This simple closet swap doubled my cramped hanging space – professional organizers swear by it too

When it comes to hanging up clothes in my closet, velvet hangers have been my go-to for years, thanks to their sleek appearance and space-saving abilities.

Pro organizers agree with me that velvet hangers are a bright idea, especially in small or busy closets. Our pros explain why they’re useful, their pros and cons, and top tips for making the most out of them.

If you’re looking for closet organization ideas that will transform your space and make your life easier long-term, this is a real winner. I’ve been writing about interiors since 2020, and this remains one of my favorite pro tricks.

Why I love using velvet hangers

I have a small closet, but I adore having lots of clothes to choose from. Velvet hangers are slim and sturdy, meaning that I can hang up plenty of jumpers, shirts, and t-shirts without being restricted.

I also have them on my jacket clothing rail, allowing me to display them all beautifully. Not only does this make it easy to find what I’m looking for, but it also adds personality to my room – one of the hottest design trends at the moment.

Speaking of aesthetic closet organization – gone are the days of having a closet with hangers from the store. Instead, I now have ones that are all lovely and uniform, which makes utilizing my closet space feel like a luxe experience. I even color-code my clothing in true The Home Edit-style fashion.

You can also color-code your hangers, which is harder to do with plastic ones and wooden ones. I haven’t gone this far, but velvet hangers definitely make this an option. I have gray ones with metallic hooks, but you could for example go for sweet pastel colors in kids’ bedrooms.

Pros of using velvet hangers

Feeling ready to give your closet a glow-up? There are so many reasons to try using velvet hangers:

• Slipping prevention: ‘They prevent clothing from slipping off which is especially important for silky items, camisoles and tank tops,’ explains Lauren Saltman, professional organizer and owner at Living. Simplified. LLC. ‘The velvet lightly grips the fabric to help it stay in place.’ It's one of the reason we recommend never using wire hangers, which can ruin your clothes.
• More closet space: Velvet hangers take up less space than thicker wooden and plastic hangers. ‘This allows you to keep more of your clothing hanging in your closet which can be especially important if you have limited closet space,’ Lauren adds. 
• Fewer clothing wrinkles: I’m not the biggest fan of ironing, so this is a big plus for me. Lauren explains, ‘The slim design allows you to have more separation between your clothes, which results in fewer wrinkles.’ This also allows for adequate ventilation, reducing the risk of mold in your closet.

Cons of using velvet hangers

Even though I love using velvet hangers, there are a few disadvantages to them that are worth keeping in mind:

• Suitability for every garment: ‘Sweaters and knits tend to cling to velvet, making them difficult to remove,’ explains Jennifer Q. Williams, owner of Saint Louis Closet Co. ‘Heavier items like big coats may require wooden hangers, which provide better support and help garments retain their shape.’ Instead, she recommends using rubberized hangers, available on Amazon, as these offer a similar non-slip grip without friction. 
• Durability: ‘Over time the material may start to disintegrate. Be mindful of this and if you see velvet dust on your clothing, know that it's time to replace your hangers,’ explains Lauren. ‘Also, if you like to hang-dry some of your clothes, stick to a plastic hanger,’ she adds. Or, if you have the budget and the room, Jennifer recommends a thicker and more durable heavy gauge metal hanger that comes in shirt, pants, and clip versions.

Top tips for using velvet hangers in your closet

If you want to use velvet hangers (after all, they are one of the top things organized people have in their closets), there are a few things I recommend keeping in mind in order to get the best out of them.

‘I recommend sticking to high-quality velvet or hangers to avoid shedding or leaving residue on clothing,’ says Jennifer. If you’re looking for a quality pack, the Rebrilliant Luegenia hangers from Wayfair have velvet coverings and slender rods with clips.

She also suggests pairing them with rubberized or wooden hangers to accommodate different fabric types and garments. Wooden hangers (such as the Brightroom wood hangers from Target) are better for dress shirts and coats, while rubberized ones (such as the Mainstays non-slip hangers from Walmart) are ideal for strappy camisoles and dresses.

Jennifer adds, ‘I also recommend not overloading them with heavy garments to maintain their durability.’ Use them uniformly in your closet for a sleek, organized finish.

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Meet the experts

Lauren Saltman

Lauren is the owner of Living. Simplified., which is a professional organizing company focused on transforming homes into organized, functional spaces. She loves finding personalized organizing strategies that seamlessly fit her clients' lifestyles.

Jennifer Q. Williams

Jennifer is the owner of Saint Louis Closet Co. She loves velvet hangers, swears by matching hangers in all her personal closets, and highly recommends them for all her clients.

Velvet hangers are one of my top clothes storage ideas for the closet, but I am also a big fan of using vacuum storage bags to stash out-of-season items.

When transferring my clothes onto velvet hangers, I also cleared my closet out at the same time. If you want to do this as well, finding out the mistakes to avoid when spring cleaning your closet will also come in useful.