18 Open Closet Ideas To Make Getting Dressed a Cinch

Open closets are on trend, which is great news for people with small spaces. These highly organized clothing storage systems are great for displaying your wardrobe, making your room feel larger, and eliminating cumbersome closet doors. They’re an obvious choice for those who live in tiny homes or minimal apartments, but even those with ample closet space are embracing this trend.

There are plenty of ways you can style your open closet to make it feel more organized and more like you. Consider building your own wood elements for a more rustic feel or paint everything white for a bright look. Beware that open closets can get messy quickly, so careful curation and style are key—luckily, you can take inspiration from these pretty and practical open closet ideas.

20 Clothing Storage Ideas If You Don't Have a Closet

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Dress It Up

Remodelaholic

Transform your open closet into your very own personal dressing room by adding fun elements like this hat stand and a stylish mirror. Use shelving to display your favorite items and make the space more fun with a splash of color or some cute wallpaper.
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Use Natural Materials

KatarzynaBialasiewicz / Getty Images

If you’re going for a relaxed vibe, an open closet can make your bedroom feel more natural and cozy. Opt for materials like natural wood that offer plenty of storage while giving your room an open and casual look. Building your own open closet by incorporating individual objects, like old wooden crates, can save you money (try shopping secondhand) while keeping your wardrobe organized.
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Add Midcentury Modern Storage

A Beautiful Mess

Open closets can fit any aesthetic. If your space has a midcentury modern look, find a dresser that fits your style and make it the feature piece of your open closet, like this DIY open closet from A Beautiful Mess.
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Tailor It

IP Galanternik D.U. / Getty Images

With no restrictions on where you can install shelving or drawers, open closets are perfect for those who want to include a variety of customized storage systems to organize their wardrobe. Give everything in your wardrobe a designated spot to keep your open closet looking organized.

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Level It Up

Ursula Carmona of Home Made by Carmona

To maximize the storage space in your open closet, you can add storage solutions—shelves, clothing rods, hooks—both high and low. Not only does this save space, but it also makes your closet more dynamic and visually interesting.
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Customize Your Hanging Rods

Mariakray / Getty Images

Install the clothing rods in your closet at different heights so you can fit each piece of your wardrobe. This gives each of your items its own proper place to keep your open closet looking organized.
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Add DIY Shelving

Bitter Root DIY

Building your own shelves is easier than it seems, but you do need a few power tools and some basic woodworking skills. DIYing your open closet is budget-friendly and allows you to customize your pieces to match your style and storage needs.
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Add Shoe Cubbies

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Keep your shoes organized by placing each pair in its own cubby. This idea is perfect to help kids stay organized, or for adults who like to grab and go without spending half an hour searching for the perfect footwear before a night out.

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Add a Large Mirror

Design by Becca Interiors

This open closet from Becca Interiors is located in a dressing room off the main room that technically has a door, but is open to the room itself. The upper portion of the closet has a hanging rod for shirts and slacks, with drawers below that keep everything else organized. A large wall mirror provides a place to check your outfit before heading out.
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Paint It White

urfinguss / Getty Images

Stick to white paint, shelving, drawers, and storage to brighten the space and allow the colors of your wardrobe to stand out so that things are easy to find.
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Highlight Your Accessories

Design by Maite Granda

This accessories closet from interior designer Maite Granda has floor-to-ceiling open shelving for bags, shoes, and jewelry and a few closed drawers for storing extras. The whole closet is designed and lit like a boutique display with transparent glass doors that keep it open to the rest of the space.
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Add a Dressing Table

Kwanchai_Khammuean / Getty Images

This open closet has a boutique feel, with a carefully curated collection of neutral-toned clothing and accessories displayed with plenty of space around each item to show it off. A vintage dressing table, mirror, and stool turns the space into an open-plan dressing room.

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Add Glass-Front Cabinetry

Design by Studio KT

One of the disadvantages of an open closet is the issue of dust, which depending on where you live can be more or less of a problem that can't necessarily be solved by how often you vacuum and clean. This spacious open closet from Studio KT solves that problem by using glass-front open storage for shoes and clothing that keeps everything visible and easy to access while protecting your wardrobe.
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Don't Fill Every Inch of Space

brizmaker / Getty Images

The more shelves you have, the more organized your wardrobe will be. Fill each shelf with an accessory or two, and don't be afraid to leave some shelves open and clear to be filled in at a later date.
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Display Your Shoe Collection

Laura Cattano Organizational Design

If you are a shoe lover with a small closet but adjacent wall space, consider hiding your sneakers and muddy boots behind closed doors and adding open display shelving for your shoe collection. This shoe wall from Laura Cattano Organizational Design puts those stilettos on display so that they can be admired on the daily.
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Add Backlighting

onurdongel / Getty Images

Just because your closet is open to the room doesn't mean it doesn't need some help in the lighting department. Backlighting your open closet with integrated or LED strip lighting will give it a boutique feel, and make sure that it's easy to locate what you need.

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Remove the Door

Design by Emily Bowser for Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

You can turn any closet into an open closet by simply removing the doors. This will allow you to maximize space and allow for easy access when you're in a rush. Removing the door from this small closet from Emily Henderson Design leaves room for a small window seat just outside the entrance.
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Ask a Professional

onurdongel / Getty Images

If you don't have the time or skills to DIY your open closet and have the budget to go all out, consider installing a professional organizational closet system that can be customized for your needs and tailored to optimize every spare inch of your space.