This post is the third in the “Moving on Up” series, a set of apartment posts dedicated to creative and practical uses for a second bedroom space.

{Photo by: Melanie Acevedo}

For a woman, a closet is much more than just another room in the house. So much so, that it’s becoming a trend to dedicate a whole room to use as a closet! Upgrading to a two bedroom apartment provides ample opportunity to give your clothing collection a little breathing room and provide yourself with the necessary space to get dressed and paper yourself in style.

Though all of the two-bedroom floor plans include sizable closets in each bedroom space, expanding a closet to an entire room is actually more practical than you might think. Just think, if every last shoe, purse and hat had a place and room to spread out…I’m positive that things would stay much more organized!

Here are six must-have items to turn your extra bedroom into a well organized and designed dressing room!

1. Hanging Clothes Rack – The first and most obvious requirement for a dressing room is a place to hang your clothes. While a second bedroom will also provide you with a second closet with proper shelving for hanging clothes, you may choose to display a garment rack with a selection of overcoats, basics, or your season favorites. Not only does a visible rack give you quick access to your favorite pieces, it also adds design interest to the room!

These stainless steel garment racks & shelves give a utilitarian feel to this closet/home office. Target has a great selection of garment racks in a wide selection of sizes, styles and prices.

{Photo via: Unplggd}

I also love this creative, DIY clothing hanger created from chain and a branch pictured on Apartment Therapy.

{Photo via: Apartment Therapy}

2. Dresser - Another important item to have in your closet room is a dresser. A dresser is a necessary storage unit for basics such as socks and undergarments. It can also be a good home for accessories like scarves and gloves.

{Photos via: Living, Creating Yourself}

If you have a large enough room, I love the idea of putting matching dressers back to back to create a storage “island.” The top gives you a great place to throw clothing and accessories as you are assembling outfits.

{Photo via: Well Appointed House}

If you’re short on space, alternatives to a full dresser are a tall, skinny lingerie chest or a funky vintage trunk like the one below!

{Photo via: Style Hive}

3. Shoe Storage - To be honest, I could have easily dedicated this post to a whole room for shoes! But I’ll just stick to a few photos of my favorite shoe storage ideas.

This picture (a la Miley Cyrus) shows an ideal solution for shoe storage in an apartment space where built in shelving isn’t an option. Twin ladder bookcases are easy and effective way to store and display your favorite kicks without tearing up your walls. These ladders are available almost anywhere, from Crate & Barrel and West Elm to Amazon and even Walmart.

{Photo Courtesy of: In Style Magazine}

Hanging shoes is another easy and beautiful solution for high heels. Unfortunately, this one doesn’t work well for the flats and boots that are part of every lady’s shoe collection.

{Photos via: Deliciously Organized}

Another great option is shoe boxes. I love these two (above right and below) creative shoe storage solutions!

{Photos via: Deliciously Organized}

4. Full Length Mirror - After making homes for clothes and shoes, the single most important accessory in a home dressing room is a full length mirror. A full length mirror helps a lady ensure her look is complete, from head to toe. For an entire space dedicated to clothing, I love the idea of including a large and interesting statement mirror. The one pictured below is super fun and functional!

{Photo via: House to Home}

5. Vanity – Maybe not quite a must-have, but including a vanity in your closet room is definitely a smart idea. A place to sit down and do your makeup fits perfectly with the primping theme of the dressing room and helps consolidate your “getting ready” mess to one room.

{Photo by: Aimee Herring via Real Simple}

And there you have it! Five must-have storage solutions for a home dressing room. Do you have any more must-haves? Or maybe a few “nice to haves”? Share your ideas and thoughts in the comments below!