Space-Saving Ideas for Reach-In Closets in Small Apartments

Double-Hang Your Closet Rods

In a small apartment, every inch of space makes a difference. When you hang one clothing rod under another (leave about three feet of space between the two), you instantly double the closet’s hanging capacity. This means that if you’ve been having to place some of your items over a chair or even in another room to accommodate them, you may now have enough space to put them in your closet.

You’ll benefit from this tip if you wear mostly separates. You can hang your shirts on the top rod and pants (folded over the hanger at the knee) and skirts on the bottom rod. Some people prefer to do the opposite to pet the slimmer items on the top rod, which lets more light through to the wider items on the bottom. When a couple is sharing the closet, another idea is to hang one person’s items on the top and the other’s on the bottom.

Use Under-Shelf Baskets

If you have shelves in your closet, chances are good there’s some unfilled space between them. You can add baskets that hang from an upper shelf and take up only part of the space between that and the shelf below it. In a small home, this can drastically improve your storage situation, particularly if you have several shelves and use several baskets.

You’ll want to use these for lightweight items, like hair accessories, socks, bathing suits, ties, or belts. If you want more ideas on how to use baskets throughout your home to increase your storage potential, check out what the experts at Better Homes & Gardens have to say.

Choose Space-Saving Hangers

When hanging items on the rods in your reach-in closet, you can maximize the number of items you hang by choosing space-saving hangers. Bulky hangers can add clutter to your closet, and the idea here is to make everything look and function in a more streamlined fashion. 

You have several options when it comes to saving space with hangers:

• Switch out plastic and bulky wood hangers for velvet hangers
• Use clips to hang skirts rather than folding them in half over the hanger
• Choose “magic hangers,” which have several holes that cascade down – holding several items on each one
• Pick hangers with an extra bar at the bottom to accommodate both the shirt and pants for a full outfit
  

Add Hooks and Shelves

Adding hooks and shelves to the interior wall of the closet will help you take advantage of every inch of space available. My team will often install various types of hooks on the side and front wall of a reach-in closet. You can use these for items, like purses, scarves, and hats. If you have a solid wood door, installing hooks there is also an option.

Shelves can make the most of corners and the side walls, and depending on the size of your closet, could be just the right place to add shoe organizers, bins, or small items, like watches and jewelry.

Install Lighting and Mirrors

Finally, I recommend upgrading your lighting and adding mirrors to a small closet in a small home. The reason isn’t because it actually adds space – instead, it adds the illusion of space. While having better lighting and a reflective surface won’t give you more room to store your belongings, both options will improve visibility and make the space feel more appealing and roomy.

Some lighting options to consider are LED strip lights, battery-operated touch-lights, and a table lamp placed on a shelf. Mirrors can be used on any wall of the closet, behind the door, or even on shelves to create a feeling of depth.

Conclusion

Finding storage in a small house or apartment can feel like a challenge. A custom reach-in closet can make it easier when you have the right tools in place. I’d be happy to help! Give Klutter Killerz a call to schedule a free in-home consultation, and one of our designers will show you how a custom storage space can make a huge difference in how your home looks and functions.

Source

• https://www.bhg.com/decorating/storage/organization-basics/storage-solutions-using-baskets/