7 clever clothes storage ideas for small bedrooms

We can all dream of a Sarah Jessica-Parker style walk in wardrobe where there’s space to swing a cat but the reality is quite different for most of us. Many of us have small bedrooms which means small closets.  And often, especially in the UK, storage space throughout the home is limited so you’re left with storing all your clothes in your small bedroom which equals chaos and clutter!  With these clever clothes storage ideas for small bedrooms, you can make sure that no matter how small your room, you can stay organised and tidy.

It may feel like we’re losing out with less storage but let me tell you having less storage space is good news.  The more storage space we have the more we feel compelled to fill it.  I can promise you that the problem is never how much storage we have, the problem is always our mindset about clutter.  That’s a whole other post but for now, lets just know that no matter how little clothes storage space you have, you can be clutter-free, organised and avoid ‘storing’ your clothes on a chair, bed or your floor!

Before I get in to the clothes storage ideas for small bedrooms I have to mention decluttering.  There is absolutely no point in creating an organised clothes storage space if you’re just moving your stuff from one place to another.  You’re most likely reading this because your clothes, shoes and accessories are taking over your bedroom and maybe even your home. If you don’t want to get rid of stuff first, then stop reading here.  If you’re willing to do the decluttering (and you will be so glad you did) then read my article on decluttering your closet first – there’s a handy free printable with the post that will help you declutter more effectively too.

Once you’re done decluttering, take a deep breath! Thats the hardest part over! Now that you’ve pared down your clothes to what you need and wear regularly, your clothes will fit much better in a smaller space and your bedroom will look and feel so much calmer. Read on for some stylish and practical clothes storage ideas for small bedrooms and you’ll find some handy ‘get the look’ suggestions at the end of this post:

7 clever clothes storage ideas for small bedrooms

1. Opt for an open wardrobe

I know this isn’t for everyone (although I do wonder why not sometimes) but consider it before you dismiss it.  An open closet instantly makes your small bedroom look bigger and more spacious simply because it isn’t a bulky block of furniture like most wardrobes. And the benefits don’t end there. With an open wardrobe, you can see what clothes you have so you’ll soon realise which pieces are never being worn. And an unexpected bonus of an open wardrobe is that you are far more likely to hang your clothes up each night.

With an open wardrobe you’ll most likely need some closed storage as you probably don’t want your undies, socks and other bits on display.  So you can either buy an open wardrobe system with drawers, custom make your own (I’ve got a handy tutorial for making your own open wardrobe as pictured at the top of this post) or combine a basic clothes hanger with small storage boxes, storage baskets or a chest of drawers – check out some suggestions at the end of this post.

An alternative to open storage is to go for the open rails but have a curtain in front. This again looks far less imposing than a wardrobe in a small bedroom.  Also this allows you to be messy behind the curtain ;). An open wardrobe, whether hidden behind a curtain or not, is a winner for so many reasons but my favourite reasons are that it looks super stylish and it’s costs so much less. Style, practicality and budget friendly… what’s not to love?

2. Make use of the height of the room

This tip is something that’s overlooked in so many rooms, and in a small bedroom it can make all the difference.  Unless you have very low ceilings, this tip can give you extra space that you never knew you had.  Depending on the space available, you can go for double hanging where you have hanging rails at different heights for different types of clothing. Or you can go for a low hanging rail with lots of shelving above.  You can even get a shelves with a clothes rail attached under saving even more space.

3. Use space saving hangers

Yes there is such a thing!  I discovered these when I opted for a small open wardrobe for myself.  There are slim, compact hangers that take up less space in a wardrobe and there are vertical stacking hangers which are great if you’ve got height but not much width.  Also if you’ve gone for an open wardrobe, go for identical hangers throughout. Mixing different types of hangers creates visual clutter. I’ve got some space saving hanger recommendations at the end of this post.

4. Use drawer and shelf dividers

Whether you have one drawer or three, if you throw all your stuff in there, it will fill up really quickly and after a few days, it might be impossible to find anything. Life’s to too short to organise your drawers daily or even weekly. So get drawer dividers/drawer boxes – also called separators.  These help maximise your space and make sure these is no space wasted.  Use these to make the most of your space and they’ll also help you easily find stuff everyday. You can also get similar dividers for shelves which too save space and keep things neat and tidy without much effort.

5. Wall hooks are both practical and stylish

The number of wall hooks out there is staggering.  From ones that cost pennies to ones that cost a small fortune to easy DIY ones.  The choice is endless.  And there’s a reason for this. Wall hooks are not only space saving and practical but they look super stylish too.  I’m all for combining beauty with practicality in a home so I wholeheartedly recommend using wall hooks.  Depending on your space, you can use individual hooks which can be dotted around a wall or you can use a long one with lots of pegs to hang stuff off.  They’re handy to hang jewellery, handbags, scarves, mirrors and more.

6. Is there any wasted floorspace?

This is a tip I wasn’t sure I should include because I’m not a fan filling up floor space. Leaving floor space empty is what always gives a room breathing space and creates a sense of space even in a small room. So don’t be tempted to fill up all floor space because this will make your small room look smaller and make it look cluttered.  However if there is any wasted floor space like if you’ve got shelving that ends a few feet from the floor, you can place matching storage baskets or boxes which fit snugly and look like they belong there.  This can also be a good place to keep shoes too. Or if you’ve got a clothes rail with clear space under, again you could use it to create a bit more storage.

7.  Be creative with your space

It’s important to make your wardrobe space work for YOU.  Before you buy a new wardrobe or begin organising your existing space, consider what kind of storage you need – do a lot of your clothes need hanging space or do you need more shelf or drawer space? Do you have a ton of shoes? Or lots of accessories?  Beyond this think outside the box. Is there a corner in your bedroom that you could use for a hanging rail?  Can you place some wall hooks above your bed or behind the door?  Your entire wardrobe area doesn’t have to be crammed together in one area of your bedroom. Sometimes spreading it out works better and looks more organised in small spaces. There is no right or wrong way to create a wardrobe space.  The important thing is that it should work for your space and your clothes.

Below, you’ll find some wardrobe space saving products, storage containers and some slimline/minimalist wardrobes ideas, all designed to help you make the most of your clothes storage space in a small bedroom.

SPACE SAVING WARDROBE ACCESSORIES & STORAGE CONTAINERS

one | two | three | four | five | six | seven | eight | nine

The storage ideas above are all handy for when you don’t have much closet space. Boxes and baskets help keep clutter out of sight and wall hooks create a feature as well as give you extra storage.  They’re best for keeping your nicest stuff on display.

Minimal and space saving wardrobe ideas

one | two | three | four | five | six | seven | eight | nine

The wardrobe/storage ideas shared above have more than one use which is what makes them especially handy for a small bedroom – like no. 4 which is a mirror plus has hooks for storage.  And they’re all minimally designed which takes up less space and looks less bulky in a small room.

If you want a super budget friendly wardrobe option (that looks so much more expensive than it is), check out this minimalist open wardrobe tutorial that you can make yourself.  It looks sleek, stylish and is great for saving space.

Image credits: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

*This post contains affiliate links