Making the Most of Your Small Closet

By Ashley Paskill on October 28, 2018

This article is brought to you by CORT Furniture Rental. We take the hassle out of furnishing your new place so you can do more important things like read this article. Learn more about why furniture rental is the best way to get a great looking apartment.

College students who live in a dorm or off-campus apartment know how limited space is. Even if you do not have a roommate, it is likely that your space is still limited. However, it is possible to fit everything you need in your small closet, regardless of how little space you may have. It is important to stay organized and make the most of the space that is available to you.

closet organization

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Bring only what is essential

When you are packing your room from home, bring only what you will need. If you have not worn something for some time, leave it at home or donate it. You can even sell your unwanted clothes for extra money. Only bring outfits you know you will absolutely wear. For the fall semester, bring only fall clothes and switch out for winter clothes when you go home for break. Do the same for the spring semester.

Also, avoid bringing too much. Make a list of essential items and stick to the list. If you know the dimensions of the closet before moving in, measure it out and see how it compares to your closet at home to get a feel for how much space you will have to work with once you move into your apartment or dorm. If you bring an outfit to campus after going home for a weekend or break, take one home with you to help free up space.

Insert drawer space into the closet

If possible, insert a cloth or plastic drawer set into the closet. These drawers can be found at a variety of stores that sell home goods. Once you have them in place, maximize the space by stacking t-shirts and clothes in an organized manner. Keep your clothes folded neatly to ensure that you are using the space efficiently. If your clothes are a mess, drawer space will be reduced.

Have drawers for certain items, such as socks, t-shirts, and scarves. Only hang up items that can wrinkle equally.  Use the drawer space to keep like items together. Have pants in one drawer, shirts in another, and socks and undergarments in yet another. You can even coordinate the items by color if you choose. Once you have the drawer system in place, label your drawers so you know what goes in each drawer.

closet organization

Image via Unplash

Buy hangers with vertical rungs

Using hangers with vertical rungs can help eliminate space needed. While they still take up some room, they do help reduce the amount of space needed. Use these hangers to hang like garments, like shirts with shirts or pants with pants.  They even have specific vertical hangers for shirts and pants. If you have a lot of scarves, use a special scarf hanger to help eliminate scarves taking up drawer space and allows you to make room for other things. There are also hangers that look like individual hooks that are designed for camisoles, which helps keep these organized.

Install shelves

Shelves are another great tool for your closet space. You can use shelving units to organize accessories such as hats, shoes, and purses while allowing there to be room for hung garments. You can use shelving space for bath towels and rags. Many students also have containers that they use to put things in and place the containers on the shelves. Shelves can usually be customized to be placed at whatever height is suitable for what you have and what you need. Make sure you check with your dorm supervisor or landlord before installing anything permanent. There are removable shelving units you can use if you are not allowed to install permanent shelves.

Use space savers

If you live far away from home and are unable to go home on weekends or on breaks, you may need to bring all of your outfits, from fall to winter or winter to spring, with you at the beginning of the semester. In order to have enough space, use Space Savers for clothes you will need eventually but not right away. These containers are like plastic storage containers, but you use a vacuum to suck the air out and seal the container with a zipper. They help you condense a lot of clothing into a small space. When it is time to change clothes for seasons, switch them out for clothes you have out.

Make the most of other space you have

Even if you have limited closet space, it is likely that you have other places for additional room. For example, most dorm beds sit higher than regular beds, so you will have extra space to put stuff there. Use that space for things like suitcases to free closet space up for clothes and accessories. Also, use hooks to place pajamas and robes on the back of your door (obviously, sharing with your roommate if necessary). If you have extra desk space or drawers, use it to fit smaller items that you have.

Overall, if you are smart and creative with your space usage, you will be able to fit everything you need into your room, even if you have limited closet space. Make sure you stay clean and organized and take advantage of every inch of space you are given. Be sure to be considerate of your roommate as well, as you will be even more crunched for space if you have to share a room.

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