A small closet can be more of a problem than a problem solver, if you don't make the best use of it. Some closets are so narrow you can't hang clothing in them without the hangers tilting sideways. Others have a lot of wasted space on the top and bottom, with a single clothing rod hanging in the middle. When you organize your closet, assign a single use to it. If the closet's in the entryway, make it your coat and outdoor accessories closet. A small bathroom closet should hold your linens, for example. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Remove everything from the closet. Sort through the items and make several piles, one for items you'll keep, one for things you plan on donating and another for items that you want to throw out. Make a fourth pile for items that don't belong in the closet.
2. Install a pressure-mounted closet rod 30 inches below the main rod if there is space in the closet or you plan on using the closet for hanging clothing. A second rod will double your storage space.
3. Rehang clothing such as dresses and button-up shirts on slim-line hangers. Using slender hangers will give you a lot more space on the closet rod, as wooden or regular plastic hangers can take up an inch or more of space.
4. Hang suit jackets, pants and dresses from the top clothing rod and button-shirts and other dress shirts from the second rod.
5. Put a bookcase inside the closet to store shoes, folded clothing items or linens if you are not hanging garments. You can use a short bookcase underneath a closet rod or remove the closet rod entirely and use a tall bookcase. Before you purchase the bookcase, measure the depth and width of the closet to make sure it will fit.
6. Stack shoes on the lower shelves of the bookcase. Put accessories such as handbags on the top shelf and other accessories, sweaters or jeans on the middle shelves. If you're organizing a small linen closet, put guest-bedroom linens on the upper shelves and the linens you use regularly on the middle shelves.
Tags: items that, middle shelves, more space, space closet