No matter how neat and unassuming a closet starts out, it's amazing how quickly it can become a cluttered mess. Thanks to lockdowns keeping everyone indoors, now is a perfect time to organize your closet and make your living space a little brighter.
We've put together a guide to help you get started on your organizing expedition, as well as a list of the top ten products that will help you get your closet spic and span again! Our favorite was Songmics' Cube Storage Organizer, for its sturdiness, versatility, and how you can arrange it any way you like to fit your interior. Read on for more!
Quick List - Top Products To Organize Your Closet
Rubbermaid
Long-Lasting, Highly Customizable System in Various Sizes
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Before actually buying extra hangers, cubbies, or shelves, the first thing you’ll need to do is decide what needs organizing. Do you need a place for accessories? Shoes? Sheets? Clothes? Answering that will help you understand what kind of closet organizing items you’ll need to shop for.
If you’re good at visualizing, you may be able to do all this sorting just by looking through your closet and writing down a quick checklist. Look for overcrowded items and consider whether they would be best sorted using a set of drawers, hangers, or shelves.
If you’re more of a hands-on type of person, don’t be afraid to physically clear out your closet and sort things into piles: clothes to hang or store, smaller items that need a drawer, sheets and comforters, and so on.
This may be an obvious bit of advice, but it’s important nevertheless. One of the best ways to de-clutter your closet is to figure out what you don’t need and either donating it, throwing it away, or recycling, if possible.
Before buying anything to organize your closet, be sure to take thorough measurements. Want to add a new bar or shelf? Measure the distance between walls, and break it into chunks if needed. Thinking of adding some drawers or cubby holes on the floor? Measure both the depth of your closet and the height that you’ll need.
Write all your measurements down so that you can check them while you shop. It may seem like a lot of work, but it will be well worth it to avoid buying something that’s too big or too small for your needs.
With such a wide range of ways to organize one's closets, the sheer volume of options available can be a bit daunting. Because of that, it's important to narrow down exactly what you'll need to improve your closet and storage space. Below we've compiled some tips and suggestions to help you as you sort through the options.
While some people may have the option of knocking down a wall and adding onto their house when they need more room to store things, most of us have to work with the space we have. Thankfully, with a little creativity, even a small closet can offer a lot more storage space than you might initially think.
There are a few ways to deal with excess clothes. While seasonal clothes can always be stored away for part of the year, sometimes you just need more space – especially if you’re sharing that closet with someone else!
For this, you can either get specialized hangers to maximize space, or you can add in an extra bar to double the number of hangers you can fit in your closet.
If your closet isn’t set up this way already, seriously consider adding shelves above and below the garment bar. This will give you a huge amount of space to store things like shoes, accessories, and sheets.
There are also hanging organizers for shoes and bags that attach to your wall or door. Some even hang from the bar itself.
If your closet is in a narrow hall or a crowded room, you may want to consider exchanging the traditional closet door with something else so that you don’t have to deal with the extra space an open door can take up.
Whether made of fabric or beads, floor-length curtains are simple and stylish and can add a lot of color to a room. They may not be the best option if you have little kids (especially if there are things in the closet you don’t want them to get at!), but if that’s not a concern for your lifestyle, curtains can be a very convenient substitute for a door.
For a more modern approach, you can opt for a sliding door. It’s sleek and convenient, taking up far less space than a swinging door. The only caveat is that your doorway may need some reworking to accommodate a sliding door, depending on its design.
If those options don’t appeal to you, however, you can always try setting a mirror onto the door in order to give an illusion of more space. Not only is it functional; you’ll be surprised at how much it brightens up a room.
If you do decide to keep your door, remember that the door can also be used to hang things in order to increase space. This can range from hooks for clothes, scarves, and hats, to pocket organizers for any number of smaller items that don’t fit elsewhere.
Some people really know their way around a hammer and nail. If this is you, that’ll give you a lot of freedom in how you want to reorganize your closet, and may include adding or cutting shelves or repositioning a garment bar.
If you don’t have much experience with such DIY projects, however, don’t worry – there are still plenty of easy-to-set-up options on the market that will make your closet organizing experience run smoothly.
Choosing the right materials is not just a matter or durability or aesthetics. Some materials can damage your clothes or even invite pests into your closet!
If you’ve used wire coat hangers, you’re probably familiar with how easily clothes tend to slip right off them. Even worse, wire hangers can damage clothing over time. Because of this, it’s well worth it to invest in some decent hangers.
For a slightly higher-end hanger, there is a wide range of padded and wooden hangers to choose from. Velvet hangers are another choice, although they can gather lint over time, making them less visually appealing.
There are also a number of more unique hangers – some specially designed for pants and slacks, some for skirts, others meant to hold multiple shirts at once in order to maximize space in your closet.
If you’re storing anything in your closet for weeks or months at a time, using the right container is essential to keeping the items in good condition. For this, you’ll want to aim for airtight plastic boxes or, for fabrics and really important memorabilia, acid-free boxes.
Cedar is a great, all-natural solution to keep pests away from your clothes that won’t leave a chemical smell like other alternatives.
Note, however, that the acid in cedar can damage clothes if they are in direct contact, so if you want to store clothes in a cedar chest, wrap the clothes in acid-free paper or unbleached muslin first. Or, you can wrap a cedar block in acid-free paper to place alongside your clothes in an airtight plastic box.
Fabric needs proper ventilation in order to last a long time, and as such, you’ll want to avoid vacuum storage and other airtight bags for long-term storage. This holds especially true for wool, cashmere, and other delicate clothes; being compressed, even if only for a few months, can damage the fabric.
However, vacuum storage bags can be a great solution for bulky, puffy coats or water-resistant materials, as these tend to be more resilient and typically regain their shape after coming out of the bag.
Whatever you’re storing in your closet – be it shoes, clothes, sheets, or what have you – there are certain materials that you want to avoid altogether, as they tend to attract either pests or mold or both. The worst are cardboard and plastic bags.
Plastic bags collect moisture and become a breeding ground for mold and mildew (this is especially true if you live in a more humid area). They can also cause your clothes and sheets to yellow over time.
Cardboard can attract a variety of bugs and is poor protection against rodents, who can eat right through it. This includes things like shoe boxes – so even though it might seem convenient to just store your shoes away in the box you bought them in, it can be a disastrous long-term decision.
Do you want everything displayed or hidden away? Look for shoe racks, clear plastic boxes, and transparent hanging organizers if you want to be able to clearly see the contents of your closet. This is an ideal option if easy access is your priority; no need to guess where everything is tucked away when you can see through the boxes.
If you're aiming for a specific look or would simply rather have everything hidden from sight, invest in opaque boxes and drawers for a classier look. This is especially great for keepsakes or other important items.
Whatever storage method you choose, you might also want to consider labels or a label maker so that anyone can understand what’s inside.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Songmics Cube Storage Organizer | ![]() | Versatile, Stackable Cubby Storage | |
2 | Oxel Over The Door Hanging Wall Organizer | ![]() | Door-Hanging Organizer That Won't Bend Out of Shape | |
3 | Rubbermaid Configurations Custom Closet Kit | ![]() | Long-Lasting, Highly Customizable System in Various Sizes | |
4 | Finnhomy Heavy Duty Plastic Hangers|Pack of 50 | ![]() | Basic Hangers With a Useful, Clever Design | |
5 | Simple Housewear Hanging Closet Organizer | ![]() | Sturdy Hanging Shelves That Are a Breeze to Set Up | |
6 | Seville Classics Shoe Storage Rack | ![]() | No-Hassle Shelving Great for Versatility | |
7 | Songmics Wall-Mounted Clothes Rack | ![]() | A Strong and Stylish Garment Bar | |
8 | Zober Slacks/Trousers/Pants Hangers|Pack of 20 | ![]() | Great Non-Slip Hangers for Pants, Skirts, and Scarves | |
9 | Simple Houseware Foldable Cloth Storage Boxes | ![]() | Organize a Messy Drawer or Store Small Items | |
10 | Sterilite Stacking Drawer|Set of 4 | ![]() | Stackable Drawers to Make Organizing Easy and Simple |
Songmics's Cube Storage Organizer is a great way to store a whole range of items, from shoes to folded clothes, toys to books. Since it can be arranged into different shapes (up to three cubes high), it provides both a versatile and stylish method of organizing your closet. The cubes come in black, gray, or white to suit any decor.
One of the highest points of these cubes is being able to arrange them in pretty much any order to suit one's needs, something many rave about in their reviews. Some found assembly to be a bit of a pain, thinking that it was done after the connectors "snapped" into place, when in reality they needed to use the hammer that comes with it in order to make sure the connectors are fully secure.
However, once the cubes are properly put together, the consensus among reviewers was overwhelmingly positive, particularly noting how sturdy it was despite its somewhat delicate appearance.
If you think you've run out room in your closet, remember that there is one more option available to you: the door itself! Oxel's Hanging Wall Organizer is extremely handy when you need a place for miscellaneous items that don't seem to quite fit anywhere else.
Users of this product praise its sturdiness, saying it holds its shape even when it's fully loaded as opposed to similar products whose pockets have a tendency to bend unless filled with only the most lightweight items.
Some did express concern about the metal hooks potentially damaging the door it's hanging from, a problem that can be mitigated by putting a bit of cloth or padding between the hook and door. Other than that, reviewers raved about how much you can store thanks to its deep, wide pockets without the organizer itself taking up a lot of space.
Sometimes, especially with a completely bare storage space, you need the whole shebang - shelves and clothing rods - in order to properly organize your closet. For such cases, there's no better option than a Rubbermaid Configurations Custom Closet Kit.
With a little bit of elbow grease, this kit will allow you to install shelves and clothing rods according to your personal needs. Aside from looking nice and being well-made, many reviewers found assembly to be relatively easy since there is no need to cut shelves like with similar kits.
However, several reviewers recommended getting some extra hardware (anchors, a level, and extra screws) to help things go more smoothly. Once the closet organizer was set up, however, users praised its robust steel frame and high-quality build.
If you're in need of some new hangers, you may want to try out a set of these. The clever design makes it easy to hang any sort of clothing without stretching the collar, including turtlenecks! Though made of plastic, they're sturdily built, and nonslip padding means you won't have to worry about clothes falling off.
In general, reviewers loved the unique design, and also found the rotatable metal hanger to be useful when putting clothes away. The main criticism people had was that these hangers are not well suited to pants or jeans, and can leave a crease in some materials if you simply fold it over the hanger's lower bar.
Despite a thin and somewhat flimsy appearance, many users found the hanger to be very durable and sturdy, able to hold even heavy jackets. Some even noted how these outlasted other hangers they had purchased.
For those less handy with a hammer or simply too busy for a new DIY project, this hanging closet organizer is a perfect substitute for installing traditional shelves. It comes in multiple colors and hangs from a standard garment bar with sturdy metal hooks to ensure the organizer stays where you put it.
Many reviews have mentioned how easy it is to set up, and the individual shelves didn't sag even when loaded up. Both the shelves and the mesh pockets sewn into the side make it an incredibly useful organizer. Due to its portability, it can also come in handy for some extra storage when traveling, such as on camping trips.
Seville Classics's shoe shelf is a great way to add extra storage space at the bottom of a closet, and up to two units can be stacked. It is super easy to assemble and comes with a variety of options (resin slat or iron mesh; 3-, 6-, or 9-tier shelves, and two colors) that make it easy to customize to your home.
Though the shelf is built with shoes in mind, many reviewers have found that its sturdy metal frame makes it a great shelf for a variety of items, from videos and DVDs to household cleaning supplies.
The main criticism that people have had is that there is not a lot of spacing between shelves, and as a result, you may have difficulty fitting high-top sneakers or taller shoes on this rack. If you've measured it out and it suits your needs, however, most users agree that it's one of the best shoe racks out there.
Sometimes, you just need an extra bar to hang your clothing, and Songmics offers a solution with its wall-mounted clothes rack. This steel bar can be drilled into a wall or door to give you all the space you need to hang your clothes.
While installing this bar does require some handiwork, most reviewers found putting it up to be fairly easy so long as you have a power drill on hand. The most difficult part for many was locating the studs on which to mount the bar, especially since in some cases the bar didn't meet the studs on both ends.
This can be solved with a dry wall anchor, but you may want to measure out the studs in your wall before purchasing to avoid extra hassle. Once it's up on the wall, though, buyers praise its sturdiness and its sleek, industrial look that gives it a cool, unique style.
Most basic hangers are designed for shirts and coats, but these are specifically designed for pants, and can also be used for skirts, linens, scarves, and accessories. Their design makes it so you can fold your pants over them without worrying about leaving a crease, and the non-slip coating means even the silkiest pair of slacks won't fall off.
Many reviewers mentioned how solid these hangers were compared to others, and that these seem to have no problem holding jeans and heavy materials. There were a few who mentioned the hook was a bit small for their garment bar, so be sure to double-check that your closet's bar is only one to two inches in diameter so that these hangers will be easy to slip on and off the bar.
For those that had no such issues, they found that it was easy to get pants on and off of the hangers. Several remarked that they made their closet look a lot more neat and orderly compared to using regular hangers.
If you have a dresser in your closet, keeping your drawers neat is an essential part of making your items more easily accessible. These drawer dividers from Simple Houseware are a great first step in doing just that, and of course, you can also use them as stylish storage on your shelves, too!
They come in various colors and sets of four or six boxes. Reviewers found that these dividers made it easy to see and sort all of their clothes and accessories, from socks to underwear to jewelry.
The bottoms of the dividers are removable so that they can be easily folded up and stored away if need be. Just be sure to measure the insides of your drawers, as these dividers may be too tall for some.
Sterilite's stacking drawers offer a quick and easy solution for any messy closet. After all, not everything can be hung on a rack or stacked on a shelf, and not every closet has room for a big dresser. These offer a simple, versatile alternative since you can stack or set them up in whatever style works for you and your closet.
Most users found these drawers to be sturdy and efficient, holding quite a lot of whatever is needed, including towels, shoes, and craft supplies. Some reviewers expressed distaste at the handle being located at the bottom, so if you think that this will bother you, you may want to consider another set of drawers.
Looking for more ways to stay organized and keep your living space uncluttered? Check out some of these articles for great ideas to get you started.
No. 1: Songmics|Cube Storage Organizer
No. 2: Oxel|Over The Door Hanging Wall Organizer
No. 3: Rubbermaid|Configurations Custom Closet Kit
No. 4: Finnhomy|Heavy Duty Plastic Hangers|Pack of 50
No. 5: Simple Housewear|Hanging Closet Organizer
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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