7 wardrobe storage solutions that will double your space – and 3 that will add to your clutter

Velvet hangers deserve a place in every wardrobe. They take up less space on the rail, won’t distort the material (plastic and wire hangers do), and provide extra grip so items don’t slide onto the floor. From kid’s hangers to trouser hangers, hangers, there’s a range of different velvet designs to accommodate your wardrobe.

Don’t throw away your wooden hangers though; these still come in use for heavier items, such as suits. Plastic hangers can sometimes be recycled at larger retailers and charity shops.

Shoe racks are ideal for wardrobes that lack shelves. Find a design which fits snugly to make the most of your space; some designs can even be stacked if you want to store twice as many pairs but watch it doesn’t obstruct any long coats and dresses.

When considering how many pairs of shoes it can hold, check the length of the rack as opposed to counting the number of shoes in the pictures. Men’s shoes are generally much larger than women’s, so you won’t fit as many on there. And boots will require more space than your canvas shoes, so take that into account. Sometimes you can sneak an extra row of ballet pumps beneath the bottom shelf, if it’s elevated.

If you’ve got a particularly valuable item hanging in your wardrobe – one that’s made from natural fibres, such as a cashmere coat or a silk dress - I always recommend protecting it from clothes moths with a garment bag.

Clothes moths are always on the lookout for natural fibres to lay eggs and feed their larvae. By giving your clothes an extra layer of protection, you won’t be checking it over for signs of damage between uses. Look for both a sealed and breathable design, so the item won’t end up smelling musty. Remember to wash and dry thoroughly before storing long-term. Always check the length of the bag before you purchase, and consider if it’s appropriate for other items in your wardrobe.

Drawer dividers won’t add space to your drawers, but they will help to keep everything stacked and categorised. A divider expands to fit across the drawer, breaking up the space into separate compartments. You can fit it however you like and the benefit is you’re still using the entire space of the drawer, rather than a fraction of it, as we sometimes do with small baskets and fabric compartments.

Just make sure the height of your drawer divide is appropriate, and has the required reach when expanded. It should also have a decent grip on the ends.

When the time comes to switch our duvet over (winter to summer and vice-versa), the unused bedding is often balled up and shoved somewhere out of sight. Such storage can leave it damaged, dirtied and smelling musty.

Using a duvet bag makes it easier to store, more handleable and protects it from dirt, damp and moths (if it’s made from natural fibres). It also keeps it smelling fresh (if you wash and dry it before storage and opt for a breathable design).

If you want to save more space, a vacuum storage bag can be used for synthetic duvets, but avoid this on down as it will damage the feathers within.

If you’re short on shelf space, you can hang a stack of suspended shelves directly in the wardrobe. This gives you more room for folded items. Although be aware that you are trading off a proportion of the clothes rail for this. Such shelves also generally can’t handle an excessive amount of weight without bending and buckling. So keep an eye on how much you’re storing, and don’t overfill each compartment.

If you want to fit even more shoes in your wardrobe, a shoe stacker will effectively double the space. Each pair of shoes is stacked one on top of the other, facing alternative directions, rather than side-by-side.

It’s a great storage solution for shoes you don’t wear every day. But, while this particular model claims to fit shoes up to 7.1 inches in height, shoe stackers generally aren’t ideal for heels or boots. They’re best used with canvas trainers and ballet pumps. Bear this in mind and look out for adjustable designs to fit more styles of shoe.