5 Ways to Make The Most Out of Your Closet

Let’s face it, ladies: not all of us have the luxury of a Mr. Big who can build us our dream closet in our incredible New York penthouse that he buys for us. Some of us have a closet bustling full of clothes not only because it’s a super tiny and cramped space, but because we have so much more than we know what to do with. With the strengths and talents of some DIY bloggers and businesses flourishing on collaborative consumption, you no longer just have to throw away your unused clothing or toss everything on the floor that doesn’t fit into your closet.

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Here are some fantastic tips we’ve found on how to make the most of your closet, with a small budget in mind, and perhaps even some money/friend-making opportunities!

CLEAN YOUR CLOSET REGULARLY

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When you take an afternoon or evening every couple of months to clean your closet, you’re creating opportunities to reflect on what you have and what you don’t use anymore. Shannon and her husband, the bloggers behind AKA Design, has some wonderful tips for cleaning your closet here.

GET CREATIVE AND DIY!

There are so many affordable options that don’t take a lot of crafty expertise to re-imagine the space you have. You can also find creative ways of using common household items or even dollar store items to create storage, shelving, and compartments.

Meredith of Meredith and The New Yorkie decided to hang her purses on simple hooks in her closet to avoid leaving them in a pile on the floor, and make the most of her tiny closet. These hooks can be found at most dollar stores, and are quite sturdy as well! Instead of hanging her scarves on a hanger and creating a lot of bulk on her closet rod, she has placed them into a box on a shelf. Boxes are stackable, so think a little bit outside of it when it comes to what you can keep in a box without ruining or wrinkling it too much.

If you hang up your tees and tanks, consider making yourself a DIY Space Saving Closet Hanger by Instructables, which utilizes chains and hooks to hang several items on one hanger.

BRIGHTEN UP YOUR CLOSET

One incredible closet makeover that will inspire you by its magic in such a tiny space is by Elizabeth on Apartment Therapy, who also mentions that painting her closet a bright color helps inspire her to maintain her clean and organized closet.

As many do, looking through Pinterest for some closet inspiration will open up a treasure trove of easy and affordable ways that can help you have the closet of your dreams, or close to it.

HAVE A CLOTHING SWAP

This is not a new concept, but it’s one that’s fun, and a fabulous way to connect with friends and new people. Invite some girlfriends over, put out some appetizers and wine, and have fun shopping each other’s closets! If you have a hectic schedule and don’t have much free time to socialize, ask each girlfriend to bring along one of their friends to meet new people. A clothing swap allows you to recycle items wasting away in your closet by giving them a new home, while you may also pick up a couple of gently used items without spending a dime!

FIND A BUY/SELL STORE

There are many stores that are probably hiding in your community that buy and sell gently used clothing. All it takes is a quick Google search and you’re sure to find something. Many consignment stores only pay you cash when your item is purchased, and a lot of them focus on designer pieces. But there are stores that allow you to bring in your clothing, and will sort through everything and will give you cash or credit right away. These shops will allow you to avoid Kijiji, Craigslist, and Ebay, which are risky and can cost money. Not only are you earning a little bit of pocket money for your old clothes, but you are avoiding having your clothing sit in a landfill and polluting the environment, and giving someone else an opportunity to make use out of your things.

Do you have any tips to share for maximizing your closet and making the most out of everything inside of it? Share with us in the comments below, or on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube!