When is the last time you cleaned out your reach-in closet? And by cleaned out we mean removed every single item, cleaned the actual closet itself, and then sorted through all of your belongings to make sure you only keep the items you love and wear? Warren states that editing the closet can be the first best step to using the space most efficiently.

The next step to organizing your small closet is to group similar things together. So when you clean out your space, place tems such as shoes, pants, shirts, etc. in the same spot. That way you can see what you have before you put it all back. And there’s a good chance you’ll be surprised at how much you find that you rarely wear.

Once you have related items together, go through each item in each group to decide if you want to keep it, donate it, or discard it. Remember that keeping duplicates of the same item takes up valuable space so make sure you only keep what you need. If you are considering a new small closet design, this is a key step in getting ready for installation day.

Once you’ve cleaned out your reach-in closet and edited out the items you no longer wear or need, it’s time to organize them by category. Warren says that the most valuable space in your closet is the shelving and hanging that is at or near your eye’s level. That’s because you are most likely to see it first. So you’ll want to be certain to store the items that you need most in this general location.

Take it one step further and organize each section of your reach-in closet by color. That way it will be just as easy to find the items you need as you get dressed each day as it will be to put them away.

When working to help her clients get organized, Warren finds that even in small reach-in closets, they have a hard time finding their things because they just can’t see them. Two common problem areas are the top shelf and floor in your closet. Out of the way yet convenient, they offer the perfect solution for items you don’t use as often but would like to have on hand.

Keep things organized in your new found space by containing them in bins with labels. Warren recommends labeling bins so you can see what’s inside at a glance and use the label for category details such as “Shoes” or “Sweaters”

Keep your small closet clutter free by storing seasonal items out of the way. The top shelf and floor of your closet are perfect locations to rotate items all year long.

The final step in organizing your small closet is to evaluate your lighting. Small reach-in closets can have very little if any lighting. Lighting can be added overhead and down low near the floor to iliminuate those hard to see and hard to reach areas. Lighting can also be incorporated within each section of your custom closet. Work with your custom closet designer to incorporate the right solution for you.