Small closets have a weird way of reminding you how much stuff you own every time you try to grab one thing and three others come with it.
Mine have seen everything from lost mittens in the front hall to towels avalanching from a super narrow space.
I’m so thankful that at least our bedroom closets are roomy, but those smaller closets can be a headache if they’re not organized.
So I’ve been figuring out a few simple ways to make my smaller closets feel less chaotic.
I’m not doing anything fancy (or anything that needs power tools), just coming up with real ideas for small closets that I’ve been spotting on Pinterest.
And instead of you having to root around for them, I have them all right here!
Entryway Closets
The entryway closet usually ends up as the catchall for anything that touches the front door.
Coats, backpacks, random shoes that don’t even belong to your family anymore, it all winds up here.
In my house, it’s the first closet to get messy and the last one anyone wants to clean.
But I learned that a little structure goes a long way in here…mostly so you’re not wrestling with a pile of jackets every morning.
1. Add A Shoe Shelf
A little shoe shelf keeps everything from piling up in one giant heap on the floor.
It lets you see what’s actually there instead of digging under coats to find the missing boot.
Even a small one gives you a spot where shoes can land without covering the whole closet.
2. Use Slim Hangers For Coats
Coats take up more room than they need to, so slim hangers help you squeeze in a few extra without the closet feeling stuffed.
So try to stay away from those chunky wooden ones!
It also keeps things looking a bit cleaner, which is nice when this is the first space you open every time you walk in the door.
Nothing fancy, just a simple swap that makes breathing room.
3. Hang A Bag Organizer
Bags always end up on the floor or sitting in a messy pile.
A small organizer on the door or a hook strip keeps them from sliding everywhere.
It also makes it way easier to grab the one you need when you’re running out the door with half your life in your hands.
4. Add A Low Basket For Daily Drop Zone
Everyone has that one thing they drop the second they walk inside: gloves, hats, receipts, random kid stuff.
A low basket catches all of it so the closet doesn’t turn into a scavenger hunt.
It keeps the mess contained and stops it from spreading across the whole entryway.
5. Install Overhead Hooks For Seasonal Gear
The top of the closet sits empty most of the time, so hooks up there are perfect for things you don’t need every day.
Like scarves in summer or umbrellas in winter.
It gets the bulkier stuff out of your way while still giving it a real home instead of the dreaded hallway pile.
Linen Closets
Linen closets love to pretend they’re organized until you pull one towel and the whole stack collapses.
They hold everything from extra sheets to half-empty lotion bottles nobody remembers buying.
It’s a small space that works hard, but it gets cluttered fast.
A few simple tweaks can make it feel less like a mystery cave of fabric.
6. Use Shelf Dividers For Towels
Towels love to flop over and mix themselves into one big leaning tower situation.
Shelf dividers keep each stack in its own lane so you can grab one without the whole shelf shifting.
It makes the closet look calmer and saves you from refolding everything every time someone takes a towel.
7. Roll Extra Blankets
Blankets take up a silly amount of room when they’re folded flat.
Rolling them keeps things tighter and easier to stack without sliding around.
And there’s a really cool technique I’m seeing all over Pinterest where the blanket ends up tucked so it won’t unroll!
It also helps you see what you actually have instead of digging under a mountain of fabric.
8. Store Toiletries In Clear Bins
All the random lotions, shampoos, medicines, and backup soaps tend to wander if they’re loose on a shelf.
Clear bins keep the small stuff grouped so you don’t lose track of anything.
You can pull one out, find what you need, and put it right back without creating chaos.
9. Keep Sheet Sets In Their Pillowcases
Stuffing the whole set inside the pillowcase stops the “which fitted sheet goes with this?” game.
It keeps everything tidy in one bundle that you can grab and go on laundry day.
It also saves space because you’re not trying to stack slippery sheets individually.
10. Add A Small Door Rack For Extras
The back of the door is basically bonus storage you didn’t know you had.
A small rack can hold hand towels, washcloths, or extra toiletries you reach for often.
It frees up shelf space inside the closet and keeps the everyday things close at hand.
Bedroom Closets
Bedroom closets (especially small ones) can easily become packed with seasonal clothes and those outfits you wear you’ll wear again.
Clothes, bags, that one pair of jeans you keep out of loyalty, it’s all here.
It’s the closet you see the most, so the chaos feels personal when it gets out of hand.
Even small changes can make it feel a little more livable.
11. Use A Second Hanging Rod
Adding a second rod doubles the space for shorter clothes like shirts and skirts.
It keeps everything within reach instead of cramming everything onto one bar.
It also helps separate everyday stuff from the things you barely touch, which makes mornings a little less chaotic.
12. Add A Small Drawer Unit
A simple drawer unit gives all the small things a place to land so they’re not floating around the closet floor.
Socks, leggings, tank tops, all the random bits that never stay folded can disappear into their own drawers.
It makes the whole closet feel a little more put together.
13. Hang Belts And Scarves On One Hook
Belts and scarves have a talent for hiding in corners.
Keeping them all on one hook or hanger means you can actually find them when you need them.
It also stops them from sliding off shelves or ending up tangled in hangers.
14. Keep Shoes In Clear Stackable Boxes
Shoes take up way more space when they’re loose on the floor.
Clear boxes stack neatly and let you see what’s inside without pulling each one down.
They also keep dust off the pairs you don’t wear every week.
15. Use Slim Shelf Bins For Jeans
Jeans never stay in nice piles, no matter how many times you refold them.
Narrow bins keep each stack contained so nothing topples over.
It’s also easier to pull out one pair without disrupting the whole stack.
Kids Closets
Kids closets are a special kind of wild!
(I have twins, so I know.)
Clothes they outgrew last month, toys that somehow migrated in, and shoes that never seem to stay in pairs.
Nothing in here makes sense for more than a week at a time.
Setting things up in a way kids can actually keep up with is half the battle.
16. Add A Low Hanging Rod
A low rod gives kids a fighting chance at hanging up their own clothes.
It keeps their stuff within reach so you’re not the one constantly picking shirts off the floor.
It also helps them see what they actually have instead of everything being crammed up high.
17. Use Color Coded Bins
Kids respond better to colors than labels most of the time.
A simple bin system by color helps them remember where things go.
It also keeps toys, clothes, and random treasures from taking over every shelf.
18. Keep Shoes In A Hanging Organizer
Tiny shoes disappear faster than socks.
A hanging organizer keeps the pairs together and off the floor.
It saves you from the morning panic of “where is the other boot.”
19. Label With Pictures
Pictures work better than words for younger kids who can’t read yet.
It gives them a clear idea of what goes where so cleanup isn’t a guessing game.
It also keeps things semi-organized for longer than ten minutes.
20. Store Outgrown Clothes In A Top Bin
Outgrown clothes sneak up on you.
A top bin gives you a place to toss anything that doesn’t fit anymore without stopping to sort.
When the bin fills up, you can deal with it all at once instead of every laundry day.
Bathroom Closets
Bathroom closets get stuffed with everything you don’t want on the counter.
Towels, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, and random beauty products that were on sale.
It’s the kind of spot that goes from tidy to “no one open that door” real quick.
Keeping it simple is usually the only way it stays functional.
21. Use Stackable Plastic Bins
Bathroom stuff comes in every shape and size, so stackable bins keep it from turning into a messy shelf full of half-falling bottles.
You can group things by type and still use the vertical space without everything toppling.
It makes it easier to find what you need without pulling out ten things first.
22. Hang A Small Door Organizer
The back of the door is perfect for the everyday items that always clutter the shelves.
Stashing things like cotton pads, hair tools, or extra soap there frees up space inside the closet.
It keeps the smaller items from getting lost behind the towels.
23. Keep Towels Rolled
Rolling towels keeps them from sliding all over the place and taking up more room than they need.
They stack neatly and don’t create that leaning tower situation every time someone grabs one.
It’s easier on the eyes and the shelves.
24. Store Cleaning Supplies In A Caddy
Bathroom cleaning supplies are usually scattered in different spots.
A caddy keeps them together so you can grab everything at once.
It also keeps bottles from tipping over and leaking on the shelf.
25. Add A Narrow Shelf For Toiletries
A thin shelf gives you room for things that would otherwise get lost in the shuffle.
Lotions, face wash, backup shampoos, all the smaller bottles sit better on a narrow ledge.
It keeps the bigger shelves free for towels and bulkier items.
Laundry Room Closets
Laundry room closets get treated like backup storage for anything that doesn’t fit somewhere else.
Detergent, mismatched socks, light bulbs, seasonal blankets, you name it.
It’s not usually a pretty space, just a hardworking one.
A bit of order here can make laundry day feel less chaotic!
26. Hang A Rod For Air Drying
A simple rod gives you a spot for the clothes that can’t go in the dryer.
It keeps things from hanging over chairs or getting draped across random doorways.
It also makes laundry day feel a little less like a full-house takeover.
27. Use A Shelf Basket For Detergent and Supplies
Detergent bottles and cleaning extras always slide around on shelves.
A basket keeps them contained so nothing tips over and leaks.
It’s easier to pull the whole basket out than reach behind everything to get the fabric softener.
28. Keep Lost Socks In A Small Bin
The missing sock situation is real.
A small bin gives you a place to toss the loners until you find their partners.
It stops them from drifting into weird corners of the closet.
29. Store Bulky Items On The Top Shelf
Extra blankets, paper towels, or whatever else ends up in the laundry closet can hog the lower shelves.
Keeping the bulky stuff up high frees up space where you actually need it.
You’re not reaching over giant packages every time you want the stain remover.
30. Add Hooks For Lint Brushes And Tools
Lint brushes, dryer balls, and small tools tend to vanish.
Hooks keep them off the shelves and right where you use them.
It makes the closet feel a bit more intentional without doing anything complicated.
Pantry Closets
Pantry closets can get real messy real fast.
Some days it’s all snacks and cereal, other days it’s seven cans of diced tomatoes and no pasta.
Things get shoved in fast and forgotten even faster.
But a few smart ideas can help you see what you actually have before you buy chili ingredients for the fourth time.
31. Use Tiered Shelves
Tiered shelves help you see things that normally hide in the back.
Cans, spices, and smaller items don’t end up forgotten behind a giant cereal box.
It keeps everything a little more visible so food doesn’t get wasted just because it wandered too far back.
32. Store Snacks In Clear Baskets
Snacks disappear fast, and half the time you don’t even know what’s left.
Clear baskets keep everything in one spot and make it easier for kids to grab something without tearing the pantry apart.
It also stops the “empty box shoved back on the shelf” problem.
33. Keep Cans In A Dispenser
Cans stack nicely until they don’t.
A dispenser keeps them rolling forward so you always know what you have.
It saves shelf space and stops towers of cans from toppling when you grab one.
34. Label Bins For Quick Grabs
Simple labels make it easier to keep things where they belong.
Pasta, baking stuff, snacks, all get their own home.
It cuts down on the shuffle that happens when everyone is searching for something.
35. Add A Shelf For Backstock Items
Backup items always end up shoved wherever they fit.
A dedicated shelf for extras keeps them from mixing in with your everyday food.
It helps you avoid buying doubles because you forgot what you already had.
Storage/Utility Closets
These closets tend to hold the strange mix of things you need but don’t know where to put.
Extension cords, holiday stuff, old paint cans, the vacuum, all crammed into one spot.
It’s rarely pretty and honestly it doesn’t have to be.
It just needs to make sense so you’re not climbing over a toolbox to find a light bulb.
36. Use Heavy Duty Hooks
Utility closets always end up with awkward things like brooms, mops, and extension cords leaning in every direction.
Heavy hooks give them an actual place to hang so they’re not sliding around or falling every time you open the door.
It keeps the floor open for the bigger stuff that has nowhere else to go.
37. Store Cords In Labeled Pouches or Bins
Cords get tangled if you even look at them wrong.
Keeping them in simple pouches or bins stops the knot disaster and helps you figure out what belongs to what.
It also keeps them from hiding behind paint cans or whatever else ends up in that closet.
38. Add A Small Tool Caddy
Small tools wander off constantly.
A caddy keeps the basics in one spot so you’re not searching the whole house for a screwdriver.
It also makes it easier to grab what you need without digging through a random pile.
39. Keep Seasonal Items In Clear Totes
Seasonal stuff tends to get shoved to the back and forgotten.
Clear totes let you see what’s inside without opening everything up.
It saves time when you’re digging for holiday decor or camping gear.
40. Install A Narrow Shelf For Small Supplies
Little things like light bulbs, batteries, and tape rolls always fall to the bottom of utility closets.
A slim shelf gives them a home so they don’t end up lost under bigger items.
It keeps the space from feeling like a black hole of random supplies.
More Small Closet Ideas
Here are a few more ideas that can help you out when every inch of space feels tight.
Nothing complicated, just little things that seem to make life easier in any kind of small closet.
It’s the kind of stuff you try once and think, oh, that actually helped!
- Add Tension Rods For Extra Hanging Space
- Use Matching Bins To Cut Visual Clutter
- Store Things Vertically Whenever Possible
- Add A Light Strip To Actually See Things
- Use Lazy Susans For Small Items
- Keep A Donate Bin Right Inside
- Hang Hooks Wherever They Fit
- Use Shelf Risers To Double Space
- Store Off Season Items Up High
- Keep Everyday Stuff At Eye Level
Turning Tight Closets Into Manageable Ones
Small closets will probably never feel huge, but a few changes can make them a lot less stressful to deal with.
Once things have a home, you’re not fighting the same mess every time you open a door.
It doesn’t have to look picture perfect, it just has to make sense for your day to day life.
And honestly, even one or two little tweaks can make the whole house feel a bit calmer.
