

Source: @just_indesign via Instagram

Source: @organizingbyivonne via Instagram

Source: @crabbyc75 via Instagram

Source: @horderly via Instagram

Source: @ocdaz via Instagram

Source: @simplicite.by_.bre_ via Instagram

A shelf divider is perfect for organizing larger accessories, such as scarves, purses, or hats. Drawer dividers are perfect for keeping your smaller accessories organized.

Use these for storing your watches, sunglasses, bowties, jewelry, and belt buckles. To keep your accessories protected, only use drawer dividers that are lined with a soft material, such as felt, suede, or velvet.

2. Baskets And Boxes

Baskets are the perfect storage solution for organizing the items in your closet. They transform sloppy shelves into neatly organized spaces. Wire baskets are nice as storage bins, but they tend to have larger holes, making it easy for smaller items to fall through them.

Source: @thehomeorganized_ via Instagram

Source: @thesassyfarmhouse via Instagram

Source: @lessisliving via Instagram

Source: @sankalpa_spaces via Instagram

Instead, opt for baskets that are a tighter weave or bins that are made of solid fabric. If you have your heart set on wire baskets, look for ones that have a fabric liner. This makes them easier to use and look less industrial.

3. Budget Closet Organization Ideas

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to have an organized closet. Sure, fancy organizational systems are tempting, but they can also be expensive. Instead, opt for a DIY approach that lets you get creative with how you organize your closet.

Source: @olivebranchcottage via Instagram

Source: @organizedbymorgan via Instagram

Source: @properspaces via Instagram

Source: @serenityathomedetroit via Instagram

Source: @theclosetbcv via Instagram

The easiest DIY closet organization idea is to add a tension rod. This gives you additional space to hang more items. If you don’t have many long items, such as full-length dresses, you end up with additional space that isn’t getting utilized. You can hang a cubby organizer that gives you more shelf space.

4. Closet Shelf Organization Ideas

You could place your items on your closet shelves and hope for the best. The problem with this is that we end up overloading the shelves, and then nothing stays where it’s supposed to. If you have stacks of folded items, consider dividers to keep the stacks from falling over into each other.

Source: @theprojectneat via Instagram

Source: @horderly via Instagram

Source: @labeledbykel via Instagram

Source: @theprojectneat via Instagram

Large bins also work well for holding similar items together. Look for ones that are either clear on the front or can be labeled. This will make it easier to find what you’re looking for.

Plastic and metal bins are affordable, but give your closet a utilitarian or industrial feel. Investing in wicker or cloth-lined bins will cost more but have more versatility in design.

5. Clothes Rack Ideas

Some spaces require more storage than what a closet can provide. That’s when you need to consider adding a clothing rack. These are portable and convenient. This gives you more space to store clothes that require hanging.

Source: @altonastories via Instagram

Source: @condocharm via Instagram

Look for a rack that’s easily moveable with caster wheels. They should have a lock to hold them in place. Pay attention to the durability and weight limit of the rack. It needs to be strong enough to hold the weight of the clothes you want to hang on it.

Consider using the rack in conjunction with your closet. You could rotate them seasonally so that the clothes on the rack are seasonally appropriate and easily within reach.

6. Corner Closet Organization Ideas

Dead corners are a frustration that everyone faces. They’re counted as part of the room’s square footage but are often wasted and left empty. You can make the most of these spaces by looking for storage ideas that focus on corner solutions.

Source: @gracethisspaceinteriors via Instagram

Source: @interiorsbyravn via Instagram

You could have wire shelves that you can use for storage of your folded clothes. You could also mount a corner rod for more hanging space. There are straight or even curved rods that are designed for mounting in a corner.

7. Drawer Organizer Ideas

Closet organizing pros have embraced the idea of drawers in recent years. Drawers are perfect for storing smaller items, such as accessories. These drawers are shallow, so you can have several in a space that would typically hold a single deep drawer.

Source: @horderly via Instagram

Source: @theclosetbcv via Instagram

Consider adding a combination of shallow and deep drawers. You can then store clothing items in the deeper drawers. Sweaters that would stretch out and become deformed on a hanger should go in the drawers. You could also store other clothing items, such as t-shirts, sweatshirts, scarves, or cardigans.

8. Kid’s Closet Organization Ideas

The biggest challenge about organizing kids’ closets is the amount of stuff that they own. You need a way of keeping everything organized that’s easy. A simple system will take less time to follow and be easier for your children to participate in.

Source: @ashleyjoneshatcher via Instagram

Source: @ashleyjoneshatcher via Instagram

Source: @builds_by_kristen via Instagram

Source: @maysteadhome via Instagram

Source: @ocdaz via Instagram

Mount multiple hooks on the backside of the closet door. Put them at multiple levels so that some are adult height and others are your child’s height. Now they can get involved.

Add dividers to the closet rod. These could be by size, color, activity, or season. Use color-coded tags that your child can learn as they get older. This empowers them to get involved and take ownership of their own closet.

9. Modular Closets

Not everyone has the gift of organization. If you are one of these people, then using a modular pre-fabricated system is the best option. The Elfa closet system is a great option. You measure your closet and arrange the components while taking into account your storage needs.

Source: @home_organize via Instagram

Source: @organizecomdicarlo via Instagram

Source: @serenityathomedetroit via Instagram

Working with an expert who specializes in closet design can give you additional closet storage ideas. This can help you figure out the best storage solution for your closet space and belongings.

What’s nice about a storage system is that if you find your storage needs changing, you can easily reorganize the system to adapt.

10. Organizational Systems

Start by deciding the purpose of the closet. The organizational system needs to make sense with the items you want to store in it.

Source: @horderly via Instagram

A linen closet is a space that tends to hold a lot of folded items. So hanging bars and baskets aren’t the best option. Drawers and shelves will give you the most amount of storage space.

A small closet that you aren’t sure what to do with can have a little of everything, some shelves, a hanging bar, hooks, drawers, and baskets.

Nursery closets are a temporary solution. Your child will grow up in the blink of an eye. So plan for your nursery closet to evolve and adapt with your family. A modular system works best in this situation.

11. Shoe Organizers

The easiest way to organize your shoes in the closet is with a shoe rack on the floor. The floor is often a space that gets neglected. This makes it an open space that’s perfect for shoe storage. Choose a long and low rack that will give you multiple levels.

Source: @horderly via Instagram

Source: @monterorganizadores via Instagram

Larger closets can give you more freedom in how you organize your shoes. Take them off of the floor and use some of your shelves. This brings your shoes to eye level and is perfect for storing boots. Use customizable shelves that allow you to move their heights to fit the different shoe styles.

12. Small Closet Organization Ideas

Just because you have a small closet doesn’t mean that you can’t have an organized closet. You just need to find the right organizational system for the closet. This could be different for each type of small space that you have.

Source: @__erin_kathleen via Instagram

Source: @cris_harmonicasa via Instagram

A coat closet is small but meant for holding bulky coats. Add hooks to the backside of the door to hold small items, so they don’t get lost among the coats.

Linen closet organization requires more shelving space to hold folded bed linens and towels. Take out the hanging bar and install more shelves with dividers to help keep the stack organized.

13. Space Saving Ideas

Small spaces require you to get more creative about how you organize your clothing. Closet space savers let you hang more by utilizing more of the vertical space. Only so many hangers fit next to each other on the railing.

Source: @_iniisaaworld via Instagram

Source: @horderly via Instagram

Create more storage space with multi hangers. These are hanging solutions that have space for several shirts or pants. You’ll hang two hooks on the bar to make it horizontal while you load it. Then unhook one side and let it hang vertically. You can hang more clothing items in a small amount of space.

14. Walk-In Closet Organization

If you have a walk-in closet, then revel in the ample amount of space that you have. Now it’s time to make the most of what you have. Start with an empty master closet and take stock of what you own. You can then invest in a custom closet organizational system. This lets you create more storage space for the items that you own the most of.

If you don’t want to install an entire system, start out with closet dividers. These are hanging tags that will separate your clothes on the rack. They are also vertical panels that mount on the shelves to create individual spaces.