How to organize a small closet in Japan

There are many things I love about Japan, but small closet spaces aren't one of them. I'm fairly minimalist anyway when it comes to clothes and accessories, but sometimes I still find it hard to get everything stored neatly in the space I have.

In saying that, there are ways to overcome the challenges that small closet spaces present you with. Here are some of my top tips for how to keep things relatively neat and tidy inside these small spaces.

1. Hang whatever you can

If you do have hanging rods in your small closet, hang what you can. We have quite a large vertical space in many of our closets, so a lot of things that I'd usually fold (like t-shirts) I end up hanging instead. Honestly, it has worked out as a help rather than a hindrance as it means less clothing wrinkles to worry about!

2. Use hanging organizers for small stuff

I also like the hanging organizers you can get at Daiso and other 100 yen stores for small items. They look similar to these ones you can get on Amazon Japan, but definitely go to Daiso as they're much cheaper! I use mine for things like socks, underwear, and seasonal items like scarves and beanies.

3. Think smart with tubs, containers, and plastic drawers

I find that using tubs and containers within my closet space helps a lot with maximizing space. I have a range of them in my closet and my children's closets, and it's a lot easier to sort things into. Some of our closets also have large vertical spaces but no shelf room for folded items, so we ordered plastic drawers from Amazon Japan to sit inside the closet space. It's not the most aesthetically pleasing, Pinterest-worthy set up, but it helps the space become more functional.

Not the best day for a photo of my son's closet, as a lot is just shoved in there right now -- but we use plastic drawers and tubs in closets with a lot of vertical space but minimal shelving.

4. Roll, roll, roll

Sometimes, closet spaces in Japan can feel like the size of a suitcase, and I guess in some ways that might be why I treat my closet like I'm packing one and roll a lot of items where possible. Workout leggings, jeans, pajamas - they all get rolled and allocated into their respective tubs. Again, I'm not going to win any awards for a stylishly laid out closet, but you gotta do what you gotta do.

How do you maximize your small closet space in Japan? Any tips or tricks to share?