How to Organize a Closet on a Low Budget.
Are you one of those people who battle every morning to find a specific piece of clothing in their messy closet? Does the chaos of your small walk-in closet leave you feeling frustrated? I’ve been in your shoes.
My small walk-in closet was always messy, but I’ve turned it around on a budget. Organizing a closet can be challenging, but once you’ve conquered it, you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to maintain cleanliness and order.
Steps to organize a small closet
- Take everything out
Yes, it might seem daunting, but trust me, it’s a one-time effort that will save you from future chaos. Sort your items by category to make it easier to put them back in the closet when ready. For example, put all your shoes in one area, clothes on the bed, accessories in another area, and so on.
- Clean closet
Next, you want to clean the closet. Wipe the shelves, sweep and mop the floors, or vacuum if you have carpet. Also, make sure to clean the clothing rods.
- Declutter
This is one of the most critical steps when organizing a closet and keeping it that way. Be ruthless when it comes to decluttering. Remember, the more you declutter, the fewer items you must maintain. This will simplify finding items and keeping your closet nice and organized.
Make three piles: one to donate, one to keep, and one to trash. Donate the gently used items you no longer use or love. Items that do not currently fit should also be donated. Keep only items you love and that make you feel good when wearing. Trash any items that have holes, are stained, or are beyond repair.
Be realistic when keeping items, and avoid keeping them for your fantasy self. For example, if you work out only three times a week, you do not need ten workout outfits. A fantasy self, for instance, is when you love the idea of creating outfits using a denim jacket, and you have a denim jacket, but you never use it. That was me before. As much as I love outfit ideas with a denim jacket, I do not wear a denim jacket.
Read the post 10 Benefits for an Organized Home Plus 10 Tips to Get You Started.
Tips for organizing on a budget
- Use what you have
You might already have some organizing bins in your closet or around your house, so use them for now if you are on a budget.
- Shop second-hand first
If you have a thrift store nearby with good items, try to shop second-hand first. You can also see if garage sales may have some gently used organizing items. Also, if you have close family and friends who might be decluttering items, see if they have something you can use.
- Make a budget
Time goes by so fast that a whole month has passed by the time you know it. So, budget for them instead of buying matching hangers, a small shoe rack, and organization bins at once. I have purchased items after a few months, and your closet will be organized by the time you know it.
These practical tips will help you organize your closet without spending a fortune, reassuring you.
Start organizing closet
Here comes the fun part! When you first organize your closet, you will find that some organization systems work for you and some don’t. It would be best to give it time before you organize your closet differently until you find what works best for you.
Before you make any purchases, measure your space. This can include measuring your shelves before buying containers or bins.
- Store out-of-season clothing
You want to keep your out-of-season clothing out of sight so getting ready during the current season is easier. I use XL shrink bags and keep them under my bed. If your closet has enough shelves, you can store seasonal accessories in one bin.
- Start on top shelves
Start on your top shelves and use bins that are used for cube shelves. If you have the budget to buy some, they should be the same color. You can store your jeans and jean shorts in the bins by file folding. Store purses in a bin or place them on the shelves if you like the visual of your purses. You can find these Better Homes & Gardens 12.75″ Fabric Cube Storage, Gray
Fold clothes on shelves
If you have plenty of shelf space, you can fold some clothes on the shelves and use clear dividers. I do not fold my clothes on shelves, but I do fold my husband’s khaki shorts. You can find Clear Shelf Dividers in a pack of 6 here. If you stay minimal and fold the clothes, the closet can look like a store.
- Hang clothes by style or color
I highly recommend using matching hangers. I use gray velvet hangers that I bought at Burlington for a low price. Since the velvet hangers are thin, you can store more clothes. Hang your clothes either by color or style or both. Doing this will make your closet look aesthetically pleasing. You can find Gray non-slip velvet space saving hangers here.
- Small shoe rack
You decluttered and stored away out-of-season items so that you will be left with in-season shoes. I suggest you have a small shoe rack that fits around nine pairs of shoes. I only have nine pairs on my shoe rack year-round. It took me a few years to get to this point. This Better Homes & Gardens Bamboo 3 Tier Shoe Rack for 9 pairs is perfect.
- Basket for flat shoes
You can use a basket for sandals, mules, or ballerina shoes. Stand your flats in the basket to make finding and removing the shoe easy. Then, when you are done using the flats, put them back the same way.
- Laundry hamper
If you store your dirty clothes in your closet, you should store them in one corner. If you have the budget to get a hamper, get one with a lid to hide your dirty clothes.
- Small dresser
Depending on the size of your closet, you can put a small dresser in there for clothes. This will help keep clothes out of sight and help with vertical space. Use individual containers and the file folding method to make storing and seeing all your clothing items easier. Here are some affordable fabric dresser bins Mainstays White Fabric Drawer Organizer Set,6 total bins, 3 sizes. 
- Command strip hooks
Using command hooks for hats can help with wall space. If you have one to two hats, they will look minimal and decorative.
- Label
Labeling your bins can make it easier to find and store your items. If you have a label maker, use it to create aesthetic labels. You do not need to buy a label maker. I use bin labels from Dollar Tree and write on them. It makes knowing where certain items belong and how I got them on a budget.
- Decorate
Depending on the size of your closet, you can decorate it with books, a photo frame, a canvas if you have enough wall space, or a faux plant. Decorating your small closet with a few items you enjoy will make it look cozy.
- Maintain
You will need to keep maintaining your closet. When putting items in your closet, put them in the place where they belong. Shoes on the shoe rack, dirty clothes in the hamper, hang up your clothes when washed. Eventually, you will make it a habit to maintain your closet, and keeping it tidy and organized will be easier.
Final thoughts
Organizing a small closet is fun and can be done with little to no money.
Once you remove all the items, clean the closet, and declutter items you no longer love or use, your closet will be easier to maintain.
By using organization items you already have or budgeting for them monthly or every other month, you won’t break the bank and will create a tidy, organized closet in a few months.
Comment below and let me know when you plan to organize your closet and if you have any tips on how to do it on a budget.