Closet Makeover + Organization Tips for an Efficient Tiny Closet

tiny closet makeover DIY closet design removable black ad white spot wallpaperRemovable wallpaper: Livettes Wallpaper in spot (c/o) / Organization and design: Wurth Organizing /
More sources at end of post

Another project is complete – making it two projects in the first month of the new year (outdoor tool shed was the first). I’m showing before and after pictures which just makes me cringe but if I don’t show them, you won’t value the true transformation!

A big thanks to my friend Danielle Wurth of Wurth Organizing, a professional organizer and an incredible problem solver with all types of spaces! She came over to help figure out a way to make my very small closet (4.5 feet wide and only 5 feet deep) efficient. The ceiling is just shy of 7 feet.


BEFORE


Oh it pains me to put before photos on this blog but I know it’s necessary – you can tell I kinda gave up trying to make the insides look nice since it just wasn’t ever going to happen the way it was.

before tiny closet redo cluttered look before tiny closet redo so messy and look at the after photo before tiny closet redo

I have an electric panel in my closet, boo! I would have preferred it be installed behind the clothes, but I guess back then no one cared about how a closet looked. There were shelving built-ins on the left side, and on the right I bought a cheap show organizer to add more storage. I attempted to make another shelf up top with using shelf dividers and tossed a board up there. My clothing on the double hang bars touched the bar below which drove me nuts, and some of my skirts were hitting the ground – everything was too low – 1952 home you know, tiny people.

Danielle suggested after removing everything, to build up the built-ins to the ceiling. That way, the closet while small, will look taller. The top ledge would be 12″ down from the ceiling, just enough space for clothing. We also had room behind the hangers to move them a few inches closer to the wall – so I could actually walk in and not feel smoothed. Danielle came over with storage closet ideas in hand and presented me with a sketch, so detailed that I could just give it to my handyman to follow the instructions.

I also did a video tour of my closet, see it at the end of this blog post!


AFTER


black and white spot wallpaper that is removable with gold flush mount light from Home Depot with Edison bulbclassy feminine closet small tiny home and space but redone and fits so much more look at the removable wallpaper

1 / New hangers

I swapped my black velvet hangers to off white ones (here are some on Amazon), and gave them to my newly married friend who just bought a house. The swap made a huge difference in lighting up the space. I even swapped out the pant hangers and clipped pant/skirt hangers, because it all need to be white!

bright and very small tiny closet makeover featuring removable wallpaper and gold flush mount light in closet with ample shelving for sweaters and white hangers

2 / New rods

The chrome rods I’ve had my eyes on since I toured homes and loved their sleekness. Hangers also slide on it so easily it reminded me of a boutique. We moved the rods closer to the wall so I could gain a few inches of walk in room.

I also bought these purse hooks to remind myself to use these totes more often. The ones not often used are still in dust bags and a few daily totes and bags – about four of them – are hanging in my office behind the door.

closet garment organizers to label types of clothing great for closet organizationwhite wood pant hangers on chrome oval rods and purse hooks to keep a tiny closet organized

3/ Garment organizers

I insist garment organizers help with your organization and you should consider them. The label I created include: jackets, blazers, skirts, tunics, formal, jumpsuits, dress pants, and resort dividers. Your friends will make fun of you, but when you ask them how it’s working for them with closet organization, you can give a sly little wink.

It helps when you just need to find something quickly and helps you assess how much of that type you have. It is also incredibly helpful when your husband is doing laundry – he knows where things go!

garment organizer labels on oval chrome rod in tiny closet makeover

4/ Move lighting

We moved the lighting to the center – because it makes more sense.  I had an electrician install a light switch and move the light and mount this pretty gold flush mount fixture from Home Depot. It comes with bulbs but they are really yellow and get hot – buy these LED Edison bulbs on Amazon in 4000k for a bright pure white.

Just a note – they are SOOOOO bright so you can put it on a dimmer if you prefer, these light are dimmable. After we installed them I walked around the house and thought every room was dim, even my computer screen, LOL!

purses in acrylic holder on shelf with tiny closet makeover with removable wallpaper

5 / Add personality – like wallpaper or artwork

I’ve been wanting spotted walls for a while, I just fell in love with the trend. We considered painting the back wall a black and white spot pattern to save money, but the more I thought about the day in the future when this closet would become Benjamin’s, the more I didn’t want to think about repainting the back wall – just think of the priming and painting hours! So I searched for removable wallpaper on Etsy and found Livettes and her removable wallpaper – you can also get old fashioned wallpaper if you’re a fan. It was so easy and I highly recommend measuring your closet, then cutting around shelving and then installing it – it’s seamless and ridiculously easy.

black and white spot Dalmatian look removable wallpaper in small closet

^^ You can’t tell much, but we just wallpapered over the panel – it was just the best solution – there’s clever access to it.

6 / See-thru boxes for off season

I go nuts over acrylic. Sometimes I think I’d be OK living in an acrylic house – with an AC on blast of course, ha! I just enjoy the airiness it brings to spaces, tiny spaces especially. Danielle recommended these clear shelf dividers and they are only $9.99. I also like these at Target.

The drop down boxes was a great idea. I like that I can just open the lid without taking a box down to open the top – and I can see in them. This houses off season stuff or things I don’t reach for as often – swimsuits, scarves and athletic clothes overflow.

7 / Shoe organizer

This over the door shoe rack that holds 36 pairs comes in handy but those are not all my shoes – the other half are in the laundry/mudroom. One day all my coats and shoes will be in the same closet, but until then, this works for some of it. My things are still spread around the house but it would be impossible to put it all in this very small closet. I only have a single small tub under my bed that has my summer clothing but I think I probably could fit it all in here if I tried.

8 / Reconfiguring built ins

We took everything out and built it back up – which I thought was a good idea to have a clean slate. Having the shelving go all the way to the top of the small barely 7′ closet and moving the shelving up was great – 12″ height for the top shelf is more than enough to still fit baskets and clothing up there with dividers. The only thing I’m considering adding is an acrylic door for the top shelf so I can take my designer bags out of their dust bags and display them properly. That, I can do myself later down the line.


Cost breakdown


$110     Off white velvet shirt hangers
$135     Amazon hangers (pants, skirts) and chrome rod
$50       Paint + supplies – Simply White by Benjamin Moore
$100     Shelving dividers + acrylic divider for clutches + purse hooks
$800    Cost of shelving built in materials and labor
$100     Flush mount lighting + LED Edison bulbs on Amazon in 4000k
$170     Electrician cost for moving lighting + adding light switch panel
c/o        Removable wallpaper by Livettes Wallpaper
Trade    Organizing and design assistance by Wurth Organizing
FREE    Drop front sweater boxes – used gift card 

$1465     TOTAL

The $500 budget I had went out the window, no surprise there with home renovations, right? Always takes longer and always over budget. I also think that I forgot the extras I’d want – like replacing all my hangers and upgrading the lights. The total wasn’t horrific but I think I had unrealistic expectations when I started. In the end, I’m really thrilled with the way my closet turned out!

Big thanks to my friend Danielle who helped me and answered all my freak out texts during this project. It didn’t go smoothly, in fact there were times it went very very wrong, ahhhh. But she helped me through it, and now it’s done!

I hope this inspires all of you to utilize the space you have – no matter how small your space, you can make it efficiently beautiful. Just keep everything you love – and donate the rest. I held on to so many clutches and pieces I thought I would one day need and let them go. I am also getting to know my purchasing habits more and more, I wish I could master it and stop wasting money on sale clothes or impulses but I guess it’s still going to take a while, but I’m improving.

Sources

I also did a video tour of my closet!

What do you think? What’s your favorite part of the closet? Tell me in the comments, I’d love to. hear and do you have a closet organization tip to share or product you love? Tell me!

Diana Elizabeth is an author, photographer, and obsessive thrift shopper. You can typically find her in the garden wrist deep in dirt, at a local estate sale or planning her next epic party. She continues to blog weekly.

30 Comments

  • Carmen

    Carol, I just found your blog and I think this post may have changed my life. Our master closet is SO FREAKING tiny but then I realize we have the SAME DIMENSIONS and this gives me SO MUCH HOPE!! Thank you so so much :)

  • Monika

    Beautifully!!! Please wait, how much this dressing room has a width.
    Thank You. Monika

  • Sojah Hurt

    The garment organizers are a great way to organize your clothes! These are really helpful when you have many clothes that are the same color and you don’t have a lot of time to look through your clothing for a particular piece. Thank you for sharing!

  • Dizzy

    I love this. Even though you went over your budget, every cent was worth it.

  • SJ

    Love love this closet, very nice, Love

  • Sara

    Hi Diana, this was an excellent and very thorough article. So very useful. Thank you. I’ll be sure to read the rest of your blog!

  • Carol

    Hi, I was wondering if you could share the dimensions of your closet. I am working on expanding a closet I have and want to do two rows for hanging like you have but I am not sure I have enough space. Thanks!

    • Diana Elizabeth

      Hi Carol, The closet is 51″ wide and I hang the rods on each side about 9.25″ from the wall so there is enough room with a hanger and any cushion for jackets or sweaters. Hope that helps!

  • Nita

    I’m so excited! I’m finally having my closet redone in February and so looking forward to being organized, I hope! lol Yours looks great!

    • Diana Elizabeth

      Hi Nita! Thanks so much, I hope you have a great remodel experience, that’s soooo exciting! xx

  • the gardeners cottage

    Diana do you know how many times I’ve looked at your closet?! Sooooooooo many! xoxo janet

    • Diana Elizabeth

      Hi Janet! Your comment made my heart soar, admired you for so many years. Love your closet makeover!!! xo

  • Anna

    Hi Diana! I love the lighting fixture. I am considering it for a small nursery. Does it emit sufficient lighting? Thanks!

    • Diana Elizabeth

      Hi Anna, if you use the lightbulbs that I link to Amazon they are VERY bright, like incredibly blinding bright haha – which is how I like it in my small closet. If you use the bulbs it comes with, it’s way too dim :)

  • Carissa

    Hi Diana! I love your new closet. The wallpaper may be my favorite part and I like how it conceals the electrical box, which, by the way, I think was purposefully installed away from where it could be hidden by clothes as a safety precaution. I think on rare occasion those things can spark and if clothes were right in front of it…well, you get the idea.
    I was reading your replies to comments above and found another thing we have in common: I barely wear things more than once between washings. I try to wash on delicate but still, I think my clothes take the beating because of my constant need to wash them. What a dilemma!

    • Diana Elizabeth

      Hi!!!!!! Thank you ;) It’s interesting how a new space like that will make you love your clothes even more – or make you want to add only piece you love! I’m so bad, if clothes even touch the floor I’m like, it’s dirty. So hard for me when I travel to wear the same jammies a few nights in a row – it’s the only time I do it for suitcase space and I shower at night to make me feel better about it! :)

  • sj

    Looks amazing!! love it.

  • Don

    Great job! Especially like the hiding in plain sight access panel! I swear by Febreze but now that I think of it, haven’t had to buy another bottle in over a yr (might not be using much as I could be LOL).

    • Diana Elizabeth

      Thanks Don! When you said Febreze I was confused and realized it was in my “before” shot! I rarely use it for my clothes as I’m notorious for washing everything after I wear it once – even PJs, but use it more for Benjamin when he smokes a cigar or the couch if he sits on it after one! I would probably use the wrinkle release spray more!

  • Brenna

    It’s perfect!! I love that light fixture and can’t believe it’s under $100! We have some lighting that we need to update and this one is to die for!!

    • Diana Elizabeth

      I know right??? I found it on Pinterest and had to wait for it come back in stock, so worth it. I look forward to seeing where you put these lights in your home!

  • amy

    Love the new lighting!! :)

    • Diana Elizabeth

      Thanks – I found it on Pinterest and had to wait for it to get back in stock!

  • Carrie

    It turned out so beautiful! I bet you smile every time you walk into your closet!

    • Diana Elizabeth

      Hi Carrie, thanks! I do, and I breathe a little sign of relief too – I can see everything in my closet. Those before photos give me anxiety haha! :)

  • Amy Carney

    This looks amazing!! You’ve inspired me to put some flair into my closet. Love the clear dividers and window boxes. Thanks for the inspiration!

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