Why So Many Older Homes Were Built With Such Small Closets

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There are plenty of bizarre features you might find in old homes. From outhouses to random doors scattered around, it is interesting to see how far architecture has come and how creature comforts have risen from hundreds of years ago to today. If, for example, you've recently taken up residence in a home built in the 1800s, you might find your organization options a little limited. It turns out it's not skeletons in the closet you have to worry about when moving into an older home. Instead, it's small closets with barely any storage space to accommodate you and your family's items. That's the real scary story.

It is fairly common for older dwellings to lack a lot of space for everything from clothing to linens, not to mention any other possessions you usually keep in a closet. You may be wondering why people would want to live with such minimal storage. When many of these houses were built, the inhabitants had far fewer pieces of clothing, so they did not need much room. They also preferred free-standing furniture and wall hooks for clothing storage. In a world where people can purchase as much as they want and overconsumption is the norm, it may be strange to imagine only having a few pairs of pants or a couple of sweaters. But it wasn't until the 1940s (and especially the 1960s) that people started owning larger clothing collections. Even if you're not baffled by smaller closets, they can be frustrating when you're trying to create space, find areas to hold all your stuff, and avoid clutter.

Homes constructed before the 1800s actually did not have built-in closets — these were introduced in the early years of the 19th century. People relied on wardrobes, which were separate oversized pieces of furniture, or they stored their belongings in trunks. Around the 1930s to 1950s, the need for larger storage space rose. As homes grew bigger, people started buying more belongings, and closets also became larger.

When people today buy a new build, they get to choose the right closet system for their home, no matter their budget. But if you live in an older dwelling with diminutive storage, there are still plenty of ideas to organize a small closet. Add hooks on any open wall and use multi-garment hangers — like the two-pack Nature Smile No Shoulder Bump Multiple Sweater Coat Clothes Hangers — that hold many tops or several pairs of jeans. Make the most out of vertical space rather than taking up more room on the rod.

If your small closet already has shelving, consider rolling items or adding bins organized by categories. If there is shelving above your closet rod, this is another good spot to store folded items or stow them away in canvas or plastic bins. To free up closet space, invest in under-the-bed storage as well as dressers and free-standing wardrobes. Put seasonal items you rarely use in sealed tubs and store them in other areas of your home like lofts, attics, basements, or garages.