Declutter and Take Inventory
Start by emptying out the entire closet and taking inventory, then make piles for items to keep, toss, or donate. Remove items that don’t belong in your linen closet and decide if there is another space in your home where these items can live or be used. I was keeping my children’s board games and random art supplies in the linen closet, when they are more likely to be used and appreciated somewhere else. Next, categorize what you have and what you want to keep in your linen closet. A good rule of thumb is to have two sets of sheets and towels per bedroom. Finally, donate anything you no longer need. Torn sheets and old towels can often be dropped off at animal shelters, or you can post things to give away or sell on Buy Nothing pages or Facebook marketplace.
Plan and Measure
Before you buy anything and go wild shopping for baskets and bins, be sure to measure your space, including the width, depth, and height of each shelf. Take photos or sketch out your ideas. Next, shop your home! Check each room to see if there is anything you can use and repurpose. You might be surprised by how many containers or baskets you already have that you can use to organize and home your linens. I found a wooden crate in my garage from a fruit basket package that was perfect for housing my large duvet cover. Once you decide to make some purchases, only buy items you can return. And remember: not everything needs to be placed in a storage container. I prefer to keep my towels folded nicely on the shelf using shelf dividers to keep things tidy.
Bundle Things Together
One of my favorite hacks for storing bedding is bundling it together. Into one pillowcase, place your matching folded pillowcase, fitted and flat sheets, and tuck it together. You’ll never waste time looking for the set, and it’s especially helpful when you have different sized beds in your home. (No more trying to fit a queen fitted sheet on a king size bed!) After bundling, I place each in its own bin and label it by the room and size.
Learn How to Fold
This folding hack will make your towels look the way they do at the store. It also saves up to 6 inches of storage space! Fold your towel in half widthwise and then bring the bottom up one-third of the way. Next, fold your towel in half lengthwise and then fold it three times until you get a perfect square. I followed this same technique with my hand towels, too. For my large beach towels, I opted to roll them and store in tall baskets on the bottom shelf for easy access.
Choose a Style
Your linen closet can not only be aesthetically pleasing, but also have style! I chose a neutral color palette with natural grass baskets, black wire baskets, and white bins. Keeping a complementary palette without being matchy-matchy is key. I found these labels and chalk marker online, and I like how I can customize what I want each label to say—plus they help to keep things cohesive and properly labeled.
The KonMari Way
I stole a page out of Marie Kondo’s book when it comes to folding my washcloths and cleaning cloths. By vertically folding them, it makes it much easier to find. She also recommends eliminating excess noise by decanting soaps, detergents, etc. I used large glass containers to store laundry soaps and wool dryer balls.
Priority Placement
As you store and decide where to place items back in your closet, think about the functionality of each item. I chose to place seasonal items up high, since I only need to grab them once a year. For items we use more frequently, I placed them at eye level. I also used a see-through turntable to store extra cleaning supplies, and beautiful bins with wooden lids for backstock toiletries and other miscellaneous items. I hope these tips help you get a handle on your linen closet and storage space! I love the way mine turned out—sometimes I just open the door and smile. I’m also happy to report that by keeping things organized and labeled, it helps other members in my household (and even guests) know exactly where things go.
