How to Find More Space in Your Small Wardrobe
Wardrobe too small? With a bit of planning, you can take your crammed wardrobe from overwhelming to efficient
Just about any home built before the 1950s tends to have very little bedroom wardrobe space. A small wardrobe can work for you, but it might take a bit more strategising and planning than you’re used to, especially if you’ve recently downsized from a spacious walk-in. If you’ve been dealt a too-small bedroom wardrobe, here are 10 tips to help combat the claustrophobia.
2. Move off-season and less frequently worn items to another place
The idea is to reserve the prime wardrobe space for the items you love and wear regularly in the current season. Everything else (including special occasion pieces) ideally would find a home in an out-of-the-way spot. Bins that can slide beneath your bed are great for this purpose. Or fill old-fashioned hard-sided suitcases elsewhere in the house with off-season wardrobe items. If you really need to save space, get some vacuum storage bags – these are especially handy for reducing bulky winter items for summer storage.
The idea is to reserve the prime wardrobe space for the items you love and wear regularly in the current season. Everything else (including special occasion pieces) ideally would find a home in an out-of-the-way spot. Bins that can slide beneath your bed are great for this purpose. Or fill old-fashioned hard-sided suitcases elsewhere in the house with off-season wardrobe items. If you really need to save space, get some vacuum storage bags – these are especially handy for reducing bulky winter items for summer storage.
3. Replace wardrobe doors with curtains
Soft curtains open wider than doors, giving you a bit of extra room and saving wall space where the door would swing. It may not seem like much, but even a few inches can make a big difference in how a small wardrobe functions.
Soft curtains open wider than doors, giving you a bit of extra room and saving wall space where the door would swing. It may not seem like much, but even a few inches can make a big difference in how a small wardrobe functions.
4. Add wall hooks
Hooks and short valet-style rods are convenient for quickly tidying up and storing items you reach for frequently – musts for any small wardrobe. Always keep a few empty, as these are great for last-second cleanups, setting out the next day’s outfit or hanging once-worn clothes.
Hooks and short valet-style rods are convenient for quickly tidying up and storing items you reach for frequently – musts for any small wardrobe. Always keep a few empty, as these are great for last-second cleanups, setting out the next day’s outfit or hanging once-worn clothes.
5. Make it well-lit
Lighting is not just an aesthetic choice: A well-lit closet is easier to use, and encourages neatness. If your closet doesn’t have a light fixture, get a simple clip-on or battery-powered light to illuminate the darkest corners.
Lighting is not just an aesthetic choice: A well-lit closet is easier to use, and encourages neatness. If your closet doesn’t have a light fixture, get a simple clip-on or battery-powered light to illuminate the darkest corners.
6. Go for a combo of hangers, shelves, boxes and bins
Doubling up on hanging rods carves out extra space in a small wardrobe for other storage options, like pull-out bins and shelves. Move less-used items onto a high shelf, and use open-top bins and shelves for easy storage of jumpers and delicate items. Shoeboxes or photo boxes can be repurposed to store small accessories; label the boxes and store them on a high shelf.
Doubling up on hanging rods carves out extra space in a small wardrobe for other storage options, like pull-out bins and shelves. Move less-used items onto a high shelf, and use open-top bins and shelves for easy storage of jumpers and delicate items. Shoeboxes or photo boxes can be repurposed to store small accessories; label the boxes and store them on a high shelf.
7. Boost storage power with risers and dividers
Make your open shelving work harder by fitting it with slim dividers (to keep piles of sweaters from toppling over) and risers (great for storing a double layer of small items). Avoid bulky timber dividers in favour of sleek acrylic or wire.
Genius clothes storage hacks
Make your open shelving work harder by fitting it with slim dividers (to keep piles of sweaters from toppling over) and risers (great for storing a double layer of small items). Avoid bulky timber dividers in favour of sleek acrylic or wire.
Genius clothes storage hacks
8. Bring the clothes out of the closet
Co-opt a corner of the bedroom, hall or home office for extra clothing storage with an attractive wall or ceiling-mounted hanging rod. If possible, add a shelf above or below the rod to maximise storage potential. Just remember, clothing on display is just that – on display – so choose your best, fanciest or favourite pieces, and store the rest inside your closet or dresser drawers.
Co-opt a corner of the bedroom, hall or home office for extra clothing storage with an attractive wall or ceiling-mounted hanging rod. If possible, add a shelf above or below the rod to maximise storage potential. Just remember, clothing on display is just that – on display – so choose your best, fanciest or favourite pieces, and store the rest inside your closet or dresser drawers.
10. Try a portable garment rack
With a small wardrobe rack on casters, you have the option of leaving it out or rolling it away to a hidden spot (in the office or behind a folding screen, for example) when company comes (or if you get tired of looking at it). If you’re crafty, you could even make your own in exactly the size you need using plumbing pipes and fittings from the hardware store – very industrial chic.
TELL US
Do you have a tiny wardrobe? Share a photo of your storage solutions in the Comments.
MORE
Plan Your Wardrobe for the Real World
How to Plan Your New Wardrobe Like a Pro
12 Tips to Make the Most of a Small Walk-in Wardrobe
With a small wardrobe rack on casters, you have the option of leaving it out or rolling it away to a hidden spot (in the office or behind a folding screen, for example) when company comes (or if you get tired of looking at it). If you’re crafty, you could even make your own in exactly the size you need using plumbing pipes and fittings from the hardware store – very industrial chic.
TELL US
Do you have a tiny wardrobe? Share a photo of your storage solutions in the Comments.
MORE
Plan Your Wardrobe for the Real World
How to Plan Your New Wardrobe Like a Pro
12 Tips to Make the Most of a Small Walk-in Wardrobe
Think of having a capsule collection of clothes you love to wear for each season of the year, rather than a mountain of options you’re less than excited about. If you sort through your clothes and still have too much to fit into your petite wardrobe, the tips that follow will help you find room for what’s left. Just remember, when you have limited wardrobe space, each item really needs to earn its keep. When decluttering feels really challenging, sometimes it helps to give yourself a break for a week, then go back in and take a second look at everything.
Declutter and organise your wardrobe