Organized spaces within your home can help decrease stress and ensure that everything is easily accessible when you need it. While most people focus on their bedroom closets, hallway or bathroom linen closets can also be transformed with a few strategic storage tips. To help you get inspired, here are some ideas for creating your very own linen closet organization system.
17 Organization Ideas for a Clutter-Free Linen Closet
It doesn’t matter whether you have a large, luxurious space to store linens or a small closet; the key is working with what you’ve got. The best way to do this is to implement storage ideas that help you stay organized, sane, and efficient. Here are some of our best linen closet organization ideas to help you make the most of your space.
1. Declutter and Donate
Whenever you’re gearing up to organize any space within your home, the first step should always be to declutter and donate. Go through your closet and think about what you have versus what you actually use. Blankets that never see the light of day or towels and sheets you’ve replaced can be donated or at least moved out of this area. This can contribute to a significantly more organized linen closet over the years.
2. Be Strategic About What Gets Stored in Your Linen Closet
After you’ve gotten rid of some things, it’s time to free up even more space in your linen closet. Reassess all the items you currently have stored inside and consider whether they need to be there or can go somewhere else. Things that aren’t used often can go in storage containers under your bed or in the basement. The goal is to make it easy to find and access what’s in your space by clearing out anything unnecessary. For example, if you have 20 different hand towels but only seem to rotate through about five or six every few weeks, remove the excess. The same mentality can be applied to bed linens, fitted sheets, and even toilet paper if you buy in bulk.
3. Categorize Everything
Once you’ve decluttered and reassessed what’s staying in your linen closet, the next step is categorizing. Group similar items together—think towels, sheets, pillowcases, and blankets—so you can easily find what you need when you need it. Consider separating your linens by room or by function. For example, keep all the guest room linens on one shelf and master bedroom linens on another. This way, when it’s time to change the bedding, you can grab everything you need in one go.
4. Install Linen Closet Shelves
If your linen closet has no shelves or the existing ones don’t seem to fit your items, consider installing custom shelves. Adjustable shelves allow you to customize the space based on the height and size of your linens. This lets you create taller shelves to accommodate bulky blankets and comforters and smaller ones for stacks of towels and sheets.
5. Use Shelf Dividers to Separate Items
Shelf dividers are another great tool to help you keep your linen closet neat and organized. They can be used to separate different categories of linens, like bath towels from beach towels or queen sheets from twin sheets. They also prevent stacks of linens from toppling over or becoming a jumbled mess.
6. Add Shelf Liners
Although they won’t help with organization per se, shelf liners can help protect your closet and keep stacks of things from slipping out of place. There are several types available, from decorative patterns to non-slip materials, that can help maximize linen closet storage.
7. Consider a Lazy Susan for Small Spaces
If you’re working with a small linen closet, a Lazy Susan might just be your new favorite accessory. This rotating organizer is perfect for storing smaller items like cleaning supplies, toiletries, or even extra washcloths. By simply spinning the Lazy Susan, you can easily access everything without digging through piles or stacks.
8. Leave Some Breathing Room
It can be tempting to fill every inch of your linen closet and stuff things into any available space, but overcrowding can make it nearly impossible to keep things tidy over time. It also leads to wrinkles and could even accentuate mold or mildew if humidity or dampness is present. Instead, try to space things out to allow for circulation.
9. Hang an Over-the-Door Storage Rack
To maximize the vertical space in smaller closets, add an over-the-door storage rack that can hold cleaning supplies, extra towels, toiletries, and more. There are several options to purchase online or DIY with a few hooks and baskets.
10. Roll All of Your Towels
Instead of folding your towels the traditional way, try rolling them. Rolled towels not only look spa-like and luxurious, but they also take up less space and can be easily stored in baskets or on shelves. Plus, rolling decreases wrinkles and keeps things fresh and ready to use.
11. Store Sets of Sheets Inside Pillowcases
One of the best tricks for keeping your linen closet organized is to store each set of sheets inside one of its pillowcases. This ensures you never have to search for matching pieces again, as the fitted sheet, flat sheet, and second pillowcase are all tucked neatly inside. Not only does this save space, but it also makes changing the bed quick and hassle-free.
12. Keep Pillows Vertical
If you store extra pillows in your linen closet, keep them vertical rather than stacking them horizontally. This method saves space and prevents the pillows from becoming squished or misshapen. You can keep them separated from other things with some strategically placed dividers.
13. Get Creative With Storage Bins
Storage baskets or bins are a fantastic way to keep smaller items contained and organized. Choose options that fit the dimensions of your shelves, and label them for easy identification. Clear bins work well because you can see what’s inside without opening them, but decorative bins can add color or texture to your closet. Use them to store everything from washcloths and hand towels to extra toiletries and small bedding items.
14. Store Cleaning Supplies in a Caddy
If you store cleaning supplies in your linen closet, put them in a caddy for easy access. This allows you to grab the entire caddy when you need to clean and can help separate potentially hazardous products from sensitive fabrics.
15. Sneak in Some Sachet Bags for Odor Control
Keep your linen closet smelling fresh by tucking in a few sachet bags filled with lavender, cedar, or another pleasant scent. These sachets help absorb moisture and odors, ensuring your linens always smell clean and fresh. Place them in the corners of your shelves or between stacks of linens. You can even hang one inside the closet door for an added touch of freshness.
16. Launder Everything in Linen Closet Storage Every Six Months
Even if you don’t use certain linens regularly, it’s a good idea to launder everything in the closet at least once every six months. This helps prevent dust buildup, keeps linens smelling fresh, and ensures that everything is ready to use when you need it. Make it a habit to rotate your linens, using the older ones first and placing freshly laundered items at the bottom of the stack. Just make sure you put them back in the closet after their trip to the laundry room.
17. Store by Frequency of Use
Consider how often you use certain items when deciding where to store them. Items you use frequently, such as your go-to towels or bed linens, should be stored at eye level for easy access. Less frequently used items, like guest linens or seasonal bedding, can be stored on higher or lower shelves. This way, you won’t have to dig through seldom-used items to get to the ones you need daily.
Running Out of Closet Space? Consider the Ultimate Storage Solution for Small Linen Closets and More
Sometimes, your hallway linen closet isn’t big enough to keep everything you need organized. However, you don’t need to cram everything you own into a closet to keep your home tidy. Instead, safely store extra sheets or infrequently used items in a nearby self-storage unit with The Lock Up Self Storage.
We offer temperature-controlled self-storage units in a variety of sizes to help supplement your home storage and increase your livable space. All our units are climate-controlled with stable humidity levels to keep your belongings in excellent condition, regardless of how long you need to keep them in storage. Our facilities are also protected with top-of-the-line security features such as perimeter alarms, gated access codes, and 24/7 CCTV. For more information about our available self-storage units and sizing options, contact us at 1-866-327-LOCK or visit one of our locations for a tour.
