September 8, 2025 • Updated February 25, 2026
5 Simple Closet Storage Organizer Tips for Your Fabric Closet
*Updated September 2025 Your fabric closet has grown to be your headquarters for great ideas becoming reality, the epicenter of completed projects and — dare I say — messy after the latest masterpiece. Help is on the way with tips from our friend Lilo Bowman, editor-in-chief of The Quilt Show. Her book, Love Your Creative Space: A Visual Guide to Creating an Inspiring and Organized Studio without Breaking the Bank, has all the hacks and more! Keep reading and discover her closet storage organizer tips for different ways you can organize your fabric stash. Lilo: Does your current method of storage look something like the photo below? If the answer is yes, don’t worry. Help is just a scroll away and since we’re being brutally honest, this was the storage closet in *my *studio office.
Basically, if you have the supplies but can’t put your hands on them when you need them, do you *actually *have them?
As makers, the tools of our creative trade (fabric yardage, fat quarters, scraps, stabilizers, interfacing, etc.) can really become a beast to deal with or find, if left on their own. You know what I’m talking about: bags of fabric purchases, found treasures, remnant scraps from finished projects stowed away in the back of a closet, under the worktable or in cubbies in any spare space around the house.
Once packed away, it’s hard to remember what you have on hand much less what it looks like or where you put it. I’m here to help with my closet storage organizer tips for organizing your stash so you can get straight to the fun part of creating. Ready to get started?
“***Buying fabric, starting and then working on a project can be such a joy. Then comes the reality of how to store the wide assortment of yardage, scraps and bits you want to keep for down the road.” ***– Lilo Bowman
Budget-friendly closet storage oganizer options
When it comes to storage there are a variety of readily available options on the market (Ikea Kallax, Elfa Wire Baskets, ArtBin Super Satchel Cubes, etc.) to organize your stash, but if funds are limited —or you want to save the money for other items — there are easy and creative workarounds. Here are Lilo’s six budget-friendly tips for storing your fabric.
Tip 1: Find upcycled furniture for storage solutions
Think outside of the box with upcycled furniture such as bookcases, a chest of drawers or wardrobes. Maybe you have something already around the house that you can use. If not, check out garage sales or thrift stores as they are a great option and often, with a bit of elbow grease, paint and decorative shelf paper, can do wonders. And don’t overlook what’s already in your workspace; closets and doors (both inside and out) offer lots of area for vertical storage.Storing yardage, smaller cuts and scraps
Those bookcases, wardrobes and drawers you found can hold both flat-fold yardage and smaller cuts (i.e. less than 1 yard). Organizing by fabric content (cotton, silk, knits, etc.) and color, style, etc., keeps items easily accessible. Try using rectangular baskets or fabric storage boxes on shelves to allow for easy access. Label the outside of each container with a hang tag or scraps of fabric. Hanging clothing organizers such as those for sweaters or shoes come in a variety of colors, materials and size options and offer a wealth of storage in a very small amount of space.
Tip 2: Use clothing organizers for storage
This is a great option for yardage and not-so-small, small cuts. You can reinforce hanging loops with several lines of machine stitching to avoid tearing due to fabric weight. Make removal and replacement of fabric easier by inserting a piece of foam core (about 1/4” smaller than the opening) inside each opening on the shoe organizer. Bonus: keeping fabric in a closet helps to keep dust and light away from the fabric, while still being easily accessible.
Tip 3: Maximize over-the-door shoe holders for often-unused vertical storage
Fill each opening with a different color. When the time comes for a bit of orange, it’s just a matter of “grab and dump.”
Place a shoe holder on the back of an open door to keep out light or if the look is visually distracting to you.
Bonus: no one likes craft cleanup but with this method, it’s easy to put leftovers back in the compartment when you’re finished.
Tip 4: Use small containers for smaller scraps
Finding containers for your small scraps can be as easy as a stroll through your local grocery store. Did you realize that lidded containers that hold tomatoes, seeds, lettuce or nuts you’re already buying can also hold small scraps of fabric? These make great closet storage organizer options.
Things to consider when reusing food containers for storage:
- Use clear containers so you can see what’s inside.
- Consider square or rectangular packaging as they take up less room.
- Choose lidded containers that stack so they can sit nicely on a shelf.
Tip 5: Store even smaller pre-cut bits in jewelry gift boxes
If your work often involves numerous small precisely cut pieces of fabric (1” strips, 2 ½” strips, small squares, etc.), flat, white-lidded gift boxes are an easy and space-saving way to stack and store your collection.
Keep in mind:
- Flat-lidded gift boxes are available in most craft (jewelry section) or home-organizing stores.
- Look for boxes with sturdy bottoms and lids.
- Label one side of each box for easy access.
- Organize the collection by color, size, type, etc.
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Does your creative studio leave you feeling overwhelmed or uninspired? With over one hundred photos, Lilo Bowman’s lookbook,* Love Your Creative Space: A Visual Guide to Creating an Inspiring and Organized Studio without Breaking the Bank**, offers an endless visual parade of ideas for your craft room. Visit C&T Publishing to get yours or request a signed copy from Lilo herself at LiloBowman.com.*
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I organize my fabric stash?
Use containers and furniture that best store your fabric based on its yardage. Consider household storage solutions (like clothing organizers and upcycled furniture).Is it expensive to organize a fabric closet?
You can organize your fabric closet on a budget using household storage solutions, gift jewelry boxes and even food containers.What is the best container to store fabric in?
We suggest using clear containers so you can see exactly what you’re looking for. If you use opaque containers (or even clear ones), consider labeling the container.How should I declutter my fabric closet?
Consider working in one area at a time. This allows you to focus on discarding items you no longer need and organizing those you want to keep. Along the way, you might also discover your own organizing hacks!Want to learn more organizing tips?
About the Guest Author
Lilo Bowman has worked as a floral designer, translator, tour guide, wedding planner and is now editor-in-chief of TheQuiltShow.com. Food, travel (both as a military wife and tourist) and curiosity about other cultures have also played a large role in shaping Lilo’s sense of taste and design and her understanding of how others prioritize the items they choose to have in their homes. When not working, she travels, gardens and spends time with an extended, loud, noisy family. Lilo lives in Fort Worth, Texas. Find Lilo on Instagram and on Facebook.
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