My landlord won't let me drill holes or add shelves – thankfully these stackable clothes bins solved my leaning tower of garments

I'm a renter, which means that I can't drill holes in my walls or add any extra shelves around my house. As a result, my closet was overflowing, and clothes were left piled up messily on shelves.

That was until I discovered stackable clothes bins from Amazon, which make it easy to identify what clothes are where while avoiding clothing tsunamis every time I open the cabinet door.

I'm not the only one who loves them, either. Pro organizers agree with me that this closet organization idea is a super smart tool for maintaining order in a rented space. Here, they have shared the pros and cons of using them.

Why I love the renter-friendly stackable closet bins

I am a big fan of wearing dresses – so much so that I have a dedicated closet for them. However, organizing my small closet is tricky, especially because I’m renting, which means I can’t install any hooks on the walls to create extra space.

I also can’t attach my closet to my wall with brackets to stop it leaning over, as I’m not allowed to drill holes either. So, not only did I have a leaning tower of clothes, but my closet was also tilting slightly.

In the past, I have tried using fabric storage solutions, but I have found that these aren’t very durable. Unlike those, these plastic ones are super strong, locking into shape as soon as they’re unfolded. They are also quicker to clean, just requiring a quick wipe over with some basic cleaning supplies. I love using the Mrs. Meyer's spray (available at Amazon) and the Homexcel microfiber cloths (available at Walmart) to quickly clean a closet and keep my clothes fresh in storage.

Because folded stacks of clothing can be tricky to navigate, I have attached labels to the sides of all of them (I used ones similar to the Up&Up labels from Target), making it easy to find which items are where. No more scrambling around my closet trying to find that one garment an hour before I’m due to leave the house.

I also think that they would work well in smaller closets, such as in kids’ bedrooms. The organizers come in cute pastel shades, so you could even mix and match shades and go for a color-coordinated, aesthetic closet organization approach.

Pros of using stackable closet bins

Thinking about giving these a try? Meghan Cocchiaro, founder and lead organizer of Organized by Meg, has shared why she thinks they’re clever storage ideas:

• Additional shelving: They are useful to have in built-in closet systems where these are lacking, and they are a less expensive, renter-friendly alternative to building more shelves.
• Categorization: The fact that the storage bins are all self-contained means they can be used to divide and organize different kinds of garments.
• Versatility: Not only can they be used in primary closets, but also in utility closets, linen closet ideas, coat closets, organizing a pantry, and as playroom storage ideas.

Cons of using stackable closet bins

I love these boxes and they have and they worked brilliantly in my rented home.

However, Ashley La Fond, founder of home organization company Of Space & Mind has shared a few reasons why they might not be suitable for everyone:

• Clothes folding: Items have to be perfectly file-folded to fit into the boxes, which means that you can’t just throw items into your closet – but if you want to keep your bedroom clean and tidy, this shouldn’t be an issue.
• Accessibility: Getting to the bottom of the stack isn’t easy, as you’ll have to lift all the other ones to get to the last box. This could make it difficult for younger children to use them.
• Staying power: They might not stay in the same place in your closet unless you put non-sliding bumpers (like the Queenti bumpers on Amazon) on the bottom ones.

Top tips for using stackable closet bins

Before you start implementing these into your bedroom organization or home office storage ideas, it’s important to have a plan.

Meghan says, ‘It’s a good idea to measure the width and height of the space that you’re planning on implementing them in.’ If you haven’t already got a measuring tape, the Hyper Tough tape from Walmart is highly rated.

Meghan continues, ‘The categories of items then need to be divided before implementing them – don't overload the quantity in each for ease of use.’

She also recommends putting taller items or bulky items like thick chunky sweaters or hoodies on the uppermost piece, so there aren’t any boxes above them to restrict them.

Clothes storage essentials

Meet the experts

Meghan Cocchiaro

Meghan is the founder and lead organizer of Organized by Meg, which is an in-home full service professional home organizing company. It helps busy women and families declutter and get organized in various spaces around the house.

Ashley La Fond

Ashley is the founder of home organization company Of Space & Mind, which helps people implement storage solutions that combine aesthetics and efficiency. She loves finding clever closet storage solutions.

For those with limited space but who still want to keep garments pristine, stackable closet organizers can be a great solution.

Looking for more useful clothes storage products? I also love using velvet hangers, while Homes and Gardens' head of solved Punteha van Terheyden adores these Amazon storage gems.