This 1 storage essential for children's rooms will maximize space in even the smallest of grown-up closets – and look neater, too

There's no denying that hangers are a closet essential for everyone in the household, but what about using children's hangers for adult clothing?

On the surface, this might sound pointless, and even a little confusing. But, look a little deeper, and suddenly it's a genius space-saving hack that professional organizers approve of because it takes your visual focus off the large protruding ends of the hanger.

Here, they share their tips on this clever closet organization idea.

Why use children's hangers in adult wardrobes?

@imagineitdone

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In a video shared on TikTok by @imagineitdone, which has garnered over 47,000 likes, professional organizer Lisa S Jacobs showcases this clever hack, explaining 'When you look at a closet, you want to look at the clothing. You don't want to see the hanger protruding.'

Enter: baby or children's hangers, such as the bestselling veeyidd Kids Velvet Clothes Hangers available at Walmart.

In the video, Lisa showcases her jeans neatly organized on children's hanger, adding, 'This fills up the entire hanger.'

We can't deny that this is a brilliant way to aesthetically organize a closet. Impressed commenters agree, chiming in with 'You are a genius,' 'Life changing!,' Amazing,' and 'Thank you for this.'

It's not just viewers who approve.

Meghan Cocchiaro, professional organizer and owner of Organized by Meg, says that using children's size hangers is great in tight closet spaces, particularly for built-in, awkward corner closets or when organizing a capsule wardrobe.

She says, 'Using children's hangers in an adult closet can be useful for small and slim items that are not wide.' This might include jeans and leggings.

What to hang on children's hangers

She continues, 'A velvet style children's hanger would be beneficial for a slim item like leggings, which you don't want to slip out like they would on plastic. The same velvet style would be good for slim, lightweight scarves. Both of these items can be folded and hung parallel through the bottom run of the hanger.

'Plastic hangers [such as the bestselling Parent’s Choice Infant & Toddler Hangers available at Walmart] would suffice if they have notches carved out in them, which help to hang small and strappy tops like camisoles and swimsuits, and even sports-bra style tops. If not, clips can be added onto velvet-style hangers if "slippage" is still a problem.'

This space-saving closet organizing tweak will transform how you use yours for the better, and the best part is: It's so simple.

What not to hang on children's hangers

That being said, not everything is suitable for hanging on small hangers, even when organizing a small walk-in closet.

'Children's size hangers would not be helpful, and could actually be harmful, for hanging items which require a larger hanger,' explains Meghan.

This might include, for example, shirts, blouses and blazers.

'The smaller nature of the hanger either won't hold the garment up at all, or if it does, the arch of the hanger hits the garment at the wrong shoulder place, causing indentations, or scrunches up wider items, causing wrinkles.

'This also makes it pretty difficult to get the garment on and off the hanger.'

On the other hand, they can be used for any and all items when organizing children's clothes.

Head of Solved, Punteha van Terheyden adds, 'I made the mistake of buying matching plastic children's hangers for my daughter's closet, but they are quite slippery. When I replace them, I'll use uniform velvet hangers from Amazon, which my husband and I have the adult versions of in our own small closets.'

What to shop

Meet our expert

Meghan Cocchiaro

Meghan is the founder and lead organizer of Organized by Meg, a full-service professional home organizing company, specializing in helping busy women who juggle careers, families, and their passions.

If you didn't already know, velvet hangers are the key to doubling cramped hanging space, as contributing editor Eve Smallman says they've 'transformed' her closet.