8 Best Space-Saving Hangers to Make More Room in Your Closet
Updated: May 08, 2023
The best space saving hangers help preserve your wardrobe and organize all the clothes in your closet.
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Closets have come a long way since the days of mothballs and wire hangers. With home shows dedicated to organizing them in rainbow sequence, and design experts titillating us with swoon-worthy glam shots on Instagram, there’s now a veritable treasure trove of space saving hangers to choose from. “Not all hangers are created equal, and picking the right option really impacts the functionality of a closet,” says home expert, Rachel Rosenthal, owner of Rachel and Company, who delivers plenty of small closet and walk-in-closet organization ideas to clients who need to maximize and streamline their spaces.
Fortunately, aesthetics and convenience go hand in hand these days, with some of the best closet organizers now easy to find both online and in-store. “If you have a variety of clothing, it’s wise to mix and match hangers that work for each category, even if they are different,” says Rosenthal. “But try to keep the color consistent so they look seamless across the closet.” Nailing down the best hangers for each type of clothing item is an investment that preserves the longevity of a wardrobe.
“Clothes keep their shape better when stored on the proper hanger, explains Ann Lightfoot, founding partner of Done and Done Home. What to avoid? Plastic or wire dry-cleaner hangers—both of which are notorious for breaking, bending and ruining the shoulders of shirts. Not ideal, especially when learning how to organize a closet properly.
From pants to skirts, heavy coats to childrens’ clothes, these are the best space saving hangers for clothes that get the job done.
Non-Slip Velvet Suit Hangers
Once you switch to these velvet hangers, you’ll likely have a where-have-you-been-all-my-life moment—short of investing in one of these best closet systems, they’re one of the most effective closet makeovers. The super-slim profile makes them one of the best space saving hangers on the market; while their big claim to fame—a soft, velvety coating—locks down even the most silky, slippery unbuttoned blouse.
“These are my favorite go-to hangers,” says organizing and closet professional, Aly Finkelstein, who loves the streamlined look of black. “The quality is superb, they don’t break, they save a ton of space and they never fade,” she says. Bonus: The chrome-plated swivel-neck makes it extra easy to put away clothing since there are no worries about which way the hook is facing.
High Grade Wooden Suit Hangers
Wooden hangers are like the workhorse of the closet: strong, long-lasting, elegant and considered a wise (albeit sometimes pricey) investment. Fortunately, this version checks all the boxes at an unexpectedly affordable price. Constructed of durable lotus wood, these swivel-hook hangers come varnished for a smooth, snag-free finish, and boast a vinyl-covered pant bar so suit trousers don’t slip off into the depths of the closet floor. Notched shoulders—perfect for hanging strappy camisoles and dressers—are topped with the same vinyl grip for stay-put hanging. Make sure to have the best closet lighting to go along with these new snazzy hangers.
Metal Non-Slip Standard Hangers
The ultimate space saving hangers, these golden metal versions have the added benefit of lending a sleek, minimalist look to a closet. With U-shaped notches to help keep clothes from slipping, this lightweight option is an excellent choice. But don’t let the slim silhouette fool you: Despite its scaled-down specs, the hanger is still strong enough to shoulder coats and jackets and is one of our favorite clothing storage ideas.
Flocked Velvet Heavy Duty Hangers
The more clothes one has, the slimmer the hardware needs to be; and this sturdy, space saving felt hanger is skinny in all the right places. Not only does it have extra-slim dimensions, but you get 50 pieces for just $37, so stock every closet in the house, including your kid’s closet. “You can’t beat the price and strength of these hangers,” says Finkelstein. “The blue color is so pretty, too.”
Container Store Non-Slip Velvet Suit Hangers
“In general, I like sticking with the same type of hanger for pants that you use for everything else, as long as it has a bar,” says Rosenthal, who loves these slender, space saving suit hangers coated in velvet. “Pants tend not to fall off the hanger when you use these; and they’re slim, so they allow for more clothing to be inside a closet.” Make sure you know these best shoe storage ideas to further maximize the closet space, too.
Euro Top Non-Slip Hangers
If sleek and chic is your thing for a new custom closet, you’ll love the look of these space saving hangers for shirts. Manufactured in Germany, they’re super durable (each holds up to eight pounds), feature a non-slip eco-friendly coating and the unique curved design helps maintain the shape of shirts. What’s more, choose from black, white or silver—which lends a cool minimalist vibe to a closet.
Heavy Duty Open Ended Easy Slide Hangers
If you’re not going to stack sweaters on a shelf, it’s important to hang sweaters properly so you don’t end up with shapeless, extra-long knitwear. “I like to fold them over the bar so I don’t stretch out the material,” says Rosenthal, who favors a velvet-covered hanger for the job. While typically touted for trousers, these open-ended hangers make the task a bit easier, since you’re not trying to shove a clunky knit through the hole in the middle of the hanger.
Basic Walnut Wooden Hangers
There’s nothing worse than seeing a double-breasted wool trench on the floor of a coat closet because the flimsy hanger collapsed. A high-quality wooden hanger will prevent that situation. Though it takes up a bit more space than the more popular slim, velvet options—and are often higher in price—wood gets the job done in a way that puts lightweight models to shame. (And, anyway, most people have fewer coats than clothes, so the outlay is less daunting than outfitting an entire closet.) The extra-durable walnut wood on these classic hangers will last for years. This is just one of the coat closet organization ideas you’ll wish you knew sooner.
Sources:
- Rachel Rosenthal, owner of Rachel and Company
- Ann Lightfoot, founding partner of Done and Done Home
- Aly Finkelstein, organizing and closet professional
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