Make space for yourself: creating your dream closet, even in a small home

A dream closet isn’t about luxury or having a large room. It’s about creating clarity — a place where your clothes are easy to see, your mornings run smoothly and the space reflects your everyday routines. And the good news is that you don’t need many square metres to achieve that feeling.

With a flexible system that adapts to your home and the way you live, designing a well-organised closet becomes surprisingly simple.

Where to begin: four principles for small-space storage

Building on her belief that a smart wardrobe matters more than a large one, Ewa Magnusson highlights four principles that make planning easier in any compact space.

1. Think height, not width - Using wall-hung storage frees up the floor and instantly makes small rooms feel lighter and more open.

2. Choose solutions that slide or pull out - Pull-out drawers and shelves give a clear overview, so nothing disappears at the back.

3. Let your routines shape the layout - Design the space around how you get dressed. Hang what you prefer to hang, fold what you prefer to fold — and plan the rest from there.

4. Mix open and closed storage - Open shelves help you see everything at a glance; boxes or drawers create calm and keep smaller items in order.

A walk-in, step-in or simply a well-planned corner

Not everyone has a spare room — but almost every home has a potential storage opportunity. A niche, a cupboard or an unused corner can become a highly functional closet when the layout makes use of the wall height and keeps the floor clear. The key is not the size of the space, but how you arrange it.

Design that adapts to you

Every home has its own character, and so does every wardrobe. Whether you prefer a clean, minimal expression or a warmer, more furnished feel, Elfa’s Classic and Décor+ systems allow you to shape a look that suits your style — all built on the same flexible foundation.

And because that foundation is fully adjustable, your closet can change with you. A well-planned system isn’t fixed to one moment in life; it grows, shifts and reshapes as your routines evolve, as rooms are rearranged or as storage needs change. With the ability to add, move or reconfigure components without starting over, the design truly adapts — both today and over time.

Ready to start planning?

Explore what’s possible with Elfa's online planning tool and take the first step toward your dream closet.