Custom Closet Storage

Turn any closet into a clutter-free zone with this easy organizer you can build in a day

- BY CARMEN DE LA PAZ

Closets are precious real estate in any home. That's why you've probably heard, “I don't have enough closet space” or “My closets are too small!” more times than you can count.

In search of ways to maximize closet space without sacrificing tidiness, I turned to professional home organizer Rachel Winter of Happy Home Organizers. Her standout advice? “Don't put anything but a clothes hamper for laundry on the floor of your closet.” It certainly makes sense—a clear floor instantly makes a closet look bigger and more organized. But who wants to give up all that usable space?

Winter's insight sparked an idea: What if I built a customized closet organizer to hold a laundry hamper, storage bins and shoes, all while maintaining the illusion of a clutter-free floor? Here, I share my design and step-by-step instructions so you can create your own and easily adapt it to your specific storage needs. “Everything in its place and a place for everything” is the perfect motto for this project.

Before You Begin