- Hangers are an integral part of your closet. There are many types of hangers for a variety of clothes that will allow them to hang neatly and without slipping off. Purchase hangers with a rough or covered surface for tank tops and dresses, while slacks will require a sturdy plastic or wooden hanger, as the weight will bend wire or thin hangers. You will also need to strategically place the bar for the hangers to get maximum hanging space.
For a small closet, use two bars, one placed at arm's length for dresses and slacks and a second at waist height for T-shirts and skirts. After hanging the first bar and before hanging the second bar, put your longest dress on a hanger and place it on the top bar. This will give you guidance as to where to place the lower bar so your clothes do not overlap. - For items that do not go on hangers, such as jeans or shorts, purchase stackable cubes or boxes made for storage with pull-out drawers to put on the opposite or adjacent wall from the bars with hangers, depending on your closet configuration. This is an easy way to get maximum storage space, and purchasing each cube or box individually will allow you to add or remove them as needed.
Be sure to place the heavier items on the bottom so the cubes are not top-heavy and lean or fall over. For additional space, place a shelf or two above the top cube for scarves, sweaters or sweatshirts. Sweaters should not be placed on hangers because of their weight; the shoulders and neck of the sweaters will stretch as they are pulled downward from the weight of the body of the garment. - A simple way to keep your closet looking neat and clean is to change out your wardrobe each season. During the summer, remove all of your sweaters and jeans to store in a box in the attic or basement. This will leave plenty of closet space for your summer dresses or khaki shorts and polo shirts. Then, when it begins to get cold again, your summer clothes will spend a few months in storage while the sweaters and scarves adorn the closet space.