11 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 will 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 11 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 11 easy ideas.
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.
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.
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.
Fit two-tier rails
When it comes to making the most of wardrobe space, two rails are often better than one. 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. Could you move your standard rail higher and slot in another below? Creating two layers of hanging space literally doubles your storage!
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. If you can see into every corner, you can access clothes more easily and keep your closet neat. Retrofit a 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. If you can see into every corner, you can access clothes more easily and keep your closet neat. Retrofit a wardrobe with a simple clip-on, battery-powered light to illuminate the darkest recesses.
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.
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.
Check out 11 ways to avoid a ‘floordrobe’ in your bedroom
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.
Check out 11 ways to avoid a ‘floordrobe’ in your bedroom
Max vertical space
Freestanding wardrobes rarely reach right to the ceiling, so slot baskets or storage boxes on top to create additional storage. Keep out-of-season or rarely worn items here, reserving the wardrobe rails for things you wear frequently.
Freestanding wardrobes rarely reach right to the ceiling, so slot baskets or storage boxes on top to create additional storage. Keep out-of-season or rarely worn items here, reserving the wardrobe rails for things you wear frequently.
Squeeze in some storage boxes
Create some overflow clothes storage with boxes and trunks. These work well for bulkier items, such as jumpers and outdoor wear, as well as workout or sports kits.
Discover 10 more ways to boost your bedroom storage
Create some overflow clothes storage with boxes and trunks. These work well for bulkier items, such as jumpers and outdoor wear, as well as workout or sports kits.
Discover 10 more ways to boost your bedroom storage
Put up a peg rail
This is a very Shaker idea and boosts the functionality of the whole room, not just its wardrobe. 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. 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.
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.
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 below.
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 below.
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.