20 small walk-in closet ideas to organize clothes in even the tiniest of bedrooms

The best small walk-in closet ideas will convince you that these desirable features are not just reserved for massive homes or dreamy bedrooms. To have everything neatly on display and easy to reach seems like a big ask, right? But, it can work just as well for smaller spaces, although you may need to be strategic about what clothes you choose to have in your walk-in closet.

Creating a practical and stylish walk-in closet is about being space-savvy and incorporating key organizational systems. It might also require some bedroom decluttering before you get started...

Worry not! These cute but chic spaces will inspire you to get organized.

While closet organization ideas will help you decide what goes where, you will also need to figure out where the closet itself will fit, whether you'll want to add doors and whether you may need to experiment with open and DIY shelving in order to create that coveted walk-in closet look.

Make your small walk-in closet ideas a reality with some clever tips and tricks – you can optimize the space so it transforms from dark and pokey to bright and inviting.

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By Anna Cottrell

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If you have a single free wall in your bedroom, you have enough space for a walk-in closet. Single-wall walk-in closets are a great small bedroom idea. If you are clever with the design, you can easily fit all of your clothes and shoes on the same wall. The easiest way to do this is by positioning shoe storage and any additional shelves or cupboards along the perimeter of the wall, with the main clothing storage area in the center.

If your space is truly tiny, you may not have the depth for an enclosed walk-in unit. In this case, consider installing floating shelves and a rail – this will really minimize the footprint of your walk-in closet area. According to Chris Alexakis of Cabinet Select: 'In a small walk-in closet, floating shelves are a perfect solution. They allow you to use the space above your closet rods while adding a decorative touch.' 

Floating shelves are a great solution for rooms where you only have space available on the side of the door. If you have the budget for a bespoke project, and a thick wall between two rooms, you could also add a slide-out shoe cabinet built into the doorway.

Walk-in closets can still have doors, and these are especially beneficial in small spaces because a door conceals your clothing when you don't want to be looking at it. A mirrored door is even better because mirrors make small spaces look bigger. A mirrored front on a walk-in closet looks especially nice as part of modern bedroom.

A free bedroom corner is a perfect candidate for a small walk-in closet. Again, you do need to be clever about the way the space is used. The most successful corner walk-in closet designs use the two sides of a corner differently. For example, one side can be all open shelving and the other all drawers. Or use all of one side as clothes storage and the other only for shoes.

Sliding doors work a treat for small walk-in closets – you don't have to worry about swing space for the door, and you don't have to constantly stare at your clothes while you are in the bedroom. You get to control when you want the walk-in closet and when you want your bedroom to look more minimalist and streamlined. 

A sliding closet door track kit can be purchased from Amazon and installed on a DIY basis if you're a competent DIYer and have a drill. You will need to take your existing closet doors off their hinges.

In a small kid's bedroom, why not combine toy storage ideas with a pseudo walk-in closet? In fact, the Battistella Bunk Bed With Desk is all of the furniture your kid's room will need in one piece – bed, closet and desk. It's a brilliant solution that will save you time trying to build storage separately.

You'll probably recognise this look from the IKEA storage systems that use rails and shelves and can be customized. Many other furniture retailers now make similar systems that can be installed in a variety of ways in even very small spaces, including in corners. To keep an open shelving unit neat at all times you'll want to invest in storage baskets and boxes, as even neatly folded clothes will not stay in place for very long. 

Don't want to faff about with rails and screws? We hear you. If you're on a very tight budget, have a small space, and want the look of a walk-in closet, you may need to improvise a bit with freestanding storage units. For example, combine ladder storage with an open shelving unit, or group together a chest of drawers and a portable clothing rail.

When does a small walk-in closet become a small dressing room? At the point where you add a dressing table! Many of the best dressing tables are quite small and will fit in the space between the door and your clothing storage unit. A dressing table instantly makes your dressing area look more glamorous, and it adds even more storage if you choose one with drawer space.

If you prefer a more open-plan feel then opt for Ikea's PAX system, oh-so-versatile and you can configure it to suit your needs. You can ditch dressers and use plastic tubs instead for tops; shirts and sweaters can be hung; and use baskets for bedding. 

More often than not, a small walk-in closet will have no windows and therefore will be dark without good lighting. Strip lighting is a good option when teamed with a central pendant light. The light needs to be sufficient enough so you can really see the colors of your clothes together first thing in the morning. We love how these lights highlight the outer edge and perfectly illuminate the hanging clothes. 

'Utilizing built-in shelving is the best way to maximize the space in a small closet because it can eliminate some of the dead space that may occur when there's only hanging space available. Shelves create a great way to organize shoes, folded clothing items, or bins for easy pull-out access of smaller items like socks,' says Jessica Davis, owner and principal designer at JL Design. 

A custom built walk-in closet will transform your space into one that's stylish and practical – so much so, you'll wonder why you never invested in one before! We asked Philipp Nagel, director at Neatsmith for his advice on going bespoke:

'Bespoke designs, unlike freestanding furniture, enable you to make the most of every bit of available space in your home. Think about how often you use things and keep everyday and popular items within easy reach with accessories such as pull-out shoe drawers or purpose-built trouser rails.'

Modular systems are the most genius way of making the most of those awkward spaces we sometimes have in our homes – alcoves that need some love, a low ceiling or an area where nothing else fits. Ikea's closet solutions are second to none and you can literally configure anything you like and keep them open for easy viewing too, there's nothing not to love in our book! 

Always look at interior designers for small walk-in closet ideas. This space designed by Maestri Studio shows how you can utlize the height of your closet when the width is too tight. Three hanging rails on top of each give oodles of clothing space, you can reach them via a custom ladder or hook. Use a side table for jewellery and invest in a slimline dresser for folded pieces. 

For a sleek and contemporary look Go Modern's Novamobili Ben walk in wardrobe could be for you. Their system gives the feel of a shop with its high tech finishes and stylish storage solutions like the colored box shelving. The back panels and some interior accessories can be cut to size and there's a large range of extras like back lit shelves, pull-out trouser rails, tie racks, and LED lights. 

A fitted walk-in closet might not be for you, in which case consider a freestanding unit that you can add to as and when you want. They're also good for small alcoves as they can be narrow. 

Wayfair's Terraza clothes rack has a hanging rail on one side and shelving on the other, it's versatile enough that you can place two side-by-side or in an L-shape if your closet is tiny. 

One consideration when designing your own walk-in closet is to choose what combinations of storage will work best. Do you prefer to have more hanging items or do you like to keep things neatly folded in drawers or on shelves? This Ikea Pax combination shows you how to use both successfully within this corner closet. 

'Bespoke designs, unlike freestanding furniture, enable you to make the most of every bit of available space in your home – be that simply a perfectly fitted full-length wall of impactful wardrobes, or working around more awkward architectural features such as sloped ceilings, chimney breasts, and alcoves. Choosing bespoke not only creates furniture that completely fits the space in your home but it also maximises all the available storage opportunities,' says Philipp Nagel, director at Neatsmith.

A walk-in closet that can be changed to suit your needs is always going to be worth investing in:

'When everything has its own place in your wardrobe, getting dressed is a joy. The flexible and modular String© gives you open shelves for your everyday denim, cabinets for accessories, handbag and shoe shelves to display your prized possessions, and hangers for everything else.  

All functions are completely versatile and can be placed in a variety of combinations to suit small or big spaces and meet all your needs. Creative storage for an organised lifestyle,' says Peter Erlandsson, co-owner of String Furniture.