What are your favorite closet space-saving tricks? - YouLookFab Forum

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What are your favorite closet space-saving tricks?

sarah

Veteran

Thinking about Angie's post and some of the comments today I realize that I definitely need to undertake a DIY closet makeover for the closet that my husband and I share in our small, old house. We have a lot of unused wall space that is quite high, so I'm trying to think creatively about using the space.

What are your favorite tricks for most efficiently using limited closet space? Photos welcome!

General

23 replies

Latest reply was from JewelryGirl

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I have baskets for the gloves and hats that winter demands - I pull down a basket and dig through for whatever cold weather gear I need that day. (it appears one is turned on it's side in this pic - oops!) I put purses that I admit I never use in the other, along with waitress aprons and such. I also love my belt/purse rack! I think it was meant for ties, but it's a great space saver layed flush against a door, rather than hung up like a regular hanger.

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lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I have a dollarama over-the-door hanger for my belts

Fruitful

Veteran

Velvet hangers! More clothes fit, and they don't fall off either. I love them!

MNsara

Veteran

Those slim, velvet hangers like Fruitful said. But they must all be in the same color

I also AM a believer in removing items that are clearly out of season. There's lots of summery items I would NEVER wear all winter and vice versa, so I Rubbermaid those.

Queen Mum

Veteran

every week, inch the middle divider of the closet over just an inch... hubby won't notice and you'll gain more space

sarah

Veteran

Sara - I'm also a rubbermaider - I am 100% certain I will not be wearing my cut-off shorts in January, so to the basement they go...

Kim - my husband has started doing it right back at me - in fact, he's started overlapping me (his end of the closet is farthest from the door, which, unfortunately, is at one end of the closet. I guess I knew he was smart when I married him...

Queen Mum

Veteran

gasp! the nerve of him!

Louise

Veteran

Kim fab idea hehehe

I have plastic shoe boxes in the bottom of my wardrobe so I can stack shoes up
Scarves and belts are stored on over door hangers x

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nancylee

Veteran

I use a hanging rack for my sweaters and heavier scarves, a fabric bulletin board to hang necklaces (I use pins), and a magazine rack for lightweight scarves. They really save space!

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April

Veteran

In a smaller closet used for jackets and dresses, I added more space to store shoes on the floor by putting two tension curtain rods from one end of the closet to the other, one a slightly above and behind the other. Can you picture what I'm saying? The rods are parallel to each other, about six inches off the floor, providing a surface to put shoes on, while more shoes fit on the floor beneath the rods.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Oooohhhh Nancylee - I love the magazine rack for scarves. I am SO stealing that idea!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Keeping things VERY neat and tidy

Training Greg to keep things VERY neat and tidy.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Love that idea for scarves! I think you could do it with a pants rack, too. Stealing!

Jjsloane

Veteran

I installed an Elfa system (Container store) in all the closets in my house. It is amazing. In my closet I have one side with 2 shelves (holding boxes of shoes in clear containers for easy access) and long hanging items with shoe rack on bottom. The other side has top and bottom hanging racks and shelves for sweaters on one side (same top shelves but for purses, jewelry, special lingerie, etc..) and shoe rack on bottom. My necklaces hang on key hooks and I have almost replaced all my hangers with those great slim huggable ones.

Queen Mum

Veteran

I tried the pants rack for scarves and it was always hard to keep them tidy. I bought a wooden hanger with 10 holes in it at the Container Store and I use that for my scarves. I hang necklaces on a tie rack thing.

http://www.containerstore.com/.....#038;N=159

http://www.containerstore.com/.....#038;N=159

I have two 5 tier pants hangers.. one for "nice jeans" and one for "play jeans" This limits me to 5 of each category, which is perfect for me.
http://www.containerstore.com/.....#038;N=144

here is an interesting idea for less worn stuff if you have the wall space
http://www.containerstore.com/.....38;N=64331

now, if you need one of these, you need more clothes
http://www.containerstore.com/.....38;N=64331

Mo

(website)

Veteran

April's makeshift shoe rods reminded me that I have an expandable shoe rack in the Tahoe closet that allows about 15 chunky pairs (and boots) to fit right under shirts.

I also use the tier hangers like QM - 2 for skirts (holds 10 total) and 1 for slacks/pants. I fold the jeans and cords and stack them up on the shelf.

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sarah

Veteran

This is GREAT, ladies. You are giving me all sorts of ideas. I think I must have been living under a rock, because I didn't really know about the container store before now.

Queen Mum

Veteran

OMG--- my heart goes pitter patter just *thinking* about the container store. You must go on a field trip to see all the goodies!

Laurinda

Veteran

Brilliant ideas. I will also be stealing!

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

I need to redo my closet... one of my rods collapsed due to a leaky roof and I've taken over my husband's part of the closet. I would love to get one of those elfa systems.

I'm trying to get my working wardrobe down to a manageable size so I don't have to swap out out of season clothes. I want to be able to see everything all at once. The only exception is sandals. I am going to have to put all of my beloved nude sandals away for winter

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

I have an 80-pocket hanging jewelry organizer that I just put all my necklaces and earrings into--they were sitting in a clear tub and I hadn't worn jewelry in ages. I don't have a lot, but it's nice to be able to see what I have so I can actually wear it.
This is the one I have:
http://www.containerstore.com/.....8;sku=6010
But I came across this one just now while searching online for mine, how cute is this!
Little Black Dress Hanging Jewelry Organizer
http://www.containerstore.com/.....u=10055029

ETA: I also have Elfa in my closet (came that way) which is nice for organizing. I just need to get all the non-clothes stuff (Christmas ornaments, etc) cluttering up my closet out.

Jjsloane

Veteran

Here's mine (tough to photograph since it's narrow) Excuse the mess - in need of a purge.
1 Right side long items (suits, dresses, pants)
2 Left side shelves, shirts, jackets hanging
3 Shoe shelves above

The Container store is my favorite store (after the Rack of course) Awesome customer service too.

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JewelryGirl

LOL - took bonus's one year & built a studio (closet/office) addition on the house I think it ended up being 12 x 14. Basically a big room turned custom made closet with a desk in it. Belts - go rolled up in a flea market find bird cage looking CD rack. Vintage jewelry boxes hold some gems, Quilt Rack holds many scarves. Mini dressers & vintage wire baskets found at flea markets hold misc things - work out clothes, swimwear,scarves, purses, etc. Had a extra large peg rack up at one time for jewelry as well. Need to desperately purge & get into Angie's 1-in:1-out philosophy though! One of these days...