12 Things To Do if a House Doesn’t Have Closets

You may overlook your closets until they’re not there. Suddenly, your clothes and other belongings are scattered all over the place, making it a hassle to organize everything. It can be difficult coming up with creative ideas to organize your house.

Here are 12 things you can do if a house doesn’t have closets:

Hang a clothes rack from the ceiling.

Install shelves on the walls.
Put hooks on the back of doors.
Use under-bed storage containers.

Get a dresser with deep drawers.
Get baskets and bins.
Create a makeshift closet using curtains or screens.

Invest in a portable wardrobe.
Use an over-the-door shoe organizer for clothes.
Use a laundry hamper to store clothes.

Invest in an armoire that fits your space.
Invest in a shoe rack.

This article will explore all the above ideas in detail. Keep reading to learn more about how to organize your house without closets and keep your house neat and organized.

1. Hang a Clothes Rack From the Ceiling

If you have high ceilings, you can hang a clothes rack on them to keep your house organized. You can buy a Simple Houseware Industrial Pipe Rack (link to Amazon) or make one yourself.

Another easy way to hang a clothes rack from the ceiling is by using hooks. You can buy these at any hardware store; they come in different sizes. Just make sure you get the right size for your clothing rack.

You can also hang a clothes rack by screwing it into the ceiling. This is a more permanent solution, but it will take a little more time and effort.

2. Install Shelves on the Walls

You can put up shelves on your walls to store clothes, shoes, and other belongings. This is a great way to utilize empty wall space and organize your things. Just make sure you install the shelves at a comfortable height so you can reach them easily.

Creativity and craftsmanship matter a lot for this to work well. Some creative ideas to employ to make your shelves look good include:

Display odds and ends by installing shelves on various levels.

Paint the shelves to match the wall color for a seamless look.
Use different materials such as wood, metal, or plastic to create contrast.

3. Put Hooks on the Back of Doors

Hooks provide an excellent way to store your coats, hats, bags, and other things you need to grab quickly as you head out the door. Just make sure the hooks are strong enough to hold your items. A good example is VICOOL Heavy Duty Coat Hooks (link to Amazon).

The hook should also match your door’s material. For instance, if your doors are made of metal, then get metal hooks. This way, the overall look will be more cohesive.

4. Use Under-Bed Storage Containers

Storing seasonal clothes and other things you don’t often use under the bed frees space in the room. The critical consideration for this is to get storage containers that are the right size for your bed and have wheels so you can easily slide them in and out.

The crucial consideration is the size of your under-bed storage containers. It will be a hassle to get the containers in and out of the bed if they are large. You’ll have to lift the bed, which can be tedious, especially if you have a heavy king-size bed.

If you have already bought tall storage containers, look for a way to adjust your bed. Using Bee Neat Bed Riser Set (link to Amazon) is an excellent trick to adjust your bed’s size. Luckily, these bed risers come in different sizes, so you can buy one that fits your bed’s size.

5. Get a Dresser With Deep Drawers

Dressers come in handy for storing clothes, but not all of them have deep enough drawers. This can be a problem because you might have to fold your clothes to fit them, which takes up more space than if they were just hanging in a closet.

Moreover, folding clothes needs a bit of expertise to prevent wrinkles and creases. There are specific techniques that you’ll have to employ to keep your clothes wrinkle-free (source).

When buying a dresser, measure the depth of the drawer so you know what size clothes will fit. The LYNCOHOME Dresser for Bedroom (link to Amazon) has large drawers that can accommodate many items.

6. Get Baskets and Bins

Baskets and bins are great for storing things like towels, blankets, and clothes you don’t use often. They come in all sizes, so you can find ones that fit your needs.

The main challenge is knowing what’s in which basket. You can avoid any confusion by:

Labeling your baskets or bins. Use a sticker label to indicate the basket with dirty clothes, towels, or socks.
Color coding. Buying baskets and bins with different colors and deciding what to put in each. For example, you can decide that blue is for clean clothes while red is for dirty clothes.
Buying transparent bins. Transparent bins allow you to see through and identify what they have. This way, the chances of confusion are limited.

You can use baskets and bins to store just about anything. Larger items like blankets can fit well in large baskets like the WISELIFE Storage Basket Bins (link to Amazon).

7. Create a Makeshift Closet Using Curtains or Screens

If you don’t have enough space for a dresser or an armoire, you can create a makeshift closet using curtains or screens. This may sound daunting if you’re not a “do it yourself person.” However, the simple procedure below should make it easy:

Find a spot in the room where you can hang the curtains or screens. The area should not be too close to the bed so you can have enough space to move around.

Measure the length of the spot where you’ll hang the curtains or screens. Then, buy curtains or screens that are at least that long.
Hang the curtains or screens from a rod or wire. Make sure they are secure so they don’t fall.
Use hangers to hang your clothes on the back of the curtains or screens. You can also use hooks to hang other items like purses, belts, and scarves.

Strong curtains like the NICETOWN Living Room Shaded Draperies (link to Amazon) ensure sufficient privacy for your belongings.

8. Invest in a Portable Wardrobe

A portable wardrobe is an excellent solution for people who move frequently. It’s a type of closet that you can disassemble and reassemble easily. You can also buy one that doesn’t require assembly, like the LOKEME 67 Inch Wardrobe Closet (link to Amazon).

One of the main advantages of a portable wardrobe is that it won’t be a nuisance. If you move to a new apartment with closets, you can simply disassemble and store it under the bed.

9. Use an Over-the-Door Shoe Organizer for Clothes

The good thing with over-the-door shoe organizers is that they come in different sizes so you can buy one that fits the door of your room perfectly. Ensure it has enough pockets to hold all your clothes.

A good example is the Homyfort Over-the-Door Shoe Organizer (link to Amazon). Such an organizer is perfect for small apartments or rooms without closets. It allows you to keep your clothes organized and wrinkle-free. Plus, it’s easy to access your clothes since you can see all of them at once.

You can also use the pockets to store other items like scarves, belts, and ties.

When using an over-the-door shoe organizer for clothes:

Hang it on the back of the door using the hooks that come with it.
Arrange your clothes in the pockets, starting with those you wear often.

Put heavier clothes at the bottom and lighter ones at the top.
Ensure there’s enough space between the clothes so they don’t wrinkle.

10. Use a Laundry Hamper To Store Clothes

A laundry hamper is a type of basket that you can use to store dirty or clean clothes. It’s usually made of cloth, which makes it easy to carry around. Plus, it has a lid that keeps the clothes hidden from view.

Typically hampers are used to move clothes to and from the laundry, but you can go ahead and use them as a storage space for your clothes.

Some laundry hampers like the Greenstell Laundry Hamper (link to Amazon) come with wheels for easy movement. Others have handles that make them easy to carry around. Choose one that fits your needs and space perfectly.

It’s worth noting that the laundry hamper can occupy a lot of space if you don’t arrange your clothes well. Therefore, take your time to fold the clothes nicely before inserting them into the hamper. Remember to organize the hamper so your least used items are at the bottom, and everyday essentials are at the top for easy access.

11. Invest in an Armoire That Fits Your Space

An armoire is a type of wardrobe that’s tall and has doors. It’s perfect for storing clothes, shoes, and other items. Plus, it comes in different designs, sizes, and colors so you choose one that fits your space perfectly.

Some armoires have drawers while others have continuous doors. If you want separate segments for storing different items, go for one with drawers like the Powell Furniture Jewelry Armoire (link to Amazon).

An armoire is a perfect solution for those who don’t have enough space for a portable wardrobe. Plus, it’s more durable and has a longer lifespan. However, it can be pretty expensive, so consider your finances before deciding on the best closet alternative for you.

12. Invest in a Shoe Rack

If you have many pairs of shoes, a shoe rack is an excellent way to display them without taking up too much space. It’s also a great way to keep them organized and prevent them from getting damaged.

Depending on your house, you can go for a shoe rack that can be disassembled and reassembled easily. If you have a big family with many pairs of shoes, you’ll need a spacious shoe rack such as the Bamworld Shoe Rack Organizer (link to Amazon) to display all your shoes nicely.

If you choose a shoe rack that’s not fixed to the floor, ensure it’s made of sturdy materials. This way, it won’t topple over when filled with shoes. Also, make sure it has enough space for all your pairs of shoes.

Why Is It Challenging To Live in a House Without Closets?

Living in a house without closets is challenging because finding storage space for your belongings can be difficult. This is especially true if you have a lot of clothes as they need to be stored carefully in a space that protects them from dust and damage.

You must be creative with storing your belongings in a house without closets.

Some of the challenges you may face while living in a house without closets are:

Finding a place to hang your clothes. If you don’t have closets, chances are there aren’t any hooks on the walls either. Therefore, you’ll have to get creative with how you hang your clothes.
Finding a place to store your shoes. Most people have many shoes, and it can be challenging to keep organized without closets.
Storing seasonal clothing. If you live in a place with four seasons, you’ll need to find a place to store your winter and summer clothes when you’re not using them.

Folding clothes and keeping them wrinkle-free. Folding clothes can be challenging without closets because there’s often nowhere to put them once they’re folded.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Do Old Houses Lack Closets?

Old houses lack closets because people did not have many clothes when they were being built. People used to fold their few items and store them in drawers.

What Do You Do When You Have No Closets?

When you have no closets, the only thing you can do is be creative and design or buy something that can keep your clothes and shoes. For example, buy a wardrobe or an armoire if your house has enough space.

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