35 Ideas for Better Closet Design and Storage (All Sizes)

Whether you’re optimizing a small closet or designing a dream walk-in, discover clever ideas for any size or style.

Make your space more organized, functional, and appealing with upgrades like smart shelving, better lighting, or even decorative touches.

From budget DIY solutions to planning a boutique-worthy dressing room, explore these versatile closet concepts to perfectly tailor the space to your wardrobe and home’s style.

First Things First, Purge Your Closet

PinCourtesy of NEAT Method

There’s no point in organizing clothes or accessories you never wear.

Make a donation pile and as you organize, add items you haven’t worn or used in the last year!

Here’s a great example of a minimal collection on display from NEAT Method

Set Up an Area for Accessories

PinMeghan Beierle-O’Brien

Once you’ve chosen your outfit, stride over your dedicated accessory station — complete with handbags in glass-front drawers, a jewelry box and back-lit mirror for admiring the final look.

Build Bars and Shelves With Copper Pipes

PinAmanda Archibald

Here, Stefanie Fabrico of Project Makes Perfect embraces an industrial look with exposed wood walls.

She skips the fancy closet system, creating shelves and clothing rods with copper pipe, instead.

Store Sneakers in Acrylic Bins

PinThe Curated Dwelling

Sneakerheads need to adopt this organization method from The Curated Dwelling: Store sneakers in clear, stackable boxes to protect them from dust and moisture.

Not to mention, it’s easy to see where everything is.

Label Bins for Small Items

PinCourtesy of NEAT Method

Tuck smaller items, like belts, gloves, scarves, socks or underwear into storage solutions, just as NEAT Method does in these decorative wood bins.

Add labels to stay organized as you dress.

Hang Double Rods

PinMeghan Beierle-O’Brien

Double up the curtain rods to maximize vertical space in your closet and avoid overcrowding.

Here, LA Closet Design hangs long-sleeve shirts and jackets up top and short-sleeve shirts and pants below.

Group Clothing by Color

PinThe Curated Dwelling

No matter how much clothing you own, organizing by color is an easy way to keep track of every garment.

Feel like wearing pink today? You know exactly where to look.

Maximize Vertical Space

PinMadeline Harper

Take storage all the way to the ceiling, just as designer Anastasia Casey of The Interior Collective does in this bright closet.

A built-in system includes rods, open shelves and drawers, then wicker bins are stacked on top — great for seasonal items.

Swap in Matching Hangers

PinCourtesy of Organize Dwell

Streamline your closet with all matching hangers (personally, I prefer velvet hangers).

Professional organizers Danna Bitton and Shira Rom Bitton of Organize Dwell group like items, so it’s easy to find exactly what you need.

Use Dividers for Handbags

PinMeghan Beierle-O’Brien

Adjustable clear shelf dividers (which are super affordable on Amazon) instantly refresh this walk-in closet and give each purse a home.

Added bonus? This setup will also help your handbags keep their shape.

Use a Mix of Storage Solutions

PinCourtesy of Urban Organyze

For a newborn baby, Laura Kinsella of Urban OrgaNYze installs clothing racks, drawers and shelves, then adds various bins to accommodate more than just clothing.

Makeover Must-Haves

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Plan a closet makeover by measuring your current closet to determine hanging requirements and storage needs.

Keep these measurements handy as you shop for bedroom closet organizers. Next, you’ll need to clear everything out of the closet to install the new system.

Now is a good time to evaluate the content of your closet. One of the best ways to organize clothes in a closet is to keep clutter at bay by regularly going through items you can no longer use and donating them to charity.

Double Duty

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While ample closet space is a dream, too much space can be wasted, leaving room for clutter.

On the other hand, finding a place for everything can be challenging in homes where space is at a premium.

The solution for both scenarios? Double up. Determine what other function your bedroom closet can serve, such as a laundry room.

Zoning is key in a dual-purpose space: Clearly distinguish where the closet storage ends and where a new function begins.

Closet Armoire

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Don’t have a lot of closet space? Freestanding armoires or garment racks are perfect for customizable storage space to take the place of a closet.

Although not technically a closet, these savvy pieces can borrow from clever small closet organization ideas.

Here, wire shelving in ready-to-assemble cabinets mimics traditional bedroom closet organizers.

The shelving maximizes storage space and allows for easy organization of foldable garments.

A tiered shelf stores shoes at the bottom of the cabinet, while sweaters and seasonal accessories are placed in baskets on the top shelf.

Squeeze in a Vanity

Pin Studio Peake

Turn a galley-style closet with a window at the far end into a one-stop shop for getting ready with a small vanity table, mirror, and space-saving pouf. 

Studio Peake added color with blush pink walls and green carpeting. Pleated curtains hung from rods at ceiling height can be closed to hide clutter.

Install Glass-Front Doors

Pin Sissy + Marley Interior Design / Photo by Marco Ricca Studio

Make a galley-style closet of any size feel twice as big by adding a mirror at the far end. 

Sissy + Marley Interior Design paired closed clothing storage on one side and a wall of lighted shoe cabinets behind glass doors on the other for a high-end look.

Hang Wallpaper

Pin Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona

Blogger Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona designed and built this DIY primary bedroom closet from plywood.

Then she added a thrifted set of drawers, painted everything bright white, hung illustrated bird-themed wallpaper, and finished with plants and gold accents for a custom look.

Use Vertical Space

Pin Marie Flanigan Interiors

Create a super-organized space by utilizing vertical space. 

Marie Flanigan Interiors maximized storage by installing shelving and drawers all the way up to the ceiling, finishing them all in complementary tones of silver-blue fabric for a cohesive and decorative look.

Mirror the Doors

Pin Erin Williamson Design

Double space in your closet with mirrored doors. 

Erin Williamson Design added mirror panels to this wall of closets that reflect and bounce around the light from the opposite window for a light and airy feel.

Build an Accessories Wall

Pin Marie Flanigan Interiors

If you are a fan of bags and shoes, keep them on display with a dedicated accessories wall outfitted with open storage cubbies. 

Marie Flanigan Interiors finished this accessories wall with crown molding for a polished look, but you can emulate the idea on a budget using freestanding shelving from your favorite Swedish retailer aligned along one wall to create a similar effect.

Remove the Doors

Pin Design by Emily Bowser for Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

Emily Henderson Design left the doors off this small walk-in closet to maximize storage inside.

A three-tiered shoe rack keeps shoes organized while leaving room for the dresser drawers inside to open.

The top shelf in the closet stays tidy thanks to a series of matching fabric bins.

Hang Extra-Wide Shelves

Pin Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Josh Franer

If you live in a studio apartment or loft with limited closet space, turn a blank wall into an open closet that you can style like a boutique. 

Leanne Ford Interiors hung extra-wide open shelving for shoes, jeans, and accessories on either side of the hanging rod, and a double row of shoe storage below.

The space is finished off with a sparkly crystal chandelier for a touch of glam.

Layer Rugs

Pin Studio Peake

Add carpeting or layered rugs in a small walk-in closet to create a soft feel underfoot while adding some pattern and color, like this London space from Studio Peake.

Include a Window Seat

Pin Britt Design Studio

If your closet has a window, add a window seat to give it a dressing room feel. 

Britt Design Studio added an upholstered cushion and throw pillows to make it comfortable.

Add a Sliding Door

Pin Fantastic Frank

Add a glass pane sliding door to a small walk-in closet to define the space while allowing natural light to flow in, like this Scandinavian apartment closet from Fantastic Frank.

If you’d rather keep your closet hidden, swap the glass panes for a wood pocket or barn door.

Add a Jewelry Station

Pin Marie Flanigan Interiors

Make your closet a little more glamorous and practical by carving out space for a jewelry station. 

Marie Flanigan Interiors used the top of a chest of built-in drawers between closets to create a spot for storing jewelry and displaying fresh flowers.

A gilded mirror provides a place to check yourself before you head out into the world.

Style Open Shelves

Pin Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Josh Franer

Create extra storage by adding narrow vertical shelving on the wall outside of your closet.

Add a large leaning floor mirror for a boutique feel, like this space from Leanne Ford Interiors.

Make Every Corner Function

Pin Finding Lovely

Use every inch of space to maximize storage in a smaller closet. 

Finding Lovely multiplied the storage in this small walk-in closet with a combination of hanging rods and open and glass-front shelving, adding labeled storage baskets that hide clutter while making everything easy to find.

Display Your Ties

Pin Marie Flanigan Interiors

Display a rainbow collection of ties on a central rack in an open closet that will make getting dressed easier and more fun, like this space from Marie Flanigan Interiors.

Add a Storage Bench

Pin Marie Flanigan Interiors

Make your closet more functional and comfortable with a small storage bench that will provide seating and place to store items underneath the seat, like this bright blue-and-white space from Marie Flanigan Interiors.

Add a Farmhouse Feel

Pin Liz Marie Blog

Style your closet with the same aesthetic as your interior for a cohesive feel. 

Liz Marie Blog gave her hall linen closet a farmhouse makeover with a fresh coat of white paint, storage baskets for loose items labeled with chalkboard tags, and a back-of-door row of hooks.

There’s even a hamper on wheels to make doing laundry a breeze.

Make It Bespoke

Pin Marie Flanigan Interiors

The beauty of designing your own closet is tailoring it to your wardrobe to create a perfect fit.

Add open storage to keep your most-worn clothing, shoes, and accessories visible and accessible, and plenty of closed storage to hide clutter or off-season items, like this handsome closet from Marie Flanigan Interiors that is finished with a mix of dark stained and painted charcoal wood and brass finishes.

Create a Mini Dressing Room

Pin Casa Watkins Living

Turn a small walk-in closet into a mini dressing room by installing a custom closet organization system made up of open shelving, a row of drawers, and hanging rods of different lengths.

Then add decor touches like a Persian-style runner, a gold-rimmed mirror, and a rattan chair, like this space from Casa Watkins Living.

Try Storage Baskets

Pin Marie Flanigan Interiors

Keep clutter at bay with matching storage baskets in a natural tone. 

Marie Flanigan Interiors filled open closet cubbies with storage baskets to keep clutter at bay and make upper shelving more useful.

Use Freestanding Wardrobes

Pin Design by Candace Mary Interiors / Martin Vecchio Photography

Turn a spare room into a walk-in closet without expensive built-ins with freestanding wardrobes. 

Candace Mary Interiors painted the walls in forest green to match the adjoining primary bedroom.

Tall white wardrobes with Shaker fronts and gold-toned hardware complement a central island with built-in storage.

Get Creative With Wall Hooks

Pin Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona

Make your closet as stylish as your wardrobe with decorative touches like antique doorknobs repurposed as wall hooks for scarves, bags, or hats, like this DIY space from blogger Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona.

Add Labeled Storage Bins

Pin A Beautiful Mess

Keep clutch bags, scarves, and off-season items neatly arranged and easily accessible with inexpensive matching storage baskets and a label maker, like this simple and well organized DIY closet from A Beautiful Mess.

Build an Accessories Closet

Pin Maite Granda

Save room in your clothes closet by outsourcing your accessories and shoes to a smaller space.

Interior designer Maite Granda built a jewel box accessories closet with floor-to-ceiling open shelving and strategic wall mirrors that is lit like a boutique display.

Try a DIY Closet

Pin A Beautiful Mess

If you live in an older home without a closet, DIY an open closet with a dresser, hanging rods, and wall-mounted shelving. 

A Beautiful Mess installed an open closet on either side of a central bedroom window.

A pair of upper shelves with white fabric storage bins keep clutter hidden and blend in with the wall color.

Include Homey Touches

Pin Most Lovely Things

Dedicate a space in your closet to items like small accessories, fragrance, or jewelry.

Back it with wallpaper, hang some art, and add a little LED lamp in the corner for a cozy feel, like this closet from Most Lovely Things.