Closets can sometimes feel like the dark subconscious of a household—cluttered and chaotic with forgotten and misplaced belongings. You may be putting off organizing them because you assume it will take forever or, at the very least, a pricey, complicated system.

In fact, it will take just four common, inexpensive storage tools (and a modest investment of time) to tidy up any closet in the house.

1. Canvas boxes
Roomy, collapsible canvas-covered boxes (shown, at top of image) organize anything — and look good while they're doing it. Natural Canvas Boxes, $16 to $20 each, the Container Store, www.containerstore.com.

2. Hanging shelves
Only 12 inches deep, these shelves and drawers (shown, right) fit in almost any closet. Canvas 6-Shelf Sweater & Accessory Organizer, $17; canvas drawers, $10 for two: Organize Everything, www.organize-everything.com.

3. Shoe bags
The back of the door is a closet's most underutilized space, and the shoe bag (shown, left) may just be the most versatile home-organizing tool. 24-Pocket Vinyl Overdoor Shoe Bag, $15, the Container Store, www.containerstore.com.

4. Collapsible storage bins
These plastic-lined canvas bins (shown, bottom left) fit in tight spots and hold anything from toys to dirty clothes. Umbra Crunch Cans, $22 each, www.umbra.com.

See how these four tools cleaned up the mess in a linen closet, bedroom closet, hall closet, and a child's closet.