Linen closets are one of my favorite spaces to organize. There is nothing prettier than folded linens, the containers I typically use in linen closets are beautiful and the transformations can be so satisfying.
If you feel that your linen closet is full of things that aren't necessarily "linens". Linen closets often store bathroom and cleaning back stock items and medicine among other things. Of course, the size of your home and storage space will determine what goes where, and what you have space for. These tips can be applicable to whatever you have in your linen closet!
Linen Closet Organization
Step 1: Take everything out
Surprise surprise…this step will never change. As you remove items create categories that make sense. Make sure different-sized sheets all have their own zone. Decide if you want to sort with matching sheet sets or flat vs. fitted.
Do you have seasonal sheets? If you have sheets you only pull out at certain times of the year, they can go in their own pile altogether. Put towels, hand towels, and washcloths in different piles.
Comforters, blankets, pillowcases (separated by standard and king), shams, duvets, mattress covers, and anything else you are storing in the linen closet in their own separate category.
Step 2: Edit
Do you have sheet sets that are no longer being used? A twin-sized set when you don’t have a twin-sized bed in your home? A sheet with holes or stains? What about pillowcases? I am pretty good about regularly editing sheets, but my mom always told me you can never have enough pillowcases so I held onto every single one until a few years ago when I realized, you CAN have too many pillowcases.
Step 3: Choose and Place Product, and Fold
I personally love placing sheet sets and pillowcases in containers. I love being able to label what size the sheets are and I love that the bins cover-up user error (so you can fold them however works best for you). I like to file fold sheets. It saves space, looks beautiful, and makes it easy to see all items at one glance.
If that is not your cup of tea, no big deal. Keeping them in the bin still looks neat and tidy. If you have a particular way you like to fold your sheets, make sure that the container for your sheets can accommodate your style of folding so that the system can be sustainable.
Sheets can also look beautiful when folded well. On Instagram @reset_your_nest and on a KSL Studio 5 segment I share some of my sheet folding tips.
I typically create containers of different-sized sheets and then the 2 different sizes of pillowcases, but if you prefer to keep the entire sheet set together instead of giving pillowcases their separate bin, there are a few ways to make that happen. You can organize sheet sets by putting all the pieces together in one pillowcase.
You can also fold sheet sets together with the pillowcases folded in the middle. One client had us label each sheet set bin with the name of the person to who it belonged. However you sort or organize, make sure it is a system that will solve your pain points, that is sustainable, and that will save you the most time in the future.
The same goes for towels. Hand towels and washcloths typically go in different containers.
Bath towels and beach towels usually look great neatly folded on a shelf. I like using acrylic shelf dividers for separations. If you are trying to go for a clean and neutral aesthetic, you can file fold beach towels and put them in a bin as well. Here's a video all about how to fold towels.
The Best Bins for Linen Closets
Here are my favorite bins for linen closets:
Plastic:
Chancellor Bins (the XXL size is huge and can accommodate deep shelves, are budget-friendly, and can also stack which can be really nice)
Wave Bins are also a great option that are budget-friendly
Fabric-lined:
Miscellaneous:
I've also listed everything I use in linen closets below - just click on the image to shop!
Step 4: Label.
Don’t forget this step, especially with different-sized sheets. This is a great time to use plastic bin clips or metal bin clips.
Is your house lacking a linen closet? Try keeping each bedroom’s extra set of sheets in that bedroom’s closet. You can eliminate the need for a linen closet entirely by allocating the linens to each area of the home that they are meant for.
Is your house lacking a linen closet, but you still want one? You can always buy an armoire or set of tall shelves to create a specific place for all your linens.
Jen is the founder of Reset Your Nest, a Professional Home Organizing Business in Utah (servicing Salt Lake City, Park City, Ogden, Alpine, Highland, Mapleton, and St. George). She loves creating order and systems out of chaos and is known for bringing a beautiful aesthetic as well as easy to maintain function to any space. She shares her tips and tricks on Instagram @reset_your_nest.
