9 Easy Steps for Organizing a Small Walk-In Closet

Construct the Perfect Closet

If you're a homeowner with a budget to schedule a reno, Adams assures that an organized closet starts with construction.

"Thoughtful design means creating a space for each thing in your wardrobe, so you can easily navigate your closet every day, without clutter," Adams says. For instance, if you know you own more handbags than floor-length dresses, consider utilizing more shelves than overhead rods.

Protect Your Clothing

Glass doors are more than just a beautiful addition to a closet. "If you want to keep your clothing safe from dust—but don't want to make your space feel more cramped—glass cabinet fronts will create a jewel-box effect that keeps the space feeling open while keeping your clothing protected," Adams says,

Organize According to Your Daily Needs

"Keep the items you use most at eye level and use higher alcoves for lesser-used items like suitcases or seasonal clothing," Adams explains. Really, what's the use of having vacation hats front and center if you live in a cold climate?

Lose the Stacks

"Nothing weighs down a space like stacks of clothing piled high," Adams explains. "Not only does it make the space feel cluttered, it makes the dressing process a drag."

Since no one enjoys digging through piles of jeans or leggings, lighten up the look of your closet and make dressing more enjoyable with hidden, pull-out hanging.

Use Hooks to Keep Purses Upright

Adams tells us that purse hooks are another ace in the hole when it comes to additional closet hanging.

"Use them to keep your purse storage looking like a store display, and your purses upright and free from creases," she notes. "They can also be used in more high-traffic areas of your closet as a parking space for shopping bags or your day-to-day purse."

Make Way for Your Shoes

Closets are made for clothes, but shoes have a way of taking over this space too. Keep them utterly organized by building shoe shelves that match the heights of your boots, heels, and flats.

"This ensures you have height where you need it and aren't wasting space where you don't," Adams says. Now, you'll also be forced to put everything back where you got it.

Don't Forget the Hamper

"Dressing is a cyclical process, so don't overlook the importance of factoring laundry into your closet design," Adams says. "Building hampers into drawers is a much more elegant solution than having a stand-alone hamper, which takes up room and can interrupt the look of the closet."

Make your closet even more functional by adding hamper liners that can easily be removed and keeping a few in rotation for laundry, dry cleaning, or closet organization, suggests Adams.

Create an Illusion

It's known that mirrors have a way of making any room feel larger, and the closet is no exception.

"If you don't have space for a full-length mirror, you can still incorporate the material into other areas like cabinet fronts and doors," Adams suggests. "Even a little reflection here and there will give the illusion of more space—and when it comes to getting ready, you can never have too many angles to work with."

Fake an Island

When it comes to designing a beautiful and practical space, it's the tiniest of details that make your closet functional.

"A pull-out folding shelf can be used for folding laundry, packing, and even ironing," Adams explains, and adds, "it's a great solution for spaces too small for an island."