Discover creative ideas to add storage space in a home with little to no closets.
Welcome to Your Home, But Better, Family Handyman’s ultimate guide to making every inch of your space work harder. We’ll show you how to maximize function and transform challenging areas—from awkward nooks to cluttered entryways—into the organized home of your dreams.
If your home or apartment has heartbreakingly small closets (or none at all), don’t lose hope. I’ve lived in plenty of older, New England homes with tiny closets that forced me to get creative and find space for all my belongings. An open mind, a little ingenuity and the ideas on this list go a long way in carving out more storage areas or maximizing existing closets.
But before you start adding new storage solutions, both experts we spoke with suggest decluttering first. “Really creative storage is not about finding more space, but letting go of what no longer fits your lifestyle, so you can support who you are now,” says organizing expert Shannon Hale. “No amount of storage can get rid of clutter.”
Ahead, Hale and Rebecca West, author of Happy Starts at Home, share their favorite no storage ideas for homes with limited closet space.
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Cube Storage Units
Widely available and easy to customize, cube units offer a simple way to add storage anywhere. They can be dressed up with nicer bins and hold an impressive amount. I’ve used them as a bureau, toy storage, a bookcase and for hats and gloves in the mudroom. They’re inexpensive, too, starting at around $40 for a six-cube unit.
Why We Like It: They’re lightweight, quick to assemble and adaptable to almost any home style. Their compartmental design keeps items organized and makes them useful in virtually any room.
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Wardrobe or Armoire
Instantly add a closet to your home with a wardrobe or armoire. I have a large wardrobe from Ikea with hanging rods, shelves and drawers, all tucked behind two sliding doors. These are great for renters, or if you’re not ready for a remodel, West says. IKEA’s wardrobes start at $199, and go up to $2000 for a large corner unit.
Why We Like It: These are renter-friendly, customizable and offer tons of storage space.
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New Closet Build
Build a standard closet for around $1,500 to $2,000 in an unused corner of a room. You’ll spend more for a larger size or customized features. “If you don’t have the space for a full-depth closet, think creatively,” West says. “Shallow closets are great for storing folded clothes, linens, toys, books, and office gear, and can even be great hanging storage if lined with hooks, particularly for entries with no proper coat closet.”
Why We Like It If you don’t rent and your budget allows, this is the ultimate solution for not enough closet space.
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Wall Hooks
“Hooks work especially well where folks need temporary hanging space,” West says. “A whole wall of hooks can hold bags, clothes on hangers, hats, coats, robes, towels and more. Just be sure to hang them high enough that in a narrow space, no one will snag their clothes on a hook as they pass by in a small bedroom, or worse, hit their head.”
Why We Like It: Hooks are easy to install, inexpensive (starting around $5), and utilize often-overlooked vertical wall space.
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Room to Closet Conversion
Turn an unused bedroom, office or pantry space into the ultimate walk-in closet. Add hanging rods, a shoe rack and shelves for an instant closet conversion. Tenants in one of my rentals often turn a small office into a closet, so this setup can be renter-friendly too.
Why We Like It: A room-to-closet conversion doesn’t require renovation and offers an expansive storage solution.
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Under Bed Storage
“Storage beds with built-in drawers or lift-up frames can provide as much storage as a good-sized dresser,” West says. If you aren’t in the market for a new bed, consider plastic under-bed bins or use bed-lifters to raise the bed height a bit for even more storage opportunities. A captain’s bed with integrated drawers will be more of an investment, while bed lifters and plastic bins are more budget-friendly.
Why We Like It: Under-bed storage can vastly increase your existing storage space, and it beats storing just dust bunnies under there.
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Open Displays
“Take a cue from luxury lifestyle design and put hats, purses, scarves or shoes on display on 12-in. deep bookshelves, saving your 24-in. deep closets for bulkier items,” West says. Garment racks also work well, but you’ll need to keep things neat to avoid adding visual clutter. “When storage looks good, you’re more likely to keep it that way,” Hale adds.
Why We Like It: Displaying items encourages you to only keep clothing that you actually wear and are in good shape, a key practice when closet space is at a minimum.
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Bureaus and Dressers
Who needs closets when you can use drawers? Turn bureaus into storage space for purses, sweaters, even shoes, and save any actual closet space for things that need to be hung, West says. Buy new or repurpose a vintage bureau for a unique look.
Why We Like It: Bureaus and dressers are easy to find, and drawers make stored items easy to access.
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External Closet System
Install a closet system meant for the inside of a closet along an empty wall to transform it into a usable ‘closet’ in rooms that lack built-in storage. Look for freestanding clothes rack frames or closet systems with wall-mounted standards and brackets for easy installation and customization. Costs will vary depending on the size, material and features, but a basic wire shelf system should cost under $200.
Why We Like It: This idea is both renter- and homeowner-friendly, providing ample versatile storage space.
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Room Divider Closet
Starting around $50, room dividers or privacy screens are a great way to partition off part of a room for closet storage. “As an interior designer, I’ve carved out walk-in pantries and work-from-home spaces in houses where folks didn’t think it was possible,” West says. Pair the divider with a garment rack or closet system for screened off storage.
Why We Like It: Part of the allure of a closet is that stored items don’t have to look perfect all the time. Using a divider to hide the mess helps duplicate this perk.
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Hanger Extenders
Maximize the closet space you have by investing in hanger extenders for $10 or less. “These interconnecting hangers or chain systems double and triple the amount of hanging storage you have, depending on the length of your space and the clothes you want to hang,” West says.
Why We Like It: Hanger extenders quickly and easily increase your storage capacity with very little effort and money.
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Under Mattress Storage
I learned this trick from a roommate back in college: store extra linens between the mattress and the box spring until you need them. When the pieces are folded neatly and laid out flat, the space becomes a practical hideaway for spare sheets, pillowcases and extra towels.
Why We Like It: This is a completely free way to gain clever, out-of-sight storage in a spot that most people never think to use. It’s perfect for small apartments, shared bedrooms or anyone looking to declutter without buying organizers.
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Over Door Shelves
Store toiletries, shoes, makeup, medicine or toys behind any door by adding over-door shelves or pockets. This space-saving solution keeps clutter off counters and floors while making everything easy to reach. It’s an easy way to maximize small spaces and keep your home neatly organized.
Why We Like It: Over-door shelves are inexpensive, starting at around $20, and are easy to install for instant additional storage.
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Garment Racks on Wheels
Garment racks can be a stylish and affordable way to easily add clothing storage. “If boutique stores can store 100 outfits in 200 square feet, you can do it too,” Hale says. “Curate a collection of clothes that feel fantastic on you and make you feel great.” They’re affordable, too, starting at around $20.
Why We Like It: When done right, garment racks can easily integrate into any design aesthetic while adding crucial clothes-hanging space.
About the Experts
- Rebecca West is a former interior designer and author of Happy Starts at Home, a book full of exercises meant to help you figure out how to make your home work better for you.
- Shannon Hale is a personal organizing expert and host of the YouTube channel Shannon Skip To My Life, where she shares home organizing and decluttering tips.
