First, Villmer suggests asking yourself about what you would like the space to be used for. Ask yourself, “How will this space fit the size or scale of items I have to store?” She suggests vertically merchandising (as many department stores do) in order to save space.

When considering a closet redo, think about the unnecessary items that are cluttering the space. Villmer suggests ditching the things you haven’t used or worn in the last three to five years. Donate the unwanted or unused items to your favorite charity, or take items to a consignment shop. If you are willing to do a little more work, explore the idea of a yard sale or sell the items on eBay.

Often, the bottom of a closet goes unused, so Villmer suggests building chests or dressers in the lower part of the closet. She says to look for online closet sites that will, for free, design a closet for you to fit your space. Or you can build your own, using their ideas.

If you have a little more money to spend, you may be able to purchase a closet system. “I recently designed a closet with 15-foot ceilings, with pull down rodding systems, leather front doors with nail-head trim, an island with a granite top and drawer dividers specifically for each individual item… shoe racks to fit every shoe and a washer and dryer (stackable) in the master closet,” says Villmer. She says stores such as Lowe’s and Home Depot carry laminate drawers to build in hampers and custom cabinets; or, for a little extra money, you can visit Coyote Closets, The Closet Factory or use California Closet Systems to get the desired storage space. Visiting with a custom cabinetmaker is also an option and ensures you get exactly what you want.

“Start by determining how much short hanging space you need and how much long hanging space you need, then double up in the short space by stacking two short hanging units on top of each other to double the capacity of your closet,” says Villmer. Cubbies can also be useful in an area that does not have enough depth to fit a full hanger.

“My suggestion is to take inventory, clean out, organize, and don’t forget many closets today are rooms... decorate them like a room,” says Villmer. “Put a beautiful mirror, a seat to put shoes and socks on, or if room, a chair. I have had many clients that thought they should move because their closets are too small, but what I really find is their closets are too unorganized and inefficient. You will need less furniture in your master bedroom if your closet is organized.”