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7 ingenious ways to fit twice as many clothes in your wardrobe, and make it look good
Here’s how you can make the most of your wardrobe space
No matter how often I organise my wardrobe, it always seems to slip back into chaos. It’s probably because I can’t help buying more clothes and don’t take the time to declutter it as much as I should.
But, while the clothes rail is admittedly wedged with dresses and the floor is smothered in boots, there still seems to be a large amount of space going unused. You’ll know the bit I mean; it’s the wide expanse between the shoes and the bottom of the hanging clothes, as well as the massive gap towards the top of the shelves. In the end, I'd say about 50% of the wardrobe space is actually being used. It’s a frustrating problem, especially when there’s nothing obvious to declutter.
That’s why I’ve taken some time to find the inventive storage solutions that aim to make the most of this unused space and help keep things organised at the same time. Here’s what you need to upgrade your wardrobe.
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pickpiff Self Adhesive Hook, 6kg weight capacity, 4 Pack
pickpiff Self Adhesive Hook, 6kg weight capacity, 4 Pack
It sounds too simple to really make a difference. But the doors on your wardrobe are just empty space, and by hanging a couple of hooks on the inside, you’ve got a spot to hang and grab everyday items that you usually spend time rummaging through the wardrobe to find.
It could be a good place to hang your bag, or a sweet spot for your umbrella if it’s tipping it down outside. Hanging a fluffy dressing gown here could save you lots of space in your ‘floordrobe’ too.
Opt for self-adhesive hooks to save yourself from drilling, like these ones from pickpiff.
YOUDENOVA Hanging Wardrobe Organiser
If you’ve got a traditional wardrobe with one clothes rail and zero shelves, you could benefit from a hanging organiser. It hangs a stack of enclosed compartments directly from the rail, creating several makeshift shelves – ideal for clothes as well as shoes and bags. We like this one from YOUDENOVA because it’s reinforced with bamboo sticks and features additional pockets on the side.
Just be careful not to overload the compartments, or else the shelves start to bend under the weight and you can’t get to what you’re looking for without pulling everything out. Keep in mind you’ll lose a chunk of the clothes rail with one of these too.
EASEVE Wardrobe Storage Organiser Boxes with Dividers, 6 Pack
There are plenty of storage solutions available that actively divide and ‘break up’ your clothes. Shelf dividers keep clothes stacked in their individual piles, so they don’t get mixed up into a bundle. If you opt for containers with dividers, you can stack clothes vertically too, so you don’t have to dig through to find what you need, such as these from EASEVE.
Dividers are handy for bulkier items, too, such as handbags and purses. It stops them from getting crushed and damaged plus with each bag having its own dedicated space, you always know where to put it away at the end of the day. We like this Joseph Joseph Orderly Handbag Organiser for it’s fabric exterior, rather than the typical plastic finish.
Lifewit Over-the-Door Hanging Shoe Storage Rack
Lifewit Over-the-Door Hanging Shoe Storage Rack
For a wardrobe that’s overwhelmed by shoes, pop an over-the-door shoe organiser on the inside. These tend to hold about 12 pairs, each of which slides into its own pocket or compartment, ready to grab as needed.
Just keep in mind that the design is intended for shallow shoes, such as trainers, pumps and sandals. Ankle boots generally won’t fit, although heels may be possible if you turn them on their side or hang them over the edge. You would also need a deeper wardrobe, otherwise the shoes would be pressed against your clothes as the door shuts!
This design from Lifewit offers a deeper compartment on the lowest level, so you should be able to fit one or two pairs of boots.
Unique Impression 6 Pack Wardrobe Storage Organiser
Unique Impression 6 Pack Wardrobe Storage Organiser
If shelving is limited, stackable organisers create a makeshift space for different categories of clothes. They’re ideal for anything that needs folding rather than hanging, such as knitwear and jeans, and if they’re stackable you can take advantage of the wasted space between your clothes rail and the floor.
Opt for a design that’s foldable so you can break it down when it’s not needed, and ideally slidable, so you can access each drawer easily – like these from Unique Impression. You can use a label maker to mark what belongs in each organiser to keep things tidy.
MORALVE Space Saving Hangers for Wardrobe, 4 pack
MORALVE Space Saving Hangers for Wardrobe, 4 pack
These clever hangers from MORALVE are ideal if clothes are tightly compacted on the rail. It’s literally a single beam of wood with six hooks built in to hold six hangers, plus one additional hook if hung vertically. You could use them to help colour coordinate your wardrobe, or even to assemble your outfits and accessories as one in advance.
Obviously, you couldn’t crowd the clothes rail with them, but they do shift the bulk of your clothes downwards into the empty space below when hung vertically, and make better use of the overall space.
OrganiHaus 3-Pack White Cotton Rope Basket
Finally, this one isn’t really a storage solution, but a suggestion if your wardrobe is constantly bulging. Placing a donation box or basket, like this one from OrganiHaus, on the floor of your wardrobe is handy for you to toss in any clothes that don’t fit, or you just don’t like anymore, before they go back into storage. It encourages you to actively declutter, and helps to rotate your wardrobe, so it’s not constantly growing.
Just be sure to switch to velvet hangers first, so items don’t accidentally slip into the box!
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