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12 Ways to Find More Storage Space in Your Wardrobe
Max the efficiency of your wardrobe – and look out for clever alternative storage options – to make the most of a tiny closet
A small bedroom will only have space for a small wardrobe, but unless you’re ready to radically cull your clothes, chances are you’ll still need a good amount of storage. Luckily, limited wardrobe space does not have to spell bedroom chaos.
The trick is to first encourage your closet to work harder with clever additions, such as two-tier rails and good lighting. Then seek out additional storage options that can be used around the bedroom and beyond to take the pressure off your wardrobe space. Read on for 12 easy ideas.
The trick is to first encourage your closet to work harder with clever additions, such as two-tier rails and good lighting. Then seek out additional storage options that can be used around the bedroom and beyond to take the pressure off your wardrobe space. Read on for 12 easy ideas.
2. Go bespoke
A well-made fitted wardrobe could double – or more – your clothes storage space. Fit it into a small alcove and go right to the ceiling to really maximise available space, as in this room by Golden Design. Have the interior tailor-made to perfectly contain your clothes with a mixture of hanging space, shelves, baskets, hooks and more.
Paint it to blend in with the walls and it will almost disappear when not in use.
Easily find and hire a local interior designer on Houzz.
A well-made fitted wardrobe could double – or more – your clothes storage space. Fit it into a small alcove and go right to the ceiling to really maximise available space, as in this room by Golden Design. Have the interior tailor-made to perfectly contain your clothes with a mixture of hanging space, shelves, baskets, hooks and more.
Paint it to blend in with the walls and it will almost disappear when not in use.
Easily find and hire a local interior designer on Houzz.
3. Mix storage styles
Now take a look at the storage options within your wardrobe. Often, a single rail and a shelf are all that’s on offer. Improve on this by working in a combination of drawers or boxes, shelves and rails, as in these cupboards in a project by Wells and Maguire.
Open-top bins and shelves are ideal for storing jumpers and delicate items, while old shoeboxes can be used to hold small accessories, such as belts. Try labelling each box to help you readily find what you need.
Also consider adding small hooks to the inside of your wardrobe – ideal for ties and scarves. Look for a set of hooks on a sliding mechanism for easy access.
Now take a look at the storage options within your wardrobe. Often, a single rail and a shelf are all that’s on offer. Improve on this by working in a combination of drawers or boxes, shelves and rails, as in these cupboards in a project by Wells and Maguire.
Open-top bins and shelves are ideal for storing jumpers and delicate items, while old shoeboxes can be used to hold small accessories, such as belts. Try labelling each box to help you readily find what you need.
Also consider adding small hooks to the inside of your wardrobe – ideal for ties and scarves. Look for a set of hooks on a sliding mechanism for easy access.
4. Fit two-tier rails
When it comes to making the most of wardrobe space, two rails are often better than one, as demonstrated in this storage space by Bergamot Interiors.
Could you move your standard rail higher and slot in another below? Creating two layers of hanging space literally doubles your storage.
When it comes to making the most of wardrobe space, two rails are often better than one, as demonstrated in this storage space by Bergamot Interiors.
Could you move your standard rail higher and slot in another below? Creating two layers of hanging space literally doubles your storage.
5. Let there be light
Lighting the inside of your wardrobe may seem like an indulgence, but it helps the available storage space to work more efficiently. This design, by architecture firm Martins Camisuli, shows how effective it can be: if you can see into every corner, you can access clothes more easily and keep your closet neat.
Ideally, get this built into fitted wardrobes when if you’re having some professionally made. If that’s not an option, you could retrofit an existing wardrobe with a simple clip-on, battery-powered light to illuminate the darkest recesses.
Lighting the inside of your wardrobe may seem like an indulgence, but it helps the available storage space to work more efficiently. This design, by architecture firm Martins Camisuli, shows how effective it can be: if you can see into every corner, you can access clothes more easily and keep your closet neat.
Ideally, get this built into fitted wardrobes when if you’re having some professionally made. If that’s not an option, you could retrofit an existing wardrobe with a simple clip-on, battery-powered light to illuminate the darkest recesses.
6. Hang curtains in place of doors
Soft, billowing curtains are more forgiving than doors and will easily cover any protruding boxes or bulky clothes that could obstruct a conventional solid door, allowing you to store more.
In addition, curtains free up the wall where a wardrobe door would swing, so you can make use of the space around the wardrobe, too.
Soft, billowing curtains are more forgiving than doors and will easily cover any protruding boxes or bulky clothes that could obstruct a conventional solid door, allowing you to store more.
In addition, curtains free up the wall where a wardrobe door would swing, so you can make use of the space around the wardrobe, too.
7. Add some hooks
Hooks are a brilliant storage solution: cheap to buy, easy to put up, and capable of fitting into small pockets of underused space, such as behind a door or in an alcove.
Use them to permanently store clothes or as a handy way to keep frequently worn items to hand. Try to keep a few hooks empty, so you can hang tomorrow’s outfit on them or use them when having a quick tidy.
Hooks are a brilliant storage solution: cheap to buy, easy to put up, and capable of fitting into small pockets of underused space, such as behind a door or in an alcove.
Use them to permanently store clothes or as a handy way to keep frequently worn items to hand. Try to keep a few hooks empty, so you can hang tomorrow’s outfit on them or use them when having a quick tidy.
8. Max vertical space
Freestanding wardrobes rarely reach right to the ceiling, so slot baskets or boxes on top to create additional storage.
In this Rebecca Hayes Interiors-designed bedroom, you’ll note that the baskets are just the right size, match each other, and tie in with the natural wood details in the scheme. Keep out-of-season or rarely worn items here, reserving the wardrobe rails for things you choose frequently.
Freestanding wardrobes rarely reach right to the ceiling, so slot baskets or boxes on top to create additional storage.
In this Rebecca Hayes Interiors-designed bedroom, you’ll note that the baskets are just the right size, match each other, and tie in with the natural wood details in the scheme. Keep out-of-season or rarely worn items here, reserving the wardrobe rails for things you choose frequently.
9. Squeeze in some storage boxes
Create some overflow clothes storage with boxes and trunks, as seen in this bedroom by Making Spaces. These work well for bulkier items, such as jumpers and outdoor wear, as well as workout or sports kits.
Create some overflow clothes storage with boxes and trunks, as seen in this bedroom by Making Spaces. These work well for bulkier items, such as jumpers and outdoor wear, as well as workout or sports kits.
10. Put up a peg rail
This is a very Shaker idea and boosts the functionality of the whole room, not just its wardrobe. It can also look beautiful, too – don’t you just love the effect in this bedroom designed by Jo Shore?
Use a peg rail for storing clothes, but also objects. Hang brushes, mirrors, pictures, belts and ties from the rail to squeeze more storage and value from your walls.
This is a very Shaker idea and boosts the functionality of the whole room, not just its wardrobe. It can also look beautiful, too – don’t you just love the effect in this bedroom designed by Jo Shore?
Use a peg rail for storing clothes, but also objects. Hang brushes, mirrors, pictures, belts and ties from the rail to squeeze more storage and value from your walls.
11. Exploit the space under a bed
Take the pressure off your wardrobe by making the most of dead space under the bed. Invest in storage that can be wheeled out, so you can use this space all year round for clothes storage. Or simply keep this season’s pieces in the wardrobe and store those items you won’t wear again for a few months under the bed for later in the year.
Take the pressure off your wardrobe by making the most of dead space under the bed. Invest in storage that can be wheeled out, so you can use this space all year round for clothes storage. Or simply keep this season’s pieces in the wardrobe and store those items you won’t wear again for a few months under the bed for later in the year.
12. Look beyond the bedroom
Portable clothes rails or an ingenious hanging rail like this one can be slotted into a space outside of your bedroom to supply useful additional storage. Look for pockets of underused space on the landing, in a spare bedroom or even on the stairs.
Tell us…
How do you make sure your wardrobe works hard? Share your tips and photos in the Comments.
Portable clothes rails or an ingenious hanging rail like this one can be slotted into a space outside of your bedroom to supply useful additional storage. Look for pockets of underused space on the landing, in a spare bedroom or even on the stairs.
Tell us…
How do you make sure your wardrobe works hard? Share your tips and photos in the Comments.
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The first step to creating more wardrobe space is to declutter. Take everything out and sort through your clothes, accessories and shoes, giving anything you haven’t worn for a year or can’t fit into anymore to charity or recycling.