37 Walk-In Closet Ideas to Optimize Your Storage Space

If you are looking to streamline your daily routine, there are a number of walk-in closet ideas that can help you to maximize every square inch of storage space to keep your wardrobe organized and accessible.

Even with a small walk-in closet, it's possible to create plenty of space to store items like clothing, accessories, and shoes in an optimized fashion with everything from built-in open shelving to wall hooks, custom drawers, cubbies, shoe racks, bins, and baskets.

What Is a Walk-In Closet?

A walk-in closet is a space for storing clothing and accessories that is big enough to step into and walk around. Walk-in closets come in various shapes and sizes, but typically feature open shelving to keep your wardrobe visible and accessible as well as hanging rods and drawers, hooks, racks, and other accessories. Depending on its size and layout, a walk-in closet may include extras like full-length mirrors, seating, or central islands that turn it into a dressing room.

While custom closets can be pricey, you can customize a space on a budget with affordable options that will allow you to tailor the space and style around your wardrobe. Check out these stylish and functional walk-in closet ideas to help you create the ultimate storage space.

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Make It Custom

The Spruce / Jacob Fox

Building a custom closet doesn't have to break the bank. Some of the heavy lifting can be done by adding freestanding shelving and a dresser, like in this closet. Opt for standards and brackets so you can reconfigure the layout should you ever want to rearrange things.

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Keep It Open

Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Max Kim-bee

This small, open walk-in closet is built into the contours of this white-washed bedroom from Leanne Ford Interiors, keeping clothes visible and accessible while creating an effortless and livable feel. Just remember to keep things tidy since the lack of a door leaves clutter with no place to hide.

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Make It Multifunctional

From Great Beginnings

Iryna Federico at From Great Beginnings packed a ton of functionality into this narrow slip of a walk-in closet without skimping on style. Open clothes storage at the far end is complemented by a DIY dressing table on the left wall that's complete with a large mirror, bench seating, and accessible storage for cosmetics, creating a two-for-one walk-in closet and dressing room with a small footprint.

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Paint It Dark

Fantastic Frank

This small walk-in closet from Fantastic Frank is painted in midnight blue that contrasts with the white walls and wide plank hardwood flooring of the Scandinavian-style bedroom. The deep matte color adds depth to the space, making it feel larger by erasing the perception of where the walls begin or end. The closet has room enough for a small dresser that is painted in the same shade to help it blend in.

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Install Mirrored Doors

Erin Williamson Design

Mirrored doors on the closet within this walk-in closet from Erin Williamson Design bounce around the light from the opposite window and help double the space visually.

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Add a Sliding Glass Door

Fantastic Frank

This Swedish apartment walk-in closet from Fantastic Frank is accessed by a sliding glass door with white panes that helps to make the small space feel more open. The inside of the closet is painted in the same tones as the rest of the space for a cohesive look.

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Label Storage Baskets

Finding Lovely

Finding Lovely multiplied the storage in this small walk-in closet with a combination of hanging rods and open and glass-front shelving, adding labeled storage baskets that hide clutter while keeping everything easy to find.

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Add Drawers

Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Nicole Franzen

In this walk-in closet from Leanne Ford Interiors, an edited selection of clothes is hung from a rod on the shorter far wall. A long, slim chest of drawers with a low profile provides storage for everything else on the right side, maintaining a light and airy feel.

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Dress the Walls

Design by Mel Bean Interiors / Photo by Laurey Glenn

This Tulsa, OK walk-in closet from Mel Bean Interiors has enough room for a narrow dresser that is pushed against the back wall, where a round brass-framed mirror adds light and dimension. Matching upholstered stools provide space for putting on shoes, and gray grasscloth walls and a low pile carpet make it feel tailored.

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Create Zones

Laura Cattano Organizational Design

Laura Cattano Organizational Design created a small walk-in closet for an extensive shoe and handbag collection by installing simple wrap-around shelves that offer maximum storage while leaving just enough room to maneuver in and out.

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Try a Galley-Style Layout

Studio Peake

This galley-style walk-in closet from Studio Peake has a mix of open and closed storage, a top row of woven baskets to hide clutter, and a bold use of color from the zigzag runner to the upholstered pouf that unites function and style in the relatively compact space.

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Have a Seat

Casa Watkins Living

Casa Watkins Living turned a small walk-in closet into a mini dressing room by adding a Persian-style runner, a gold-rimmed mirror that reflects natural light from the opposite window, and a thrift store rattan chair for putting on shoes, or closing the door and stealing a little me-time.

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Use Transparent Accents

Home Made By Carmona

Blogger Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona added a transparent glass console table under the window of this walk-in closet that doesn't take up much visual space and doubles as display space or a dressing table. A crystal chandelier reflects light during the day without blocking the window and sparkles at night.

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Hang Removable Wallpaper

Casa Watkins Living

Casa Watkins Living gave this kids' walk-in closet an inexpensive makeover by hanging stacked bracketed laminate shelving and hanging rods that are tailored to fit a child-sized wardrobe. Removable wallpaper in a vibrant orange and pink Ikat pattern adds color that complements the pink walls of the bedroom.

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Optimize Every Inch

Laura Cattano Organizational Design

Whether you're freestyling it or hiring a professional to build a custom storage system, be sure to maximize every last nook and cranny of your small walk-in closet, like this one from Laura Cattano Organizational Design that includes a tall skinny shelf for accessories.

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Leave the Doors Off

Emily Bowser for Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

Emily Henderson Design left the doors off this walk-in closet to maximize storage inside and create room just outside for a dresser and bench seating. Accessories are hung on the wall from a repurposed coat rack.

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Add a Mirror

Becca Interiors

A large wall-mounted mirror doubles the perception of space in this walk-in closet from Becca Interiors by providing sightlines to adjacent rooms. A patterned ottoman provides a place to sit and put on shoes.

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Create Jewel Box Storage

Maite Granda

Interior designer Maite Granda used transparent glass doors on this jewel box accessories closet that shows off the floor-to-ceiling open shelving for bags, shoes, and jewelry that's lit like a boutique display.

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Make It Easy

Laura Cattano Organizational Design

If you are a renter who wants to optimize your small walk-in closet without installing permanent infrastructure, take a cue from Laura Cattano Organizational Design and set up an Ikea Pax wardrobe system that you can disassemble before moving out.

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Go Vertical

Fantastic Frank

Hardwood floors and minimalist, all-white drawers, shelving, and hanging space make this small but tall Stockholm walk-in closet from Fantastic Frank feel bigger than it is by drawing the eye upward and using every inch of available space.

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Add a Peel-and-Stick Border

Casa Watkins Living

Casa Watkins Living decorated this small kids' walk-in closet with peel-and-stick wallpaper borders, an easy DIY that makes stepping into the pint-sized space colorful and fun.

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Use Transparent Boxes

Laura Cattano Organizational Design

Keep your clothes and accessories dust-free but visible by using stacks of identical transparent-front storage boxes like this small walk-in closet from Laura Cattano Organizational Design.

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Build a Shoe Wall

Marie Flanigan Interiors

In a spacious walk-in closet, devote an entire wall to a built-in shoe wall that will allow you to admire your collection and keep items on display that you will remember to wear them. Optimize storage by using flexible shelving to create taller compartments for boots, like this all-white shoe wall from Marie Flanigan Interiors.

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Try a U-Shaped Layout

Michelle Berwick Design

This u-shaped walk-in closet from Michelle Berwick Design makes use of the long and relatively narrow space with wrap-around shelving that is built up to the ceiling. Wood flooring runs throughout the space to make it feel like an extension of the bedroom.

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Add an Island

Kendall Wilkinson Design

If your walk-in closet is large enough to function as a room, turn it into a dressing room with the addition of a central island. Kendall Wilkinson Design outfitted this glam space with a central island that mixes wood and gold-toned finishes and includes both open, closed, and glass-front storage for clothing and accessories. Backlighting on the accessories wall turns it into a boutique-worthy display.

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Use Natural Wood

Marie Flanigan Interiors

If your budget allows, use solid wood to build out cabinetry and drawers for durability and classic elegance. Marie Flanigan Interiors mixed custom wood cabinetry with open storage using custom-height clothes rods in this rectangular-shaped walk-in for a timeless and bespoke feel.

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Make It Modern

Alvin Wayne

If you're lucky enough to have an entire room to devote to your wardrobe, turn it into a boutique-worthy showcase. Interior designer Alvin Wayne outfitted this modern space with neutral shades of brown and beige. Details like custom lighting, herringbone patterned wood floors, and a large pendant light add a chic modern feel.

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Make It Pretty

Marie Flanigan Interiors

When designing your walk-in closet, don't hesitate to make it as pretty as the rest of your space. Marie Flanigan Interiors chose a soothing light blue-and-white palette for this walk-in closet that includes a window, a mix of open and closed storage, and extras like a decorative table lamp and a bench with a built-in storage drawer.

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Include a Tie Wall

Marie Flanigan Interiors

Display a rainbow collection of ties to keep them front and center while creating a decorative feel on the wall of your walk-in closet, like this space from Marie Flanigan Interiors.

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Add a Dresser

Blogger Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona

Blogger Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona added a chest of drawers with a vanity top and mirror in this spacious walk-in closet. A bottle of perfume sits on the top as a reminder to give yourself a spritz once you're dressed and ready to go, or after getting undressed in the evenings if, like Marilyn Monroe, you wear nothing but Chanel No. 5 to bed.

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Make It Contemporary

Sissy + Marley Interior Design / Photo by Marco Ricca Studio

Make your walk-in closet as contemporary as the rest of your interior by paying attention to details. Sissy + Marley Interior Design outfitted this spacious galley-style walk-in with lighted shoes storage behind dust-busting glass doors; a patterned runner; and a trio of globe lights on the ceiling. A large framed mirror at the far end doubles the perception of space, a trick that works as well in a large space as it does in a small one.

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Add Wallpaper

Marie Flanigan Interiors

Wallpaper adds polish and a finishing touch to a spacious walk-in closet. Marie Flanigan Interiors chose cocoa-colored wallpaper with a white oversized flower pattern to add a decorative touch that complements the space. The storage peninsula is decorated with a vase of flowers and a lucite tray that holds bottles of perfume and cologne.

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Open Space Walk-In

Sissy + Marley Interior Design / Photo by Marco Ricca Studio

Create privacy in a large open-plan space like an industrial loft conversion by building a walk-in closet that is accessible on both ends. Sissy + Marley Interior Design created something of a walk-through closet space with a mix of open and closed storage and a display ledge for art and accessories that keeps clutter hidden while remaining open to the room.

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Show Off a Sneaker Stash

Gray Space Interiors

Devote a wall in your walk-in to show off your sneaker collection, like this space from Gray Space Interiors that is decorated with a leaning floor mirror and a gold shoebox-shaped bench.

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Convert a Spare Room

Design by Calimia Home / Photo by Jeanne Canto

Turn an unused room into a large walk-in closet by hanging simple open shelving on every available wall to store shoes and handbags, like this space from Calimia Home.

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Add a Wall of Cubbies

A Beautiful Mess

A wall of cubbies is a versatile storage idea for a walk-in closet that can be used to store a range of items and accessories, like this space from A Beautiful Mess.

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Make It Luxurious

Marie Flanigan Interiors

If you have the space and the budget, build a luxurious walk-in closet with a mix of open and closed storage, a plush gray carpet, a modern bubble chandelier, and a central island, like this airy dressing room from Marie Flanigan Interiors.

FAQ

How can you make the most of the space in a small walk-in closet?

There are several ways to maximize the space in a small walk-in closet, such as adding an extra rod for hanging clothes, using bins on the top shelf, and thinner clothes hangers. Cubbies for shoes and folded clothes are convenient for extra storage, too.
How can you save room in your walk-in closet?

Take those out-of-season clothes out of the closet and store them in storage bins that fit under the bed.
How often should you declutter your closet?

Go through your clothes and shoes twice a year and donate ones that don't fit or you don't wear any longer. Throw out clothing that is unfit for donating, such as clothes that have holes, stains, or are stretched out.

Learn More: How to Declutter the Clothes in Your Closet
How do you plan a walk-in closet?

To plan a walk-in closet, start by decluttering to evaluate your storage needs. Decide how much space you will need to accommodate hanging clothes like jackets and dresses, folded items like sweaters, undergarments, shoes, handbags, and whatever else you own. Depending on whether you plan to DIY it, purchase a prefabricated closet kit, or hire a professional closet designer, the next step is to install it and arrange your wardrobe once it’s done.
What's the difference between a walk-in closet and a walk-in wardrobe?

A walk-in closet and a walk-in wardrobe are the same thing. Americans commonly use the first term, while Brits use the word “wardrobe” or “cupboard” to describe a closet. A standalone wardrobe is a piece of furniture for storing clothing and accessories in a room without a closet, also known by its French name, the armoire.
How much does it cost to build a walk-in closet?

According to HomeAdvisor, the average cost of building a walk-in closet is $2,063. Small custom features may be added for as little as $250, while larger projects can cost more than $20,000. The cost of a walk-in closet will depend on size, the number of custom features such as shelving and storage, and the price of labor and materials in your area.