How to maximise your wardrobe space

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Not everyone can devote an entire room to storage like Kim Kardashian, or even have a walk-in wardrobe like Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City. Most of us have a limited amount of space to hang up all our garments, or have to share their wardrobe with another family member. In this article, we’ll help you make the most of what space you have, with suggestions for efficient storage solutions. We’ll also encourage you to declutter and give you hints on how to organise so you can have a clothes cupboard that’s tidy and functional.

Here are some ideas and tips to make the most of your limited wardrobe space:

Maximise wardrobe space by decluttering first

The biggest, and often the most difficult place to start, when you’re beginning to utilise wardrobe space, is getting a clear vision of the wardrobe you already have. It’s often very difficult to get rid of clothes because you see it as a waste of money. But it’s best to not think that way. You’ll feel better about giving outfits away if you’re sure they’re going to a worthy cause, or if you can make some pennies out of them.

Be ruthless and go through your entire wardrobe, piece by piece, and declutter the items you no longer wear or need. Make three piles – keep, donate and sell. Then you’ll be able to see exactly what you want to keep, and what suits you, and you may feel more motivated to keep your wardrobe neat in the future.

Once you’ve decluttered, other ways to continue to keep your wardrobe streamlined include:

Consider adopting a "one in, one out" rule. For every new piece of clothing you add to your wardrobe, remove an older item.
Seasonal items like a winter coat, Christmas decorations or holiday clothes can be stored elsewhere, such as in vacuum-sealed bags under the bed or in a storage box on a high shelf.

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Utilise wardrobe space with smart storage solutions

So now you should have an emptier wardrobe. What’s the best way to use that space effectively? Here are some pointers:

Use slim hangers to maximise hanging space and create a uniform look.
Install a double hanging rod (a tension rod stretched horizontally across won’t need to be hammered in) to make use of the vertical space and achieve twice the hanging area.
Add hanging organisers with compartments or pockets for accessories, shoes, or folded clothes.
Install hooks on the inside of doors or walls to hang belts, scarves, or handbags.
Use the space below hanging clothes by using stackable storage bins or shoe racks.

Wardrobe space ideas – organisation systems

The quickest way to keep your clothing organised is to have a system. It’s a cliché, but worth repeating: if you have a place for everything, then you can keep everything in its place!

Some of the tried and tested methods include:

Sort your clothes by category (for instance, all the tops together, bottoms together, dresses together) and/or store them in colour order to make it easier to find what you need. It also makes your wardrobe look like a smart shop display!
Fold items like T-shirts, sweaters, and jeans using a space-saving folding technique (eg, Marie Kondo’s three folds for everything, including underwear) to maximise shelf and drawer space. She also recommends keeping jumpers or jeans vertically so they’re stored like documents in a filing cabinet, rather than placed on top of each other.
Use drawer dividers or small bins to separate socks, underwear, and accessories.
Label shelves, baskets, or drawers to ensure everything has a designated place so that anyone else putting away the laundry doesn’t mess up your system.

Utilising unused wardrobe space

Home interior organisers talk about the valuable ‘real estate’ within your home; making every square inch work for your lifestyle. Take another look, and see whether you could use a dark corner or an awkward space to store items. For instance, think about the following:

Install a hanging shoe organiser on the back of a door for shoes or small accessories.
Consider installing shelves or a hanging rod in the corner of the room or a small alcove for additional storage space.
If you have high ceilings, consider adding a shelf above the hanging rod for less frequently used items.
If your budget allows, consider installing a mirror on the door either on the outside or inside, or on a nearby wall. As well as being functional, mirrors can make a space appear larger and reflect light too.

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Maximising wardrobe space – the future, and the floor

If you’ve taken some of our advice, you should have, the elegant and tidy wardrobe of your dreams. And now it’s time to think about maintaining it. Every few months, reassess and declutter items that are no longer serving you. By employing these tips, you can make the most of your limited wardrobe space and keep your attire organised and efficient.

While, a tidy and functional space requires regular upkeep, you can help yourself by having decent flooring in your bedroom as well as inside the wardrobe itself, if appropriate. Choose light-coloured flooring to make even a small area feel spacious. While smooth flooring like laminate or luxury vinyl is easy to clean and maintain if, like most people your wardrobe’s in your bedroom, you may want to keep it cosy with a new carpet.

Take the next step to transform your wardrobe space with Tapi

We’ve hundreds of gorgeous carpets and stylish smooth floors in our collections, and our friendly and knowledgeable floorologists are bursting with enthusiasm to help you make the perfect choice. Pop into your local store with some photos of the room you want to transform, and use our QR codes to imagine what your new floor will look like. Alternatively, for more home interior inspiration, head on over to our Ideas Hub, where you can read guides on space-saving storage hacks, tips on styling your coffee table, and more.