How to Make Your Closet Live Bigger: Free, Budget, and Pro Designer Solutions

Oh, if only you had a Kim Kardashian budget, or Kim Kardashian sized closets, THEN you’d FINALLY be organized!

But for most of us (ok, almost all of us) this is NOT our reality.

Your closet is smaller than you’d like.

And your budget, could also use some bolstering as well.

And if you’re struggling with a messy closet and would like it live better no matter how big (or small) your budget is, you’ve come to the right place.

Even though I lead a closet design and installation business I’m going to share with you not only professional closet design solutions (which yes – will be more expensive) but also tips to make your closet live bigger for Free (yes, that’s a magic word), and budget ideas as well.

And I’ll be it’ll make sense to choose ideas from all three categories. First we’ll look at free, then budget, and finally pro designer solutions to make your closet live bigger.

Section 1 – Free tips to make your closet live bigger

Free tip #1 to make your closet live bigger – Declutter

Yes – I know decluttering is a task everyone loves to hate. However, when I started in the home organization business 12 years ago I took 5 bags of clothes out of my closets, and I’ve never missed them!

And if we’re being honest most of us only wear – at most – 50% of the things in our closet. What clothes are gathering dust for you? What’s got a stain you can’t get out, is out of style, or too snug?

And if you can’t bring yourself to ‘self-purge’ –invite a brutally honest friend to ‘guide’ you (or talk sense into you) through the decluttering process or hire a professional closet organizer who is a member of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing (although they won’t be free).

Free tip #2 to make your closet live bigger – Hang less, Fold more

This phrase sounds similar to the line in Hamilton to ‘talk less, smile more.’ And I’m here to tell you if you want your closet to live bigger you need to hang less, and fold more.

Hanging clothes take a lot of space. You can get more clothes in the same cubic footage if they’re folded. And this tip can be even more helpful if you combine it with ‘pro designer solution #6’ in Section 3 where the benefits of drawers are outlined.

Free tip #3 to make your closet live bigger – If you have double hanging sections, be ILLOGICAL and put pants and skirts at the top, and shirts at the bottom

I’d estimate (in my unscientific pole after seeing thousands of closets) 99% of people put shirts on the top and pants and skirts at the bottom of double hanging sections (if they have them). And I’ll admit, this is logical.

However, I’ll argue if you want your closet to live bigger, put your folded pants and skirts at the top. Then you’ll have room (assuming there’s a shelf underneath) to add folded clothes or shoes on the shelf between the two hanging sections. Your closet will live bigger with no ‘structural’ changes.

Free tip #4 to make your closet live bigger – Organize your clothes by categories and/or colors… an ‘O.C.D. Special’ tip

I know for some reading this you’re saying, “Mike, you gotta be kidding, don’t ya?”

And I know being disciplined to keep clothes in logical groups (pants together, long dresses together, suits together, shirts together) and like colors can be challenging. However, the reward will be you’ll find what you’re looking for faster.

Free tip #5 to make your closet live bigger – Rotate clothes and/or put lesser used items in another closet

You only have so much room. So, if you’ve got winter clothes which aren’t going to see the light of day for 6 months, get them out of there!

Rotating clothes two times a year can help a closet live bigger – assuming you have another place to put the off season clothes.

Free tip #6 to make your closet live bigger – Get rid of dry cleaner bags

Dry cleaner bags not only waste space, but they accelerate fabric yellowing and discoloration, attract dust, and weaken fabrics over time. Plus, cleaner bags look ugly (unless you’re putting one over your head to rob a bank. Ok, funny visual, I know- ha! ha!).

Free tip #7 to make your closet live bigger – Get rid of the partner you’re sharing your closet with (or a less ‘deadly’ idea … read this article)

Ok – I’m not recommending you ‘bump somebody off’ for a neater and better living closet (but I’ll bet a few of you HAVE thought about it – ha! ha!).

But it can be a P.I.A. sharing a closet with someone who – if we’re NOT being politically correct – is a slob! If you have this situation, get practical tips to lessen this frustration by reading Storage Wars: 7 Essential Tips to Win the Battle of the His and Hers Closet. And no, none of them involve hiring a hit man…. or a ‘hit woman’ (and is there even such a term as hit woman?).

So now that we’ve covered free tips, let’s look at budget tips for an ‘elevated’ closet (or maybe one which just isn’t as much of a P.I.T.A!).

Section 2 – Budget tips to make your closet live bigger

Budget tip #1 to make your closet live bigger – Use slim velvet hangers

I love, love, love the slim black velvet hangers in my closet. They don’t take up as much room as ugly plastic hangers (which are clunky and bend like a pretzel) or sturdy – yet uber-bulky wood hangers. Plus, stuff doesn’t slip off velvet hangers.

Budget tip #2 to make your closet live bigger – Add hooks behind doors (or on shallow walls)

There’s no reason the walls behind doors which are too shallow for shelves or hanging clothes can’t provide storage value.

To take advantage of this space use inexpensive hooks, or nicer looking ‘hook boards’ if you’re looking for a professionally designed closet.

Budget tip #3 to make your closet live bigger – The David Copperfield tip… add mirrors to create the ‘illusion’ of space (and get more function)

Whether you’re buying a simple full length mirror at a discount store or ‘going pro’ with mirrors placed inside door fronts (like was done in this job by a friend of mine – Wendy Scott of Timeless Closets and Cabinetry), mirrors are a ‘trick’ to make any small space feel bigger.

In addition, mirrors help make sure you don’t go out with 2 mismatched shoes (which happened to one of my employees years ago), or you don’t have a garment with a big stain in the back.

Image Credits: Timeless Closets and Cabinetry

Budget tip #4 to make your closet live bigger (which I’ll admit I HATE)– Add storage to the back of the door  

This is the oldest budget storage trick in the book – but no matter how much I hate how they look (and how they usually stop the door from fully opening), but fabric and plastic storage systems which hang on the back of the door do add storage. But be prepared to live with the fact, they won’t get your closet featured in high-end interior design magazines – ha! ha!

Budget tip #5 to make your closet live bigger – Add ‘big box store’ cheap shelving under your shorter hanging clothes

If you’re renting – or just not in a position to afford a professional custom closet – but are desperate to improve/grow shoe or shirt storage than your current heap of stuff thrown on the closet floor – then adding a low-cost shelving rack under shorter hanging clothes will work.

Budget tip #6 to make your closet live bigger – Paint your walls or closet system a lighter color

Since most closets don’t have windows – they can be dark and dreary. That’s why it’s smart to repaint the walls and closet system with lighter (and/or glossy) colors. They’ll reflect light and brighten your dark closet.

Image Credits: Inovessa Stretto Wardrobe

Budget tip #7 to make your closet live bigger – Use cascading (aka tiered) hooks to store more shirts or pants in the same area

Cascading hooks are efficient and improve the amount of vertical storage in a hanging section. The negative of these tiered hooks is they can be harder to access clothes without disturbing the others. In addition, your pants and shirts will hang lower (which isn’t ideal for taller people).

Budget tip #8 to make your closet live bigger – Add low cost lighting

A dimly light closet is frustrating. And if you have 2 or 3 bulbs in your overhead lighting fixture, and don’t replace them until they’re ALL burned out (and I’ll admit I’ve absolutely been guilty of this in my own home!) you know your closet is USUALLY dark.

To improve lighting – without spending too much, replace your overhead closet light with an LED fixture. And/or you add motion activated LED lights which are rechargeable and turn on when you use the closet.

Budget tip #9 to make your closet live bigger – Eliminate messy (and/or falling) stacks of clothes with shelf dividers

Shelf dividers don’t cost a lot, but they provide more ‘order’ to your current chaos!

Image Credits: www.closetsoftulsa.com

So – now that we’ve looked at free and budget tips to make your closet live bigger, let’s look at how much better your closet can live with a professional closet system (and yes, I’m biased to this option, after all we ARE in the business of designing and installing custom closets in Columbus and Cleveland Ohio).

And since this list could (almost) be endless – I’m going to prioritize these tips with those which give the most ‘bang for your bucks’ first.

Section 3 – Pro designer tips to make your closet live bigger

Pro designer tip #1 to make your closet live bigger – Get rid of Bermuda-triangle-esque ‘dead’ closet corners created when hanging clothes meet hanging clothes in the corners

Most wire closets, or old ‘pole and rod’ installations done years ago live TERRIBLY because there are hanging clothes which meet other hanging clothes in the corners. This creates places where good clothes come to die. Visually, they’re out of sight, out of mind.

Possibly the biggest improvement a pro designer closet can give you is to not design the new system with ‘hang vs. hang’ in the corners. Instead put hanging on one wall, then use shelving on the wall which is perpendicular to a hanging section. This will allow you to see hanging clothes in the corners. Yeah you!

Pro designer tip #2 to make your closet live bigger – Move the ‘system height’ (‘er top shelf) to 84” above the closet floor (for 8’ closets) and 90” above the floor for 9’ closets

Another big ‘structural’ problem with existing closets (which can’t be solved with ‘free’ or ‘budget’ strategies) is the top shelf of many old wire and wood closets is set too low. This causes ‘dead space’ above the top shelf, and below hanging clothes, because (usually) the rod height was set for long hang clothes – which most people have few of.

These problems (which causes owners to attempt to ‘cobble together’ not very good solutions – like putting shelving under hanging sections – or stacking shoe boxes high on the top shelf) can be solved by installing the top shelf at 84” above the floor (for an 8’ closet) and at 90” for a 9’ closet. Then you can take advantage of the big space expanding strategy in pro designer tip #3!

Pro designer tip #3 to make your closet live bigger – Add double hang sections

This is one of the largest space gaining strategies with a pro-designed closet which is to add double hanging sections. Double hanging means you have one section of hanging clothes on top another (and aren’t use ‘closet pros’ brilliant to develop such amazing terms?). This will double your pleasure and double your fun (like the Doublemint Twins from the old gum commercial below).

Pro designer tip #4 to make your closet live bigger – Insist on a 3D design BEFORE spending money

Even as a custom closet designer I see ways for a closet to live better AFTER I’m looking at the first cut of my 3D design. And I can’t believe how owners spend money on flimsy store-bought closet systems or 2D, hand-written, closet drawings from ‘so-called’ closet designers without having the benefit of a 3D closet design to visualize their completed project.

Check out this video to learn the benefits of 3D closet designs. I’d suggest you go ‘American Express’ and ‘don’t leave home (or design your closet) without them.’

Pro designer tip #5 to make your closet live bigger – Make sure you get a shelf below your top double hang section to super-size your storage

In ‘free tip #3’ I recommended hanging your pants or skirts on the top rod of a double hang section, so you’ll have space (you can see) to store sweaters or shoes on the shelf below.

And while this is a sound tip it only works IF the custom closet company gives you a shelf in the middle of your double hanging sections. And I’ll tell you some companies cut corners by eliminating this shelf. Don’t be a victim of this cost-cutting move!

Pro designer tip #6 to make your closet live bigger – Add drawers

Yes, I’ll admit drawers are the most expensive element in a custom closet – but they not only make your closet look neater (and more stylish) – but a little known fact is you’ll be able to store more clothes folded in a drawer than you can by hanging them.

And if you need more convincing about the benefits and uses of closet drawers read 11 Secrets about Closet Drawers Even Most Closet Designers Won’t Tell You.

Pro designer tip #7 to make your closet live bigger – DO NOT store everything in it!

My dad used to say, “Michael, you can’t fit 10 lbs. of sh** into a 5 lb. bag!” And although a closet which lives bigger should start with ‘free tip #1’ (decluttering…which is everyone’s favorite activity…..NOT!), there are still situations where you existing closet is just too small for all your stuff, even after decluttering.

In those cases, you can ‘offload’ clothes into the (formerly) kid’s closets (if you’re an empty nester), into hall closets, or in your basement. Or another wonderful (and stylish idea) is to build a wardrobe in your bedroom.

In the video below you’ll see how this was the perfect solution for Igor and Viktorija (pronounced Victoria) which allowed this couple to not have to move out of the home they loved (or build an expensive room addition) due to a lack of closet storage.

Pro designer tip #8 to make your closet live bigger – Make sure your shelves and rods are adjustable

I’ve seen closets in homes north of a million dollars I knew were NOT going to live well – even though they looked luxurious. And why might that be, you may be asking?

Well, the simple reason is those expensive closets had no adjustment holes on the sides. And maybe if what you’re wearing AND styles stay the same (forever and ever) that’d be OK, but that won’t be your reality (unless you’re living in a time warp).

Image Credits: Pinterest.com

For example, you may be nearing retirement and the long dresses or suits you used to need will be drastically reduced for more casual clothes. This means you’ll need more double hang vs. long and medium hang sections.

Or you may be looking to buy more athleisure/loungewear sets and need more shelves.

Or you may be donating the stilettos you used to wear for work in favor of loafers. And, because these loafers and tennis shoes are shorter, so you can store more pairs in the same space… if your shelves are adjustable.

Or you may want to go back to the mini-skirts you wore in high school…. Ok, maybe not…..

Your shoe and clothing needs WILL change. Is your system adjustable to go with the flow as styles and what you wear changes?

Pro designer tip #9 to make your closet live bigger – Use a lighter colored closet system

In the same vain as ‘budget tip #6’ (repainting your closet in lighter colors), another way to create a bigger feel is to choose lighter colors for the closet system. White is always a classic (and bright) choice, but it can be boring. Right now, lighter earth tones and grays are popular.

Pro designer tip #10 to make your closet live bigger – Add a deluxe lighting system with LED lights built into the closet separators

A brighter closet ALWAYS lives better than a dark one. And if you want an elevated closet design which lives bigger, adding lighting between sections, or inside the top shelf, or in closet rods is a sure-fire way to accomplish this goal!

Pro designer tip #11 to make your closet live bigger – Change the door and/or how it operates

In-swing or by-pass closet doors can be a pain. They make it harder to use your space.

Alternatives would be a barn door (if you have enough room on the outside of the wall), going ‘doorless’ (with curtains), or using a door (or French doors) which swing out.

Which of these free, budget, or pro designer solutions will help your closet live bigger? Do you need help or a 3D closet design?

So which free, budget, and pro designer solutions do you think would give you the biggest bang for your buck to create a closet which lives bigger? Please comment below to share how you’d like to use these tips. 

And if you don’t know where to start, fear not, we can help.

If you live in Columbus or Cleveland Ohio call Innovate Home Org at 614-545-6888. And if you don’t, ask for a referral to a custom closet designer in your area or request a Free 3D design consultation.

I appreciate you ‘living through’ my humor and reading these ideas. Thanks,

Mike

If you’d like more information on home organization systems, custom closets, Murphy beds, or design advice follow me on LinkedIn @MikeFotiLinkedIn. There you’ll find a (slightly) more ‘buttoned-up’ version of me.