33 Closet Shelving Ideas to Keep You Sorted (2024)

Organizing

The smartest closet shelving ideas open up floor space and make it easy to visualize your belongings. Check out these shelving ideas for closets of every size and layout that will help you to keep your clothes and accessories visible and accessible, making it easier to banish clutter and keep you—and your wardrobe—sorted.

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  Adjustable Shelving

  

  Choose adjustable shelving that you can configure to fit your accessories. NEAT Method styled this tall white adjustable shelving unit with shelves of varying heights to accommodate shoes and handbags without wasting space.

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  DIY Plywood Shelving

  

  Consider using painted plywood as a more budget-friendly alternative to hardwood if you're building DIY closet shelving.

  Blogger Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona built this DIY primary suite closet from plywood, saving time by swapping in a thrifted set of drawers, painting everything bright white, and adding gold drawer pulls.

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  Wall-Mounted Closet Shelves

  

  If you are short on closet space, build an open closet with wall-mounted shelving. Leanne Ford Interiors hung long, linear open shelving for shoes and accessories on either side of the hanging rod, and added a crystal chandelier for a touch of glam.

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  Renter-Friendly Shelving

  

  Add inexpensive storage furniture to a small apartment closet to make use of empty floor space.

  In this small walk-in closet from Fantastic Frank, a freestanding shelving unit positioned below the hanging rack offers extra storage for folded items, complementing inexpensive wall-hung bracket shelving on the opposite side.

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  White Wire Shelving System

  

  White wire shelving is lightweight, affordable, and easy to install as it is designed to be hung without the need to cut it to size.

  Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona installed a white wire wall shelving system to accommodate belongings that practically disappear against the white closet walls for a light and airy look.

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  U-Shaped Closet Shelving

  

  Maximize space in a deep but narrow closet with wrap-around shelving. Laura Cattano Organizational Design created a small walk-in accessories closet for an extensive shoe and handbag collection that leaves just enough room to maneuver in and out.

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  Floor-to-Ceiling Shelving

  

  See Also

  Big Closet Top Shelf Stories : BigCloset TopShelf | TopShelf TG Fiction in the BigCloset! _ • first of all open up the area around the computer.My Favorite Closet Storage Bins - And free printable labels!Big Closet Top Shelf Stories - Panties / Girdles | 1 | BigCloset TopShelf _ Clever tank top storage shared by the storage geek via tumblr.Big Closet Top Shelf Stories : TopShelf Stories | 1 | BigCloset TopShelf _ Top review from the united states.

  For the ultimate space-maximizing luxury, install floor-to-ceiling shelving. This closet from NEAT Method has a mix of open and closed storage, with a special wall of shoe storage illuminated by LED strips.

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  Primary Closet Shelving

  

  Optimize a galley-style primary closet with identical storage on both sides. Studio Peake mixed open and closed storage in this colorful space, with a top row of woven baskets to hide clutter and a patterned rug and pouf to give it a dressing room feel.

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  Open and Closed Shelving

  

  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 to hide clutter while making everything easy to find.

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  Whole Room Closet Shelving

  

  Be sure to take advantage of corners when hanging shelves in a dedicated closet room. This spare room turned closet from Calimia Home has wrap-around storage for a large collection of shoes and accessories, with improvised corner shelving that maximize the wall space and leave the floor clear in the pass-through space.

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  Custom Shelving Unit

  

  Decor like a Persian-style runner, a gold-rimmed mirror, and a rattan chair will add a personal touch to add character to a closet with lots of shelving.

  Casa Watkins Living turned a small walk-in closet into a mini dressing room by installing a custom closet organization system made up of open shelving, a row of drawers, and hanging rods of different lengths.

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  Cubby Shelving

  

  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.

  Laura Cattano Organizational Design installed a tall, skinny row of open shelving cubbies to house accessories in the corner of this compact space.

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  Mix and Match Shelving

  

  In a small closet, add shoe storage with a small tiered floor shelf. Emily Henderson Design left the doors off this walk-in closet to maximize storage inside. A three-tiered shoe rack keeps shoes organized while leaving room for the dresser drawers inside to open.

  Use Matching Storage Bins

  Ensure that closet shelves stay tidy by using a series of matching fabric bins to hold smaller items like scarves or belts..

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  Boutique Closet Shelving

  

  Layout your accessories closet like a boutique display that will allow you to shop your closet without spending a penny. Interior designer Maite Granda used transparent glass doors on this jewel box accessories closet that shows off the floor-to-ceiling open shelving styled with bags, shoes, and jewelry.

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  Clear-Front Storage Drawers

  

  Keep your clothes and accessories dust-free but visible by using stacks of identical transparent-front storage boxes that can be pulled out and slid back into place, like this small walk-in closet from Laura Cattano Organizational Design.

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  Reach-In Closet Shelving

  

  Keep a reach-in closet organized with custom shelving that fits your space. NEAT Method kept the floor of this closet clutter-free with built-in shelves that hover above the ground, and a hanging rack for long dresses.

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  See Also

  Closet Shelf Dimensions (for Walk-in and Reach-in Designs)

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  Top Shelf Storage

  

  Store lightweight items on the top shelf in simple baskets or bins. A Beautiful Mess added a pair of top shelves that graze the ceiling in this open bedroom closet that is equipped with white fabric storage bins.

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  Backlit Closet Shelving

  

  Backlighting your closet shelves with inexpensive LED lighting will create an upscale ambiance.

  Laura Cattano Organizational Design chose bright white lighting to ensure that this well-organized and perfectly symmetrical dressing room is as functional as it is attractive.

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  Glass-Front Closet Doors

  

  If you want to keep your shoe wardrobe on display but protected from dust, install glass-front open shelving, like this spacious open closet from Studio KT.
  

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  Customized Closet Shelving

  

  Customize your kids' closet with right-sized shelving. A Beautiful Mess hacked a store-bought closet kit for a young kids bedroom, adding drawers where some of the shelves are, changing the hardware, and adding pastel pink baskets and a transparent sunglasses case that keeps the little one's collection of shades on display.

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  Mirrored Door Shelving

  

  For a streamlined look, design a fully enclosed closet with doors to hide its contents.

  NEAT Method outfitted this primary bedroom closet shelving with mirrored doors near the ceiling that hide clutter while reflecting light and views for a more expansive feel.

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  Dressing Room Shelving

  

  Vary the height of wrap-around shelving if your closet doubles as a dressing room. Britt Design Studio mixed a tall standalone shelving unit that holds and displays bags and shoes in neat rows with a chest of drawers, open cubbies, and a storage island in this space equipped with a window seat.

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  Labeled Shelf Baskets

  

  Get out your label maker and create a budget-friendly organization system using inexpensive baskets stacked side by side on closet shelves.

  A Beautiful Mess used matching white pins labeled with simple black labels that keep scarves and other accessories hidden in plain sight.

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  Built-In Vanity

  

  Build an accessories shelf unit around an integrated vanity to add functionality to a large closet. Marie Flanigan Interiors backed the wall above the dresser drawers with a mirror, countertop, and sconce lighting.

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  Slanted Closet Shelving

  

  Maximize every inch of space with purpose-built shelving that fits the architecture of your room. NEAT Method installed custom shelves and cubbies in this top floor closet that follows the roofline, and added a lighted niche to highlight a favorite pair of hats.

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  Closet Cubby Wall

  

  Instead of building shelves, turn a spare wall in your closet into a cubby wall to maximize storage. A Beautiful Mess added a wall of cubby closet shelving that exploits vertical space and keeps stacked and loose items visible and easy to grab.

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  Freestanding Shelving

  

  If you don't have the budget for a built-in storage system, assemble standalone shelving units in matching neutral tones. In this space, Emily Henderson Design stored shoes in open cubbies, while hyacinth baskets hold small accessories, and lightweight, fabric-covered pull-out drawers and bins keep items neatly stored and easy to access.

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  Bespoke Shoe Wall Shelves

  

  Build bespoke shelves to display a prized collection of shoes, handbags, or hats. This dressing room in a contemporary New Jersey home from Gray Space Interiors has a custom-built wall of open shelving that puts a vast collection of colorful sneakers on proud display.
  

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  Closet Accessories Shelf

  

  Most Lovely Things added a small shelf decorated with art and wallpaper and lit with a tiny lamp that creates a landing spot for small accessories and makes the space feel personal and warm.

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  Luxury Closet Shelving

  

  If you've got the space, built out airy lighted shelving that accommodates an edited wardrobe while leaving plenty of spare room for new purchases, the ultimate in closet luxury.

  Interior designer Alvin Wayne maximized vertical space in this large walk-in closet dressing room with floor-to-ceiling open shelving and soft lighting.

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  Closet Shelf Styling

  

  When styling shelves in an open closet, allow your items to breathe by not overcrowding shelving. Blogger Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona left plenty of space around the shoes, hats, and bags on display on these DIY open shelves so that the space retains a light and airy feel.

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  Grasscloth-Backed Shelves

  

  Back your closet shelving with paint or wallpaper to give disparate shelving units a cohesive feel. Marie Flanigan Interiors chose a soft powder blue to coordinate with an ottoman and upholstered bench, but you could choose any color of pattern that you like. Try removable peel-and-stick wallpaper if you're a renter.

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  Custom Wood Closet Shelves

  

  If you're building a forever closet, use natural wood finishes that will last a lifetime and add warmth and character to your space. Louis Duncan-He Designs lit this walk-in closet with LED lighting that highlights the rich stained wood grain for a quietly luxurious feel.