The smallest of small spaces, closets function at their best when you take a practical approach to organizing. If you find that yours barely functions at all, here are a few key maneuvers to make the most out of what’s behind door number one!
1. Assess the Mess: Start by categorizing closet contents as follows: To Keep, To Donate, To Mend, Convert to Rags and Throw Away. Ask yourself, if you haven’t touched it in over a year how likely is that you will? Articles like this are generally not worth holding onto.
2. Think Seasonally: A friend of mine turned me on the idea of a seasonal clothing-swap. Just keep the seasonally appropriate attire in the prime closet real estate, and the rest can be stored away in large zippered market bags and tucked out of sight. These things don’t have to be accessed for months, so why occupy valuable closet space?
3. Shoes, Solved: I cannot express how great it is to have a vertical shoe rack. I just installed one in our main, (and tiny) closet – what a huge difference it makes! You can purchase inexpensive over-the-door models, with metal frames or pocket-action.
4. Note to Shelf: Just because you don’t want to invest in a “Closet System” doesn’t mean you can have a custom shelf or two. You would be surprised how handy it is to have an extra surface running above the top of the rack (leaving enough room for hangers to hook on and off, of course). Yes, it may be a little awkward snaking things up there, so think carefully about the size and function of what is stored. Measure carefully and use the 1$ per-cut service at Home Depot to get the exact shelf you need and install with simple metal brackets. Avoid the temptation of purchasing a floating shelf unless the items you intend to store are super light-weight.
5. Suit your Case: In small apartments, suitcases often end up crowding closets. To save additional space, try nesting them one inside the other, using the most inner case for additional storage. I also find that luggage is particularly ideal for housing guest linens and extra blankets—again, things that are not used on a regular basis.
How do you keep your closets orderly? Share your tips on this Spring-Cleaning-Classic!
(Image: Closets Organizer)
Dirty Little Secrets of Tidy Families
Hillary & Michael's Refined Roost
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Nomade Express Slee...
My Staple Summer Cocktail Recipe: Campari & IPA Spritzer
Recipe: Ham, Cheddar & Chive Egg Bakes
Not all closet systems are expensive. I just did mine for under $200 including all the drawers, paint (closet hadn't been painted in about 20 years), and accessory organizers/drawer dividers.
ELFA from the container store
One of my most common childhood memories was watching my mother swap her winter and summer clothes from her bedroom closet and larger storage closet downstairs. Far from an uncluttering practise, it over the years allowed her the space to accumulate many clothes than she ever wore.
I take out any clothes that don't fit well at the moment, store in plastic bins by size (I tend to fluctuate between three sizes).
My custom closet system for my walk in was money well spent but Lowes (Allen Roth) and Home Depot (Martha Steward) have some great options also.
Velvet hangers also made a huge difference, both costco and ross have options now.
Chrome industrial shelving from Home Depot is also handy & adjustable. For handbags, boxed shoes & jewelry trays. Can also hang things on the shelf using s hooks (I've even got my ironing board hanging using two s hooks).
"doesn’t mean you can have" should be "doesn't mean you can't have a custom shelf or two"
To keep the linen closet visually clutter free - I only buy white towels then interchange them in all the baths ... this way there's no "color clutter" in the closet and I never have to try to match existing towels. (The decorative towels in the bath are washed periodically and hung back up ...)
I have two PAX systems in my tiny studio. It was just under $300 for everything including shelves.
My shoe solution is to only have four pair - running/walking, interview heels, dressy but comfy sandals, and my rock climbing shoes. Voila, space saved. ^_~
Back-of-door shoe organizers are also great for utility closets, to hold miscellaneous small items.
I find that storing suitcases inside each other isn't the most efficient use of space (unless they are made to be stored inside each other which is another cool option by the way). Instead, I follow the "seasonal" clothes advice and store my off-season clothes in them. Yes, it means emptying out the suitcases every time you go on vacation, but it doesn't take long. And I don't go on vacation very often...