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$18.56
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The best tips and products for organizing your closet, according to experts
We spoke with experts to learn how to better organize our closets and maintain a cleaner space.
$10.06
$18.56
Walmart
Wiss enjoys utilizing the Whitmor wide stacking shelves. “These stackable shelves take advantage of the lost vertical space in most closets,” she says. “With the help of a step stool, you can add to or three more shelves in your closet.” She also recommends using stackable bins, like the Anminy 12-piece lidded plastic storage set. If you’re on a budget, Wiss recommends the Mainstays X Large white lidded storage set, which stack into each other when not in use and are great for storing seasonal clothing or cleaning items that you want to separate from your other belongings.
Meck acknowledges that clear containers make for easier organizing and access, but opaque ones happen to look better. Ikea has lidded boxes that can be stacked, with the option to buy a compartment insert to organize the boxes even more.
Anything that’s stackable can help you create a mock shelf in your space and save space. You can also use bins to store anything that’s not currently in season or any special occasion outfits that aren’t in your regular wear rotation.
People use closets to also store accessories like sunglasses, jewelry, scarves, mementos and more, Wiss says. I own the Simple Houseware over-door four-pocket organizer, which allows me to store my favorite lotions, chargers for my iPhone and laptop, cat treats and more. You can also buy over-door organizers that are made to store your shoes specifically and use any extra pockets to store other belongings.
I own Brightroom’s 4-drawer wire rack organizer and put different items in each of the drawers. I place socks and undergarments in the top drawer, sports bras and leggings in another, then moving down to towels, cozy clothes and bathrobes.
Open Spaces sent Malin the underbed storage bins to try and she “instantly fell in love.” She loves how stylish they are and uses them to store sheets, bath towels, sweatpants and duffel bags. “I don’t know where I’d put [all my stuff] if I didn’t have these bins. They’re also soft-sided, so I can overstuff them and store so much stuff inside.”
If you can’t fit all your coats inside your closet, Meck recommended buying a dedicated coat rack instead of individual hanging hooks. “Multi-hook types are nice to avoid the efforts of trying to get individual, multiple hooks level and putting a bunch of holes in the wall the individual hooks would make,” she said. A coat rack is also great for hanging hats, necklaces, handbags with handles and keys.
Malin likes using the Command wall hooks to organize her closet doors and hang purses, belts and robes. “I started using them in college and loved them so much that I bought a new set for my apartment when I moved to NYC,” she says. “The hook is thick and wide, and it holds up to 10 pounds, so I can put a few purses on it at once or add one bag that’s heavier with a bigger strap.”
For the Ikea Skådis Pegboard, make sure to also get the Hook Rack that pairs with it.
Wiss recommends the below adjustable shoe organizer from IKEA and says it’s one of her favorite space-saving storage solutions. “With shoes neatly stacked, you save on floor space and keep shoes in better condition,” she says. She also likes over-the-door shoe organizers, which she says people may use to store scarves, toiletries and other belongings, which can also help save space.
Meck has historically recommended using shelves over shoe boxes to organize your shoes because they may take up valuable space inside a closet. However, if you prefer storing your shoes in boxes, Meck recommends prioritizing and labeling clear shoe boxes over opaque ones to make it easier to find what you’re looking for. She’s also a fan of shoe cubbies, if you have the space for it.
Wiss says the first thing she and her team evaluate when they open a new closet is whether there is adequate space for the amount of stuff the client owns and how they are currently utilizing the space. When organizing your closet and sifting through clothes and other belongings, ask yourself the following when considering whether or not to keep an item.
Wiss recommends flipping your hangers a certain way when you reorganize your closet to test how often you’re wearing a garment. Within a couple months you can start to see what you’re actually pulling from your closet to wear on a regular basis, she says.
If you don’t end up wearing that shirt you’re still unsure about all season, Wiss says it’s time to consider adding it to a donation bag.
A great way to streamline your closet is to have things that are in season visible and reachable and store things that aren’t currently in season away, Wiss says. Using this time when you swap out your closet each season to purge can also be beneficial.
“A closet might shift as your life changes,” Wiss says. “Like if you used to work from an office and now you don’t. You have different wardrobe needs.” Wiss suggests having different sections of your closet for work clothes during the week and more casual and comfortable stuff on the weekends.
Wiss advises against using wicker baskets, despite its aesthetic attraction, because it can easily snag clothing. If you do have a wicker basket that you love and want to store, just keep it at the top of your closet and try not to stack any other boxes or large items on top of it.
Also try to stay away from anything that may cause clothes to pill or get caught and rip your clothing. For instance, hangers from the dry cleaners tend to be flimsy and get stuck in weird places.
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