Tips for Storing Clothes and Other Things When You Have No Closets or Shelves

One question on HubPages' "questions" section was about storing clothing and other things in small home without closets or shelves.

Before even trying to address the matter of finding places to store things, it's always good to first take a good, hard, look at anything that could/should really be thrown away or given away. This usually results in a little more available storage space, but people who live in such a storage-challenged home usually know that it's not possible to "just throw away" perfectly good belongings they need and want, and that aren't always that easy to come by.

Renting outside storage space is something some people consider; but people who have ever used one (or more) of those facilities (even the cleanest, seemingly most well-run ones) have often learned that belongings can be destroyed (by things like mice in the facility) when left there for too long. Not everyone wants to (or can) put something (like a shed or a storage pod) outside the house, as tempting an idea as they can see to anyone living in a storage-challenged home. Damp (or wet) basements can pose additional storage challenges, as can garages or barns that aren't dry or bug/mice-free enough to store belongings safely without risking their being ruined. (Yes, the thought of just hanging things from hooks in the ceiling can seem tempting; but that's not acceptable for most things that aren't plants in hanging baskets; and stashing things behind the drapes never works!)

There are usually two types of problems when it comes to where to keep things: 1. Where to keep the things you use regularly, and 2. Where to keep the things you don't - but want.

Even without risk of moisture, mice, bugs or weather; items that are stored for a longer time need to wrapped in plastic to keep dust from them, or kept in covered containers. With things you use regularly, it's important to keep them where you can get to them easily; and since "out-of-sight/out-of-mind" is not a factor with these things, finding a way to make them look as least cluttery or otherwise objectionable is important. Keeping organized and having an eye for what items have colors (or other appearance traits) that look least objectionable if left out can help. Keeping organized also helps keep items you need to get to easily from, at the same time, stopping you from getting to other things easily when you have to.

There are, of course, all kinds of storage containers/shelves or other storage aids you can buy; but some can be expensive, there can be only so much space where storage containers won't look horrible, or too little space for too many of them even if you don't care how they look. In general, the more a storage aid holds, the more expensive it is. Still, sometimes even small storage aids can help by organizing smaller items and leaving a little more drawer space (in places like bureaus) for other items.

Stack-able, drawer-type storage aids, which are often sold as one drawer with "stackability" for adding others on top, are good because they provide for easy access to belongings. Closed, air-tight, containers are good for keeping dust and moisture from things; and they work if you have only one (or a couple stacked up), but if you have more than two getting to your stuff can be a pain in the neck. On the other hand, air-tight/covered containers are great for storing off-season clothes in garages, basements, or attics while keeping them clean and free of moths.

It seems there can be as many types of storage aids as you can imagine, though, and they can also include things like racks on wheels, portable "closets" with zippers, under-bed storage aids, mesh bags that hang from hooks, coat-hangers that accommodate more than one piece of clothing, drawer organizers that divide drawers into sections (making it more reasonable to use one drawer for all kinds of things), and stacking shelves for cupboards. When it comes to finding the right storage aid don't just look at a couple of local discount department stores. Look at dollar stores and chain drug stores. Most importantly, look online. There are companies that specialize in storage aids for homes, offices, or any work place. Don't eliminate companies that focus on work settings because even though products can be higher priced than those aimed at home-storage they often have quite a selection of things that would come in handy at home too.

Spare-time "interests" often have a way of requiring special storage, whether that's tools and hardware, computer items, sewing supplies, or something like beading supplies.  Having a storage case/box (preferably one with little drawers or trays for organizing) can get a lot of little things off surfaces on which they don't belong.  Cases/boxes that will stack are more helpful than those made in awkward, unstackable, shapes.  The same is true for other small items in large numbers - girls'/womens' jewelry, make-up, and hair accessories are examples.   Essentially, any organizing/storage aid should always have a flat top and, ideally, be strong enough to hold boxes/cases on top.

Needless to say, having no closets or shelves is tricky, so I think one thing you need to do is have as many pieces of furniture with drawers in them as possible. You can also divide up drawers (like kitchen drawers) with drawer organizers, and make sure you don't waste drawer space with larger items. Using stacking shelves made for kitchen cupboards can increase space. When it comes to the kitchen, don't waste valuable storage space on things liked canned or bottled foods/beverages. It isn't ideal, but it can help by keeping these somewhere else in the house (like the basement or garage) since they're safe from moisture or bugs. Leaving a bunch of canned goods in a bag in the basement will get them out of the way and keep them clean. There's only so many of these one person can have in any one home, but ottomans that open for storage can offer a little easy-to-get to storage space in a living room, family room, or even a bedroom.  Don't forget benches that offer inside storage or racks and benches that will hold folded blankets at the end of a bed.

Create "storage nooks" or "storage corners" by placing furniture in a way that creates a space (ideally, that cannot be seen from too many angles in the room). These spaces you create with furniture placement can be any size and can be a good place to tuck away a storage box or even just tuck things that are too big to leave within view. Narrower spaces created by furniture placement can be used for things like wall-hangings or mirrors you're not using. Things like soft suitcases, backpacks, kids' baseball bats, curtain rods - anything that is fairly slim can be tucked in narrower spaces. Again, it's not ideal (particularly if you're not the type that likes knowing you've "stashed" things in all kinds corners and behind furniture), but it does get them out of view and free up any existing storage you do have. (This isn't to suggest you dump all the kids toys behind the couch, by any means, but a piece of folded luggage or a baseball tucked in one of these "nooks" isn't all that objectionable.)

Strong over-the-door hooks can hold several pieces of clothing when used with a hanger or two that accommodate more than one piece of clothing. Over-the-door hangers can also hold things like mesh storage bags, clean laundry bags for smaller or lightweight items, or shoe-storage aids (which you don't always have to use for shoes and, instead, can use for anything that stores well in a "cubby"). With over-the-door storage aids it's best to keep things light unless there's a door that isn't used very often.

This is likely to go against your grain (I know the thought of it does mine); but if you're desperate for storage space, don't forget that all tables (that don't involve people sitting around them and using the space underneath for their legs) have storage space underneath and may just need a floor-length tablecloth to make that space usable. Another storage option that can go against a lot people's grain is the space under any beds, but if you have little choice it's silly to waste it.

If you have garage or basement space you can make the "classic 70's" shelving by using two cinder blocks and a board. Also for basement, garage, or attic space; new trash containers with good covers make good places to store whatever fits in them.

Instead of a dirty-clothes hamper, hang clean laundry bags from bedroom doorknobs if necessary. Use the bathroom for hamper that will store something else. Neatly folded and stacked towels don't look bad on top of a hamper in the bathroom. Put the stack in (ideally) a clear plastic bag to keep the towels clean. If the colors don't look like they fit with the color scheme of your bathroom use plastic bags that are not see-through.

Keep in mind that a stack of clean, neatly folded, clothes on a bedroom chair doesn't look all that bad (if you have no choice). Also, neat stacks of clean laundry always take up less space than "junked up" piles of clothes.

Clothes are either in season or out of season. Use storage bins for out-of-season clothing or other things you don't wear regularly. If you have to use a rack designed for hanging clothes this will eliminate a lot of them. Clothes are usually either clean or dirty. Immediately put any dirty ones in laundry bags, so dirty clothes are taking up valuable space in any room. If you're using a rack for clothes, using a few hangers that will hold a few pairs of pants will help. The same is true for dresses or shirts that are best hung on hangers. If necessary, stack folded sweaters. Sweaters take up a lot drawer space, as well as rack space. Jerseys may require their own storage bin, box, or drawer. The same applies to things like pajamas and nightgowns. Socks usually take up a lot of drawer space, so if there's one thing that is best in a basket or a bin, it's socks.

Use attractive baskets for storing some things. A little basket on a chest in the bedroom can hold something like scarves or hats, leaving a little more drawer space for something like "unmentionables".

If necessary, stack sturdy and colorful "milk crates" in a corner where they won't detract too much from the appearance of the room or hall. Speaking of halls, make use of any that you have. That may mean adding a piece of furniture that has drawers in it, using a corner for stacking storage boxes/bins, or adding something like a coat rack that can hold a few coats that are being worn now (rather than not worn because it's hot weather season) and a few other pieces of clothing.

Turn some things into part of your decor. If you have something like a pretty umbrella with colors that look great in a room, hang it from hook rather than use up storage space. A few books stacked neatly on a coffee table or bedroom nightstand don't can look OK (especially if you put the one that looks best on top). If you can install a rack or hooks that will hold pots and pans polish them up or buy pretty ones, and leave that much more space in cupboards. If your china closet doesn't hold all your "dressy" dishes wrap them in plastic wrap (to keep the dust off them) and arrange them on a corner table or little bookshelf in the dining room.

If you have something like a computer desk, keep it neat and organized but use the top of it for keeping things like small office supplies, rather than keeping things like that in a drawer. In the bathroom turn products you use into "decorating accessories" either by buying products in attractive packaging, removing labels, or pouring the product into pretty bottles. There are, of course, over the shower-head "shower caddies" that will hold some things. Plastic corner-trays with suction cups will turn bathtub corners into a little more storage space. In fact, there's a wide variety of plastic "holders" that will stick to the shower stall with suction cups.

Slender corner-shelves make good use of corners without taking up too much floor space. There are a lot of these that add storage to bathrooms, but they're available for any room.

Don't use valuable storage space for bulky things like comforters or blankets. A blanket or two folded on a chair in a bedroom, or the right one folded over the back of a couch don't have to look bad.

Again, be neat and organized, but the top of the refrigerator or microwave oven can look attractive if you do something like keep pretty canisters, mugs, or a stack of sandwich plates on them. Wrap any dishes in plastic wrap to keep them clean. When using a surface for storing something that might otherwise be kept in a cupboard or closet, have an eye for what looks attractive. With something like a few vases, arrange them attractively on something like a sturdy, corner, table.

The top of a chest-of-drawers can hold something like jersey stacked neatly at the end and yet still leave most of the surface clear for something like a vase, a plant, or a few books. Don't fill all surfaces with stuff. Be "strategic". Find ways to "absorb" small amounts of items, rather than thinking in terms of "all my jerseys" or "all my books". A few books on the chest in a bedroom, a few on an end table in the living room, and a few on a table in the hall can work. If you have more than that buy a big storage box and put the extras in the basement or crawl space. With something like jerseys, as many as one drawer will hold can work, with the "over-flow" being stacked somewhere "acceptable". At the same time, with something like underwear (which often involves a lot of items), if it doesn't all fit in one drawer give it its own bin and free up the drawer for "absorbing" other clothing items.

Think in terms of how some non-surface space can absorb an item here or there. For example, the top of the stove is obviously not a storage space; but one back burner can be a good place to keep a large covered pot with, perhaps, a few smaller kitchen item inside. The over isn't a closet, but it's not bad to keep a few stacked (and easy-to-take-out) pans in it. Another example is your medicine cabinet. Do you really need to use it for medicine? (Actually, medicine cabinets aren't the best places for medicines anyway; and anything that isn't medicine and that is small enough to fit in a medicine cabinet can probably be absorbed somewhere else.) So, with an empty medicine cabinet, might there be something else that would make better use of the cabinet's shelves?

Getting back to halls, halls are often wasted. If you have a hall large enough to hold a table with drawers, a small desk, and/or a chair you probably also have room for a coat rack in a corner and, maybe, a storage box under the desk. A tiny hall may only accommodate a stack of storage bins or boxes, but if it isn't used much it would provide space for quite a few items. 

Moving an extra chair from the dining room into a hall may work.  Then again, placing the chair kitty-corner in the dining room (or other room) (and maybe covering it with a fabric cover that will hide what's behind the chair) may create one of those "nooks" mentioned above.  Also, placing something like a pretty tote bag (that, perhaps, holds sewing supplies or small craft supplies) on the seat of that same chair can offer another small-but-additional storage space.

If you have your own laundry area that can be a great place to store clean clothes, provided they stay clean.  If your laundry area is in your basement, add a couple of big, colorful, bins (or even clean trash barrels if you have to), and keep clean clothes in them (with the covers on, of course).  The top of a dryer or front-loading washer can hold some neatly folded laundry, so don't waste that space by keeping your detergents and fabric softeners on it.  Better stacks of neatly folded laundry be on top of your washer or dryer than on the dining room table or in the bedroom.

The right storage aid (like a plastic drawer unit or the right shaped storage box) can do double-duty if you cover it with an attractive scarf and use the top for something like a basket, books, or DVD's.

It helps, when shopping, to keep what things/packages look like in mind; in view of the fact that you may have to leave them within view. For example, buy brooms, dustpans, and mops in colors that go well in the corner of your bathroom or kitchen. If your kitchen is blue, and you have to store your mugs on top of your microwave oven, keep in mind that blue mugs will look like a "decorative accent" (not "lack of storage").

There are racks that can be installed inside cupboard doors or on the "other side" of something like a basement or garage door.

This is another of those things that goes against the grain of a lot of people, but if you really have to you can store things inside other things - like suitcases you don't use very often, tote bags, or backpacks. This is obviously not ideal, but something like a tote bag in the corner of a room (with the contents discreetly contained in it) is a lot better than having those contents "out loose" in the same room.

If you have to resort to covering things in plastic wrap and plastic bags, keep in mind that clear plastic (store brand is cheapest) looks best as a "dust guard" on things like dishes and vases, and it can be changed if dust starts to collect.  Neatly folded laundry or other fabric items look nicer in see-through bags ( clear is best, but even the see-through, light blue, recycling bags are better than black or green trash bags).  For items (like extra kids' toys that are big or awkward) that you want to keep clean but get out of the way, but that can't be folded and stacked neatly, you may have to resort to using a regular trash bag but finding a room where the bag will be out-of-sight.

Speaking of kids' toys, getting the bigger, more awkward, toys away from kids' bedrooms can free up space for things like board games, building sets that come in their own cases, or boxes of doll clothes.  At the same time, if there are REALLY big toys (like a play kitchen or dollhouse), turn them into part of the child's bedroom decor.  Dolls or stuffed animals don't look bad sitting on beds, tops of bureaus, or even window sills.  A couple of the "right kind" of dolls or animals, sitting in a rocking chair in a room other than the child's can work.  Don't rule out something like putting one dollhouse or rocking horse in the corner of any room.  A single dollhouse in the corner of the living room doesn't do much to take away from the look of the room.  (A bunch of toys does.)

Living where there are no closets or shelves is, needless to say, challenging; but it may be more tolerable if you make sure to keep some surfaces absolutely clear, no matter what you have to do to find a place for some things. In a home that is "storage-challenged" it's particularly important that "main surfaces" remain mostly clear. "Main surfaces" are the kitchen table, dining room table, coffee table, and bureau. Not quite as "main" is the top of the toilet tank. Whether it's for purposes of keeping these surfaces usable, or to assure that the living space offers a minimal level of clear surfaces in order to keep things as visually appealing as possible, keeping these spaces mostly free of objects can make the different between a home that is "storage-challenged" to one that looks, itself, like a storage bin.