30 Tricks to Squeeze Every Inch out of a Small Closet

If you have a closet in your room but the closed door makes it feel cramped and even smaller, consider turning it into a pocket door or removing it altogether. In this bunk room designed by Dee Murphy, the wallpaper and paint make the sleep zone feel distinct from the closet, but going door-free helps open it up.

If you have an awkward and empty corner, invest in a great dresser or armoire that can bring it to life while also giving you an extra place to store all your items. This texture-rich corner in a small bedroom designed by Shawn Henderson can hold intimates and more.

This small closet by David Kaihoi shares a home with a washer-and-dryer unit, so everything is arranged just so. Trays within drawers help keep things sorted and in their rightful spots, and two rows of rods take advantage of all the vertical space.

Here's another small closet in this bedroom designed by David Kaihoi. We spot several great small-space tips: 1) Mirror the inside of your closet doors. 2) Add hooks to the interior side of the doors for extra items and outfit planning. 3) Use bins to stay organized.

Rehouse your shoes in a linen closet or hallway coat closet if your bedroom closet is getting too full. They're the last thing you put on, so it's okay if you need to go to another area to find them (which can't be said for underwear, for example). This en-suite linen closet by Joshua Greene is also a shoe cubby. How you arrange your shoes can also save space: You can fit more pairs on a shelf when you position each shoe facing the opposite direction. Try some cubbies to help keep everything tidy.

Designer Ariene Bethea's bedroom features a fun bedspread and wild Etsy bolsters. The mannequin and mirror give it a swanky dressing room vibe. Plan out and display outfits with a mannequin or use it as a makeshift coat rack. It's a pretty way to stay organized in an open space like a bedroom when your closet is too small. A vintage or antique-inspired option is the way to go.

For anyone whose tiny closet is already packed to the brim or who doesn't even have a closet to begin with, a freestanding clothing rack is a lifesaver. Besides, since your wardrobe is exposed, it'll force you to keep your clothes nice and organized instead of in an avalanche pile in the closet.

Shoes can take up a lot of precious space in the closet, so why not designate a separate storage area in another room for them? Here, Amanda Reynal incorporates shelving into a bench in the entryway for extra storage that clears up space in the bedroom. Plus, it makes it easier to enforce a no-shoes inside rule.

Build extra storage over the bed! This is especially smart if you have high ceilings and can afford to use more of your vertical space without eating into useable floor room. Designed by Studio DIIA, the exposed shelf houses books, the upper cabinets corral linens, and the closet across from the bed stores clothing.

A wall unit like this one creates both a shelf for accessories and a place to hang coats and bags. Designer Tom Scherer mounted a white shabby chic organizer to the wall to align with the farmhouse style throughout the home.

Flush with the walls, this closet disappears into the primary bedroom designed by Shapeless Studio, providing plenty of clothing storage without infringing upon the living space physically or visually.

If your storage includes glass or wire doors, line them with a pretty fabric. This will hide all your stored clothing and add a little style to your space. You can use velcro to fasten the fabric if you don't know how to sew. We love the floral print designer Anna Spiro chose here to complement the moss green paint.

Thanks to those woven baskets on the top shelves in this closet designed by Gideon Mendelson, we can focus on the beautiful finishes and materials and keep unseasonal items of rarely-used essentials out of sight.

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Stack storage baskets to hold shoes, jewelry, accessories, workout clothes, PJ's, and more somewhere you can reach. You can throw a ton in those bins without making your space look cluttered, as Dorsey Designs did here.

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If you don't have a closet, but you do have a clothing collection, stay organized and polished with custom wall built-ins that store everything behind closed doors. In this bedroom design by Corinne Mathern, the built-ins provide extensive storage and accommodate the irregular ceiling structure. They're also less deep than your typical dresser and armoire—a win for small bedrooms.

If you're cramped on space, place a small dresser and shoe rack beneath your hanging clothes. The top of the dresser can hold accessories, like hats or jewelry, as Sugar and Charm did here.

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Even though shoe organizers are handy for your sneakers, they can also be used for bulky items like sweaters that you don't want to accidentally stretch out on a hanger. Rolling them up into baskets is also a great solution. The canvas ones in this space designed by Regan Baker are a stylish option. Alternatively, you could use a shelf divider to keep stacks intact. The sides let you stack piles higher without fear that your sweaters will just topple over and end up on the ground.

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This genius small space solution gets a lot done while taking up as little of the floor as possible. Juan Carretero flanked the bed with two custom, ceiling-high armoires that function as closets, and the niche beneath the built-in sconce functions as a bedside table.

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Store all unseasonal items either under the bed or in hard-to-reach spots in your closet. This bedroom designed by Shari Francis has bonus storage space above the closet, which may not be convenient for everyday items but is perfect for extra suitcases or outerwear.

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A cramped closet means it'll be even harder to find what you're looking for, but you can make it easier by installing a task light. Recessed lights are best when you're trying not to take up any vertical space, but a small sconce or adjacent sconce can also help. In this closet by Les Ensembliers, the nook is equipped with recessed lights.

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