Wardrobe storage ideas – 17 ways to keep your closet neat, organised and easily accessible

Keeping your closet neat and tidy is crucial to keeping your clothes organised and easy to reach for whenever you need them. And without clever wardrobe storage ideas, your closet will likely turn into a cluttered, overflowing mess where you won’t be able to find anything and as a result, will likely even forget you own certain items – because what’s out of sight (and reach) is also out of mind.

From tips on how and where to store certain items to the best organisation buys, these bedroom storage ideas are sure to make your life and getting dressed in the morning a whole lot easier. And while the specifics of your wardrobe storage and organisational system will vary from person to person, depending on your lifestyle and needs, there are certain things that apply in pretty much every situation, whether you’re working with fitted wardrobe ideas or small bedroom storage.

Wardrobe storage ideas

First and foremost, before you get any form of wardrobe storage and organisers, you should start with decluttering your bedroom and closet to see how much space you actually need to create for your belongings.

‘The hard fact is, to maximise your wardrobe storage, you first need to face the reality of how much clothing you have versus the space available,’ says Laura Haddy, founder of Clear The Chaos Ltd and APDO member. ‘Wardrobes can only hold so much, so be realistic. Once you've edited your collection, focus on accessibility. Make sure you're utilising every inch of space smartly – from long-hanging areas to shelves and even the often-ignored wardrobe doors.’

1. Go for space-saving hangers

If there’s one thing that all of the professional organisers agree on when it comes to wardrobe storage, it’s to use slimline hangers because they will end up saving you a whole lot of space.

‘Look at the hangers you use,’ says Siân Pelleschi, founder of Sorted! and APDO president. ‘I regularly recommend these Amazon hangers because they are slimline and provide easy access for hanging most things. Additionally, having all the same hangers means that the aesthetics of the wardrobe improves and it’s easier to see what you have. When you have a mish-mash of hangers of varying sizes and thickness you can lose valuable hanging space and equally struggle to find what you need as easily when there’s no uniformity to the space.’

Victoria Fearnley, founder of Surrey Decluttering and APDO member, adds, ‘Slim, non-slip (velvet) hangers will also create more room compared to bulky wooden or plastic ones. Space-saving hangers, like velvet or cascading hangers, allow you to hang multiple items vertically, maximising the space.’

2. Add under-shelf inserts

Customising your wardrobe by adding shelves and hanging rods should be a priority. But if you don’t have that option or find that you still have a bit of free vertical space in between shelves, you can utilise it by adding an under-shelf storage unit.

‘There are also under-shelf “inserts” that can easily be added if you can’t change the configuration of your current wardrobes to create more storage from “dead space” within your wardrobe,’ Victoria at Surrey Decluttering says.

3. Put out-of-season clothes into vacuum bags

Keeping only your wardrobe for the current season in your closet is the best approach to wardrobe storage. It makes getting dressed all the easier and it means that your winter coats are not just sitting in your wardrobe collecting dust during spring and summer. Instead, safely store them away which will allow you to make space in your closet and protect your clothes when not in use.

‘Vacuum storage bags are ideal for storing out of season clothes,’ says Nicola Fraser, founder of Organised Living With Nicola and APDO member. ‘Just be careful what you pack in them as I wouldn't recommend them for all clothing. For example, they’re not suitable for fur items and down jackets.’

Victoria at Surrey Decluttering agrees, ‘For seasonal clothing, vacuum storage bags are a game-changer – especially handy for compressing bulky items like winter coats.’

4. Keep bulkier items at the bottom

If you’re wondering what to put at the bottom of your wardrobe, then the best thing to do is to reserve it for some of the larger, heavier and bulkier items, rather than making it a dumping ground for anything and everything that you don’t know what to do with.

‘The bottom of a wardrobe is perfect for storing heavy, bulky, or less frequently used items. Shoes can be neatly organised on a shoe rack or in clear bins for easy access and visibility. You can also use storage boxes or baskets for seasonal items like sweaters or blankets. This lower section is also ideal for larger, hard-to-fold items like bags or purses. By keeping bulkier items at the bottom, you free up prime, eye-level space for everyday clothing, making your wardrobe more functional and organised,’ Victoria at Surrey Decluttering says.

5. Customise your wardrobe interior

Make your bedroom wardrobe idea work for you, by tailoring the interior to suit your specific needs. Customisable fittings give greater flexibility than a standard wardrobe - you can choose exactly how many rails, shelves, drawers or storage baskets you want - and are a less-pricey alternative to bespoke, built-in wardrobes.

Work out a combination that suits your clothes. If you don’t have many longer items, save space by combining a hanging rail with drawers or shelf storage underneath. Or if you have lots of jumpers and jeans, include some shelves or cubbyhole storage.

6. Use dividers to separate shelf space

Make better use of shelf space inside a wardrobe with neat plastic dividers to separate stacks of clothes. Bulky items like sweaters and denim jeans can take up a lot of drawer space, but stacking them in piles makes them easier to access. Thicker items fold easily and won’t crease or lose their shape when stacked in a pile

7. Use the doors for space-conscious storage

A great smart small bedroom idea is to seek storage in every available space. The storage capacity of this standard wardrobe is maximised by a smart door hanger which provides extra space for all manner of accessories that threaten to clutter a bedroom. This example shows how in a child's bedroom even the toys can be tidied away, hidden out of sight by hanging them on the back of the door.

8. Stack shoes so they’re super-easy to find

Fit twice as many shoes in the same space with these clever stackers. One shoe sits on top of the plastic holder and the other one slots in below - with both shoes stored together, it makes pairs easier to find too.

9. Organise smalls with adjustable dividers

Small items like underwear, tights and socks can get jumbled up and in a tangle if everything is shoved into one drawer. These clever drawer organisers simply slide apart to fit the drawer size (so will work with any drawer) and can be used to section off the contents so you can find what you’re looking for more easily.

10. Utilise every inch with stackable storage

Space at the bottom of a wardrobe often gets forgotten about. Separate short and longer-hanging pieces so you can access floor space more easily, then invest in stacking boxes that can be arranged to fit like these SONGMICS shoe boxes at Amazon. Clear boxes allow you to see what’s inside at a glance and are great for storing shoes or knitwear.

11. Avoid tangled accessories

Keep a collection of scarves, belts or jewellery in order with this multi-use hanger that can be hooked on a clothes rail. Taking up less space than a standard hanger, it has a series of loops where you can hang all manner of accessories to save them getting tangled.

12. Use clear boxes so you can see what's inside

Make use of wasted space at the top of a wardrobe with these sturdy plastic stackable crates. Great for bulky items or out of season clothes, the see-through plastic lets you see what’s inside, while the lids clip securely shut to keep clothes moth-free.

13. Fill awkward gaps with stacking cubbies

These stackable wardrobe organisers allow you to utilise all the available space inside a wardrobe and are a great way of filling any gaps or awkward spaces that might otherwise go unused.

Ideal for shirts or knitwear, ventilated sides allow air to circulate, plus they have slide rails at the bottom (like a drawer) so you can pull them out individually.

14. Slot in a hanging shelf

If you’ve plenty of hanging space but could use a few more shelves, try this space-saving fabric hanging rack. With six compartments, it will give extra storage for folded items, like knitwear or jeans, but folds away easily when not needed.

15. Organise wardrobe hanging space

Make more space inside your wardrobe by organising a system. Hang clothes in categories, then within that by sleeve length and colour for easy visibility. Position items worn often in a prominent, easy-to-reach spot, with those you wear less often (such as heavy jumpers) at the top of the wardrobe.

16. Store and hide the TV in a wardrobe

Who said a bedroom wardrobe is purely for clothes? Fitted wardrobes act as the perfect place to conceal a TV, because lets be honest a television doesn't add anything to the style credentials of a bedroom decor – it's best hidden.

17. Use baskets to maximise space

A free-standing wardrobe will have valuable storage space if you use the top. Baskets on top of a wardrobe provide the perfect place to store clothes, towels or spare bedding. Matching baskets throughout your bedroom scheme will create a cohesive look that keeps your sleep space looking neat and tidy.

A coordinating peg rail will provide extra space to hang towels or plan your next day outfits – like a stylist would.

FAQs

What is the best way to organise a wardrobe?

'Get into good habits,' advises professional organiser Vicky Silverthorn, from You Need A Vicky, her own professional organising service. 'Put clothes away at the end of the day. Make sure everything has a home - if you have to question where this is, then it’s not obvious or practical enough.'

'Tidy in stages. Re-organising a whole wardrobe takes time to do properly - pulling everything out in one go can be overwhelming. Tackling it a rail, a drawer or a section at a time is much more manageable.'

How do you store clothes with little space?

To store clothes with little space you need to be smart with your solutions. Vicky advises, 'Fold items in a practical way that suits the space. The higher a pile, the more likely it is to tumble, so aim for shorter piles folded well. Fold to a standard you can keep up - there’s no point folding socks in neat squares if you know you won’t bother to do it.'

These tips along with keeping on top of what actually goes into your wardrobe and regularly decluttering will ensure that your closet stays nice and organised.