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Best Closet Organizers

Corey Majeau

Organizing your belongings is one of the easiest ways to find peace of mind. An organized system at home will help you clear your head, work more efficiently, and love the way you live.

One of the trickiest parts to keep clean, however, always seems to be the closet. With a closed door over the tumbling tower of belongings, shoving everything in the closet is a temporary solution that works. But once you need something and the doors open, guilt is the first thing to spill out.

This dilemma can be averted with the simple investment of a closet organizer. These small investments can help you create a sufficient system which takes advantage of all the additional storage space possible as well as declutter your belongings and make the closet easier to open.

RankProductHighlights
#1TomCare Cube Storage 12-Cube Bookshelf Closet Organizer

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  • Installation Type: Freestanding Closet Organizer
  • Dimensions: 11.8” x 11.8” x 11.8”
  • Compartments: 12 cubbies
#2SMIRLY Hanging Closet Organizer Shelves

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  • Installation Type: Hanging Closet Organizer
  • Dimensions: 42.5” x 12.2” x 13.6”
  • Compartments: 6 shelves, 5 drawers, 3 side pockets
#3Amazon Basics Store Closet Storage with Fabric Bins

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  • Installation Type: Freestanding Closet Organizer
  • Dimensions: 32.7” x 12.2” x 31”
  • Compartment: 3 shelves, 2 removable fabric bins
#4HOLDN’ STORAGE Hanging Closet Organizer with Garment Rod

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  • Installation Type: Hanging Organizer
  • Dimensions: 29.5” x 24” x 12”
  • Compartments: 4
#5AmazonBasics 20-Pocket Over-the-Door Hanging Shoe Organizer

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  • Installation Type: Hanging Shoe Organizer
  • Dimensions: 20” x 66” or 19” x 66”
  • Compartments: 20 large or 24 medium
#6Whitmor Double Rod Freestanding Closet Heavy Duty Storage Organizer

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  • Installation Type: Freestanding
  • Dimensions: 68” x 45.2” x 19.3”
  • Compartments: Four side shelves, one large shelf, two rods

You may be interested in: Space Saving Bedroom Storage Ideas

Why Do You Need a Closet Organizer?

Space is one of the most valuable parts of a home. Space is where you can keep all your belongings. But not everyone gets the ideal living space, and ‘space’, suddenly becomes something you’re short of.

Containers, shelves, drawers, all these items which provide an additional level of storage to your living space are items of importance. A vital cell of your home that must be taken full advantage of is the closet. Your personal closet will carry all your belongings that shouldn’t be left outside. Clothes, jewelry, shoes, towels, toys, beddings, all these items and more must be put away properly.

The closet, as said, is essential, and the best way to optimize its purpose is by giving it upgrades.

Essentially, a closet organizer combines the advantage of drawers, shelves, pouches, and containers, with the privacy and storage space of a closet. The more you can put away, the easier it’ll be to find it later. Every belonging having a home brings less chance of mess and clutter, and more chances of relief and tidiness.

Different Parts of The Closet

Closet space usually comes with divisions of its own. There could be a garment rod on which you can hang your clothes, bags, and belts. On top of this, there is perhaps shelf space for you to place bags, books, and bins of your items. There may be an entire side dedicated to a shelving system which is all well and good, but then there is all the extra empty room in the middle that is left behind.

Fortunately, this is where closet organizers come into play. Your closet organizers will complement the layout of your closet by filling up the spaces which are left behind, giving you more compartments and fashioned storage to clearly keep your things.

Different Accessories for Organizing Your Closet

The kinds of closet organizers you can find on the market are endless in number, with new innovative ideas sprouting from every other company. Listed below are some of the easier accessories to distinguish when looking for what you need to keep your closet clean.

Freestanding Closet Organizers

These are stand-alone smaller closets with their own structure that benefits you with more disciplined distribution of space. You can either place these inside of your existing closet or make room for them in your home.

Depending on the freestanding unit, you can get more hanging space, shelves for your items, drawers, bins, and containers as separate closed compartments, and even perhaps a shoe rack at the bottom. The simplest models will be nothing more than shelves with which you can do as you please.

Cubbies

Cubbies are basically small open boxes in which you place your items. Cubed in shape and open towards you, they are aesthetic in appearance and functional at organizing belongings. Cubbies are a wonderful idea for everything you always need placed away yet easily accessible. Keys, books, chargers, bags, and towels are all examples of items which find a cozy home in a cubby.

If you have a closet near your front door, then you can place everything from lively décor to your wallet, keys, and shoes in a cubby nearby. It will make sure nothing gets misplaced and everything has a boxed home to itself.

Hanging Closet Organizers

These types of organizers have been growing increasingly in popularity. You hang them from the garment rod within your closet and they provide you with ample space for more storage. They are mainly shelves but more intricate models will have drawers, dividers, pockets, and even garment rods attached to them.

In order to be portable, these are not always the most heavy-duty pieces out there. More than often they are made of fabric so it’s important never to place too many items inside or they risk tearing apart. These are meant for lightweight purposes, with clothes and covers as their stash, not shoes and books.

Shoe Racks

Shoes take up a lot of space on the floor, which can become quite the hassle to care for. A shoe rack in your closet will help keep all your shoes out of the way, out of sight, and in one place. Most shoe racks are metal shelves that are placed at the bottom of the closet underneath the hanging clothes, but a recent innovation can help you save even more floor area.

Hanging shoe organizers hang on the inside of your closet door and provide you with pockets in which you can place the shoes. One pocket will hold either a pair of sandals and slippers, or one shoe each.

You may want to check out: Best Bedside Organizers

Best Closet Organizer Reviews

TomCare Cube Storage 12-Cube Bookshelf Closet Organizer

Specs:

  • Installation Type: Freestanding Closet Organizer
  • Dimensions: 11.8” x 11.8” x 11.8”
  • Compartments: 12 cubbies

Best Cubby Closet Organizer

When organized is the way you want to go, cubbies are your best friend. They are easily accessible spaces for anything and everything that will fit inside of them. Our recommended model is a set of 12 cubbies which you can organize however you wish. They come in a variety of colors including black, blue, green, gray, light gray, pink, white, and wood-grain white.

The cubbies are all constructed out of PP grade plastic. The entire unit is both water and dust-proof. Your purchase will come with the required connectors, elevated foot connectors, and a wooden mallet to gently knock the cubbies into place. Each cubby measures 11.8” by 11.8” by 11.8”. The largest these cubbies can hold is 11.5 by 11.5-inch items.

TomCare offers a 45-day window in which if you’re not satisfied, you can get your full money back guaranteed. For coverage on manufacturing defects and flaws, there is a 12-month warranty.

Pros

  • Attachable cubbies can be maneuvered individually
  • PP plastic construction both water and dust-proof
  • Create your own shelf

Cons

  • Loose connectors are sometimes an issue

Who Should Buy This?

Where plenty of additional storage space is needed, you can count on these twelve cubbies to find their place. In the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, living room, anywhere you feel the need for a little extra storage, they’ll fit snugly.

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SMIRLY Hanging Closet Organizer Shelves

Specs:

  • Installation Type: Hanging Closet Organizer
  • Dimensions: 42.5” x 12.2” x 13.6”
  • Compartments: 6 shelves, 5 drawers, 3 side pockets

Best Overall Closet Organizer

This closet organizer manages to bring all other storage means to one place. With a double-stitched reinforced Velcro handle you loop over your garment rod; the entire piece will hold up to 30 pounds in one go.

There are six separate shelves, five drawers of varying sizes, and 3 three mini pockets on the side of the hanging organizer. There is also a petit loop on the top of the organizer which can be used to temporarily hang a shirt or a bag.

The five drawers are divided into small and large types. The two small drawers are placed side by side. One of the larger drawers has a removable divider of twelve sections, another one has a divider which cuts it cleanly in half, and the last one has no dividers for wide open space. Every single shelf on which these drawers are placed has a 2mm thick paperboard within to withstand additional weight.

Being a completely fabric hanging organizer, it’s important to note the weight capacity. You don’t want the drawers, pockets, or shelves ripping with overstuffed belongings, nor do you want to place something heavy inside which will send the whole unit toppling.

Sized universally, this closet organizer should fit into every kind of closet and comes with a lifetime guarantee.

Pros

  • Multiple pockets, drawers, and shelves
  • Removable dividers
  • Loop on the side for light hanging

Cons

  • Completely fabric hanging closet, not made to be stuffed

Who Should Buy This?

This organizer is the ideal choice for someone living alone or in a dorm where the floor area isn’t in your favor. You get all the compartments a normal drawer would provide and pockets for health and cosmetic purposes.

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Amazon Basics Store Closet Storage with Fabric Bins

Specs:

  • Installation Type: Freestanding Closet Organizer
  • Dimensions: 32.7” x 12.2” x 31”
  • Compartment: 3 shelves, 2 removable fabric bins

Simplest Shelved Closet Organizer

If you want a clever design and elaborate means of storage, then the previous product from SMIRLY is the right purchase for you. But if you’re into something simpler and easier to use on the daily, AmazonBasics has a closet organizer that is right up your alley.

Once again resorting to fabric, this organizer has three fabric shelves and two collapsible drawers. These drawers have solid open handles on the front so you can pull them out easier. The shelves can hold a maximum of ten pounds distributed evenly over the surface and the drawers can each comfortably hold up to five.

The fabric shelves are connected to a powder-coated steel frame which keeps everything securely in place and acts as additional support for weight. The entire unit is lightweight, so you can move it around wherever it suits your fancy.

There are no tools required for assembly and it comes backed with an Amazon Basic’s 1-year limited warranty. To keep it clean, simply wipe off the shelves, drawers, and metal stand with a damp cloth to remove dirt and dust.

Pros

  • 2 collapsible drawers with handles
  • Freestanding item, no-tool assembly
  • Lightweight, easy to move around

Cons

  • Not made to handle heavier items

Who Should Buy This?

This organizer is great for the basics- shoes, bags, and towels which you need almost every day all the time, but don’t want to lie around your house in places they shouldn’t be.

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HOLDN’ STORAGE Hanging Closet Organizer with Garment Rod

Specs:

  • Installation Type: Hanging Organizer
  • Dimensions: 29.5” x 24” x 12”
  • Compartments: 4

Best Compact Closet Organizer

Innovation is a quality in products which is always appreciated. With this hanging organizer, you get the extra compartment space without having to compromise on the garment rod.

There are spacious shelves, each measuring 12” x 12” x 12”, four in total. Each can hold up to 11 pounds without losing shape and durability. Every cubby also has a thick board inside to prevent any sagging.

The universal design means you can find this hanging organizer a home in any closet where it’s needed most. All you have to do is hang it with the provided sturdy metal hooks. Being both lightweight and durable, you can shift it around if you feel the need for it to be somewhere else.

The other feature to this hanging closet which makes it so desirable is the garment rod underneath the cubbies. It is the same length as the top of the organizer meaning there is no compromise on the amount of hanging space in your closet, even with the organizer. You can still hang long and short shirts underneath without them touching the ground.

Pros

  • Compact universal design
  • Metal garment rod allows for more hanging space
  • Sturdy fabric compartments

Cons

  • Lightweight and not a heavy-duty product

Who Should Buy This?

Some closets are short on space above the hanging rod, or they come with no type of shelf at all. If this is your situation, then this organizer works perfectly. Valuable hanging space is not lost, and compartment space is added!

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AmazonBasics 20-Pocket Over-the-Door Hanging Shoe Organizer

Specs:

  • Installation Type: Hanging Shoe Organizer
  • Dimensions: 20” x 66” or 19” x 66”
  • Compartments: 20 large or 24 medium

Best Shoe Closet Organizer

Shoes can become quite the problem in many homes. They are scattered on the floor, under the bed, littering the bottoms of closets without a system in sight. With a shoe organizer, you can find the system that works to keep all your shoes in place. But with a hanging shoe organizer, you can do so without taking up precious floor space!

This hanging shoe organizer from Amazon Basics comes in Large and Medium varieties. The large one has 20 pockets measuring 12” by 5”. The Medium one has 24 pockets measuring 10.5” by 4.75”. The large one can hold 10 shoes or 20 pairs of sandals, while the medium one can hold 12 shoes or 24 pairs of sandals. All pockets are mesh so the shoes can breathe and not develop nasty odors.

There is absolutely no assembly required, all you have to do is hang the organizer behind a door with the provided metal hooks and you have your shoe organizer. Keeping the organizer in a closet keeps the shoes out of sight and still saves up on floor space in the closet for items that cannot hang.

Pros

  • Mesh pockets for breathability
  • Metal hooks to hang over conventional doors
  • No assembly required

Cons

  • Extremely lightweight, very delicate

Who Should Buy This?

Simply put, if you’ve got a lot of shoes and not enough space to keep them, this is your solution. Shoe boxes take up too much space and racks subtract from the amount of free floor space there is in your home. This organizer takes them off the floor and keeps them out of the open.

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Whitmor Double Rod Freestanding Closet Heavy Duty Storage Organizer

Specs:

  • Installation Type: Freestanding
  • Dimensions: 68” x 45.2” x 19.3”
  • Compartments: Four side shelves, one large shelf, two rods

Best Freestanding Closet Organizer

The final option on our list is a complete closet on its own. With five shelves, four smaller ones on the side and a large one smack in the middle, there will never be the excuse of running out of space.

You can place shoes on the bottom, hang clothes in the middle and place all other miscellaneous belongings on the shelves. There are two garment rods with this closet, one which goes on top and one that can be placed in the middle of the closet. This gives you more hanging room overall for shirts and jeans.

No tools are required for assembly, and it comes with heavy-duty plastic connectors to keep everything securely locked in place. The design is open with no doors for easier access and it’s portable in case the whole unit needs to be moved around.

For maintenance, simply wipe it off with a damp cloth to keep dust and dirt from collecting.

Pros

  • Removable garment rods
  • Lightweight and easy to move
  • Easy, no-tool assembly

Cons

  • Durability may be questionable

Who Should Buy This?

This is the ideal option for people who have closets with no accessories or no closet at all! With the right balance of simplicity and functionality, the little amount of space it takes up is compensated for with the immense amount of storage room it provides.

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You may want to read: How to Pick the Best Closet Baskets

Conclusion

Storage is extremely important for everyone. Keeping your belongings safe and accessible at the same time only comes when organized properly.

These closet organizers are few of the many amazing options there are out there to discover. If you have ideal suggestions of your own, feel free to leave them in the comments, and share this article with people lacking an organized aspect in their own homes.

Photo credit: Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock