This blog post will cover how to organize a small closet space by giving you tips and tricks to utilize every square inch! Most of these tips are simple, but really make a big impact. If you’re ready to get your closet cleaned up and organized for a new year, you’ve come to the right place!
BONUS– I’m also sharing the inexpensive design ideas I incorporated that really transformed the space! Keep reading for all the details!
This post contains affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you purchase items from the link, at no additional cost to you. Please refer to my disclaimer for details.
ORGANIZE A SMALL SPACE
When I started thinking about how I wanted to address our small shared closet space, I did what I normally always do when working on a new space- get RID OF STUFF!
Most of the time our spaces become cluttered and unorganized because we simply have acquired too much stuff.
BEFORE PICTURE of our closet! It needed some major organization tips and tricks!
ORGANIZING TIP 1: GET RID OF IT
First things first, go through baskets, bins and all your clothes. If you have something that hasn’t been used or worn in the last year, get rid of it. This is a pretty good rule of thumb, and a great strategy to try to stick to when organizing any space.
There are so many options when it comes to donating items and sometimes you might find you are even able to upcycle something old into something new! Read until the end to see what I was able to revamp and re-use in our space!
ORGANIZING TIPS
When it comes to organizing a small space: baskets, bins, shelves and hooks become your BFF.
Baskets and bins are great for storing items while keeping things looking clean and organized. If you haven’t already, google folding items like Marie Kondo or watch the Marie Kondo Tidying Up show on Netflix, because it gives so many practical strategies for folding items to promote better organization. When it comes to picking baskets or bins, I’d recommend ones that are enclosed (not clear or see through) so that the items you’re storing aren’t showing. This helps promote a clean and organized look in your space.
These baskets are great because they are enclosed, giving the room a more organized feel!
Using baskets or bins to store clothing that is seasonal works great too! In the winter you really aren’t going to need those shorts (depending where you live) or swim suits very often. The same goes for extra bedding. By storing them in baskets or bins, you help keep the space looking tidy and organized.
SHELVES ARE LIFE
Next, don’t be afraid to put shelves up high. It’s easy enough to buy a small step stool that folds up to reach items. Here is a fold up step stool I have and love, it stores easily and is sturdy. Placing shelves overhead simply gives you more space to store bins and baskets of clothing that might be seasonal or extra sheets/blankets.
Whenever you can add built in storage shelving, do it! We have a small section of our closet that has built in shelves that go the entire height of the wall, and this helps gives us a lot more space for storage! If built ins aren’t in the budget or you’re no DIY’er, that’s fine too, you can always go the route of adding a small dresser or inexpensive plastic organizer like we have in ours.
GET CREATIVE! I had fun giving our little plastic organizer a small DIY update! Because the drawers were clear, one could easily see what was inside them, I gave them a little love using some Chalked Spray Paint. I applied two coats of spray paint and then, once they were completely dry, I added a clear matte top coat finish to protect them from chipping.
By using black spray paint on the clear drawers, I was able to hide the clothing inside. Giving the closet a more clean and tidy appearance.
HANG IT UP
Last organizing tip for a small space, add some hooks to your walls! Hooks are so versatile! You can hang hats, jackets, towels, blankets or even a small hanging basket that you could add items to for extra storage. Here are some inexpensive options if you’re on the look out for some!
These simple black hooks work great for hanging jackets or hats!
These farmhouse style hooks are my favorite, and we currently have them in our entryway!
These modern style hooks are what we have in our closet and our bathrooms!
For our closet makeover, I added one hook for towels and an old antique hat wall hanger that was my great grandfathers. Not only does hanging your hats free up space and keep them in good condition, it’s kind of the thing to do nowadays 😉
LET’S TALK DESIGN IDEAS
Creating beauty in a small space is probably my favorite thing to do! For our closet I wanted to tie in the overall design of our bedroom, so that everything would flow nicely. First, I painted all of the shelves white and added a dark accent wall! It proved to really make the white shelves pop and this is also the exact color theme we have in our bedroom. I also added peel and stick wallpaper to the bottom of the built in shelves to reduce the risk of paint chipping. Check out the inexpensive wallpaper I used, here!
For the wall where my clothing is hung up, I wanted to do something fun and different. Adding different textures to a room is something I enjoy because I feel it brings warmth and coziness to a space! So, I decided to go out on a limb and try something out of the box. By adding burlap to the wall, I was able to pull in texture to the space by literally adding it directly to the wall! This was incredibly inexpensive and a great option if you are on a budget! By using small nails I attached the burlap easily to the wall. I used around 6 nails for each section. I’d recommend buying nails that are a natural wood color, this would help to hid the nails as they would blend with the color of the burlap.
Lastly, I had some old baskets that were in great condition, but I wasn’t digging the color. I decided to use some spray paint and then additionally left-over Sherwin Williams paint to create a simple design. These baskets will be used to hold some of my husband’s clothing and misc. items on our built-in shelves.
THAT’S A WRAP
There you have it folks, organizing a small closet by utilizing simple tips and adding inexpensive design elements can completely transform your space! The only thing I bought for this entire makeover was a new laundry basket for my husband and I. This was one I found on Amazon and have really been loving because it has a cloth divider and lid, you can find it HERE!
Make sure you head on over to my Instagram page @calling_allcreators if you want to see these projects go down in REAL TIME!
As always, thank you for stopping by,
and Happy Creating! 🙂
Holly