Linen Closet Organization 101: 6 Steps to Organizing a Linen Closet

A well-organized linen closet can save time, reduce stress, and make your home feel more orderly and serene. Whether you have a spacious closet or a modest cabinet, these tips will help you maximize your space and keep everything beautifully organized.

Step 1: Clear and Clean

Before diving into organizing, start with a blank slate.

1. Empty the Closet: Remove all items from the closet. Starting with a blank slate is essential to creating a functional space!

2. Sort and Purge: Go through each item and decide what to keep, donate, or discard. Be honest about what you need and use. We will address the "keep" items in a bit but for now, just focus on a good declutter!

3. Clean the Space: Dust and wipe down shelves, and vacuum the floor if applicable.

Step 2: Categorize Each Item

Grouping similar items together helps you see just what all you have in your closet. Here are some typical categories:

1. Bedding: Separate by size (twin, queen, king) and type (sheets, pillowcases, duvet covers).

2. Towels: Divide into categories such as bath towels, hand towels, washcloths, and beach towels.

3. Overstock bath and beauty items: If you store bath and body products in your linen closet, these can be sorted even further into hair, body care (may include body wash, soap, shaving, and body lotion), makeup, feminine care, etc.

4. Miscellaneous: Include items like extra blankets, guest bedding, and seasonal linens in this category.

In this narrow linen closet, we used these multipurpose bins to hold backstock items.

Step 3: Optimize Your Space with the Right Organization Products

Make the most of your space with storage solutions that actually work. Linen closets are one of the most affordable spaces to organize as they typically don't require a lot of products, however choosing the correct ones will make all the difference!

1. Measure your shelf space: First things first...measure the depth from front to back. This is the most important measurement for selecting the correct organization products.

2. Shelf Dividers: Use dividers to keep stacks of linens neat and prevent them from toppling over. Our favorite ones are these from Amazon.

3. Bins and Baskets: Store smaller items in simple white or acrylic bins or baskets to keep them contained and easy to find. We love these Home Edit square acrylic bins from Walmart because of they work in most any space since they can mix and match with these narrower ones as well. Don't forget to label! This helps keep everyone in the house on the same page and also helps keep everything in its "home."
   

In this space: Our favorite Home Edit acrylic square bins and turntables

Step 4: Fold and Store Linens Properly

Proper folding techniques save space and keep linens tidy.

1. Sheets: Fold matching sets of sheets and store them together by size or by bedroom. You can place the folded set inside one of the pillowcases to keep everything together or place categories in a bin. We love these simple white bins from Target because of their affordablility and size.

2. Towels: Roll or fold towels uniformly to save space and maintain a neat appearance.

3. Blankets and Comforters: Fold and store larger items on the top shelf or in vacuum-sealed bags to save space.

These Target white baskets and Target felt baskets are perfect for holding sets of sheets and towels.

Step 5: Utilize the Back of the Door

Maximize space by using the closet door for additional storage.

1. Over-the-Door Racks: Install an over the door rack to store items like extra towels, cleaning supplies, or smaller linens. One of our favorite over-the-door organizers is the simple but very effective Elfa system from The Container Store. It is easy to install (no drilling required) and completely adjustable so you can make it work with your space!

2. Hooks-If you are short on space, simply putting a few command hooks on the back of the door is a simple and affordable way to add some extra storage for anything that needs to hang (bathrobes, a swiffer duster, or anything with a "loop"). We recommend these simple but sturdy metal ones found at Walmart, Target or Amazon.
   

Source: The Container Store

Step 6: Maintain the System

Keeping your linen closet organized requires regular maintenance but it doesn't have to be complicated! Incorporating some simple routines into your week is all you need!

1. Regular Checks: Periodically go through the closet to ensure items are in their proper place and to weed out any unnecessary items. We recommend having one specific day you do this (many people like Sunday as they tend to be home, thinking through the week ahead) but do whatever works for you!

2. Seasonal Switch: Rotate seasonal linens, storing off-season items in a less accessible area. This should only take a few minutes twice a year as the weather cools off or heats up.

3. Check your Inventory before you shop: Spend a few minutes looking through what products you have on hand before you go shopping. People frequently overbuy their favorites simply because they don't know what they have in stock. Taking 5 minutes to glance at your inventory with your shopping list in hand ensures you don't overbuy (or overspend!)

Final Thoughts

Organizing your linen closet might seem like a daunting task, but breaking it down into manageable steps can make the process much easier. By clearing out clutter, categorizing items, maximizing your space, and maintaining your system, you can create a functional and beautiful linen closet. This small effort will pay off every time you reach for a fresh towel or a clean set of sheets, making your home feel more organized and peaceful!

Happy organizing!