If you have run out of closet space, getting a portable closet may be an excellent solution. It is definitely easier and less expensive then trying to build a closet or moving to a new home to find more closet space! These closets on wheels are handy in many different situations. Here is an overview of the different uses of portable closets, features to look for and tips for buying a good one.

Portable Closet Uses

The most common uses of portable closets are for supplementing the space in a bedroom or storing clothes that are out of season. Some people also use them to add closet space to a guest room, especially if the room was a converted office or den that does not have a built-in closet. Others use a portable wardrobe in their laundry room to have a convenient place to hang clothes as they come out of the dryer.

Portable Closet Features

Portable closets for clothes range from a simple metal rack on wheels, to an attractive wooden portable closet with shelves, drawers and shoe organizers. For about $30 to $50, you can find a simple model that is about 5 feet high and 4 feet across with a zippered canvas cover. The basic closet will have a single closet rod and provide a great place for storing extra hanging clothes and outerwear.

Basic features to look for are a cover with a breathable fabric to promote airflow and a see-through plastic window so you can quickly find an item you are looking for. If you will be using the portable closet for long term storage it is essential that your clothes are protected from dust and insects, but allowed to “breathe” so they do not become musty. It is worth it to pay a little more for a study portable garment closet that will protect your clothes, while keeping them fresh. You will still be saving money compared to paying for long term storage at a dry cleaners.

For those interested in storing more than just hanging clothes, there are portable closets with shelves, drawers, shoe organizers and laundry hampers. Higher end portable closets are available with wooden frames and more stylish designs. Units with these extra features tend to run $100 and up.

Finding the Right Portable Closet

There are several places to buy portable closets, both in retail locations and online. If seeing the closet and talking to someone is important to you, start with your local home improvement store. If you have a container store or a store like Ikea nearby, those are also good places to start your search. Online retailers are also very convenient and a great way to comparison shop.

As long as you identify your storage needs first, you should be able to find a portable closet that will work for you without much trouble.

The first thing to do with any organization project is to weed out the items that belong somewhere else, so that you see exactly what you need to store in the closet. This will tell you how much hanging space, shelf space and miscellaneous closet organizers you will need. The next thing on the agenda is to measure your closet to see how much room you have. Now the tricky part (that some people make a living at!) – deciding how to maximize the space you have with the type of organizers that you need.

The good news is that most discount closet systems can be configured to match your needs and preferences, so if you want a lot of shelves and don’t need much hanging space, you can choose those components. Once you have gotten this far you need to decide if you want to purchase some type of closet system or just go with individual closet organizers.

Rubbermaid, Closetmaid, Elfa and several other companies offer discount closet organization systems that will fit into most budgets. You can start with a basic system and then add on to it as your needs grow or change. Most of these closet systems are also easy to install yourself, and often have just one top rail that screws into the wall studs and then vertical pieces that attach to it. These systems are usually made from wire and plastic and are very versatile and convenient. While they may not be as elegant as a wooden system, they are much easier to add on to and much less expensive.

A second option for organizing a closet on a budget is to buy separate discount closet organizers. You can find thousands of bins, boxes, hanging shelves and shoe organizers at discount stores, Ikea and container stores in your local area and online. This is a great option for teenagers who want to buy colorful containers to match their room, or for anyone who is living in a temporary situation and does not want to install a closet system. Some people would just prefer using baskets and other simple organizers than having a wire or plastic system in their closet.

No matter which alternative you choose, it is possible to get a closet organized exactly the way you like it with all of the discount closet organizers that you can find today.

You can buy separate closet organizers such as shoe racks and storage bins, start an expandable system or look for a complete closet system to utilize every inch of the closet. Let’s take a look at some of the best closet organizers in each of these categories.

Storage Cubes, Hanging Storage Racks and Shoe Organizers

Buying individual organizers is an inexpensive way to get exactly the storage you need for some particular items. If your closet is overflowing with shoes, buy a floor shoe rack or one that hangs from a rod to get organized. The over-the-door shoe holders that have been around for decades are still popular and are a great way to organize other items such as scarfs and accessories as well as shoes.

Look for all kinds of bins, cubes and other organizers for your closet at discount stores, Ikea and online sources such as organize.com. The advantage to organizing your closet this way is that you will not spend much money and it is easy to take your organizers with you when you move, so this is a great solution for college students and those renting an apartment.

Best Closet Organizer System

If you ask five people with closet organizers which is the best closet system, you will probably get five different answers. Some of the most popular closet organizers are made by Rubbermaid, Elfa, Ikea, ClosetMaid and Easy Closets. California Closets is a popular choice for higher end closet systems.

The big choice here is whether you install the closet system yourself or hire professionals to build you a custom closet. Not surprisingly, the second choice is more costly. There are some companies such as Easy Closets, that give you the best of both worlds by allowing you to design your closet online and then install it yourself to save money.

Many of the best closet organizers according to owners are the ones that are adjustable, expandable and easy to install yourself. You can usually buy them at stores such as Lowes or Home Depot and choose different components to meet your storage needs. These wire and vinyl organizers are not as elegant as a built-in wooden system, but they can maximize your closet space at a reasonable cost.

Wood Closet Organizers

If you have the budget a beautiful wooden closet system may be the best closet organizer for your situation. You can purchase pre-made systems or have one designed for your space. Adding a wooden closet system to a walk in closet will definitely increase the value of your home, will look great and will help you organize all of your belongings.

We have all seen the plastic and wire closet organizers that are very functional and look functional as well. But maybe it is time to consider a wooden closet organizer – you get your space organized and it looks attractive at the same time.

There are a lot of options for different styles of wooden closet organizers. Solid wood organizers are available in oak, cherry, maple, etc., so you can match the rest of the wood in the room. You can buy pre-made systems that you assemble yourself or you could have a professional design a system specifically for your space. Pre-made wooden organizers, come in many sizes for both walk-in type closets and smaller, reach-in closets.

If you hire a professional to design a custom storage solution for your home, you will have complete control over the look and functionality of the closet system. This is the best way to optimize every inch of space and to choose the type of organizers that will match your belongings that you need to store. With the right design, you may be able to double the storage space of the closet.

For those looking for a less expensive option, you can still get the wood look by getting a faux wood organizer that is made of particleboard. But if you thinking of selling your home in the near future you would probably recoup your money if you installed a nice wooden closet organizer system that coordinated with the rest of the room.

You will find pre-made wood closet organizers in home improvement stores and in some furniture stores. Make sure you take the measurements of the space you have in your closet before you begin your search. It’s also a good idea to know what type of items you will be storing so you can decide if you need more shelves, hanging space etc.

An investment in a wood closet organizer will help organize your clutter, increase your storage space up to 100% and also increase the value of your home.