Create Your Ideal Closet
Do you dream of having ample storage but lack extensive DIY skills or a big budget? If you’re strapped on either, take heart—you can turn any closet in your home into a beautiful, organized space without spending much by following these simple tips.
Maximize the space
Perhaps the best way to dramatically increase a closet’s storage capacity is to simply utilize every inch of its available space. For instance, you could hang cloth drawer organizers from the rod for items like socks or towels and install self-stick hooks on an empty wall to hold hats, robes, or brooms. For smaller, lightweight objects like scarves and tools, consider putting up a pegboard, which you can tailor to your needs with various hooks and bins. To get the most out of your shelves, attach dividers to neatly contain folded shirts or dish towels; if you need help reaching them, you could get a folding step stool or grabber that tucks neatly out of the way. And don’t forget about the inside of your closet door—it’s a perfect spot for a placing a pocket organizer for sneakers, kitchen gadgets, or other accessories.
Add inexpensive furniture
To get a built-in look for a closet at a fraction of the cost, try replacing its rods or wire racks with an easy-to-assemble bookcase with adjustable shelves, which will give you the freedom to rearrange them as needed. You can then use acrylic risers to showcase items like perfumes or spices and shelf dividers, baskets, or storage cubes to stash clothing or craft supplies.
If you still need a space to hang clothing, you could remove a few shelves and install a tension rod or place one between two bookshelves. The beauty of this solution is that you don’t have to drill into your walls and risk damaging wires or pipes behind them. If you don’t want to change anything about your closet’s current setup, you could also simply add cubbies with bins and baskets for extra storage. For an added touch, place labels on your containers or hang labeled closet dividers on the rod to indicate where everything should go.
Hang it right
A quick way to get more space in a hall or bedroom closet bursting with clothing is to change your hangers. You could make a simple swap to slim, nonslip ones or capitalize on your closet’s vertical space with connector hooks or organizers that will let you chain several hangers together; there are even ones specifically designed for pants and skirts. These can also be a useful way to organize various types of clothing or outfits together.
Shine a light
Adding lighting can help you better view a closet’s offerings and add some glam, especially if it currently lacks a light fixture. There are plenty of battery-operated varieties you can try if you don’t want to wire one yourself or hire an electrician; as a bonus, many also come with motion sensors to switch on automatically. You could add a ceiling light or, for a dramatic look, opt for strip or puck lights to spotlight specific belongings you’d like to draw attention to. Some versions even come with self-stick adhesive, making them easy to install.
Jazz it up
To truly make a closet your own, incorporate some accessories. For instance, Ursula Carmona of Home Made by Carmona chose a whimsical bird-themed wallpaper for her walk-in closet, adding framed prints to the shelves for an extra touch. Meanwhile, fellow blogger Diana Elizabeth Steffen installed black-spotted removable wallpaper in hers and swapped out the original white rods for shiny chrome ones. Do whatever suits your style and closet space, whether that means painting, stenciling, or laying down a cozy area rug. It’s all up to you!
There are endless options for customizing a closet—just google “closet makeover” or search the topic on Pinterest, Instagram, or TikTok to see all sorts of decorating and organizing ideas you can experiment with to perfect yours.