A tidy, organized closet feels something akin to a prize. Whether you like to use clever hacks such as using a common kitchen item to fix your closet chaos or buy organizers from home goods stores and online shops, there are always inexpensive and effective ways to help declutter and lay out your closet. However, while DIYs and mass produced organizers are great options, thrift stores may be the key to creating a unique, tidy aesthetic that also saves a lot of money in the process. From wicker baskets and thrifted trays to kitschy bookends and wall hooks or shelves, shopping for your closet storage secondhand may become the only way you organize these spaces. Besides your clothing closet, these items could also be used to organize pantries and linen closets.

When it comes to thrifting for storage items, you may need to think outside the box. Items that could be great for holding accessories, hanging purses, or even folding shirts and pants won’t have a label noting what you should keep in them. However, if you know what to look for, you will likely find quite a lot of organization tools on your first shop. Trays and floating shelves are ideal to help with organization and storage and can be upcycled to match your rooms, then hung (shelves) or placed on the shelves (trays) to hold a variety of closet pieces. 

One mistake everyone makes when organizing their closet is buying storage supplies without a plan in mind. Consider the shelf and surface space you have and what can fit or what you need, then search for items that will fit at the thrift store. Wicker baskets are always a great way to elevate and decorate your closet while still keeping it uniform. They are ideal for holding folded jeans and pants as well as T-shirts and small accessories. TikTok shows the best way to fold jeans to ensure they fit nicely within your baskets, so you can place these on shelves and get a decorative finish, too. You can also use these for accessories like purses, hats, scars, sunglasses, and various other items.

Single or separate packs of hooks may be too hard to find at a thrift store, though you may come across the odd one or two. However, there are usually wooden boards that feature several hooks across them, which could be used to hang scarves, belts, and even bags. These can be sanded and stained or repainted to match any aesthetic you want. This will also save you time instead of having to screw individual hooks into your wall. Sometimes an organizer can be both decorative and useful, and a creative way to repurpose thrifted bookends in your home is to use them in your closet. They can keep folded items in place or hold accessories like clutches and wallets in a neat stack or section. Finding stylish bookends is a great way to create separation between items of clothing, too.