ORGANIZATION The Secret To Organizing a Small Closet Like a Pro

Looking for tips and ideas for organizing a small closet? Here’s how to transform a small closet in an afternoon.

A person, smiling with enthusiasm for organizing a small closet, opens a white door. They're stylishly dressed in a blue patterned blouse, blue jeans, and chic white shoes with bows. The airy room has pristine white walls, a curtained window, and a cozy beige rug underfoot.

//blue and white and khaki blouse (on clearance) // jeans (under $17) // similar mules that I have tried on and love //

Before we discuss closets? Can I tell you about this blue and white blouse I found on clearance? Ummm. It is fancy for under $14. I have it front tucked (not even sure if it’s a thing any more), but it looks cute tucked and untucked. It runs super big, so size down.

You can see the blouse here.

And these cropped stretchy jeans here.

Whew.

Enough fashion—let’s discuss this closet.

Remember when I shared the tour of our family beach house? I have one of the bedrooms at the front of our family beach house with a view of the ocean.

It’s been my bedroom since I was little.

I love the sound of the waves outside the window.

I love the ocean breezes that blow the curtains.

I love the wood floor under my feet.

I actually love everything about this bedroom.

Except.

Except for the closet.

I think it was built for a gerbil. Probably a seafaring one with whiskers—but a gerbil nonetheless.

Every year, after I put all my stuff (and my husband’s stuff) in there, I can’t close the door to the closet.

Somebody had to say it.

It was time for a change.

An open door reveals an empty walk-in closet with off-white walls, a wooden rod for hanging clothes, and a gray floor. The door has a full-length mirror and a brass doorknob.

Here’s where we started.

This is what the closet in my beach house bedroom looks like every year before I try and stuff all my stuff in there.

(total aside: this is the part of the post where you are looking at me with the unspoken question in your eyes about how much stuff someone actually needs for the beach. Really, KariAnne, you are thinking–shouldn’t the closet just hold leggings, athleisure and the occasional mumu?)

I get it.

I understand.

But here’s the thing. I tend toward the fancy side of things. I’m the person who needs an outfit for every occasion and I never met a pair of clam diggers I didn’t like. So my beach clothes selection fills way more closet than this.

An empty beige closet with a wooden rod for hanging clothes. The walls and door frame are white, and a small hook is visible on the left wall. The floor is bare with no items or shelves inside the closet.

The main challenge with the closet is that it has this one bar and the bar is kind of low for a closet bar—and it’s kind of hard to tell from the pictures—but it makes the egregious closet mistake of being way too close to the front of the space.

So therefore, it wastes vertical space AND horizontal space.

Sigh.

Somehow. Someway. This closet totally missed the assignment.

So here was my closet plan to fix what appears to be almost unfixable.

  1. Take out the existing closet bar.
  2. Paint the closet to lighten it up.
  3. Add the same peel-and-stick wallpaper as the alcove right next to the closet.
  4. Find a super skinny piece of shelving to go in the center of the closet.
  5. Add two closet bars on the left and one on the right.
  6. Move the bars more towards the back of the closet so that there was more space in the front.
  7. Add a shelf on top for more storage.

What do you think?

Do you think it will work?

Do you think I can do it?

An open door reveals an empty walk-in closet with off-white walls, a wooden rod for hanging clothes, and a gray floor. The door has a full-length mirror and a brass doorknob.

If you answered YES, you would be RIGHT.

Because now?

The closet went from this…

Organizing a small closet with chevron-patterned wallpaper, clothes are neatly hung on a rod. A hanging organizer with fabric bins graces the right side, while ample lighting and a mirror on the left door enhance its functionality.

To this.

WAIT WHAT?

Can you see? I literally DOUBLED MY SPACE.

(total aside: At this point, you may be thinking, KariAnne, what about all that floor space that you didn’t even put anything down. Don’t worry, I have way more stuff than this and my husband’s stuff, too, that can all fit in here now, but I wanted to make it look cute for the pictures.)

Organizing a small closet, this tidy space features chevron-patterned wallpaper. Clothes in vibrant hues hang neatly on a rod, complemented by a hanging shelf unit for boxes and shoes. The light gray floor and white walls create an airy and efficient atmosphere.

Here’s a close-up so you can see the changes better.

It’s hard to tell from the pictures, but in addition to all this storage?

There’s another 22″ at the front of the closet now.

And 22″ in a gerbil closet is not to be taken lightly.

Here’s how we update the closet in an afternoon.

Minimalist white cabinet set against a wall with a blue chevron pattern. The cabinet has two open shelves and an enclosed compartment with an orange knob. The wallpaper features a repeating design of blue diagonal lines on a white background.

// peel and stick wallpaper (with a 20% off coupon) //

The Secret To Organizing a Small Closet Like a Pro

1. The existing closet bar was removed.

Don’t worry. It didn’t go to waste. It was reused again.

2. The entire closet was painted white.

The spaces where the closet bar was were sanded slightly and then painted with white paint as well as the rest of the closet.

3. I ordered 2 rolls of this peel and stick wallpaper that matches the peel and stick wallpaper in the adjoining alcove for the back of the closet.

It’s SO easy to apply (just like contact paper) and there’s a 20% off coupon right now.

You can see the peel-and-stick wallpaper here.

A white closet with chevron-patterned, black-and-white wallpaper on the back walls. The closet has a hanging rod on the left and white shelves in the center with a cabinet at the top. The right side is empty.

4. I found this super skinny cabinet that actually has seven different cubbies—the shelves aren’t added in here yet. It measures 11.81″D x 12.99″W x 70.87″H.

There’s a door at the bottom, but I wanted to use it at the top instead so it was flipped upside down. You can also order it in different sizes depending on your closet size.

It comes in so many different sizes and it’s on sale right now.

You can see the cabinet here.

A close-up of a minimalistic white shelf mounted on a wall, supported by a dark wooden rod. The adjacent wall is decorated with a black and white chevron pattern, adding a stylish contrast to the otherwise simple design.

A white wall-mounted shelf with a wooden rod underneath. The background features a pattern of diagonal navy blue lines on a white surface, creating a herringbone design. The shelf appears to be sturdy and functional in a modern, minimalistic style.

5. Then the original closet rod was cut down into separate closet rods.

One for the right-hand side and two for the left-hand side.

After some maneuvering and planning, I discovered it might be better to make the right-hand side slightly smaller to give me more room for the two bars on the left-hand side.

It was easier to use the original closet bar,s and then I just got some additional closet fittings from Home Depot.

A white cabinet with a small round orange handle is mounted on a wall with a bold navy blue and white chevron pattern. The cabinet door is closed, and the chevron pattern provides a striking contrast against the white cabinet.

6. Next a shelf was added at the top.

It’s attached to the top of the cabinet and the closet brackets on either side.

This gave me so much additional storage at the top of the closet for beach bags, coolers, beach towels and extra bedding.

A cleverly organized small closet features a row of hangers on a wooden rod beneath a shelf. Perched above, there's a bag adorned with a map design of "Long Island." The navy blue and white herringbone patterned wall adds an inviting touch.

Organizing a small closet with precision, the open space showcases patterned bins and diverse clothing. On the left, shirts in vibrant hues of red, blue, and white hang neatly. To the right, chevron-patterned storage bins accompany neatly folded items for efficient organization.

Organizing a small closet, this tidy space features chevron-patterned wallpaper. Clothes in vibrant hues hang neatly on a rod, complemented by a hanging shelf unit for boxes and shoes. The light gray floor and white walls create an airy and efficient atmosphere.

7. There are two hooks on the edge of the door for robes and towels.

I also ordered these gray and white chevron organizers for the shelves.

You can see the organizers here.

They came in a set of two and I just ordered two more sets for the rest of the shelves.

I’m also getting a shoe organizer and hamper for the closet now that I have all this extra room.

An open door reveals an empty walk-in closet with off-white walls, a wooden rod for hanging clothes, and a gray floor. The door has a full-length mirror and a brass doorknob.

One more look at the closet.

From this.

A person with long blonde hair is standing at an open door, smiling, perhaps satisfied after organizing a small closet. They're wearing a blue patterned blouse, jeans, and beige slip-on shoes. The room has white walls, a navy dresser, and a striped rug on the floor.

//blue and white and khaki blouse (on clearance) // jeans (under $17) // similar mules that I have tried on and love //

To this.

Can you even believe it?

It’s kind of amazing.

Every time I opened up the door yesterday it made me smile and now it will be all ready for summer when we come back.

The only thing better than an organized closet?

Listening to the ocean when you open up the door.

A collage of organizing a small closet essentials: striped and patterned storage bins, a white shelving unit, and decorative baskets in blue, white, and gray. The words "closet organization" are at the top in pink.

PS I loaded up everything I used in this small closet organization makeover and a few really pretty blue and white favorites.

You can see them all in my Amazon store here.

disclosure: affiliate links are used in this post.

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Posted On: April 14, 2025

Written By: KariAnne Wood

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