32 Small Closet Storage Ideas

If your home is cluttered because you don't have enough storage space, it's time to look at small closet organization ideas to make the most of the functional space you do have. You don't have to have a walk-in closet to have a storage that works for you. With the right systems in place, even the smallest of closets can become useful storage spaces that will make life easier.

From built-in shelving to wall hooks to cubbies, drawers, bins, and smart storage for shoes and accessories, there are multiple ways to remove clutter, organize your items, and make it easy to both find items and put them away. Creating a truly functional space will help you stay organized and keep your space neat and tidy, which helps make the most of your small square footage.

Here are our favorite small closet ideas to help you maximize every inch of your small closet.

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Create an Open Closet

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Creating an open closet forces you to curate your belongings since they will always be on display. This idea can be implemented relatively inexpensively by purchasing free-standing bookshelves or configuring closet collection pieces.
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Build an Adjustable Closet System

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Use a closet system to completely transform an unused tiny closet. Now, it can store baby gear, accessories, and clothing. The matching bins look clean, cohesive and keep small items organized.

The 5 Best Closet Kits We’ve Found Online for You
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Use Bins to Make a Closet Organizer

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This hall closet got a complete organizational overhaul with the addition of a system built with bins. The lidless bins make it quicker to place items inside, while the handles make it easy to carry the bins from the closet to a room in the house to make cleanup easier.
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Organize Bathroom Closet Shelves

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Make it easier to find exactly what you need by organizing shelves with clear bins. These labeled clear bins fit nicely in a small bathroom closet and keep medicine and supplies visible and easily accessible. Turntables on the top shelf allow you to grab items in a hurry and baskets at the bottom neatly store bulkier items.

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Use Simple, Functional Storage Containers

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Simple storage containers with labels are an easy, budget-friendly way to organize loose items and all those cords. This will help organize that closet that seems to hold all your random items.
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Use a Shoe Rack With Pockets

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Over-the-door shoe pockets are an easy, budget-friendly way to store shoes when you don't have closet space. They keep shoes easy to find and at hand while saving room in the closet for other items.
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Add Drawers Between Clothes Racks

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Adding a closet system with drawers is a great alternative to a dresser if you don't have the space for one. It keeps small accessories organized and at hand. Concealing items in drawers and storage bins gives your closet a decluttered look.
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Use a Hanging Organizer for Handbags

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Oftentimes, organizing is about knowing what organizational items are out there. You can find organization solutions for just about anything, including your handbags. These hangers allow you to hang multiple handbags in a small amount of space. Plus, they prevent the handbags from creasing or getting damaged, and they fit right on the bar with your other clothes hangers.

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Try Door Storage

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Even though this closet is small, it has room for everything your baby needs. The clear storage cabinet acts as a dresser while the hanging system on the door holds baby gear.
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Make Room for Cleaning and Pet Supplies

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One of the main rules of organizing is keeping similar items together, and storage bins are the most budget-friendly way to do that. This hall closet is designated for cleaning and pet supplies. The bins also safely keep the cleaning supplies away from pet toys and accessories.
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Maximize Closet Space

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An acrylic jewelry holder is a great way to keep your favorite pieces visible while keeping them from getting tangled. The lining on the inside of the drawers adds a seamless, more elegant look.
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Install a Modular System

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A combination of pull-out drawers and shelving goes a long way in a small closet. This modular closet system features both, making it easier to store accessories and other small items.

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Maximize a Laundry Closet

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The door to this laundry closet features a hanging organization system with baskets that hold cleaning and laundry supplies. This is proof that just because your laundry closet only has room for a washer and dryer, doesn't mean you can't maximize the space to store other items.
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Hang Toys

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Just as you would use a rack to hang clothes, you can install racks to hang bulky toys that take up too much bin or shelf space. All you need are some S hooks. Now the trick is getting the kids to put their toys here!
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Give a Coat Closet Multiple Purposes

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This may have been just a coat closet at first, but now it serves multiple purposes thanks to multiple organization systems. The hanging organization system on the door holds pet treats and accessories, while the baskets on the top shelf hold toiletries and linens. A small shoe rack maximizes shoe storage in a small area.
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Create a Craft Room Closet

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To keep things at bay in a craft closet, a closet with storage bins organized by item type will help declutter your home while allowing you to quickly find the supplies you need. This keeps your spools of ribbon, markers, gift bags, and other small items organized.

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Add a Minimalist Look

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Wood storage bins bring a clean, minimalist look while also providing a spot for items that may have not had a place before in a multi-functional entryway closet.
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Look to the Wall

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Instead of storing hats in bulky bins, look to your closet wall for hanging space. Hanging them is not only a smart way to store them in mint condition, but the hats themselves add a cute design element, too.
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Create a Functional Home Office Closet

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Create a home office closet that becomes a functional space, not just a storage area. This home office closet features a modular system with drawers, shelving, and wall storage to hold all the essential office supplies.
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Choose the Right Placement

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The placement of items is just as important as how you store the items, and you want to store the most-used items in arm's reach. This craft room closet features frequently used items at hand level, while less frequently used items — and items you want to keep from little hands — are kept on the top shelf.

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Use Large Bins in the Playroom

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A playroom is filled with so many toys and games, it's hard to keep them all organized — unless you create designated spaces for each. At the end of each day, place similar items in separate labeled bins. Or, designate a bin for each child — the organization opportunities are endless.
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Add a Variety of Storage Options

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Even though this isn't a walk-in closet, it features plenty of storage options for different sized items. From the fabric baskets to the cubbies, this kid's closet holds items ranging from clothing to toys.
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Install Functional Cabinetry

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This laundry room closet was once nonfunctional because of the lack of organizational structure, but now it has multi-purpose spaces for different items. Adding cabinetry transformed it into a spot to store medicine, toiletries, linens, and cleaning tools. The wallpaper adds an unexpected design element.
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Teach Kids How to Organize

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Labeled storage baskets not only keep things organized and easily accessible, but it also teaches kids how to stay organized at a young age. This closet features cute baskets for loose items like socks, shoes, and other accessories that would normally get lost if they were in an unorganized pile.

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Give a Small Closet a Purpose

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Even though this closet is smaller than even your standard hall closet, you can still keep it organized and functional. This is an opportunity to store beautiful household items like patterned throws and other linens.
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Store Shoes on the Closet Floor

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If you have floor space in your closet, use it by storing items that are generally on the ground anyway—like shoes. These acrylic shelves help keep shoes organized, protected, and easily accessible.
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Organize the Medicine Closet

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Keep the medicine closet organized unexpected injuries and illnesses. Wire baskets make grabbing larger items easy, while stacked wooden bins hold small items that are easy to grab.
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Help Keep Kids Organized

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This closet system features drawers that are easy to reach for small kids, and the best part is it will grow with them. The drawers and middle shoe shelf are easily accessible for little hands.

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Have a Spot for Every Item

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Clear storage bins make a great addition to a closet because they keep all items at hand and visible. Use them for everything from craft supplies to clothing items.
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Add Hooks for More Storage

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If you add a cabinet or install a closet system, use every inch of it to store your items by looking vertically with hooks. A couple of hooks on the side of this cabinet transformed it into a functional space for storing handbags and belts.
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Organize the Game Closet

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A simple way to organize a game closet is to stack board games by size, from largest to smallest, and to store small games and toys in storage bins.
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Keep Gift Wrap Organized

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A hanging organization system holds gift bags, ribbons, and gift-wrapping rolls to keep these often unruly items organized, while storage bins on shelves hold gift-wrapping tools and accessories. The cohesive color palette gives the closet a clean, organized look.

FAQ

How can I organize a small closet with a lot of clothes?

To organize a small closet with a lot of clothes, think vertically. Use the door. Use hanging storage. Use hooks. You have to go beyond clothes racks, and think about clever ways to store other clothing items.
How do you organize a small closet without spending money?

To organize a small closet without spending any money, think about how you can rearrange what's already in there. Can the shelves be moved? Can you use storage bins you have on hand? Can you declutter and label? Use what you have and think creatively.
What is the fastest way to organize my closet?

The fastest way to organize a closet is to start by decluttering. Organization is always easier when you have fewer items and only the items you absolutely need.
How do I start decluttering my closet?

To declutter your closet, commit to a block of time. Don't start decluttering when you are going to have to leave midway. Do it in one fell swoop. Get rid of what you haven't used in six months or a year. Donate or sell the items that could have a second life.