These 10 lifestyle hacks can make your small closet feel a lot bigger

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Living in New York City, you eventually get creative about turning shallow, small closets into impressive storage solutions.

Clutter creates stress, and when it’s at home in the one room you can potentially really call your own, that’s not a good thing.

Having a mess bombards your senses with excessive stimuli, distracts us, makes it hard for the brain to relax (there is always work to be done), makes us anxious and guilty, and inhibits creativity and productivity. It also means you can only find one of your gym socks.

Fortunately, there are a few inexpensive ways to maximize your space and therefore your relaxation time at home. It can be as simple as making the decision now and spending half your Saturday (maybe not even) going through your things and stacking them into smarter organizational tools that make use of your space.

Below you’ll find 10 ways you can get started right now by turning even the smallest of closets into an organizational dream (or at the least, enough space to store all the stuff you can’t part with):

1. Invest in a closet organization system to add shelf and hanger space

Amazon

It might seem like a big upfront investment, but a closet organizer can address all of your needs in one sitting.

ClosetMaid ShelfTrack Adjustable Closet Organizer Kit, $99 - $132.99

2. Make use of awkward spaces purposefully

Amazon

This is especially useful if you can't trust yourself to fold sweaters perfectly each time. It's going to save you a lot of time and energy by divvying up space for you already. Even if they aren't perfectly folded, they'll stay in their zone.

Evelots Closet Shelf Dividers, Set of 4, currently available from third party sellers at $22.60 and up

3. Use all available space, especially if its space easily hidden from main room

Amazon

Especially if it's the backside of a door you won't be seeing from the bedroom, why on earth wouldn't you want to maximize and use that space? You can throw a mirror on the front and a shoe organizer or shelves on the back, keeping your shoes as flat and vertically strapped as possible, so they take up less room in general.

Unjumbly Over the Door Shoe Organizer, $19.99

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