Maximizing Closet Storage

Maximize your closet storage by using all of the height, as well as the inside surface of the door.

The Coat Closet

This type of closet sees a lot of traffic -- and a lot of clutter. And just what piles up in your closet will change from season to season. Outfit your closet with organizational gear that is useful year-round.

An over-the-door pocket organizer is perfect for corralling mittens and hats during the winter, and umbrellas and sunscreen in the summer. Hooks on the back of the door and along the closet wall are smart closet additions, as well. And no matter what the season, shoes will always track in something from the outdoors.

Use a shoe rack to keep footwear organized. Set the rack on a large jelly roll pan or other tray to collect the muck from the bottom of shoes and boots.

In an attempt to corral stuff for the entire family, the hall closet storage can easily spin out of control. A little storage organization can regain order. Use adjustable shelving to arrange -- and rearrange -- your space as needed.

Shelves that hold flip-flops and beach towels in the summer can be moved to accommodate boots and a basket of outwear accessories in the winter. Tuck the off-season items away on a high shelf.

Turn the door into a family communication center by mounting a memo board for notes and reminders, a basket for mail and bills, and hooks for keys.

Add shelves down low to store sports bags for grab-and-go ease and bins for accessories. Leave open space on the floor to kick off shoes or use a shoe basket.

On a blank wall inside or next to the closet, mount a clipboard for each kid where you can write daily notes and reminders and a hook for putting backpacks and lunch boxes where they won't be forgotten.

Home Office Closet

Not sure how to make the best of a narrow closet in a bedroom or an extra linen closet? Turn it into a home office bookcase and position a work surface nearby in the room. Outfit the small compartment with sliding shelves and trays for easy access.

Before you assume the cost of having them custom built, check out kitchen cabinet and pantry storage systems that might have sliding trays that fit. (For wire design systems, line the bottom with a piece of fabric-covered wood.) Use woven baskets and sturdy recycled gift bags for catch-alls on large shelves, and store papers, books, and accessories flat on shallow trays.

Craft Closets

If your kids are budding Picassos, designate a closet as storage central for all of their paints, brushes and other supplies. Buy bins or baskets that are the same size and assign supplies to each one.

Look for plastic baskets with handles, which are easy to clean and easy to transport from closet to a work space. To prevent supply overload, sit down with your kids every few months to weed out empty bottles and dried-out markers.

Linen Closet

Towels, sheets, and blankets are necessities but can be a headache to organize. Keep your linen closet storage in tip-top shape with a few organizing tools. Use shelf dividers to create cubbies on existing shelves. Label each cubby as the designated spot for specific linens -- a spot for kids bathroom towels, guest towels, twin sheet sets, queen sheet sets, etc.

Use baskets to round up extra toiletries and cleaning supplies. High shelves are ideal for storing large, infrequently used items such as bulky comforters and extra pillows.

Roll with It Save space in a shallow linen closet by rolling up towels instead of folding them. Put lost space to use by installing towel racks on the back of the door to hang wrinkle-susceptible linens, such as tablecloths. With these delicate linens out of the fray, they won't be crushed by sturdier towels and blankets.

Use stacking boxes, bins, or baskets for storing small items such as cosmetics or first aid supplies. These containers maximize vertical space on a shelf and are easily portable.

Kitchen Closet

Plan out your pantry to store all of your kitchen must-haves. Instead of installing shelves from wall to wall, these shelves stop short, leaving room on the wall to mount a broom and mop holder.

By sacrificing a just a few inches of shelf space, these cleaning necessities have a place to call home, and any storage space that was lost was regained by mounting basket-inspired shelves along the back of the door for condiments and spices.

Mudroom Closet

The decision to remove a closet door can be a scary one, but opening up to this closet storage can have a positive outcome. With the door gone, the space can be fitted with custom cubbies that meet all the requirements for a mudroom closet.

Shallow cubbies can fill the back of the space, leaving room for a bench extension in front, the perfect perch for taking off shoes. With an open storage space such as this, don't forget about adding a little style. Line the back of the space with wallpaper, or paint it a fun color.

Kids Closet

Nothing says the closet storage in a child's bedroom has to be dedicated to storing clothes. Use a dresser in the room for storing a kid's small apparel and make the closet a special toy room.

Add storage cubes or a small bookshelf for books and games and a petite coat rack for hanging dress-up clothes. Take care of shoes and other accessories not stored in the dresser with an over-the-door pocket organizer.

By removing the door and building in a simple cabinet with a top, the space is now a handy baby changing station. To make this transformation in your nursery, include closet storage shelves and a drawer in the base cabinet.

Up top, cut a semicircle from the existing (or added) shelves at the doorway opening to allow headroom for Baby and grown-ups. These shelves put nursery necessities within easy reach.

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