10 Ways To Maximize Your Bedroom Closet's Vertical Storage Spaces

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If you have clothes piled up on chairs, shoes stacked by the front door, or you spend half an hour every morning looking for the shirt you want to wear, these could all be symptoms of one common issue: a small or unorganized bedroom closet. When a closet is difficult to manage or isn't large enough to hold everything, it can result in clutter spreading out to different areas of the home. And, given that clutter and disorganized spaces can actually have a negative impact on our mental health, looking into tips for maximizing closet space is essential not only for easier everyday routines but also for our overall moods. So, while you may think that you have packed your closet full to bursting, have you considered its vertical space?

The upright space of a closet is a commonly overlooked part of bedroom organization that can help make your clothes, shoes, and accessories more manageable without the need to cut your wardrobe in half. From collapsible hangers that hold multiple items of clothing at once to stackable tubs and vertical shoe racks, there are a variety of ways to store your possessions vertically, simultaneously saving floor space and making items easier to find. And these solutions don't have to break the bank, either. Many options involve purchasing affordable organizational aids from retail outlets or simply repurposing items such as dressers, which you may already have in other places around your home. Utilizing these hacks in your own home could finally give you the sleek, organized bedroom closet of your dreams.

We tend to imagine bedroom closets with one rail in the center holding everything at eye level, but this doesn't necessarily have to be the case. To make the most of your closet's vertical space, try lowering your clothes rail to waist height and adding a second one at the top. This way, you can instantly double the amount of clothing you can hang while still keeping everything within reach. Hang pants and skirts on the lower rail and shirts on the top to keep things organized.

Shoes are a common source of household clutter. So, instead of tripping on your sneakers every time you put together an outfit, try a vertical shoe organizer. These racks are available in a variety of heights and sizes, and some can be hung from a rail or hook. For a super versatile option, you could even opt for this UFORU Adjustable Shoe Rack, which can be customized to the available vertical and horizontal space. Try stacking shoes with one toe forward and one toe back to help fit more pairs onto each shelf.

Do you find your small closet overwhelmed with small objects like makeup, hair pins, jewelry, or watches? Instead of moving them into the bedroom, try hanging a wire grid in your closet with baskets on it to collect all those pesky little objects together. Simply hang the grid on hooks or nails, or clip it to a clothes rail with zip ties. Then, hang little baskets or buckets from the grid at varying heights and fill with your miscellaneous items. This trick is great for maximizing vertical wall space that often goes unused.

You may have noticed that hanging shirts, jackets, pants, and dresses next to each other tends to fill your space up from left to right very quickly. But is there another way? There actually is! By purchasing hangers that are designed to collapse down and hold items vertically, you can fit a lot more into the same space. This is a great way to organize a small closet because you can put similar pieces together, making them easier to find and giving them a lower profile overall.

Lugging a bulky dresser into your small closet may seem counterintuitive to your space-saving goals, but doing this can actually be helpful for increasing the vertical storage in your home. By placing a dresser in your closet, you not only get to use the drawers inside it, you can also stack more shelves on top. This creates a variety of different storage options, meaning that the items you want to be able to see can be placed in the open shelves while other items like socks, underwear, or pajamas can go in the dresser.

While it may seem like a simple solution, many homeowners don't think about the option of installing an extra high shelf in their closet. If you decide to do this, make sure the shelf is sturdy enough to hold the items you plan to store on it and remember to secure it into the wall studs for a firm hold. Keep in mind that high shelves are less easy to each, so you may wish to only store items you use less frequently on top of it or keep a handy stool nearby for easy access.

If you don't want to install new shelves, you can still utilize the vertical space in your closet by opting for stackable tubs. These handy bins come in a range of styles and typically snap or slide into place, making them customizable and easy for everyday use. Place them on a dresser or table to keep them at eye level, or simply stack them up from the floor to use every inch of vertical space available. You can also choose the color of the tubs you want, so they feel more like a design choice than an organizational necessity.

One complaint people may have about utilizing vertical space is that it is hard to keep track of what is on the higher shelves. To combat this issue, you could use see-through tubs, but they can cause the room to feel messy or overwhelming. This is easily remedied with the simple yet useful idea of labeling. Whether you place your items in tubs, baskets, bins, or cubbies, adding labels will make sure that you know exactly where everything is, allowing you to use your vertical space without worrying about being able to find what you need.

Some items are actually perfect for making the most of vertical space, but often end up getting thrown on a desk, floor, or entryway table. This is especially true for hats because many people don't have a convenient way to store them. However, one smart organization tip involves hanging a few hooks on the wall or the back of the closet door to create a 'home' for hats to be placed in. You could even try this trick with hooks that use adhesive strips because they can be easily moved around without damaging the surface underneath.

Belts are one of the trickiest clothing items to store. Due to their long shape and sturdy build, they can be hard to roll up and often get tangled when stored in bins or baskets. Therefore, hanging your belts is a great way to store them so that they keep their shape and don't wear down prematurely. Simply utilize the existing vertical space in your closet by grabbing a special hanger made for storing multiple belts alongside each other. Alternatively, you can make your own version using a tension rod and an S-shaped hook for each belt.