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There’s a lot to love about old houses: Their character, architectural features, and craftsmanship can tell a story of bygone days, a time when most people had far fewer clothes and household items than we do now. If you’ve fallen in love with a century home but it has a dearth of closet space, don’t despair. You have options for all storing the stuff that might otherwise have gone into a spacious, walk-in closet.
1. Go old school with a traditional armoire.
Lean into the historic feel of an old home by filling it with the types of furnishings your predecessors used. Armoires, chifferobes, chests of drawers, and other large-scale storage furniture can be beautiful statement pieces that provide the storage space you need while setting the character of the room. Wardrobes can take up a lot of real estate, however, so they are often best for larger rooms.
2. Hang hooks everywhere.
Hooks are a fast and affordable method for hanging clothes and other items. Older homes often lack storage in entryways, so affixing an attractive row of hooks above a bench with a shoe rack underneath can be a quick and easy way to transform an entrance dumping zone into an organized and welcoming space. Hooks are versatile and can hang on almost any vertical surface, including the backs of doors and inside cabinets. We like the Dseap Wall Mounted Metal Coat Hook Rail at Amazon, which is made of stainless steel and comes in a dozen colors.
3. Build a closet.
If you’re a handy DIYer who loves a weekend project, you may choose to add a closet in an underused space like an unused corner. If you want to take your new closet to the next level, make it partly or all-the-way recessed into a wall. Building a closet that takes advantage of the area inside a stud wall or under a stair can be an excellent way to maximize space while minimizing its footprint.
4. Repurpose a room.
Many older homes are a collection of small rooms, some of which no longer serve their original purpose. If you have a spare bedroom without a clear purpose, turn it into a closet room. Customizable closet systems, such as the Rubbermaid Configurations Deluxe Custom Metal Closet System, can make it a breeze to turn a spare room into a personalized walk-in closet or dressing room.
5. Turn a wall into a closet space.
If you don’t mind your closet items being on display, consider using a wall as your closet space by installing a modular or wire track system along one end of a room. Freestanding closet systems, like the ClosetMaid Style Floor Mount 6-Shelf Closet Kit, are affordable and easy to install.
RELATED: 25 Closet Organization Ideas for Saving Space and Sanity
6. Find space in unexpected places.
Borrow storage space wherever you can find it: Store shoes and out-of-season clothes in bins under your bed or couch. Put storage baskets on top of cabinets and bookcases. Install shelves and cabinets in the nooks and crannies of under-stair spaces. And invest in dual-function furniture like couches, side tables, and ottomans that include extra storage space.
7. Store seasonal items in garages or outbuildings.
If you save room by rotating your clothes by season but can’t find enough space inside to store them, consider storing off-season clothes in bins elsewhere on your property, such as the garage or a waterproof shed. Invest in good-quality storage bins that will keep moisture and pests out and keep your items safe until their seasonal turn rolls around again.
8. Set up a portable closet.
A portable closet is a flexible, low-cost option for renters or homeowners who want a temporary closet space solution. Portable closets are easy to put up and take down, and many of them can store impressive amounts of shoes and clothing, like Songmics’ 59-inch portable clothes wardrobe. They are also easy to move, enabling you to reconfigure the layout of the room as needed.
9. Be smart about the closet space you have.
If your home has any existing closet space at all, no matter how small, use that closet space wisely and waste none of it. Maximize whatever space you have by installing a second rod to double hanging capacity, hanging a wire organizer on the back of the door for shoes and accessories, and making use of vertical space by installing shelves above the top closet rod or even above the door.
10. Pare down your closet inventory.
While there’s a lot you can do to fit a modern lifestyle into an old house that has no closets, whatever space you can find is still finite. Keep on top of overload and clutter by doing regular clothing and clutter purges, and get rid of things you don’t use.
11. Build over-the-door shelving.
Rarely do we think about the wall space above a door but we should—it can be a surprisingly useful and attractive spot for a shelf, as the bloggers at A Beautiful Mess discovered. Because you’ll probably need a stepladder to reach it, use this shelf is best for items that you use only occasionally or seasonally.
12. Tidy up your closet floor.
If the floor of your closet is a jumble of shoes and dirty laundry, you aren’t making effective use of the space. Tidy this prime real estate with a shoe organizer like the Simple Housewares 3-tier stackable organizer, and neatly pair up your shoes. Purchase a small laundry basket to corral dirty clothing, and you’ll make excellent use of the small floor footprint.
13. Cart your stuff around.
Utility carts are having a design moment right now, and they’re far from the bulky, unattractive storage units they once were. Tuck a nice-looking utility cart, like the Rebrilliant 10-drawer cart (above) in an underused corner, or even inside a closet, to store shoes, accessories, or off-season clothing.
14. Make use of the back of the door.
The back of a closet or bedroom door offers valuable real estate that you can put to use with a hanging organizer to hold scarves, jackets, or even shoes. To save space, opt for a soft organizer with clear plastic pockets over a rigid metal organizer, which requires more clearance.
