Listen up. Whether you believe it or not, there is hope for all you small-space-dwelling fashionistas. With a few easy tips and tricks, you can make your small closets work despite the size of your wardrobe. It’s all about maximizing the space you do have and sneaking in storage solutions where you least expect them. Even if you don’t have a big budget for a closet makeover, you can still get some great tips from celebrity closets. When Jaime King showed off her closet makeover on My Domaine, we took notice of all the pretty details and made notes on how we could get the look #IRL. Check out these seven tips to get a fab organized closet like Jamie.
1. Keep the closet light and bright. Whether you’re lucky enough to have a walk-in or are DIYing a mini closet, keep the storage the same color to create a sense of calm and balance. That way the true stars (aka your wardrobe) can take center stage.
2. Create seating. How cute is Jaime’s furry bench above? Even if you don’t have a lot of space, having a little seat where you can put on your shoes makes the closet feel incredibly luxe. We love this IKEA hack from Suburban Bitches that updates an ottoman or bench with a faux sheepskin rug.
3. Include LOTS of storage options. Clear storage boxes are perfect for visibility and organization. Instead of digging through closed boxes or drawers to find an elusive accessory, you can easily see all your options and in turn create less clutter searching for said accessory. Pick up some clear acrylic trays from the Container Store ($12) to keep everything from purses to sunglasses in.
4. Make things visible. Jaime said that the biggest challenge of designing her closet was how to keep things organized and still visible: “We really created a space where what you see is what you get.” Instead of using a bunch of drawers, King created a space for her boots to hang from a rod and a vertical “denim bar” where her jeans are neatly folded and accessible. She also made sure her heels were properly displayed so she could easily plan her outfits.
5. Add a rug. Your closet doesn’t have to be a cluttered mess. First things first: Make it feel homey with a few accents. We wouldn’t have necessarily thought of putting a rug in the closet, but it definitely adds a stylish bit of color. If you love this softly patterned coral rug, pick up the exact one Jaime has in her closet from Crate and Barrel ($180).
6. Show off your accessories. Putting everything on display makes it feel like you’re going shopping in your own closet. Instead of choosing banks of drawers or gigantic jewelry boxes, King opted for pull-out glass cases to display sunglasses and lucite boxes for clutches and wallets. And that scarf display? It totally makes us want to rock scarves every day of the week.
7. Purge, Purge, Purge: Jaime is a pro at keeping her wardrobe streamlined. “I am very good at purging things,” she said. Except for those few special items you keep for sentimental reasons, it’s time to get rid of the things that you don’t wear. Holes? Stains? It’s time to detox your closet. And if you can’t bring yourself to purge, have your brutally honest friends come over and help you out. As for those jeans you keep around just in case? Jamie says, “If it doesn’t fit, donate it. Your closet shouldn’t be a place of despair. You can keep one aspirational pair of jeans, but don’t keep things in hopes that it will fit one day.”
What are your tricks for fitting a big wardrobe into a small closet? Share your organization tips in the comments below!
(h/t My Domaine)