Inside The 'Costco Closet' Trend (And How To Put One In Your Home)

With price increases that seem to never have an end in sight, many families purchase frequently used items for their homes in bulk, or when they are on sale. Buying common household items in bulk to save money is arguably one of the best benefits of having a Costco membership. This may be true of paper products, detergents, dry snacks, canned goods, and any other items your household uses on a regular basis. The downside, of course, is finding ways to fit all of these items in your home for the sake of saving money. It turns out that a home organization trend addresses this very problem. Proponents of the "Costco closet" claim that having a space specifically designed for bulk item purchases can help you stay more organized without taking up space in common areas in your home, and you may even be able to modify this technique if you're short on space.

As the name implies, a Costco closet is a dedicated closet designed for storing bulk items bought from Costco or a similar retailer. It's equipped with multiple shelves and large spacing between them to house larger items. While the Costco closet itself gained traction during the COVID-19 pandemic when many families stocked up on various items, this trend continues to grow as people are looking for storage space as a way to be able to buy in bulk and save money. Aside from the financial aspects, the Costco closet can also offer peace of mind for other situations, such as an emergency or sudden illness.

The exact items stored in a Costco closet are unique to your household and can include paper towels, soaps, detergents, trash bags, crackers, pasta, and more. As such, it may be helpful to make a list of the items you typically buy from Costco (or those you want to buy in bulk) so you can get an idea of how much space you need in your designated closet. Some of the most commonly stored categories include cleaning products, non-perishable foods, health items, and paper products. Some families also store dried foods such as crackers, grains, pasta, oats, and spices. You can even store extra pet food, snacks, condiments, and any other items you frequently use or that you want to have on hand in case of an emergency.

Once you've listed the types of items you want to store away, you can determine where you want your Costco closet to be located. For the most storage potential, this should be in a spot outside of your kitchen pantry, such as a basement, utility closet, or garage. You can go all out and construct your own closet, or even choose a bookshelf or metal utility shelving unit depending on the space. Another option is to use labeled baskets or bins to store smaller items you buy in bulk, such as cosmetics or first aid supplies.

If you do not have a garage, basement, or extra rooms to work with, you can still get creative and maximize the storage space in a small home. In some cases, you may be able to use a part of your existing pantry by removing shelves to help maximize the space. Then, you can place bulk items in one section and free up the rest of the space for smaller items you buy from the grocery store. You can apply this same theory to any possible spot in your home by adding cabinetry, shelving, or bins, such as your hallway, bathroom, laundry room, and even underneath your bed. In such cases, you can have several miniature Costco closets and keep certain products in designated areas, such as extra detergent in the laundry room and cleaning supplies in a utility closet.

Also, consider removing any unnecessary packaging to help maximize space. Feel free to take paper towels and toilet paper out of their exterior plastic wrap, remove individual granola bars from their boxes and place them in a bin, and any other method that can cut down on space. These steps can help get the most out of the Costco closet you've created, whether it's a preexisting closet, a cabinet, or a DIY shelving system you've purchased for this purpose. No matter how much space you're working with, it's also important to keep a running inventory of what you have so you don't run out of certain items or buy them unnecessarily.