Running out of room for your clothes, shoes and bags? These small apartment closet organization ideas give you plenty to work with, from baskets on the door to extra shelves beneath your hanging clothes.
I especially love the little spots set aside for handbags.
You can keep things simple with a few bins or rethink the whole layout. Start with whatever keeps ending up on your floor, then choose an idea that gives it a proper home.
Closet organization ideas worth trying
a slim tower of shelves
We’re starting off strong with this narrow closet and its little white shelf tower. I love how the folded jeans sit above separate spots for boots and sneakers.
Read also: 20 Closet Organization Hacks for Clothes, Shoes and Accessories
Try a slim shelving unit beside your hanging clothes if you have a similar gap. Leave room underneath the shorter pieces for a laundry basket.
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baskets behind the door
How cute is this door setup? The white baskets hold folded items and bottles while the hooks give bags their own place in the middle.
If you want to try this, check the space behind your closed door first. Those deeper baskets need a little breathing room.
a place for every handbag
I am obsessed with this handbag storage. The pink bags look so pretty together, plus you can see each one without digging through a pile.
Choose door baskets wide enough for your bags to stand without being squeezed. Keep smaller pouches together in a lower basket like the patterned ones here.
folded shirts in rows
If you’re looking for a different way to organize your tees, this one is for you. The shirts stand in rows inside wire drawers rather than disappearing beneath a tall stack.
Read also: 20 Dollar Store Organizing Ideas for Drawers, Shelves and More
Try little dividers within a drawer to keep the rows separate. I love being able to see all those colors at once.
two rows of hanging space
Have lots of shirts but not many long dresses? Try two hanging rods like these.
Pale button-front shirts fill the upper row while shorter tops and jackets hang below.
Matching hangers make this arrangement look so neat. Measure your clothes before deciding how much space to leave between the rods.
shoe shelves underneath
This may just be one of my favorite layouts here. I love the rows of shoes below the hanging clothes and the separate opening for the tall hamper.
The drawers and little baskets give you somewhere to put smaller things too. Pick the parts that suit your wardrobe rather than trying to squeeze in everything.
curtains across the closet
Don’t want your shelves on display all day? No problem!
These floor-length cream curtains cover most of the storage wall, with a narrow opening showing baskets and drawers.
Try curtains close to your wall color if you like this understated look. Make sure you can pull them aside far enough to reach your things.
cubes and hanging shelves
There’s so much to love in this little closet. A four-cube unit holds folded clothes and baskets while a hanging organizer gives the jeans their own shelves.
My favorite part is the small accessory setup on top of the cube unit. Leave a patch of that surface free if you need somewhere to set things while getting dressed.
an open clothing rack
No built-in closet? This open rack is a pretty starting point.
There are handbags up top, clothes along the rail and shoes lined up underneath.
I love the separate shelf beside it for folded pieces and smaller bags. For your own version, keep any hanging lights clear of clothing.
Read also: 20 Clothes Drawer Organization Ideas for a Neater Dresser
drawer towers below the rail
If your closet has one high rod and lots of empty space below, take a look at this. Narrow drawer towers fill the lower area without hiding the hanging tops.
Try shallow drawers for smaller items and deeper ones for bulkier pieces. The different drawer sizes here give you both options.
bags in a vertical row
How sweet is this little row of bags? The tan, cream, pink and black shapes hang down the center instead of taking over a shelf.
To borrow the idea, choose a bag organizer designed to hold your bags by their straps. I’d keep the heaviest ones on a shelf rather than copying the single-hanger setup.
pockets on both doors
This closet has so many little storage spots! I especially love the door pockets for bottles and accessories, with labeled baskets across the top shelf.
A narrow cart fits between the cube unit and hamper below. If you recreate that part, leave enough room to roll it out.
I’d swap the lit candle near the clothes for a battery-operated one.
cubbies between clothing rails
I love this open wardrobe with its tall white cubbies. Folded clothes, bags and bins all have separate spaces, with hanging clothes on either side.
The large basket beneath the left rail is a nice extra touch. Try one there for loose items you don’t want scattered across the bedroom.
pull-out bins for jeans
Don’t want to add a whole drawer unit? These handled bins are another option.
The jeans stand side by side in one bin while folded tops fill the neighboring containers.
Measure your shelves before buying a matching set. You’ll want enough room above each bin to pull it out without catching the clothes.
colorful walls and low cubbies
Okay, that colorful closet interior is gorgeous. The dark blue shelves look so pretty against it, with low cubbies beneath the hanging coat.
If you want a similar setup for outerwear, keep the hanging area open and use the bottom compartments for shoes. A little closet doesn’t have to be plain!
plan your clothing zones
Not sure where everything should go? This empty closet shows a plan before the clothes even go in, with category labels marking the shelves and two hanging areas.
Try sketching your own version first. Give your biggest clothing categories the most room rather than copying every label exactly.
light-to-dark rows
I am obsessed with how neatly the colors are arranged here. The hanging tops move from cream to dark shades, with more color tucked into the folded rows below.
Start by grouping similar items, then sort by color if you like this look. The labeled boxes up top are a useful finishing touch.
a pegboard for small things
The little accessories finally get their own wall! Umbrellas, keys and a black hat hang on this pegboard above a row of shoe cubbies.
I especially love the small baskets and shelves mixed in with the hooks. For your own closet, plan the hook positions around the things you actually reach for.
handbags on display
If you love keeping your handbags where you can see them, this one is for you. A full-width shelf holds the bags above two hanging sections and a column of folded clothes.
The small bottles have a shelf of their own too. You might add a shallow tray there to keep them together when you reach for something.
double rails above drawers
Last but definitely not least, we have this open wardrobe with two clothing rails above white drawers. I love the little shelves at the side for hats and a trailing plant.
A white curtain hangs beside the wardrobe. If you’re planning something similar, check the hanging length on both rows before choosing the drawers underneath.