Wardrobe storage ideas – tips for organising your bedroom closet

Need help organising a cluttered closet? These nifty ideas and clever clothes storage solutions will help you get things sorted in no time

 Wardrobe space is one of those things that we never seem to have enough of. And while a walk-in closet is the stuff of dreams, the reality is very often a too-small wardrobe that's packed to the brim, with rails loaded with hangers and shelves stuffed with clothes.

While a bigger wardrobe might solve the problem, if that isn't an option, organising the space you have more efficiently will do wonders. You can do this with help from one (or a few) specially designed wardrobe organizers. And for more inspiration, we're here to bring order to your bedroom with these ingenious ideas and clever buys that will help you stretch your wardrobe space.

Wardrobe storage ideas

1. Customise your wardrobe interior

Customise your wardrobe interior

(Image credit: Ikea)

Make your bedroom wardrobe idea work for you, by tailoring the interior to suit your specific needs. Customisable fittings give greater flexibility than a standard wardrobe - you can choose exactly how many rails, shelves, drawers or storage baskets you want - and are a less-pricey alternative to bespoke, built-in wardrobes.

Work out a combination that suits your clothes. If you don’t have many longer items, save space by combining a hanging rail with drawers or shelf storage underneath. Or if you have lots of jumpers and jeans, include some shelves or cubbyhole storage.

Buy now: Pax wardrobe frame, from £40, IKEA

2. Use dividers to separate shelf space

Use dividers to separate shelf space

(Image credit: John Lewis & Partners)

Make better use of shelf space inside a wardrobe with neat plastic dividers to separate stacks of clothes. Bulky items like sweaters and denim jeans can take up a lot of drawer space, but stacking them in piles makes them easier to access. Thicker items fold easily and won’t crease or lose their shape when stacked in a pile

Buy now: The Home Edit & iDesign shelf divider, £10, John Lewis & Partners

3. Use the doors for space-conscious storage

Use the doors for space-conscious storage

(Image credit: Future PLC)

A great smart small bedroom idea is to seek storage in every available space. The storage capacity of this standard wardrobe is maximised by a smart door hanger which provides extra space for all manner of accessories that threaten to clutter a bedroom. This example shows how in a child's bedroom even the toys can be tidied away, hidden out of sight by hanging them on the back of the door.

4. Stack shoes so they’re super-easy to find

Stack shoes so they’re super-easy to find

(Image credit: IKEA)

Fit twice as many shoes in the same space with these clever stackers. One shoe sits on top of the plastic holder and the other one slots in below - with both shoes stored together, it makes pairs easier to find too.

Buy now: Murvel shoe organisers, 75p each, IKEA

5. Organise smalls with adjustable dividers

Organise smalls with adjustable dividers

(Image credit: The Holding Company)

Small items like underwear, tights and socks can get jumbled up and in a tangle if everything is shoved into one drawer. These clever drawer organisers simply slide apart to fit the drawer size (so will work with any drawer) and can be used to section off the contents so you can find what you’re looking for more easily.

Buy now: InterDesign Linus deep drawer divider set of two, £18.95, The Hold

6. Utilise every inch with stackable storage

Utilise every inch with stackable storage

(Image credit: Amazon)

Space at the bottom of a wardrobe often gets forgotten about. Separate short and longer-hanging pieces so you can access floor space more easily, then invest in stacking boxes that can be arranged to fit. Clear boxes allow you to see what’s inside at a glance and are great for storing shoes or knitwear.

Buy now: Songmics clear stackable boxes, £62.99 for six, Amazon

7. Avoid tangled accessories

Avoid tangled accessories

(Image credit: IKEA)

Keep a collection of scarves, belts or jewellery in order with this multi-use hanger that can be hooked on a clothes rail. Taking up less space than a standard hanger, it has a series of loops where you can hang all manner of accessories to save them getting tangled.

Buy now: Komplement hanger, £3, IKEA

8. Use clear boxes so you can see what's inside

Use clear boxes so you can see what's inside

(Image credit: John Lewis & Partners)

Make use of wasted space at the top of a wardrobe with these sturdy plastic stackable crates. Great for bulky items or out of season clothes, the see-through plastic lets you see what’s inside, while the lids clip securely shut to keep clothes moth-free.

Buy now: SmartStore by Orthex plastic storage box, from £7 for a 10ltr box, John Lewis & Partners

9. Fill awkward gaps with stacking cubbies

Fill awkward gaps with stacking cubbies

(Image credit: Amazon)

These stackable wardrobe organisers allow you to utilise all the available space inside a wardrobe and are a great way of filling any gaps or awkward spaces that might otherwise go unused.

Ideal for shirts or knitwear, ventilated sides allow air to circulate, plus they have slide rails at the bottom (like a drawer) so you can pull them out individually.

Buy now: JingPeng set of four stackable wardrobe organiser, £21.99, Amazon

10. Slot in a hanging shelf

Slot in a hanging shelf

(Image credit: IKEA)

If you’ve plenty of hanging space but could use a few more shelves, try this space-saving fabric hanging rack. With six compartments, it will give extra storage for folded items, like knitwear or jeans, but folds away easily when not needed.

Buy now: Skubb hanging storage, £7, IKEA

11. Organise wardrobe hanging space

Organise wardrobe hanging space

(Image credit: Go Modern)

Make more space inside your wardrobe by organising a system. Hang clothes in categories, then within that by sleeve length and colour for easy visibility. Position items worn often in a prominent, easy-to-reach spot, with those you wear less often (such as heavy jumpers) at the top of the wardrobe.

Buy now: Unika wardrobe, from £820, Go Modern

12. Store and hide the TV in a wardrobe

Store and hide the TV in a wardrobe

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole)

Who said a bedroom wardrobe is purely for clothes? Fitted wardrobes act as the perfect place to conceal a TV, because lets be honest a television doesn't add anything to the style credentials of a bedroom decor – it's best hidden.

13. Use baskets to maximise space

Use baskets to maximise space

(Image credit: Future PLC/Simon Whitmore)

A free-standing wardrobe will have valuable storage space if you use the top. Baskets on top of a wardrobe provide the perfect place to store clothes, towels or spare bedding. Matching baskets throughout your bedroom scheme will create a cohesive look that keeps your sleep space looking neat and tidy.

A coordinating peg rail will provide extra space to hang towels or plan your next day outfits – like a stylist would.

What is the best way to organise a wardrobe?

 'Get into good habits' advises professional organiser Vicky Silverthorn, from ''You Need A Vicky' her own professional organising service. 'Put clothes away at the end of the day. Make sure everything has a home - if you have to question where this is, then it’s not obvious or practical enough.'

'Tidy in stages. Re-organising a whole wardrobe takes time to do properly - pulling everything out in one go can be overwhelming. Tackling it a rail, a drawer or a section at a time is much more manageable.'

How do you store clothes with little space?

To store clothes with little space you need to be smart with your solutions. Vicky advises, 'Fold items in a practical way that suits the space. The higher a pile, the more likely it is to tumble, so aim for shorter piles folded well. Fold to a standard you can keep up - there’s no point folding socks in neat squares if you know you won’t bother to do it.'

Lisa Fazzani
Deputy Editor

Lisa is Deputy Editor of Style at Home magazine and regularly contributes to sister title Ideal Home. She has written about interiors for more than 25 years and about pretty much every area of the home, from shopping and decorating, crafts and DIY to real home transformations and kitchen and bathroom makeovers. Homes and interiors have always been a passion and she never tires of nosying around gorgeous homes, whether on TV, online, in print or in person.