Thank you to Lisa Adams, CEO of L.A. Closet Design, an organizing expert and designer who has created some of the most beautiful and glamorous closets out there. She realizes it’s not all glamor, and has some great advice for how to make a small closet work.

How to Make the Most of Cramped Closet Spaces

Many of us do not have the luxury of a grand walk-in closet but rather a modest-sized closet that is probably over-stuffed with clothing, shoes, suitcases, boxes, blankets and more. When your closet gets cramped, your lifestyle also suffers. You might find that you are perpetually running late, misplacing items that you need to leave the house in the morning, damaging your clothing, and losing time on things that matter.

To make the most of the space you have, first, evaluate and audit your closet. Purge, recycle or donate any item you have not worn in the last six months. Next, develop an organizing system around your natural habits and stick with it. You will notice that over time, it will become easier and easier to maintain. Next, evaluate your cramped closet, looking for every inch of available space and think creatively about how to use it. Look under the bed, over the door, on the walls, on the floor then, select some organizing products that fit your layout and help to maximize and organize your storage areas. Below are a few of my product  picks and tips that will help aid in this process:

  • Space Saving Hangers—Replace your hangers with my favorite slim-line chrome hangers, which allow you to fit more clothes per linear foot.
  • Shoe Control—Just like you would sort your clothes, it is important to sort through your shoes. Ask yourself again – keep, purge, recycle, or donate? Shoes that are not worn frequently but are a must save, such as occasion shoes and winter weather shoes, can be stored in small plastic boxes on a high shelf in the closet.
  • Over the Door Shoe Organizer—Keep your shoes from taking over the floor of your closet. Free up precious space by incorporating a clever Over the Door Shoe Organizer behind your door.
  • Closet Rod Doubler—If you have a lot of hung clothing, think vertically to maximize closet space. A Closet Rod Doubler instantly converts three to five feet of hanging space to twice the amount!
  • Under Bed Storage—There is so much under-utilized space under your bed. These clear, virtually unbreakable, boxes with locking lids and wheels allow full visibility of their contents.
  • A Slim Tower—These drawers work anywhere you can find a little space and are easily mobile (under hanging racks or in the corner). They are perfect for housing accessories, cosmetics or loose items that need some organization.
  • Laundry Basket—I love a laundry basket that looks “designer chic” and can either hook behind a door or can be free standing.
  • Accessories Organizer—A unique organization idea that makes it easy to select and coordinate accessories with your outfit. This two-sided organizer hangs on a closet rod or hook, and comes with 37 compartments.
  • Drawer Organizers—Drawer organizers that fit nicely inside drawers and are perfect for separating your undergarments, socks, and accessories.
  • Belt Hanger—A space saving way to hang 36 belts consistently with the rest of your clothing. Such hangers keeps all your belts visible and all in one place.
  • Slat Wall—If you find that you are left with a bare wall and not enough depth to incorporate cabinets, consider a slat wall panel. Slat walls are very versatile. They can accommodate many accessory compartments such as shelves, sunglasses racks, bins, hanging rods, and hooks to hang your bags, backpacks, store keys, and books.

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