30 Closet Organization Ideas

Streamline your wardrobe with the help of these designer closet organization ideas including floating shelves, storage bins, wall hooks, drawer dividers and more.

Keep in mind: Price and stock could change after publish date, and we may make money from these affiliate links.

By: Maria Conti

Related To:

Shop This Look

Photo By: Sarah Busby

Photo By: Tomas Espinoza

Photo By: Sarah Busby

Photo By: Tomas Espinoza

Photo By: Sarah Busby

Photo By: Alex Deringer and Courtney Cox; 2 Ivy Lane

Photo By: Jeff Mindell; Design by Studio DIY

Photo By: John Woodcock Photography

Photo By: Emily Fazio

Photo By: Sarah Busby

Photo By: Christine Farah Photography

Photo By: REWS Media

Photo By: Derek Trimble

Photo By: Tomas Espinoza

Photo By: Yasmin Murphy

Photo By: Emily Fazio

Photo By: Tomas Espinoza

Photo By: Jared Kuzia Photography

Photo By: Sarah Busby

Photo By: Tomas Espinoza

Photo By: Brian Rozar

Photo By: Heather Talbert Photography

Photo By: Tomas Espinoza

Photo By: Erica Mark Photography

Photo By: Rethink Design Studio

Get Inspired to Organize Your Closet

Every day begins the same: Standing in your closet, looking (read: rummaging) through your clothes for just the right blouse, trousers or T-shirt to throw on before heading off to school, work or play. Eliminate the chaos that comes with a messy closet and set yourself up for success for the day by getting your wardrobe in tip-top shape. From strategic labels and space-saving hangers to shoe storage and high-tech jewelry drawers — we’re covering all the bases and sharing 30 pro tips on organizing every inch of your closet to both meet your needs and create a beautiful, calming environment in one fell swoop. Read on for our favorite tips, tricks and how-tos to transform your closet this weekend.

Get More Ideas: 30 Closet Design Ideas

Down to the Wire

Pull-out wire baskets are mainstays for produce and snack storage in luxury pantries, but allow us to let you in on a little secret: They are just as handy in your primary closet. Fit your closet with rolling wire baskets for folded items you reach for daily such as pajamas, denim and T-shirts. Or, use these open-air drawers to store bulkier accessories like handbags and boots in your wardrobe instead.

Shop Our Favorites: Spark Joy in Your Closet With These Editor-Approved Organizers Under $40

From: Tiffany Brooks

Showcase Your Accessory Collection With Acrylic Bins

Sidestep tangled jewels and scratched sunnies while keeping all your enviable accessories within reach with the help of stackable acrylic accessory organizers. This boutique-worthy closet shelf sets up its owner for success with several acrylic drawer organizers for beaded bracelets, resin earrings, gold medallion necklaces and trendy sunglasses alike.

Shop Our Favorites: 20 Beautiful Storage Solutions That Aren't Eyesores

Invest in Pull-Down Rods

Swap out a few of your standard, stationary clothing rails for these handy pull-down rods. The mobile rod allows you to grab your go-to garments stored on the top row in a flash and, even better? You can use the pull-down clothing rod to air-dry delicates and steam your wrinkled blouses before you head out the door.

Get More Ideas: 20 DIY Clothes Racks and Portable Closets

From: Tiffany Brooks

Install Under-the-Shelf Storage

Maximize the storage space in your modest closet with under-the-shelf storage cubbies. These handy shelves are popular additions for kitchen cabinets for pot lids and plates but work just as well to store your cashmere scarves or stacked sweaters in your primary closet. The best part? You don't need to pull out your toolbox to install under-the-shelf shelves. Just slide them into place on your existing closet shelf, and voila! Enjoy double the storage.

Get More Ideas: 12 Space-Saving Organization Ideas for Small Closets

Streamline Your Shoeboxes

Eliminate visual clutter and bring calming energy to your wardrobe by replacing your vibrant collection of mismatched shoeboxes with a series of uniform linen boxes a la this dreamy designer closet. White floating shelves line the wall from floor to ceiling and host white linen shoeboxes with peek-a-boo windows. The tidy rows and monochromatic, white-on-white approach lend a clean and orderly look to the space that would be impossible if the owner’s pink pumps, strappy sandals and embellished booties were on display.

Shop Our Favorites: 25 Functional and Attractive Shoe Storage Ideas

Color Code Your Clothes

Want to give your closet a Pinterest-worthy makeover without spending a penny? Color code your clothing. Not only will the fruits of your efforts be visually calming and stunning, but color coding your garments makes it exponentially easier to locate your favorite blue blouse or beloved blush dress in seconds. And the sooner you find your favorite frayed-hem jeans, the sooner you can jet off to happy hour with your crew. That's a win-win-win, friend.

Get More Ideas: 6 Tips for Cleaner Clothes

From: HGTV Magazine

Hook Up Your Belts

Between billowing blouses, drapey dresses and chunky knits, it’s all too easy to lose track of your belt collection in your closet. Keep your beloved belts in sight and within reach with a wall-mounted hook rack on the back of your closet door or interior closet wall. Take cues from this closet with a linear hook rack, or tailor your belt storage to your wardrobe needs with individual hooks.

Plan for the Week Ahead

We see your day-of-the-week undies and raise you these day-of-the-week closet drawers. Streamline your kiddo’s closet and set them up for the upcoming week in one fell swoop. Use your handy-dandy label maker to designate a closet drawer or shelf for each day of the week. On laundry day, put away their clothes and fill each shelf or drawer with an outfit for that day. Not only does this technique make putting away laundry more fun for everyone involved, but having clothes picked out ahead of time will make getting out the door for school or daycare exponentially easier.

Get More Ideas: 10 Creative Ways to Use a Label Maker

From: J&J Design Group

Label Like Items

Not sure if the day-of-the-week technique will work for your little one? Here’s another way to put your label maker to work: Create custom labels for your closet drawers. This kid’s closet dresser takes the guesswork out of putting clothes away on laundry day with crisp, easy-to-read stickers for socks, shirts and pajamas. Recreate these labels for your tot’s wardrobe or take the same approach for your primary closet as a gentle reminder for your partner about where things belong.

Get More Ideas: 21 Ways to Organize Your Kid's Closet

From: Emily Fazio

Treat Yourself to Velvet Hangers

If you’ve reached the point where you're unsure whether you have space to hang one more garment in your closet – we’ve got good news. You can make space for new trousers and tops by replacing bulky plastic hangers with thin, velvet counterparts. We’re big fans of velvet hangers because they save space and grip clothing for secure storage between wears. In other words? You won’t walk into your closet and find your prized party dress bundled up on the floor, covered in dog hair, ever again.

Shop Our Favorites: The Best Clothes Hangers of 2023

Savvy Baby Shoe Storage

Baby shoes are the cutest little things. The key word here: little. It’s oh-so-easy to lose one baby ballet flat into the abyss of your nursery closet without the proper storage in place. Our solution? Store your baby’s shoe collection on slide-out shelves fitted with metal or acrylic guard rails, as seen in this whimsical pink nursery. Choosing a flat rolling shelf instead of a shoe rack or door organizer makes it easier to keep track of their sneakers and sandals collection, while the guard rail prevents the lightweight footwear from tumbling onto the floor every time you get them dressed for the day.

Get More Ideas: Easy Ways to Improve Your Nursery Closet's Organization

From: Vanessa Antonelli

Take Your Shoe Collection to New Heights

We all have our vices, and if footwear happens to be one of yours, this closet organization idea is for you. Showcase your stilettos and sneakers by installing a floor-to-ceiling shelving unit to a spare wall in your closet. Pro tip: Use adjustable-height shelves to make room for your tall boots during the fall and winter.

Get More Ideas: 34 Ways to Store Shoes in Your Closet

Bookend Your Sweaters

Stacked sweaters tend to sag and slouch when left to their devices. Prevent the messy knit pile with a pair of bookends. Metal bookends support your sweater collection for a polished, store-worthy display. Bonus: Bookends come in every finish and silhouette imaginable, so you can treat yourself to a set that plays well with your interior design style.

Get More Ideas: Common Closet Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Guard Your Goodies

Keep your baubles safe from burglars (or your fashion-obsessed teenager who treats your closet as their personal boutique) with a built-in drawer safe. This streamlined sliding drawer is lined with black velvet and fitted with acrylic dividers, making it easy for owners to locate rings, earrings and more. A smart lock system keeps the drawer, and all the glittering goodies within it, securely in place while owners are away. Work with your closet designer to install a similar system in your custom wardrobe, or buy a cabinet lock kit for one of your existing drawers or dressers.

Shop Our Favorites: The Best Home Security Systems for Every Budget

From: Tiffany Brooks

Put Ties on a Slide

It’s hard to play eeny-meeny-miny-moe with your ties before work if half of your collection remains sandwiched between your suit jackets and slacks in the back of your closet. Take notes from this streamlined closet and install a slide-out pegged tie rack to make choosing your neckwear the easiest part of your morning routine.

Get More Ideas: 25 Ways to Maximize Storage in Your Walk-In Closet

From: Tiffany Brooks

Organize by Age

It’s true what they say: Babies don’t keep. Your little one will grow out of their precious onesies and bloomers in the blink of an eye, so it’s always a good idea to have backup clothes on deck to keep them cozy as they evolve. Another good idea? Organize said clothes by age, so you can keep track of what items you have (or lack!) as your little one approaches their new sizes. Invest in a set of clothing rack size dividers and use them to separate their clothes by month.

Get More Ideas: Baby Closet Organizers and Dividers

Or Organize by Size

Eventually, your little one will age out of the monthly size dividers, but don’t worry — we’ve got an organization hack that people of all ages can appreciate. Use your label maker to organize your denim and bottoms based on size. Tweens and teens are ever-evolving, and providing them with various size options will help them find their perfect fit before heading out the door for school. Adults fluctuate, too, and creating sections based on sizes will make locating your beloved movie-night sweatpants or date-night jeans a breeze.

From: Emily Fazio

Create a Grab-and-Go Station

Add open-air shelves by your closet door for your daily finishing touches. This open-air shelf provides parking for the owner’s work bag, worn-to-perfection blue jeans and baseball hat collection. Fill your grab-and-go station with your current purse or tote bag, sunglasses, folded essentials and go-to shoe of the moment.

Shop Our Favorites: The Best Closet Systems for Walk-Ins, Reach-Ins and Spaces Without One

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Maximize Storage Space With Floating Shelves

Working with limited square footage? Maximize the vertical wall space available to you with floating closet shelves. This walk-in closet boasts six oak floating shelves that provide open-air storage for folded tops, denim and booties. Wire-grid bins and woven baskets add beauty and interest to the closet design while corralling smaller items and accessories on the shelves.

Shop Our Favorites: 13 Best Floating Shelves for Every Room in the House

From: Kristina Crestin

Hang Your Scarves

You’re bound to forget about your scarves when they’re buried out of sight in a bin at the back of your closet. Take your outfits to the next level and bring your pretty, printed scarves to the forefront of your wardrobe with a handy scarf hanger like this little number. The space-saving design has plenty of loops to hold all your flowing neckwear in one easy-to-reach place.

Shop Our Favorites: 10 Genius Products for Hard-to-Organize Things

Invest in Adjustable Shelving

Your clothing, shoes and accessories evolve with the seasons, so why not build a closet that follows suit? Equip your built-in wardrobe or closet system with adjustable-height storage shelves. Take advantage of this thoughtful feature; raise and lower your shelves to accommodate your knee-high winter boots, cascading spring dresses and summer hat stacks as needed.

Get More Ideas: Closet Organization: Easy DIY Closet Shelves

From: Tiffany Brooks

Create a Catchall Corner

No mudroom? No problem. Create a catchall corner for your daily grab-and-go accessories and outwear in your walk-in closet. Install a wall rack with hooks for your handbags and totes, plus your most-loved outwear items like denim jackets, hats or scarves. Nestle a narrow cushion-topped bench or pouf below the wall racks to add comfy seating for tying your laces or fastening a bracelet.

Shop Our Favorites: Shop Storage and Organization Products from HGTV Urban Oasis 2021

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Makeshift Drawers

Turn your existing open-air closet shelves into makeshift drawers with the help of a few acrylic trays. We love this technique because it corrals like items together and makes them easily accessible by sliding the tray forward (or off the shelf completely) so you can sift through your goods freely to find the item you’re looking for. This glamorous closet provides the blueprint with four transparent trays filled with knit hats, gloves and folded scarves.

Shop Our Favorites: 12 Organization Essentials to Transition Your Closet From Summer to Fall

From: Kayla Dane

Shop Your Home for Storage

While built-in closet systems are fantastic, they tend to be pretty pricey. One of our go-to ways to add storage to reach or walk-in closets on the cheap is by tucking a dresser, nightstand or console table into the space. You can bring home a vintage piece from your local thrift store for a fraction of the cost of a custom closet unit. Another idea? Shop your home and move a chest you already own into the space, and put all the money you save towards more clothes.

Shop Our Favorites: The Best Dressers Under $500

Go Vertical

Reach-in closets can be tricky to organize — especially with shoes. Before you pile your pumps under your bed to collect dust (or worse, meet their fate as a chew toy), invest in a hanging shoe rack. A hanging organizer offers ample storage for shoes, clutches and more without cluttering your closet floor. Plus, these dangling cubbies make finding your favorite pair of sneakers easy. You know, without getting down on your knees and using your phone as a flashlight to locate them.

Shop Our Favorites: 15 Ways to Organize a Small Closet for Less Than $50

Park Your Purses

Keep your wallets, clutches and cosmetic pouches looking neat and tidy between wears with clear plastic storage cubbies. This tri-slotted Lucite cubby provides a structural parking spot for the bags and creates a crisp visual on the shelves. Add a similar acrylic organizer to your closet shelves or the top of your dresser.

From: Kayla Dane

Install Drawer Organizers

Are you tired of opening your closet drawer and being greeted by a disheveled mountain of T-shirts? Calm the chaos once and for all with drawer dividers. The budget-friendly addition will elevate your organization game tenfold and set the tone for tidiness each time you get dressed for the day. Drawer organizers are available in endless configurations, including the column option pictured here and grid-style variations for storing socks and underwear.

Shop Our Favorites: 11 Best Drawer Organizers for Every Room

From: Kayla Dane

Fill the Gaps

Maximize every square inch of storage space in your modest closet. Yes, including the awkward gap between your closet drawers or wall unit and the floor. Take cues from this orderly primary closet and fill the available floor space with your sneakers, sandals and boots. Lining your closet perimeter with shoes sets the tone for tidiness and gives you an idea of what footwear you're working with as you get dressed for the day.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Take Your Shoes for a Spin

Go ahead and add this lazy Susan shoe rack to your closet vision board. The savvy vertical shelving brings the boutique to the ‘burbs and maximizes the storage space for the owners' flourishing footwear collection. Install a similar rotating rack in the corner of your walk-in closet to start each day on the right foot.

Get More Ideas: How to Use a Lazy Susan to Organize Everything in Your House

Lean on Linen Boxes

Streamline your closet shelves and achieve an elegant, boutique-style appeal by employing lidded linen storage boxes. This dreamy primary closet shows how, with a collection of six chambray boxes lining the open shelving to hide away owner’s silk scarves, cashmere pashminas and more. Take cues from this space and invest in a set of linen boxes in a single neutral color to achieve a cohesive, calm effect in your closet.

Shop Our Favorites: The Best Storage Containers for Every Room, According to Professional Organizers

From: Rethink Design Studio

30 Closet Organization Ideas

Related To:

Shop This Look

Get Inspired to Organize Your Closet

Down to the Wire

Showcase Your Accessory Collection With Acrylic Bins

Invest in Pull-Down Rods

Install Under-the-Shelf Storage

Streamline Your Shoeboxes

Color Code Your Clothes

Hook Up Your Belts

Plan for the Week Ahead

Label Like Items

Treat Yourself to Velvet Hangers

Savvy Baby Shoe Storage

Take Your Shoe Collection to New Heights

Bookend Your Sweaters

Guard Your Goodies

Put Ties on a Slide

Organize by Age

Or Organize by Size

Create a Grab-and-Go Station

Maximize Storage Space With Floating Shelves

Hang Your Scarves

Invest in Adjustable Shelving

Create a Catchall Corner

Makeshift Drawers

Shop Your Home for Storage

Go Vertical

Park Your Purses

Install Drawer Organizers

Fill the Gaps

Take Your Shoes for a Spin

Lean on Linen Boxes

Hall Closet Organization and Design Ideas

55 Easy Garage Storage Ideas for Instant Organization 56 Photos

Common Closet Mistakes and How to Fix Them 16 Photos

Stop Household Clutter: 50 Things to Get Rid of Right Now 51 Photos

15 Ways to Organize a Small Closet for Less Than $50

40 Clever Ways to Clean Up and Organize Your Laundry Room 40 Photos

Related Pages