The Ultimate Guide to Solving Closet Problems – Learn how to reduce your Closet Ugliness Scale Score (and stop CUSSing your closet!)

It doesn’t have to be this way.

You don’t have to live with a closet which makes you cuss. And you certainly don’t want to be ‘awarded’ a 10 out of 10 for the ugliest and hardest to use closet…. ever (you can say that in a Valley-girl voice).

And you know the ‘breed’ of closet I’m talking about.  

You’ve got dead corners where you can’t see your hanging clothes buried in the back.

You’ve got shoes in a heap under hanging clothes on the floor.

You’ve got useless space near the top – and under casual hanging clothes – which no dollar-store or Container Store insert actually ‘fixes.’ They’re simply band-aids which make your master closet work a little better.

And if you’ve ‘had it up to here’ (as mom used to yell out at you when you were misbehaving as a kid) with this disaster of a closet, but aren’t sure what to do about it, you’ve come to the right place.

Below – I’ll look at 11 common problems which make people cuss their closets daily. But more importantly I’ll provide 10 solutions to dramatically improve your CUSS score (that’d be the Closet Ugliness Scale Score). Let’s check them out.

Closet Problem #1 you cuss about– You hate how disorganized, crowded, and difficult to find things are in your closet. However, you don’t have a clue where to start to fix these problems (and how to design a closet to maximize form and function).

You know your closet is a disaster. You’re ‘greeted by’ (being sarcastic here) casual clothes bunched together in a haphazard fashion on a single hanging rod. Your shoes are buried under hanging clothes in the dark crevasses of your closet. And socks, underwear, and bras and thrown into baskets and are a pain to find what you need.

Bottom line – the closet is UG-LEEEE. However, you don’t know where to start. So, here’s where you need to understand the Closet Ugliness Scale Score– and how to improve how you ‘stack up’ (and yes, I know that’s a bad closet pun!). Here’s how:

Closet Solution #1 to greatly reduce your Closet Ugliness Score– Know what’s ugliest, what’s prettiest, and where to put each element (hanging, shelving, drawers) to maximize form (‘er style) AND function.

You can’t improve how your closet looks unless you first analyze (from top to bottom) what are the ugliest and most stylish elements in a closet. And to boil it down there’s 3 major elements in a closet. And in the reverse order this is a list of how ‘pretty’ each element is:

• Element #1 – The ugliest stuff are your hanging clothes which are ‘double hanging’ (casual clothes), ‘long hanging’ (dresses, robes), and ‘medium hanging’ (jackets and sport coats).

• Element #2 – The nicer looking stuff are items stored on shelving including shoe shelving (which is the neatest looking shelving storage), and shelving for folded clothes (sweaters, yoga pants, t-shirts, jeans etc.) which can be haphazard if you make piles too big or are careless in folding.
• Element #3 – The best looking stuff are drawers and doors. These are wonderful to have (which’ll be explained next) – but are seldom present in closets the builder installed when the home was built.

So – if you’re looking to make the most of form (style) and function where should your design put these 3 elements? And while closets are NOT a ‘one-size-fits-all’ proposition here’s general guidelines to greatly reduce your Closet Ugliness Scale Score.

• Step 1 – Put your drawers and storage sections with solid (or glass) doors front and center on your ‘feature wall!’ – This is usually the coolest element of your closet even if it’s a disaster inside the drawers. Eeverything looks uber-neat on the outside. So put sections with the doors and drawers on the ‘feature wall’ (which is the wall you see first as you’re walking in).

• Step 2 – Put shoe shelving close to the door because you put them on and take them off first and last. Or if you’re a shoe fanatic – you may want to display shoes on your feature wall.

• Step 3 – Put your least used hanging into the corners – For most people this is long hanging (dresses) or medium hanging (jackets and sports coats – especially for people who don’t dress up for work).
• Step 4 – Put your casual double hanging on ‘less seen’ areas on the sides. Now, for most closets double hanging is the single biggest element you need – so sometimes you will put double hang on a feature wall, but I’d minimize it, if possible.
• Step 5 – Additional shelving for clothes and purses – Read closet solution #2 below to learn about one really smart place to put shelves which’ll solve another BIG problem in closets (which are ‘dead corners.’)  

Closet Problem #2 you cuss about– The ‘Bermuda triangle’ in the corners of your closet where hanging clothes are bunched against hanging clothes and come to die

This is – by far – the #1 sin of a closet design. And you’ll find this problem in almost every production builder supplied closet. It’s where they ‘designed’ the closet to have hanging clothes meet hanging clothes in the corners.

This creates corners where you can’t see for the life of you what’s buried back there. It’s basically where clothes come to die (or less-dramatically be forgotten about).

So, what can you do about it?

Closet Solution #2 for a well-functioning closet corners– Put shelving on the wall perpendicular to your hanging clothes

This simple solution will get you past this annoying problem. When you put shelving (which is 12-14” deep) on the wall perpendicular to the hanging (which sticks out 21”) – you’ll magically be able to see not only your clothes in the corner – but your folded storage as well.

Closet Problem #3 you cuss about– You DESPERATELY need more space!

Who has more than enough closet space whose name IS NOT Kim Kardashian? And who knows – Kim may want more closet storage also – I’m sure she owns plenty of stuff!

Universally almost no one has adequate closet space.

And while you may dream about a larger closet, it’s rarely practical to reduce the size of your bedroom or bathroom to get it (although I have helped people convert small bedrooms into walk in closets). As a matter of fact, people ‘borrow’ space from already-too-small closets to expand master bathrooms today… then closet storage gets worse.

So, if you can’t make the space larger – how can you get more value from the ‘volume which is your closet?’ Here’s 3 top secrets professional closet designers use to get more bang for your closet volume. 

Closet Solution #3 to ‘find’ more volume if you can’t make the closet larger– Go up, go out, and use places you’ve never used before (going where no man or woman has gone before).

While it’s fun to look at cool closet features like angled shoe shelves you see in celebrity closets or fancy department stores– these features won’t be your reality if your closet is already overcrowded. You need volume – and you need it NOW! But how? Here’s 3 changes to increase closet efficiency.

• Change #1 – Go up – There’s basically 3 key elements included in a closet. They are hanging, shelving, and drawers. And of those items, the one which normally occupies the most ‘real estate’ is hanging. So, how can you get more hanging in the same space? Well – you want to ‘go up.’ And by going up I mean replace single hanging sections (where the top rod is about 66” from the floor) with double hanging sections (where you have 2 rods in a section – and the top rod is 78-84” from the floor).

• Change #2 – Go out – And no, I don’t mean a night out on the town (although that’d be fun!). What I do mean is add to the depth of your closet. Replace 12” deep shelving or hanging sections with 19” deep drawers. With drawers you can get 2 to 2.5 times more volume than hanging the same garments.
• Change #3 – Use places you’ve never used before (‘er to go where no man or woman has gone before) – Perhaps you could add a hook board behind an in-swing door or use space below a window (more about this later) or hang clothes in front of an access panel. Find solutions for spaces where there are ‘obstructions’ (as we call them in the industry) messing you up. To learn more read How to Organized Your Odd Shaped Closet which also has outlets, switches, windows, and access panels all in the wrong places.

Closet Problem #4 you cuss about– You love your shoes; however, you can’t find your shoes.

Even more so than purses, men and ladies alike LOVE, LOVE, LOVE their shoes. And while I don’t mean to be sexist here, women (generally) love them more than men (note – the average women has 31 pairs of shoes, the average guy 8 pairs).

And mind you that’s only the average. I’ve seen closets for shoes with well over a 100 pairs. So don’t feel guilty if you’ve made the VIP list at your favorite shoe store and e-commerce site!

And because many closets don’t use their ‘volume’ properly (see problem #2) there’s way too many people with boxes and boxes of shoes stacked on the top shelf. How can you find what’s in those boxes? Let’s face it, it can be a HUGE challenge finding and retrieving your shoes.

So, what can you do?

Closet Solution #4 to ‘find’ your shoes– Create dedicated spaces for them.

The problem in the ‘average closet’ (whatever that is) is shoes are an afterthought. There’s little to no shoes shelves in an old wood – or (relatively new) wire closet ‘design’ (if you can call it that).

So, how can you solve your lack of shoe storage– which doesn’t involve an ugly fabric ‘dollar-store-esque’ shoe storage contraption (you may already be using this ‘wonderful’ – sarcasm intended – strategy right now)? Here’s a few do’s and don’ts for more effective shoe storage:

• Do – add adjustable shoe shelving. This gives you flexibility to adjust for different shoe heights or when you or your lifestyle changes. For example, the shoes you’ll wear when you’re retired are vastly different from when you worked downtown for the corporation and had to wear those painful heels.
• Don’t – use fancy-schmancy raised shoe shelves. While these look wonderful – they have dead space behind the angled shelves. And the last thing most humans can afford is to waste closet volume. Learn more in the video below:

• Do – get rid of shoe boxes. Shoe boxes take up more room than the shoes alone on shelves.
• Don’t – insist you need every pair you own. Lowering your Closet Ugliness Scale Score (‘er the CUSS scale) will take discipline to declutter. And if decluttering is as ‘enjoyable’ to you as a trip to the dentist’s office (or speaking in front of a large group) – enlist the help of someone from the NAPO (the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals).

And if you want more shoe-shelving tips, read 13 Wild, Wacky, and Workable Shoe Storage Tricks You Need to Know.

Closet Problem #5 you cuss about– You have dead space at the top of your closet, and you can only stack so high.

You’ve likely heard of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, but you’re not cussing about it. Conversely, how do you like your leaning tower of clothes and boxes at the top of your closet?

This problem is about as common as political fighting on X (A.K.A. Twitter) or Facebook.

The good news is this problem is faaaar more solve-able than political ‘debates’ on X, Facebook, or at family gatherings. Here’s how:

Closet Solution #5 to eliminate leaning stacks on the top shelf of your closet

This problem can be licked with the ‘go-up’ recommendation in solution #2 above.

What you simply need to do is move the top shelf up and/or reduce the vertical space between shelves.

For example, in a closet with an 8’ ceiling put the top shelf at 84” above the floor.

For a closet with a 9’ ceiling put the top shelf at 90” above the floor (although you can also go shorter if someone is V.C. – ‘er Vertically Challenged- who uses the closet).  

Here’s a video which’ll show you this problem and the solution recommended above.

Closet Problem #6 you cuss about– Your hanging clothes are bunched in like sardines, and you can’t easily move them from side to side

If misery loves company, you’ll be glad to know the ‘overstuffed closet,’ is the norm, not the exception.

Maybe it’s the consumerism in all of us. We buy too much stuff and/or our closets were designed for the farmers who built this home years ago when all they had was their ‘Sunday best’ and ‘work clothes.’ As you know this isn’t how you live today. You like clothing choices. You like to see what you’ve got – maybe even preplan tomorrow’s wardrobe for a big meeting, or fancy event.

The challenge becomes how can you create ‘breathing room’ between hanging clothes in your way-too-small closet? Here’s a few thoughts.

Closet Solution #6 to solve the ‘overstuffed closet.’ Use a better closet system, slim-line hangers, and a valet rod.

While any professional organizer would argue (and I’d admit rightfully so) the first step to solving an overstuffed closet is to declutter – I think the permanent solution (in addition to NOT buying too much stuff or hanging onto things you don’t wear) is also to address the ‘structural realities’ of the closet. You need the products and systems you use within your closet to keep it functioning on ‘all-cylinders’ over the long run.

And I know at this point you might say, what systems and products are you referring to, Mike? Well – here’s 3 which’ll make your closet live soooo much better.

• Product #1 – A laminate adjustable closet system – With laminate closets you can move rods and shelves up and down to adjust to your changing storage needs. Also, the rods which come with these systems don’t have ‘brackets’ hanging down from the shelving (like you see in the closet problem #5 above) so you aren’t ‘stopped’ when you try to shift clothes from side to side. And it’s nice to know, laminate shelves NEVER need to be repainted, unlike wood shelves.

• Product #2 – Velvet slim-line hangers – Chuck those fat (not meaning to lack political correctness here) hangers and the cheap hangers from the cleaners. Use only velvet slim-line hangers. Shirts and pants stay on them. They take up less room. They look stylish. Case closed.
• Product #3 – The valet rod – This product sounds uber-fancy like something only Robin Leach and the people on The Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous would have – but it’s not. This tool sits inside the laminate closet section separators and can be extended so you can display’s tomorrow outfit (since you can now find things in your roomier new closet!).

Closet Problem #7 you cuss about– You see a mess when you (unfortunately) have to open your closet door.

While I could recommend to blindfold yourself and your Closet Ugliness Scale Score would magically get better – you and I know – in reality the space is still ‘ugly’ if it’s a PIA to use.

However, with that being said – why can’t form follow function? Why can’t a closet be beautiful AND work even if you can’t claim you’re in Uncle Elon Musk’s will and have an unlimited budget?

And as a closet designer and closet company owner – I’ll tell you I HATE, HATE, HATE when I see a closet which could have had more ‘eye-candy’ at the same cost – but it doesn’t because the trim carpenter, builder, or previous owner didn’t know where to strategically put the better looking elements in their design.

So, how can we make your closet more stylish – without blowing the kids college fund or forgoing your Botox treatments? Here’s some ideas:

Closet Solution #7 to solve the ‘messy closet’ look without spending too much money.

Here’s 3 simple tips to make your closet look better –without a huge budget:

• Tip #1 – Don’t have casual double hanging clothes be the first thing you see! – The ugliest sections in closets are casual clothes (which should be in double-hanging sections where possible). So DO NOT put them ‘front and center’ as the #1 thing you see when you enter the closet. So, what could/should you see? This bring us to Tip #2.
• Tip #2 – If you can afford drawers – put them on your ‘feature wall’ (‘er that’s the wall you see when you walk in)– or at least use shelves if you can’t afford drawers. Drawers and doors (where even the mess you might have is hidden) look the best in a closet. Put them where you can see/enjoy them. And if you can’t afford drawers (because they’re also the most expensive part of the closet) – at least put sections of shelves for clothes or shoes which look neat front and center.

• Tip #3 – Use the same hangers. Group like items together – This harkens back (and isn’t that a weird term) to the last solution – but this is where the O.C.D. people have it over everyone. They know to use the same hangers and group similar items together (shirts with shirts, pants with pants etc.). Consistency is the father (or mother) of neatness.

Closet Problem #8 you cuss about– Your clothes and shoes hang off the edges of shelves.

This problem is as common in standard closets as it is for politicians to ‘slightly bend the truth’ (and yes, that’s a P.C. phrase if I’ve ever heard one – and you can ‘fact check’ me on that one -ha! ha!).

Most closets have 12” deep wire or wood shelves. And bulky sweaters or big shoes hanging over the edge of shelves DOES NOT look good. So, what’s the solution?

Closet Solution #8 to stop shoes, sweaters, and blankets from hanging off the edge. Use deeper shelves.

I’ll bet right now with this ‘deeper shelving’ advice you’ve paused to reflect and say, “Wow – this Mike guy who is a closet business owner and designer MUST be a genius!”

And yes – even my wife says I’m a genius – Ok, you know she doesn’t – but she does say I’m wacky – which is true.

But seriously, the most common shelving depth (which should be used in a well-designed closet) should be 14” deep. At this depth, your closet will look and live better, and sweaters and most shoes (unless you’re sharing the closet with a basketball player) won’t hang off the edge.

And if you’re storing towels in your closet (because you don’t have a linen closet) –use 16” deep shelving for those.

Learn more about closet shelving depth in this video.

Closet Problem #9 you cuss about– You’re fighting through the corn maize of your long, skinny, narrow closet. 

I’ve seen closets literally where you’re almost stopped in your tracks getting in because there are hanging clothes blocking the doorway. And while narrow closets do require special storage strategies, they don’t have to live like the Nightmare on Elm Street….  if you know tricks to ‘reform’ them.

Closet Solution #9 for the narrow closet you’re ‘fighting’ hanging clothes to get in. Get rid of the hanging storage at the entry.

Although it’s logical – what most builders (who slap up uber-cheap ‘wire closet designs’ – if you can call them that) don’t think about is how hanging clothes at the entry of a narrow walk in closet literally ‘wall-off’ the closet and make it hard to enter.

The simplest solution is to put a section of shelving at the entry because shelving (generally) only extends 12-14” from the wall vs. the 21” for hanging clothes.

For more narrow closet tips read 7 Powerful Tips to Squeeze More Space and Beauty into Your Narrow Walk in Closet.  

Closet Problem #10 you cuss about– Your purses are stored ‘Willy Nilly.’

I don’t know about you, but I have no idea who this Willy Nilly guy is – or where the term came from, but I can tell you I’ve seen purses in closets stored in some of the craziest (Willy Nilly) ways.

I’ve seen them in massive tubs.

I’ve seen a ‘collection’ (using the term lightly) of bags of purses stacked in a heap on one another.

I’ve seen them in piles on the floor.

And it’s NOT a pretty sight.

Of course, it’s simpler to identify the problem than it is to fix, but solving this challenge isn’t as bad as you may think. Here’s some ideas.

Closet Solution #10 for purses which are disorganized. Use ‘separators’ and free your purses from their packages.

While some purses ‘stand at attention’ and sit ‘obediently’ on shelves, others are like your ‘teenage wild-child’ and want to ‘flop down’ wherever (‘er your clutches are good examples).

You need to discipline your purses to look neat, consistent, and beautiful. Here’s how:

1. Put separators between shelving sections
2. Take purses out of bags, boxes, and ugly plastic tubs.

Closet Problem #11 you cuss about– When you come to the realization you’ve got NO idea how to develop an overall game-plan to organize your closet, and your builder or remodeler is also clueless.

I’m going to go out on a limb and say you’re not a closet designer and you aren’t playing Jay Pritchett on Modern Family.

And while I’ve given you (so far) 9 sound bits of advice to get your closet out of the gutter – and being cuss-worthy with a bad Closet Ugliness Scale Score– I haven’t given you specific advice about your specific closet. And after all, that’s really where the rubber hits the road (and your closet gets transformed into an organized space).

So – if you (and/or your builder/remodelers – who essentially are building specialists, not focused closet designers) don’t have a clue how to come up with the best plan for your space, what can you do? And if you’re not sure ‘who you gonna call’ – I’ll give you a hint. It’s NOT Ghostbusters! So, who can you call?

Closet Solution #11 to get a closet design specifically suited for your space and storage needs.

General advice is just that – it’s general advice (even if it’s my advice…. I’m sad to say….).

You need a focused closet plan based on how you want to use your closet, what’s going to be stored, your budget, design style etc.

And you need to be able to ‘see’ what this solution will look like before spending money.

And if this is your challenge I have the solution. Here’s what you must do.

• #1 Insist on a 3D closet design – Even experienced closet designers will tell you they ‘see’ – and can recommend better solutions after they create a 3D closet design. Don’t buy a closet system from a franchise which scribbles a hand-drawn 2 dimensional drawing which is completely Greek (and not in a delicious baklava sort of way) to you, then use high-pressure sales tactics to ‘go for the close’ with a (supposed) 40% off sale, they’ve been advertising for years! See what a 3D design can look like in the video below:

• #2 – Make sure your designer is a member of The Association of Closet and Storage Professionals – The best designers (just like the best consultants, technicians, etc.) in any business are ‘student’s of their game.’ If your designer isn’t learning through their industry association they’ll likely have outdated ideas, products, and designs.
• #3 – Make sure your closet designer isn’t arrogant! Ok- hate to be harsh, but some closet (and interior) designers come into projects with an air of aloofness and superiority which makes me want to vomit. It IS possible to be practical, down to earth AND a good designer without being an arrogant a-hole. And I know quite a few closet designers who are humble, yet fabulous at their work.

So, are you ready to cuss less, reduce your Closet Ugliness Scale Score (CUSS) AND lead a happier, more fulfilled life?

Ok, I might have gotten a ‘tad’ too flowery with the happier, more fulfilled life comment – but if I’m telling the truth messy closets stress the heck out of people.

And the problem with a messy closet (unlike a scary basement filled with junk) is you can’t avoid it (unless you live in a clothes-optional nudist colony … and do those even exist?).

So- what are you waiting for?

If you want a neater closet – but need help, choose one of these two options:

• Option 1 – Push the easy button and call a professional closet designer. With a professional closet designer, you can ‘leave the driving/input’ to them and then help to tweak their 3D closet design to fit your needs. And if you need a custom closet in Columbus or Cleveland Ohio call 614-545-5888 or request a free estimate. And if you’re not in Columbus or Cleveland, comment below and I’ll see if I can find a referral for you from one of my industry friends.
• Option 2 – DIY your job – If you take this route pay attention to the first 9 tips above.

And finally, thanks for reading and living through my wackiness along the way. As you might guess I love to laugh AND sell a few closets along the way.

I hope this article has helped with concrete ideas to reduce your Closet Ugliness Scale Score which’ll lead to that happier, more fulfilled life!

Mike

###