These practical closet organizers are my 'must-haves' – and might end up being yours too

Recently, I've noticed how much space in my closet is underused and essentially wasted, when other sections are so full that it is a hassle to keep everything ordered. Determined to optimize my closet's organization and transform wasted space into efficient storage, I began scouring some of my favorite sites for innovative closet organizers. 

Inspired by the closet organizers professionals always buy, I've found four products that have transformed how I manage my closet and allow me to customize it to make the most of underused spots perfect for storage.

Whether you wish to revamp your entire closet or enhance your existing storage setup, these closet storage essentials are not only stylish but also cost-effective and easy to install, promising a low-maintenance, clutter-free closet.

My top 4 practical closet organizers

When choosing the best practical closet organizers, consider where space in your closet is underutilized and the type of items you have. This will help you determine the kind of closet organization ideas and products that will be the most beneficial. 

Hanging shelves with a rail

Soft Closet Storage - Hanging Closet Organizer | Was $50, now $40 at West Elm
This cotton hanging organizer with a bamboo hanging rod is ideal for storing folded clothes or adding storage boxes to contain smaller items, as well as hanging items beneath.

Its soft-sided design allows for flexible storage to accommodate anything from clothes, bags, or even shoes.

This can be easily hung on a clothes rail with Velcro fasteners, making it easy to add to or remove from your closet quickly.

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What initially attracted me to this organizer was its two-in-one function and the neural color and minimalist aesthetic that I felt could easily blend into any closet. When using it, I also found that having shelves at eye level made a surprising difference in making my items more convenient to access and locate.

The bins measure 12"w x 12.5"d x 9.5"h each, so if you wish to add baskets, ensure you find those of the right size. You could also invest in storage boxes with dividers to make organizing these items even easier.

Additionally, suppose you have a lot of empty vertical space in your closet. In that case, you can stack a second organizer onto the railing below using the velcro straps or implement a longer hanging closet organizer, such as this fabric hanging organizer from Wayfair.

Hanging shoe storage

Hanging Closet Side Sling Shoe Storage | $39 from Pottery Barn
With multiple compartments, this shoe storage compartment offers ample storage space to keep eight pairs of shoes neatly separated and prevent your closet from becoming cluttered.

Its side sling design maximizes space efficiently, making it ideal for organizing shoes in a small closet.

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I've often found myself repeatedly retrieving shoes from the floor of my closet despite initially organizing them neatly on a shoe rack. No matter how carefully I seemed to stay with them, they inevitably became disarrayed. 

Utilizing floor space in my closet has always been a challenge unless I have used more structured organizers. I also never seem to have enough floor space, so when I came across this hanging shoe organizer, it felt like the ideal solution. Using this, my shoes now remain ordered and out of the way.

The only downside to this buy is that it needs to be washed occasionally to avoid dirt from your shoes getting trapped in the material because it is fabric. 

Space saving hangers

MORALVE Space Saving Hangers | Was $49.99, now $31.98 from Amazon
This cascading design allows you to stack six items on hangers vertically, freeing up valuable horizontal space.

This pack of four hangers comes in four colors, so you can choose the one that looks best in your closet.

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These space-saving hangers offer an ingenious solution to maximize closet space and streamline it, allowing you to store items categorically. 

I've used these to group the items in my closet, keeping jumpers on one 6-hook hanger, trousers on another, and summer items like dresses and shorts on another. This allows me to easily locate and remove certain categories of items at a time, for example, when rotating seasonal items out of my closet. 

Drawer storage

Bamboo 3-Drawer Storage Organizer | Was $200, now $99.99 from West Elm
These bamboo shelves with three drawers from West Elm allow for discrete storage for smaller items to make the most of floor space while keeping your closet organized.

The structured but flexible design offers the perfect blend of functionality and style. Its adaptability allows you to effortlessly relocate and reposition the organizer as needed while maintaining a clutter-free closet floor.

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Installing built-in drawers in a closet can be a hassle, and while they may be a handy component, utilizing this lightweight option can make it easy to rearrange your closet storage as your requirements change. 

Speaking of change, you can also separate the components of this organizer to use the shelves and drawers-baskets separately if this better suits your storage needs

Closet organizers are a timeless investment that you'll likely always be able to find a use for, no matter if you use them to organize a small closet in a bedroom or a laundry closet.

Whether you are downsizing your closet or adding to your ever-growing collection, these versatile organizers can continue to prove invaluable in using space efficiently and maintaining order in your daily routines.