7 Fantastic Storage Ideas for RV Closets
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With these storage ideas for RV closets, I’m going to assume that you already know that closets in an RV are MUCH smaller than the ones in your house. That’s kinda obvious, right?
So, when it comes to closet space, you’ll need to think carefully about what you want to bring on this trip and how it will fit in the closet.
Best Storage Ideas for RV Closets – Key Summary
It’s a no-brainer, but the best way to have a more organized RV closet is to simply pack fewer things. A capsule wardrobe is a great way to pare down what you bring on trips. If you plan on full-time RVing, your priority is to downsize and declutter!
If your RV has a hanging closet, know that hanging items is often the least efficient way to store the most clothing. Consider converting the hanging space into shelves, drawers, cubbies, or baskets to maximize storage.
Organize Your RV Closet
Here are some of the most creative strategies we’ve seen real RVers use to keep their closets organized and useful.
1. Divide Items into Inexpensive Plastic Drawers
Adding plastic drawers to the closet area is a quick and easy way to give you more places to store your clothes. This is especially great if you have a tall closet and you’re not using the space at the bottom. You can easily find plastic drawers that are skinny and short enough to fit underneath hanging clothes.
Plenty of options exist for these types of drawers at any home goods store. They don’t have to be plastic either. Fabric is a more stylish, though probably more expensive, option.
Measure your closet space first to know which size drawers will fit.
Here are some of the top-reviewed options on Amazon:
- 3 DRAWER CHEST: Features 3 removable drawers; Use in or out of the closet and keep clutter under control by storing all of your clothing and accessories in one convenient place; Sort and organize workout gear, leggings, yoga pants, sweaters, linens and more; The vertical design fits easily in many locations throughout the home; Use as a nightstand and keep your alarm clock, journal, glasses close at hand; Mix & match with other mDesign furniture storage for endless organizational possibilities
- Plastic Storage Cart: Perfect the art of hiding your hoard with the HOMZ storage drawer set. This plastic cart is made to fit anywhere you need organizing power, whether at home or work.
- Dimensions & Size: Exterior measures 15" x 12 5/8" x 24" and each drawer has interior dimensions at the bottom of the drawer of 12 1/2" x 10" x 7" - providing an ideal storage solution.
2. Add Stacking Storage Bins to the Closet
If you don’t want to be bothered with pulling drawers in and out (mine love to get stuck!), these storage bins are a great idea. They’re stackable, so you can add as many as you need for your closet space.
Here are some of the top-reviewed options on Amazon (the third one is my favorite):
- ???????????????????????????? ????????????????????????????: Home-X storage bins are constructed from high-quality polypropylene and offer exceptional durability and resilience. This tough material resists daily wear and tear while maintaining their structure and function. They are built to be long-lasting and resistant to breakage under normal use.
Product currently sold out.
Product currently sold out.
3. Turn the Closet into a Cupboard with Shelves
This may require a little more DIY skills, but this closet space can now be better utilized. Adding a shelf is easier than you think.
Rubbermaid makes a track system similar to what is pictured above that can be configured to your space. You can buy metal shelves from them or follow this DIYer and cut your own pieces of wood for shelving.
- Position upright up to 36 inches apart (24 inches is recommended) on studs or using wall anchors
Read Next: How to Build a Shelf in Your RV Cabinet
4. Add Hooks on the Inside of the Closet Door
RVer Carly shared this photo of her maximized RV closet. She added a peg board and small hooks for hanging items like purses, jewelry, and accessories.
You can keep it simple by finding cheap over-the-door hooks or installing small, cute hooks as needed for items like jackets or bags.
- 【Affordable Set】- Package includes 4 pack white over the door hooks. You don't need to punch or glue, just hang it on the top of the door to keep the room tidy, very convenient.
- MODERN WOOD HOOK: 100% beech wood wall hook, nice wood grain, handcrafted with care for long lasting use, finished with natural wood oil, which is healthy and friendly, and better protects the wooden hooks. Simple wood hook, but upgrade living to any home
Hooks like these are great for items you use most often that would be annoying to keep putting on a hanger.
If you have zero DIY skills or want a less permanent solution, you can use these stick-on hooks, but make sure you get the heavy-duty ones or reinforce them with acrylic mounting tape!
Here are some of the top-reviewed options on Amazon:
- Holds up to 6KG: After rigorous testing, we found the stickiest adhesive pad capable of supporting 6 kg. If it falls off within a month, we offer a free replacement
- ✅ HIGH LOAD CAPACITY- Strong self adhesive hooks with upgraded 304 brushed stainless steel can provide extra strength. Max weight is 15lbs.
5. Utilize Other Hanging Storage
- 【High Quality】: Our hanging closet organizer is crafted from sturdy and thick non-woven fabric, ensuring long-lasting use. Unlike similar products, it features 2 sturdy bamboo sticks at each shelf and MDF board at the top and bottom, effectively preventing the compartments from bending.
I have used this hanging storage caddy for years and the velcro supporting it works surprisingly well! It’s moved from multiple RVs and still held up over nearly a decade.
It’s a simple solution that is cheap and no fuss. We can store folded items in the cubbies or even toss in rolled-up socks or underwear. Plus, it’s tall and narrow, leaving room to hang other items in the closet, like dresses or button-down shirts.
Here are some of the top-reviewed options on Amazon:
- PRODUCT DIMENSIONS: The organizer measures 12”L x 11.5”W x 40”H. Each unit is 12"L x 11.5"W x 7"H.It is easy to install, no complicated installation steps and no tools are needed.
- Hanging storage printed with subtle polka dots and contrast piping
6. Install Wire Baskets Inside the Closet Door
This closet is the pinnacle of organization!
By adding wire baskets to the inside of the closet door, you have a perfect space for all those small items that you use all the time.
Here are some of the top-reviewed options on Amazon:
- Utilize Open Areas: The Spectrum Grid Over-the-Cabinet Basket features a door design, allowing the holder to make use of space inside any cupboard to store cleaning supplies, personal care items or other products.
- 【Premium Materials for Over Door Hook】Made of premium quality stainless steel, the over the door hanger is sturdy and long-lasting. Comes with a black matte finish, the appearance is simple and stylish look. This over the door organizer has a dense basket, you can better store keys, pens or other small items. 10 round-head hooks with a dot design prevent clothes from being scratched, ideal for hanging your bags,coats, towels.
7. Use Space Saving Hangers
Do yourself a favor and don’t use bulky clothes hangers! These space-saving hangers are still strong and sturdy, but they don’t take up nearly as much space.
- DURABLE SWEATER HANGERS - Featuring smooth, black, non-slip velvet, 360 degree swivel hooks, and notched shoulders, this coat hanger set makes storage simple and stylish.
They are covered in a velvety type of material so that your clothes don’t slip off like they do with normal metal hangers.
For even more space-saving, follow Ashley’s lead from the photo above and invest in cascading hangers. By storing your items more vertically, you can pack more and still access them easily.
- Durable Closet Organizer - Made of strong and durable stainless steel that will last for years. Ideal dimensions at: 10.5" wide and 1" thickness. Every hanger organizer can hold 12 garments (up to 15 lbs) horizontally and hold 6 pieces (up to 30 lbs) vertically. It's great for hanging your heavy coat, suit, jacket, sweater, shirt, pants, jeans, dress, purse or accessories.
- Sturdy Structure: These pants hangers are made of top-quality high manganese steel with high hardness to ensure firm structure and rust resistance, built to last that can be reused for years to come. Heavy-duty material with good load-bearing capacity.
7 Organization and Storage Ideas for RV Closets
Keeping your RV closet organized is no small feat, particularly if you’re living in your RV full-time!
Which of these storage ideas will work in your RV closet?
Get More Organized:
I love RVing! I share about our journey around Australia, how we came to do this trip, all the planning involved, and snapshots of what life on the road is like.
We live in a 43 ft 5th wheel full time and closet space is at a minimum. I have found that hangers with space for more than one thing on the hanger like for slacks etc. work best for utilizing closet space.
Every Rv has it’s own unit set of space but they do have one thing in common and they are all limited on it. When I moved from my van into my Class A RV I wondered how all that stuff fit in the van like ever before. Now I have more closet space, but still never enough. The huggable hangers are the best for space and to keep clothes organized so they don’t fall off while traveling.
I agree Brandi, there’s never enough! 🙂 Although… we’re in a 14ft travel trailer (full-time), so as long as our next RV is bigger than that, I’ll be happy!
I love the idea of storage bins in the hanging closet. The bins take up all the closet space so where do you keep the clothes that need to be hung up?
What is the best way to store jeans?