Real-life tips from two parents who actually found some success organizing our closets...
Closet space is precious—especially when you’re a family of five with small closets and big personalities. We recently took on the not-so-glamorous (but incredibly rewarding) project of reorganizing our closets—and our kids’ too. The result? More breathing room, less stress, and a closet system that finally works with our daily life, not against it.
Whether you're dealing with a single closet in a small apartment or trying to fit a family into tight bedroom storage, here are 7 real, repeatable closet storage fixes we used to make the most of what we’ve got.
1. Use Small Plastic Drawers for Folded Items
We added compact plastic drawer units beneath the hanging space in our closets—nothing fancy, just stackable, low-profile drawers from Amazon. These are perfect for off-season items or bulkier clothes like hoodies, sweaters, gym gear, and lounge clothes.
Why it works:
- Takes advantage of vertical space that usually goes unused
- Keeps folded items out of the way, but still accessible
- Reduces shelf clutter or messy piles
Mine is currently full of all of my hoodies I can't part with just yet and my swimsuits chilling in long term storage until next summer!
2. Double Up Hanging Space with Hanger Extenders
Not a lot of people know about this gem of a hack but in our kids’ closets, where clothes are shorter, we installed hanger extenders that effectively create a double-hanging setup. One rod becomes two, which instantly doubled the usable space for shirts, dresses, or jackets.
Why it works:
- Great for kids or smaller garments
- Super affordable and renter-friendly
- Creates more visibility = fewer “I can’t find it!” meltdowns (mainly me)
Since the kids clothes are so small, even with the extender rod, we actually are able to have plastic drawers in their closets too.
3. Use an Over-the-Door Organizer for Accessories
For my own closet, I added a multi-pocket over-the-door organizer from Amazon to hold shoes, hats, belts, and other random accessories that used to get lost or clutter up the floor.
Why it works:
- Doesn’t take up floor or shelf space
- Keeps smaller items visible and grab-ready
- Turns the door into bonus storage real estate
I'm mildly upset with myself for how long I put off investing in one of these things. If you're anything like me, you'll be glad you got one!
4. Do a Realistic Wardrobe Edit (As a Couple)
Before any fancy products, we started by pulling out the clothes we no longer wear, no longer like, or simply forgot we owned. We donated bags of clothes we’d been holding onto “just in case” or because it was supposedly sentimental (read our article on decluttering sentimental items if you struggle with that!)
The difference was immediate: no more stuffed hangers, no overflowing drawers that don't shut, no more clothes sitting on top of the dresser because it couldn't fit.
How to try it:
- Sort by category: shirts, pants, shorts, underwear etc.
- Ask: “Have I worn this in the last year?”
- Get honest—and kind—with each other. It helps... I chucked like 10 t shirts I know I'll realistically probably never wear because I don't like how I look in them. It felt good!
5. Store Like Items Together (and Label if Needed)
Once we decluttered, we grouped everything by type—shirts in one drawer, shorts, organizer by purpose, in another, and so on. Even in the kids’ drawers, we created simple categories they could follow.
Why it works:
- Easier to find what you need (even for the kids)
- Faster to put away laundry
- Less potential clutter in your bedroom
6. Use Vertical Shelf Dividers for Sweaters or Bags
If your closet has a shelf above the hanging rod like ours, use it like prime real estate. We added a few acrylic shelf dividers to stop things from toppling over—especially sweaters and bags.
Why it works:
- Creates visual zones for different items
- Prevents “clothing avalanches” when pulling something out from tall stacks
- Makes it look and feel more intentional
7. Make It Easy to Maintain
The real win wasn’t just organizing—it’s staying organized. We chose systems that are easy to use and easy to reset, especially for the kids. Low drawers they can reach. Decluttering old clothes YOU KNOW you aint gonna wear. Hanger space that is organized and functional.
Why it works:
- The best system is the one you’ll actually use
- Makes mornings (and laundry time) smoother for everyone
- Less frustration = more peace at home
Bonus idea: Revisit your setup every 3–6 months as seasons change or kids grow.
✨ Final Thoughts: Small Closet, Big Wins
You don’t need a walk-in closet or a professional organizer to make your space work. Sometimes it’s just about editing what you have, making smart swaps, and being realistic about how your family lives day to day. With just a few changes, we turned our crammed, overflowing closets into calm, functional spaces that are—dare I say—nice to look at and easy to use.
