Whether you live in a dorm, apartment or a house, sometimes the closet space you need doesn't exist. Dorms already lack space to begin with, and some apartments and houses were built at a time when people owned only a few pieces of clothing. My sophomore year dorm didn't even have a closet. It had an awkward armoire that consisted of four drawers and a hanging space too short for anything longer than a t-shirt. Talk about having a wrinkly dress issue. You may dream of a spacious walk in closet, but your place provides you with a fraction of that. Thankfully, I am that girl who loves to organize and being given a challenge excites me. With some organization and a few tricks, your small closet will no longer seem so small.

1. Declutter.

Take everything out of your closet and begin figuring out what you do or do not need. Half the reason closets seem so cluttered is because there are pieces hiding in there that you NEVER wear. Here is a detailed guide to help you get your closet organized. Notice how you can store out of season items inside your suitcase. Make the most of this storage idea by putting these items in space organizer bags you can vacuum the air out of, making them less bulky and keeping them fresh for next year.

2. Invest in organization tools.

Evaluate your closet while it's empty and see what space you have to work with. If you can drill into your walls, head to Ikea so that you can install an extra shelf or two, and rearrange your hanging space like in the photo above. If you can't drill, check out hanging closet rods that extend your hanging space another level by simply hooking on to the top rod already there. Use baskets or decorate bins on shelves to organize your looser items and make it look more pulled together. The key is to use as much of your closet space as possible, so explore your organization options!

3. Use felt hangers.

I cannot stress how important and wonderful felt hangers are! First, they are slim and save SO much space compared to the bulky plastic or wooden hangers. Second, they grip the clothing without any damage and don't let any items fall off and onto the floor. Third, having only one type and color of hanger makes your closet look visually appealing and organized (seriously). You can get them on Amazon and add clips to them for skirts, They are truly an investment!

4. Utilize your door space.

A space that often goes unnoticed is the inside of the closet door, but it often can add more storage to your closet! Neatly hang your scarves on a towel rod, hang your purses and jewelry, and have a hook to hang next day's outfit. This is a space to make the most of it, so arrange it in a way to make everything visible and organized. It's an extension of your closet!

5. Separate your shoes.

Okay so your closet may still be a little bit small to fit all of your shoes. No worries! A two-in-one solution of a shoe bench allows extra shoe storage plus extra seating for when you're getting ready. If the bench is for extra shoe storage, place shoes you don't wear as often here (think formal heels or out of season pairs). They come in all sorts of styles and sizes for you to match it well to your room decor. Avoid cluttering your closet floor and never lose a pair of shoes again!