5 Ways to Rethink Your Small Closet
Not every homeowner has the option of expanding small closets to give them all the space they want. But that doesn’t mean you’re left with no options. Modern closet technology allows you to do a great deal with a small space if you think cleverly.
To help you make the most of your small closet area, here are a few key factors to that creative thinking.
1. Think Perpendicular
When you look into your closet, you generally think about the area right in front of you and facing you. But closets are more than just that. Don’t forget to make use of the space running perpendicular to the rod placed along the back wall. To find useful space, look to your left and right side from the doorway. Do you fully utilize these spaces — often several feet wide and as tall as you like? You can often install additional rods above and below as well as customized shelves and drawers. Since you rarely step into these spaces, you won’t probably feel like you’re losing floor space.
2. Hang Things
Another often-overlooked storage space is what’s underneath shelves. Place hanging shelves right underneath the overhead shelf that comes standard or underneath shelves you add to the closet. You can effectively double your shelf space without taking up much actual room. Look for wall space to hang things, such as from the closet door, on side walls and next to the door, and on custom-made racks or hooks from the rods themselves. Hanging things like ties, pants, scarves, purses, and even jeans is usually a more space-conscious way to store them.
3. Go Mobile
In a small closet, you get the most mileage when you can move parts of the organizational system out of the way when not in use. Look for an organizer that features slide-out shelves so you can functionally use the entire shelf space without losing half the items. In addition, racks and rods that fold up out of the way or drop down make room for more organization features behind, above, and below them. And don’t forget that Lazy Susans aren’t just for the kitchen — custom versions make great storage for ties, lingerie, shoes, jewelry, and scarves.
4. Get Shoes Up
If you don’t have much floor space in the closet, shoes quickly become a problem area. Select a shoe organizer that fits your preferred type and number of shoes, as long as the organizer takes advantage of the vertical space-saving options. Some people like an organizer that hangs on the closet door. Others prefer shelves or clear drawers stacked along one side of the closet. If you have a lot of boots, you may even be able to hang them from a rod.
5. Use Dividers
Dividers on shelves and in drawers may seem counterintuitive at first. After all, you seem to get fewer of an item in the same space when you can’t stuff, stack, and squish them. But proper dividers can help in many ways. First, you can stack higher on a shelf when you include supportive dividers along the sides. You can also customize the size and shape of drawer dividers to fit your items in the best way possible. Finally, dividers help keep things in good condition, resulting in having to replace them less often and have fewer duplicates. The trick to working with a small closet is to take the time to make a plan and customize it to your needs. At A Tech, our organization and technical experts can help you make the best of any size closets. Call today to learn more.