Wardrobe in a Small Apartment: Pros and Cons

Not sure whether to create a separate wardrobe in a small apartment? We asked professionals what they think about this solution. At the same time, we learned useful tips for organizing storage.

Pros of a Wardrobe in a Small Apartment

Cleaner Interior Without Excess Items

If all extra items are stored in a separate room, the living space will always remain tidy.

Use Full Height of the Space

It's better to make shelves and hangers all the way to the ceiling, exactly as much as you need. With a wardrobe, you won't have such an opportunity.

You Will Save Money

The internal setup of a wardrobe will cost less than a full-size closet.

Cons of a Wardrobe in a Small Apartment

You May Not Have Enough Space

A separate wardrobe will take up a significant portion of the space. Therefore, you should primarily consider the area.

Open Wardrobes Are Not Always Convenient

If you don't close the space with doors or partitions, clothes will get dusty.

Ventilation Is Required

In closed wardrobes, ventilation is essential. Otherwise, items will quickly lose their original appearance.

Design: Lines Design Studio

Professional Opinions

Anna Rims – Expert, Interior Designer with over 12 years of experience

I support wardrobes, even in small apartments. Thanks to them, the entrance hall maintains visual order: no visible shoes by the front door, colorful clothes and accessories.

With proper planning of wardrobe layout, every item has its place: hangers for clothes, shelves for suitcases and bags, drawers for gloves and scarves, even compartments for slippers! Everything is visually accessible—no more searching or repeatedly opening and closing sliding doors that hide one thing then another.

How to Store Items in a Small Apartment: 3 Tips

Create Cascading Shelves for Shoes

Place a shallow shelf under a deep one to accommodate more shoes in the same area.

Do Without the Bottom Shelf

Shoes can be placed directly on tiles. In summer, they don’t even need to be washed—the floor is easy to wipe with a damp cloth without damaging the surface.

Install Rounded Hangers for Clothes in Wardrobe Corners

Another way to make items easily accessible and maximize space and volume in the wardrobe.

Design: Anna Rims

Dina Salakhova – Expert, Studio Bespacestudio Director

You need to reasonably plan the useful area of the apartment and base your design on its configuration. Of course, a special storage room in the hallway or bedroom will allow you to store all upper garments, footwear, and household items. Moreover, this is an ideal solution for those who don’t like bulky wardrobes and dressers. Thus, a separate wardrobe, even if small, not only doesn't take up space but actually saves it.

How to Store Items in a Small Apartment: 3 Tips

Maximize Ceiling Height

Make cupboards, including kitchen ones, all the way to the ceiling—this way you not only increase storage space but also eliminate dust on cabinet fronts.

Use Hard-to-Reach Spaces

For example, organize storage under the bed, use the balcony or loggia.

Plan the Wardrobe Layout in Advance

It should be well-thought-out. Provide various-sized and purpose-specific sections in the wardrobe. Regularly review your belongings.

Marina Sarkisyan – Expert, Interior Decorator, Professional Since 2005

If there is an opportunity to organize a wardrobe in the apartment, I always recommend this option to clients. The interior looks lighter without bulky wardrobes, and storing items in one place is convenient. Additionally, you can utilize the full height and width of the space.

Another benefit is that outfitting a wardrobe costs less than a regular closet. You can even install a washing machine there.

How to Store Items in a Small Apartment: 3 Tips

Create a Wardrobe in the Bedroom

If you're unsure where to place it, designate space behind the headboard of the bed. The optimal size is 2–3 square meters.

Use Sliding Doors to Save Space

Alternatively, use folding or opening doors covered with thick drapes.

Maximize the Available Space

For example, lightweight racks and wire baskets.

Design: Marina Sarkisyan

Vlad Sedov – Expert, Head of Lines Design Studio

A wardrobe in any living space is always a complex issue. If the apartment is less than 40 square meters and does not originally have a dedicated storage room or utility block, architects will face challenges.

Building closed wardrobes in spaces under 20 square meters is not advisable. This leads to inconvenience: no space in the bedroom or wardrobe. It’s better to do a thorough “cleanup” of your belongings during relocation and get rid of old items, keeping only what’s truly necessary. If there isn’t enough space, you can always send seasonal items for storage in a garage, parking lot, storage room, or basement.

How to Store Items in a Small Apartment: 3 Tips

Design Open Storage Systems

Separate them from the living space with light structures or decor. This could be glass, perforated constructions, or textiles. This way you save space but must maintain tidiness of visible items.

Use Utility Spaces

In our projects, we often combine storage areas with laundry-drying zones.

Utilize the Entrance Zone and Living Room

Sometimes this is the only way to distribute all items in a studio or one-bedroom apartment.

Design: Lines Design Studio

Ira Nosova – Expert, Interior Designer from Moscow

In a small apartment, there is little free space, and every standalone item “takes up” space. Therefore, it’s crucial to plan storage systems and use the full ceiling height. Storage systems should be built-in, and where possible, they should be moved into a wardrobe-closet.

A wardrobe will cost less than a closet, as the internal setup is made from the same materials, and the price difference will equal the cost of cabinet fronts, which are usually expensive. For a wardrobe, you only need two clothing doors or one door between rooms. A similar closet will consist of multiple doors.

How to Store Items in a Small Apartment: 3 Tips

Conduct an Inventory

Carefully go through all your belongings and decide what is most convenient for you—shelves or drawers, how you store clothes, where seasonal items will go.

Create Custom Storage Systems

This allows maximum use of space from wall to wall and floor to ceiling, and accounts for individual needs: someone has a lot of shoes, others prefer hanging clothes on hangers, and some store everything on shelves. Also, custom storage systems are cheaper than ready-made ones.

Plan the Configuration

If you go for modular, pre-made solutions, plan the wardrobe layout in advance, then build partitions to fit the resulting dimensions so there are no unused gaps between the wall and frame. This advice is useful for those doing a full renovation from scratch.