My Inexpensive Clothes Closet Organizing Ideas
What’s behind your clothes closet door? Are there neat piles of folded sweaters and orderly rows of shoes? Or do you have a single, straining closet rod filled with smashed together clothing and one long shelf filled with toppling stacks of sweaters and t-shirts?
Most of us like the sound of the first scenario, but live with the second.
I love the above quote and try to keep the contents of my closet in tune with it by seasonally editing what is in my closet and keeping it organized. Doing this not only keeps the space uncluttered, but also lets me find what I want right away.
I did one of these “clothes closet editing sessions” recently when waiting for the paint to dry when making over my primary bathroom.
I had gotten lazy and was just leaving my shoes on the floor when there are shelves for them and not keeping my clothes organized by the season.
I like my walk-in closet. It isn’t huge or fancy with wallpapered walls, a chandelier and center island like you see closets have on Instagram, but it is all mine. It was one of the selling features of the house that I liked.
When Ed and I were touring the house with the real estate agent 9 years ago, after seeing the view of the lake from the house and then walking into the bedroom and saw the two “his and hers” walk-in closets, I turned to the agent and said, “Where do we sign?” :-)
Before having a closet to myself, I have always shared my clothes closet with my sisters growing up and then Ed. In college I had a tiny little space with a folding door to hide it.
Cleaning Out My Clothes Closet
I did a thorough clean-out of every item in the closet – contents of the drawers, what was hanging on the rods and stored in boxes on the shelves. I found I didn’t need the pink boxes and their contents anymore so out they went with a big pile of clothes that I no longer wear, like or that don’t fit anymore.
The leopard print shoes were hard to let go, but I can’t wear flats anymore. I have high arches on my feet and need to wear shoes that support them so I don’t get a flare up of plantar fasciitis.
The pink boxes fold flat so I will keep them to use somewhere else in my house. I took the clothes to my local thrift shop.
Here are all all the empty hangers that were holding the clothes I took to the thrift shop. I moved them into Ed’s closet where he has an empty closet rod on one side.
See the mirror leaning on the wall? That is one of the two that were above the sink vanity in the bathroom that I no longer needed.
Once I had cleaned out the closet and reorganized everything, I put the mirrors to use again by hanging them on the back wall of the closet.
Having mirrors on the walls makes the space look bigger and brighter. My closet also has a floor to ceiling wall of mirror tiles which make it easy to see if I like an outfit or not when getting dressed.
Now I have all my clothes organized once again by the season. Winter to the left and summer to the right.
I need to wear hats with wide brims whenever I am outside to protect the white vitiligo patches on my face. Since it is a must, I have tried to embrace it and have collected a few hats that look nice and have wide brims. I can easily grab one now right off the closet shelf.
I spray painted the hatbox navy blue for a new look. It had a black and white pattern on it before.
I made new labels for the baskets that I made lids for. I add lids so I can easily stack the baskets. To find out how to make the lids, check out this post: How to Make Lids for Storage Baskets.
To learn how I make the storage basket labels, see this post: Decorative Free Printable Labels for Organizing
My shoes are all where they should be now.
As are my totes…
…jeans, and folded clothes on the shelves and in the drawers.
Picking out what to wear and getting dressed is once again easy to do now that I have cleaned out and organized my clothes closet.
If you haven’t cleaned out and reorganized your closet recently, I highly recommend it. It feels so good to now like everything I see in my closet just as the quote at the beginning of the post stated.
Inexpensive Closet Organizing Ideas
Here are a few inexpensive closet organizing ideas that may help you create a clothes closet you enjoy going into every day.
With so many affordable closet organizing solutions and options nowadays, it is easier than you think to upgrade your closet no matter the closet size or your budget.
Install a Closet System
Inexpensive closet organizing systems are made for every size closet from small to a large walk-in closet.
I refitted my closet in my previous house with a DIY closet system called Easy Track. It was affordable and easy to install in an afternoon. If this doesn’t fit your needs, look into Easy Closets or closet and shelving units from IKEA that will allow you to design just what you need while keeping the cost down.
Add A Double Rod
I have a double rod system in this closet, but you don’t need a closet organizing system to have a double rod or any DIY skills.
Home stores sell affordable hanging rods like these that fit over existing rods so you can create a double rod… literally in an instant. They are ingenious.
Use Better Hangers
There is a reason wire hangers are free… they are not made to hang clothes for a long time. If you want to prolong the life of your clothes, don’t keep your clothes on wire hangers. Use more substantial hangers that will maintain the shape of your garments.
- I use the clear style hangers that retail stores use to hang clothes on the racks. When I buy clothes I always ask to keep the hanger.
- I use clip-on skirt hangers for jeans and skirts
- I use padded hangers for my sweaters and a few plastic hangers to which I add pipe cleaners to stop silky tops from slipping off. Learn how I make them in minutes: How to Keep Clothes From Slipping Off Hangers
Label Storage Boxes and Baskets
As I mentioned above, I add labels to storage boxes for smaller items like scarves, handbags, and other items I don’t use frequently.
Labeling each box helps me know what I have at a glance.
Adding labels also keeps me organized for the long run since I know exactly where to find or place everything after I wear it.
- How to make the labels: Decorative Free Printable Labels
- For more free and easy label ideas, check out all the Free Printable Labels in my Project Gallery
My motto…. “If I have to hunt for it, I will probably never wear it.“
Stacking shoe racks can be bought at stores like Target and Walmart. The stacking shelves fit nicely under clothes hanging from the rod above. The plastic shoe containers are from the dollar store.
I like using see-through storage containers for my shoes so that I can see what I have at a glance. I label each with a description of the shoes that are inside. This keeps them organized so I will be a “shoe-placer” not a “shoe-tosser-to-the-floor” kind of girl :-)
More Clothes Closet Organizing Ideas:
- Replace the light bulb in the closet light fixture. See how a simple light bulb switch can remove the color cast it gives clothes hanging in the closet in this clothes closet lighting post.
- Use matching hangers so the rod looks visually appealing – just like your favorite clothing boutique.
- Treat your closet like your favorite clothes shop. Keep items categorized on rods – shirts, pants, skirts, jackets, and by the season.
- Keep items visible. If you don’t see it, you won’t wear it.
- If your closet is small, make more room by storing out-of-season clothes in boxes, under the bed or in another room and make sure to label each.
- Organize in a way that works for you and your budget. The dollar store has many budget-friendly closet organizers.
- If you have the room, consider adding a chest of drawers to the closet. so that all your clothes are in one place.
- Hang a mirror on a nearby door or wall.
And lastly, if you enjoy your clothes and want to maximize the ways you can coordinate and accessorize them to come up with new outfits consider hanging a Fashion Coordinating Idea Board in your closet.
Having one will help you save ideas you find in magazines or catalogs to coordinate your clothes into many different looks.
By tacking a piece of paper and hanging a pencil from ribbon using a push pin or thumbtack will help you take note to write down outfit combinations you created and liked. Doing this will end the standing in front of your clothes and thinking you have nothing to wear syndrome.
Ultimately when your closet is well organized and your clothes are in sync with your personal style, you should be able to walk into your closet blindfolded and pull out any shirt, pant, jacket, and shoes and walk out looking and feeling great!
And remember….
More Clothes & Closet Organizing Posts
Would you like to save this post?
Enter your email below and I’ll send it to you!
What a great job! And daunting…..😱 I have my own walk-in closet, but it is small and I have too much. I love what you did in your closet and am inspired to do something to mine. You always have the best ideas that are also budget friendly. Thanks for that!
WOW!!!! That is a huge over-haul. You are so inspiring, Diane! I need to do that again. I did it a few years ago but have lost 22 pounds so some stuff I need to get rid of again. Yay but ugh. You look great in that selfie. Keep up the good work. I so agree looking into your closet should feel good. I may work on it this weekend. Thank you!
Your closet looks great! You must be proud of yourself. I think it is a freeing feeling to edit a closet. For me less is more. You have a beautiful house with all your touches!
I share a walk-in closet with my husband, but I use much more than my “half”. I’m motivated by your organization and it’s time for me to organize mine, as we are finally getting warmer weather. It’s so hard for me to part with old favorites that I longer wear but I always feel so much better when I do. That feeling of enjoying what you see in your closet is worth working for. Cute photo of you!
Diane, you look so cute in these pictures :) Well done on the closet
Thanks Jackie :-)
Great post & so helpful as always! Love your skirt, or is it a skort? Do you have a link for it? Thanks so much!
Hi Jeanne – I bought the flouncy skirt at TJMaxx. It is made by Tommy Bahama. It comes in different colors and patterns. I have it in white and black. You can see one of the colors that TJ Maxx still sells here: https://bit.ly/3UTsH39 It sells for $19.99.
You can also find it at the full price which is $100 dollars more: https://bit.ly/3yvIg9D
If you have TJMaxx’s around you, check all of them out to see if you can find one in a color you like for $20. :-)
This article provides practical and creative tips for organizing your clothes closet. From using tension rods to hang scarves and belts, to incorporating storage bins for seasonal items, these ideas will help you maximize space and minimize clutter. Plus, as a bonus tip, the author suggests displaying your favorite sneakers, such as Jordans, as a unique and stylish way to add some personality to your closet.
The more of your posts I read, the more I admire your sense of organization. I really liked this post. Even though our closets look much the same, mine is not as organized as yours. I think I have too many clothes. This comes from years of being on prednisone and having clothes in many different sizes. As I am losing weight, I so look forward to getting rid of the larger sizes.
Diane, this is a fabulous post! I’ve been trying to get motivated for a closet makeover and just haven’t wanted to tackle finding shelves and things. I love your closet shelves! I don’t care about a fancy light fixture or carpet. The idea board sounds so fun. Thanks for sharing!
You have managed your everything very nicely and seasonally type clothes at one place, I saw in your pictures. After reading this post , it really helps us from many ways.
Hi there, this is Matija here, from Slovenia.
I am working on a wardrobe market here, locally in Slovenia and I was just wondering if you could share with me where can be ordered such bottom of a drawers that I found on your picture (third from bootom up). Thanks in advance, Matija
Hi Matija – I think you are asking about the lining in the drawer? Light blue and white. If so, it is gift wrap that I added to the drawers. I wrote a post on how I did it. You can find it here: https://32fzzz.com/2015/03/the-easy-trick-on-how-to-line-a-drawer.html%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Your closet is beautiful.
I happen to also have a small company that organizes homes and packs and unpacks people who are moving.
Organizing a beautiful walk in closet is hard work but what happens when you are dealing with a small wardrobe in a small city apartment?
Maybe your next pin could address that issue?
I certainly have my own tricks, for example space bags are an absolute must, but I’d love to see some additional ideas.
P. S. I prefer to not be added to any mailing lists.
Thank you
I love your closet and enjoy the great ideas I get from your blog. Did you paint that dresser that you keep your jewelry in? And if so what color paint?
Hi Rita – Yes I did paint the dresser. You can read all about in here: https://32fzzz.com/2015/03/modern-paint-finish-using-diy-chalk-paint.html%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
P.S. I love your taste in clothes, too!
Thanks Linda – I am trying to get my wardrobe down to a few easy pieces….or a capsule type wardrobe since I always wear the same things over and over.
Love what you have to share! Especially the tip about the Valet Hook/Ribbon for staggering the top/bottoms of a look while putting it together. I’d love to try the inspiration board as well- too cute!!
Dianne,
This is my very first time visiting and I love what I see.
You are so talented.
My real reason for commenting is to tell you how much I love your hair cut. How cute?
Thank you for providing all of this wonderful “imagination” of yours.
I appreciate it.
Hi Diane …
………….. & I thought you were going to say that the last thing to put on was …………… perfume (Chanel No 5 for moi). But Yes, I agree wholeheartedly, a smile makes ALL the difference to ones appearance!! Thanks for this post. I particularly like the hanger with a ribbon attached for the other part of the outfit. It’s sooo much easier to make a decision when an outfit is put together … but I don’t usually know for certain if something is the look I’m going for until I’m fully dressed …. then have to change. Well, I am changing that to past tense now … & sharing it with all my g’friends! In fact, there are quite a few men who could also do with this suggestion!! :)
BTW Just out of interest …. Do you hang or fold your T-shirts?
Thanks again for yet another very handy post … Wendy from Oz …
Perfume should be the first thing you out on; before clothes. Hutchins fabric and is too strong for other noses. Also, it doesn’t mix with your skin and indebted true fragrance of you.
I put my perfume/cologne on after I prepare my face for make up.
Wow, spell check is crazy. Sorry for the crazy words.
“This article is very cool and amazing. Thanks for sharing your extraordinary tips in closet organization So productive! Like here in http://www.bigappleorganizers.com “
How do you attach the labels to the wire bins? That is just a brilliant idea, I need label our bins too. Also how did you create the labels.
Thanks for any help for this girl wanting to get organized.
Hi Heather – I totally forgot to link to the post on how to make the labels. I just added it. I make them on my computer and attach them with brass fasteners. You can find the post on how to do it here:
https://32fzzz.com/2015/06/decorative-free-printable-labels-for-organizing.html%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
For all the free printable labels I have posted about check out this page: https://32fzzz.com/free-printable-organizing-labels-2%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Thank you! Thank you! I LOVE your site.
I love your blog!
Your closet is wonderful! you’ve done a great job. I wish I had your sense of style and for organizing. My closet is not as neat as it is in mi mind. I could try organizing my t-shirts and shoes your way, that will work perfectly in my closet. And about your “fashion coordinating hanger” – that’s genius! I never know what I’m going to wear the next day. Even in the morning I’m still not sure about some details in my clothing. Thank you for the inspiration!
Diane, could you come to my house and toss half of my closet contents and help my closet look as neatly organized as yours. Ed is welcome to come too.Living near the outlet mall is not a good thing as clothes seem to multiply way too fast. We have a guest house I know you’d both enjoy . Loving the tip about the ribbon on the hanger and hook on the back of the door. I might get to Sunday School on time using your suggestion. That could make for a happy husband.
Diane, I love reading your blog and getting your simple ideas for my house!! Your closet looks great! I am wondering where you got your black and white hat – I luv it!
Thanks Gloria – The hat is from TJ Maxx. My sister bought it for me last summer. :-)
I organized my closet right after Thanksgiving but I used the tubular plastic hangers because that is what I had. Where do you find the hangers you used. They really look nice and don’t seem to take up as much space. I need to add the tags to all the containers so I don’t have to guess each time. I guess I have something on my to do list! Love your ideas!!!
Hi Nancy – When I buy clothes I always ask for the hanger if it is the type that I use. You can also buy a pack of them inexpensively at Walmart.
I wish we lived closer as I’d like to be your neighbor and have you over for afternoon tea…. Thanks for sharing all your wonderful hints.
I usually wear an outfit/pants/top twice. To remember what has already been worn once, I hang all freshly cleaned clothes on hangers facing the closet wall. Once a garment is worn once, after airing it overnight, I rehang it with the hanger facing away from the wall.
Happy summer!
Hi Erin – I wish I could be your neighbor, too. Tea sounds wonderful. :-) Great idea about turning the clothes on the hangers after you worn them away from the wall. Love tips like this.
How did you know that I have been thinking that my closet needs A LOT of work!!! How can you encourage me to get rid of so many of the clothes that I actually do wear and LOVE??? I just don’t have much room to keep them all. I love how you also put together outfits, I do this the night before so that there is NO confusion in the morning.
Thanks, for the inspiration!!!
Mary
Hi Mary – To help you lessen what is in your closet, maybe start by taking the items you least wear. Place them in a bag or box and put them under your bed or in another closet in another room. If you haven’t reached for the anything after a given time, then you can donate it. Keep doing this until you have only the things that you feel good in and love in your closet.
Oh Diane, you are just the cutest, sweetest, cutie pie and I love all your ideas. And shock of all shocks, I have cleaned out my bedroom closet……… although it must be about a thousand times tinier than your lovely one. And I am so very proud of myself to have done it too. And no, not as cute as your perfect touches…… you do the best top it off stuff. I am definitely inspired from your post again.
Thanks Sheryll Lyn – Isn’t it a nice feeling having a organized closet? I am sure you added your own unique touches to your closet. They are what make a closet truly yours.
I especially like the inspiration board. I will have to give it a whirl.
-Lisa
Beautiful post, Diane. So many inspiring and useful ideas worth imitating. You continue to amaze me. Thanks!
Hi Barbara – Thanks…It was a fun post to do. I enjoy DIY, but I also love clothes. Getting to write about them along with DIY really fuels my passion of all things style related.
I’d love to just walk around your house. That closet is so beautifully done. It made me know I need to re-do some of the basic system in mine. Thanks for being the inspiration.
Love your ideas. Keep ’em coming.
You might try replacing the 100 watt bulb in your closet with an equivalent “daylight” cfl bulb. This helps you to see colors better and the overall contents while saving electricity.
Thanks Anne – I agree about the bulb. I do have a post coming showing how different the light is in the closet with a Cree daylight 100 watt bulb. :-)
On another note, would you happen to have a discount or promotional code for HomeDecorators.com website?
Thanks!