Throw away those vile metal hangers, they make your clothes lose their shape over time. Instead use wooden hangers for normal garments like button down shirts, and padded hangers for delicate tops with skinny straps. For pants and skirts invest in some hangers that have clips, so that clothes are secure.
Use a double rod system:
To maximize your closet space and double the amount of clothes it can hold, invest in a second rod that can be affixed below the original one. This means you can hang shorter garments on the bottom rod and longer ones on the top, with room for storage containers underneath.
Baskets:
Buy some attractive and very useful baskets for easy storage for your purses and bags. This will keep them all organized in one place so you can located them quickly as needed. The baskets can be stored on the floor underneath your clothes or on the top shelf.
Buy some stacking shelves:
These clear plastic drawers are great tools and can fit neatly into a corner of your closet. This is wear you can store items like socks, underwear, belts, and scarves and other accessories. Lighter weight knits can also be stored in these drawers. NEVER hang knits- they will lose their shape over time. If you have special knits like cashmere, use acid free tissue to line each garment.
Be creative:
To give your closet a colorful look, buy some decorative boxes in bright patterns or motifs that you enjoy. Use large boxes to store your very heavy knits, and use hatboxes to store your lingerie. When bought in various sizes the hatboxes can be easily stacked on top of each other and stored on the top shelf.