How to Maximize Space and Create a Curated Wardrobe
Living with a small closet doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style or functionality. With the right approach, even the tiniest wardrobe can be transformed into a highly organized, thoughtfully curated space that reflects your personal style and makes getting dressed feel effortless.
Whether you’re working with a reach-in closet, a narrow wardrobe, or even just a clothing rack, here are some practical tips to help you maximize space and build a closet you truly love. The book, The Curated Closet, by Anuschka Rees has amazing tips on how to create a wardrobe that truly fits your life.
Start with a Clean Slate
The first step to any successful organization project is clearing everything out. Remove every item from your closet and sort it into categories: keep, donate, sell, or toss.
Ask yourself:
Do I love this piece?
Have I worn it in the last 6–12 months?
Does it fit my current lifestyle and style?
If the answer is no, it might be time to let it go. A curated closet starts with intentional choices. Keeping only the items that fit well, feel good, and align with your current aesthetic will help eliminate clutter and make space for what truly matters.
Maximize Vertical Space
Most small closets have a lot of unused vertical space. Adding additional shelving above or below the hanging rod can help store items like shoes, bags, or off-season clothing.
Here are a few simple additions to consider:
Stackable bins or baskets for accessories
Over-the-door organizers for shoes or smaller items
Hanging shelves for sweaters or jeans
Double hanging rods to separate tops from bottoms
Using the full height of your closet prevents wasted space and keeps everything accessible.
Use Slim, Matching Hangers
Bulky or mismatched hangers can waste precious inches of rod space. Switching to slim, non-slip velvet hangers is a small change that makes a big difference. Not only do they take up less room, but they also create a streamlined, uniform look that makes your closet feel instantly more organized.
Bonus: you’ll be able to see your clothes better and fit more without overcrowding.
Store by Category and Color
Grouping clothing by type (e.g., tops, pants, dresses) and then arranging them by color helps visually organize your space and makes it easier to find what you’re looking for. This also gives you a clear snapshot of what you have—so you’re less likely to buy duplicates and more likely to wear what you already own.
Rotate Seasonally
Small closets benefit from seasonal rotation. Store off-season clothes in under-bed bins, vacuum-sealed bags, or on higher shelves. This clears up space for the current season’s essentials and keeps your closet from feeling overloaded.
When the seasons change, simply swap them out and reassess what you still love and wear.
Use Storage Boxes and Dividers
Drawer and shelf dividers keep small items like socks, scarves, and accessories from becoming a jumbled mess. Clear bins or labeled boxes make it easy to see and access what you need without digging.
If your closet has shelves, try using baskets to store similar items together—like workout gear or loungewear.
Invest in Multi-Functional Pieces
When curating a small wardrobe, it helps to focus on versatile, timeless pieces that can be styled multiple ways. This doesn’t mean your wardrobe has to be boring—it just means prioritizing items that work for different occasions and easily mix and match.
A curated closet isn’t necessarily minimal; it’s intentional. Every item has a purpose.
Add Lighting
Small or dark closets can feel cramped and hard to navigate. Adding LED strip lights or battery-operated push lights can brighten the space and make it easier to see everything you own.
Better lighting can also help you feel more inspired to maintain a clean, organized closet.
Incorporate a Mirror and Try-On Space
If possible, create a small area near your closet with a mirror to try on outfits. This makes the closet feel more like a boutique space and encourages you to experiment with what you already have instead of defaulting to the same few outfits.
Maintain Your System
The best closet is the one that stays organized. Take a few minutes each week to tidy up, rehang items properly, and evaluate what’s working. Every season or so, do a quick audit to remove anything you’re no longer wearing.
When everything has a place and you stick to your system, getting dressed becomes quicker, easier, and more enjoyable.
Final thoughts
You don’t need a walk-in wardrobe to have a beautiful, functional closet. With a little planning, the right tools, and an intentional mindset, your small closet can become a space that serves you daily and reflects your personal style.
Organization isn’t just about tidiness—it’s about creating a space that feels calm, inspiring, and easy to use. And when you love your closet, you’ll love getting dressed.
Happy Organizing! -Chantalle
This Article contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at NO cost to you.