We all have the struggle of having way too much stuff and not enough space to store it all. If this describes you, read here to get 19 essential tips that’ll help you maximize closet space and declutter your home.
Let’s be honest: coastal living in general aren’t known for its spacious storage. We know luxury living, but that doesn’t always come with massive closets. Even a closet that seemed perfect at first can’t handle an ever-growing wardrobe.
You don’t need to move every time you run out of closet space. You also don’t need to move beloved items into a rental storage unit. With a little creativity, you can make your space go a long way.
If you’re looking to maximize your closet space, try on these tips for size.
Tips to Maximize Closet Space with a Luxury Look
There’s no shortage of storage solutions, but the fact is that many of them look low-budget. These handy tips will make the most of your space without sacrificing your high-end look.
1. Swap Out Your Wardrobe with the Seasons
When you take a close look, you might be surprised how much of your clothing you wear for a few months out of the year. That’s even true in Boca Raton where our seasonal changes aren’t as extreme as in other parts of the country.
Go through your closet and remove items you rarely wear, like formalwear. Place them in a lesser-used place in your home, like another closet or an area in your home.
For valuable garments, this also protect them from getting wrinkled in a crowded closet. For items that won’t get damaged if you store them folded, under-bed storage could be a helpful option.
2. Use Every Corner…Literally
Closet corners tend to be wasted space, but you’d be surprised how much you can fit if you take them into account. One option is to add a revolving turntable-like piece. There are pre-built rotating shelves that are built for shoes and other clothing items, or you can use it as a DIY project.
Another way to use your corners is to place a hanging rack for hats, coats, and similar items. Just be careful that you can still access the items with ease.
3. Re-Think Your Doors
Closet doors can leave a lot of space unusable. Doors that open into your closet are the worst culprit. However, accordion-style doors also require several inches of dead space. There are plenty of space-efficient closet door ideas to try.
One solution is a sliding door. You can do this in a classy, easy way by installing a track in front of your closet. Depending on your style, place a wooden or glossy modern panel on the track. Keep in mind that this does require some space next to your closet, so make sure it works with your room’s layout.
If you’re looking for a more luxury look, consider installing butterfly doors. These need additional space outside your closet, but they’re a unique design feature that also saves closet space.
4. Turn Handbags Into Art Pieces
Handbags take up crazy amounts of space in your closet. If they don’t have room to breathe, they can become misshapen and damaged too.
Instead of cramming your bags into a corner, turn them into accent art. In your bedroom, install a series of small floating shelves with space between them. Place a bag on each shelf and you have a storage solution that also shows off your collection.
There are plenty of ways to style this setup as well. You can set up a grid and organize your bags by color. You could also install spotlights under each shelf so they illuminate the bag below.
5. Invest in Hangers That Multi-Task
If you’re tight on hanging space, buy specialized storage hangers for pants. They’re shaped like a series of S’s and they have four or five bars across. You can put a pair of pants on each bar, so you’re swapping out five hangers for one.
These hangers exist in several different materials. Be careful to look for sturdy metal ones. This won’t cheapen your look and they’ll be able to hold the weight of several pairs of pants.
6. Add Shelves…If Your Wardrobe Calls for It
Shelves can be a space-saver and they can also help your clothes last longer. If you have a large amount of sweaters, bags, and shoes, install a shelving unit to hold them.
Make sure you get shelves that fit your wardrobe, however. If you have all hanging clothes except for two or three sweaters, don’t install a full column of shelves.
7. Embrace Baskets or Containers for Small Items
One of the biggest challenges to organizing a closet it finding space for collections of small items. You can do this by investing in baskets or other high-end containers. These are great for costume jewelry, clutches, and other small items.
To keep a luxury look, stick with matching containers. Make sure it’s clear that you’ve made intentional style choices rather than cramming in an assortment of boxes.
8. Go Through Your Sock and Underwear Drawers
Some of the areas in our homes with the most unnecessary clutter are our sock drawers and underwear drawers. For most of us, when we pull out a sock and see that it has a hole, we stick it back in the drawer because we’re in a hurry to get out the door. That adds up to loads of unusable items.
Take the time to go through your drawers and toss any damaged or matchless items. This may allow you to make room for other items in these drawers.
9. Opt for Thinner Hangers
This seems like a simple step but you’d be surprised how much space your hangers take up. If you’re using thick wooden hangers or plastic hangers, chances are that you aren’t using your space to its potential.
Instead, buy thin “space saver” hangers, like flat wooden ones with velvet coating. They’ll let you keep your luxury look without sacrificing space. Keep in mind, however, that heavy items like men’s suits and some formal gowns may be too heavy. Keep a few wooden hangers in case you need them for these items.
10. Add an Extra Storage Space
Let’s say you have a sizable bedroom but you’re running low on closet space. One of the hottest interior design trends is to add a structured storage space.
These units look like large sets of shelves, but they have doors on the front to keep the clutter under wraps. You can turn it into a design element as well by adding some decor on top. These units come in plenty of styles from rustic to modern so you can make it look like a natural part of your home.
11. Invest in a Space-Saving Shoe Storage Option
Shoes are one of the worst space-wasters in most closets. You don’t want to stack them on top of each other, but many shoe storage racks take up too much space.
Look for options with slanted cubbies so your heels don’t take up more space than necessary. You’ll find these choices in a number of shapes, like a vertical column or a shorter horizontal rack. Choose the layout that best fits your available space.
12. Add a Sliding Jewelry Rack
If you’re struggling to make room for jewelry boxes or a jewelry armoire, you’re not alone. Getting creative can clear up space while leaving all your jewelry easy to access.
Try a vertical wooden rack that slides into place. Picture a sideways sliding door with hooks and pockets on the sides. When you slide it in, it aligns with your items and all you see is a few inches of a wooden panel. When you slide it out, you can browse your jewelry on both sides.
13. Take Advantage of Vertical Space
You might be surprised how much you can fit on the top shelf of your closet. Many luxury homes have nine-foot ceilings or higher, and you can use all that extra space. This is a perfect place for those baskets and containers we mentioned above.
If you want a classy, expensive look for your home, you can install a sliding ladder reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast. If not, reserve the top shelf for items you rarely use like holiday decor or memorabilia boxes. For closets with minimal shelving, don’t be afraid to install an extra shelf at the top of the closet.
14. Turn Suitcases into Extra Storage
Let’s say you’re storing your suitcases in your closet. Suitcases are built for storing items, so why not use them that way?
Chances are that you only use your suitcases a few times each year. For the rest of the year, place your out of season items inside. If you have a set of suitcases in different sizes, put the smaller ones inside the larger ones like Russian nesting dolls. You can even use the space inside the smaller suitcases in this case.
15. Buy a Tie Rack or Belt Rack
Ties and belts are notorious for being difficult to organize in minimal space. The good news is that some manufacturers are finding solutions.
Look for a tie rack or belt rack that retracts or rotates to save space. You can use a similar rack to the jewelry rack we described above. You could also choose rotating rack that lets you browse all your style options. Some of these racks are electronic for convenient access.
16. Arrange Your Hanging Clothes by Length
Chances are that you’re passing up storage space at the bottom of your closet. Organize your clothes by length so all your longer items are together. This lets you see space under your shorter items so you can place a rack or containers below them.
As an added bonus, this gives your clothes a cool interior design element because they’ll form a diagonal line.
17. Look for Multifunctional Furniture
If you need to add storage space, make your furniture work harder for you by finding pieces with extra storage. For instance, if you want a dressing bench in your closet, look for one that opens up to storage space inside.
You can also find storage furniture outside your closet to hold extra items. Look for an end table where you can store your socks or your accessories. Get a cushioned bench for the foot of your bed or elsewhere in your bedroom that offers storage.
18. Add Drawers
Drawers are among the most underrated items in closet organization. They provide space for “clutter fodder” (AKA small items) while keeping a clean, straight look.
Depending on how many drawers you want, you can install a small stack of drawers that matches your closet design. If you only want a drawer or two, look for drawers that attach to the underside of existing shelves.
19. Organize Your Clothes by Color
Most of the tips above focus on giving you more storage space. However, another common reason to organize your closet is to make it look less cluttered. If the look is your main objective, try this trick.
Organize your clothing by color. Start with white items and progress to tan, yellow, orange, red, and so on. This makes your closet look more organized and as a result, it makes it look less cluttered.
Having an Organized Closet with Minimal Space
If you’ve invested in a luxury home, the last thing you want to do is make it look cheap with your design choices. Clutter is one of the fastest ways to make a home look less high-end, and closets are among the worst culprits.
The tips above can help you maximize closet space in even the smallest closet. Between giving your home a more luxurious, clean look while making all your items easier to access, these closet organization hacks are a win-win.
If you’ve reached maximum capacity and it’s time to look for a larger home, we still have you covered. Reach out to our experts in luxury real estate who can help you find your new dream home.
Today’s article, “19 Essential Tips for Making the Most of Your Closet Space” , was written by Joy Bender, Real Estate professional, Joy is one of the top Compass Real Estate agents in San Diego. An accomplished writer of real estate articles designed for buyers and sellers. Have been a featured author in prestigious publications such as RealTrends, RIS Media, The National Association of Realtors, REALTOR® Magazine, Inman News and others.
