This small closet makeover has a little history behind it. A few months before Christmas, I was venting to my daughter about the state of my broom closet. It was narrow, dark, and completely inefficient. I had tried to organize it before, but nothing really worked.
She offered to help and suggested we turn the project into my Christmas gift. I happily agreed. Before any organizing could happen, we had to deal with the real issue. The shelves were not deep enough. The closet itself is very narrow, so every inch mattered. Her boyfriend built and installed new, deeper shelves, and they were painted on Christmas Day. It was simple, quiet, and honestly one of my favorite gifts. If you’re working with a small space like this, fixing the structure first makes all the difference.
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Small Closet Makeover Steps
1. Empty the Closet
The “before” picture was not pretty, but it was real life. The shelves were shallow, items were stacked in front of each other, and the door rack was overcrowded. I couldn’t see what I had, and I ended up buying duplicates. Emptying everything out made it easier to see what needed to stay and what could go.
2. Determine Categories for Items
For this small closet makeover to work long term, I needed to decide exactly what would live in this space. Defining these categories prevented random overflow from creeping back in.If you like practical organizing ideas, you might also enjoy my post on kitchen cabinet organization from our Sutton Place house. That space was small too, and thoughtful planning made it functional. Planning categories ahead of time helped me choose the right bins and shelf spacing. This closet now stores:
- Cleaning supplies (2 bins)
- Light bulbs
- Trash bags
- Tissues
- Sanitizer
- Batteries
- First aid
- Dental supplies
- Paper plates
- Napkins
3. Purchase Clear mDesign Bins and Labels
Once I knew what would be stored inside, I ordered clear mDesign bins in sizes that fit the new shelves perfectly. I’ve used these bins in our upstairs bathrooms, and they hold up beautifully. Clear containers make it easy to see what’s inside, even when the labels aren’t facing forward. I originally planned to make my own labels, but purchasing custom labels from Etsy was quicker and more cost effective. Sometimes the simplest choice is the best one.
4. Install Deeper Shelves and Paint
With the new shelves installed, the entire closet felt more usable immediately. The added depth allowed items to sit fully on the shelf without hanging over the edge. Fresh paint brightened the space and made everything feel clean and finished. Even a small closet benefits from that extra step.
5. Restore Order
- After the paint dried, I added the bins, attached the labels, and adjusted the shelves to fit each category. The adjustable shelving made it easy to create custom heights.
- The mops were moved to the garage to free up floor space.
- I drilled a hole in the end of a yardstick and hung it just inside the door so it’s always within reach.
- The closet was very dark, so I installed two small touch activated lights. They are battery operated and incredibly handy. Now I can actually see the labels and the contents of each bin.
Sometimes you live with an inefficient space for so long that it feels normal. That’s how I felt about this closet. After this small closet makeover, opening the door feels calm and manageable instead of frustrating. It’s a small change, but it made everyday life easier. And that’s always worth the effort.
Small Closet Makeover Sources
- Custom organization labels
- mDesign clear bins
- Elfa door rack (narrow baskets can be purchased separately)
- touch activated lights
If you’re working on a tight space in your own home, start with structure, define what belongs there, and then choose containers that truly fit. That simple order of steps can completely change how a small closet functions.
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Where did the brooms go?
Love this Ann! It looks amazing. Nothing better than a reorganization project to lift your spirits. 😉
Aren’t Daughters wonderful !! Your closet looks wonderful and very organized. I love opening my linen closet and everything looks so pretty and organized with my rattan baskets. SIGH!!! Yes, being organized is a wonderful thing but you have to figure out how to do it and that takes time and thought. I laughed when I saw your post and thought ..Ann, your cupboards, cabinets are getting organized one at a time…great feeling isnt it?
Great job on the closet organization and I love the labels! During the past year, we have definitely had the time to reorganize and do those items on our “to do” list that we never got to …. and along the way we have learned new things and become more creative (which is a good thing 😉)! While organizing the pantry, I have now attached 1 inch label dots , on which I have written expiration dates, on cans, boxes and jars to make sure that pantry items are used before their expiration dates. My labels are handy after every shopping trip or delivery! Your closet rehab gift was definitely one of love and one you will cherish everyday….stay safe and stay well 💕
It looks nice and I love bins and organization. But what happened to the mops and brooms? Did the closet witch fly away on them? LOL or do we have another closet to organize?
What a wonderful makeover! It makes such a difference to be able to sort and see what you have in an efficient and neat organized closet. I will utilize this for myself. Thank you!
Looks great! I’ve often used the cheap clear plastic shoe boxes for these things too. Thank you for the closet organization inspiration! :)
Such a lovely gift! My Molly and her family do similar treats for us! It’s amazing how a project can lift one’s spirits. This is a Christmas gift to treasure a long time. I would share that I am a big labeler. I label everything from opened brown sugar to containers of soup before refrigerating them. It really helps because I don’t realize how fast time passes by on that leftover chicken stock!
Super job! You could even add another shelf to utilize that empty space above the shelf holding the Sanitizer bin. I highly recommend a long grabber so you can use it to reach the items on the top shelf so you don’t need a step stool. I love my grabber!!
Wow, what a great closet now. There are a number of cabinets that are dark for me so I found battery motion detector lights that I installed with velcro tape on the back to light my cabinets. All I have to do is wave my hand in front of them and they come on. Check Lowes or Home Depot for similar items.