6 Steps to an Organized Linen Closet

1. Divide and Conquer

Shelf dividers will instantly begin to add order to the closet by providing “zones” for each set of items. You can use wire or plastic dividers specifically made for this purpose, or improvise with things you have around the house. Decorative shelf brackets are a pretty way to divide a space with little fuss.

2. The 3 B’s: Baskets, Bins, and Boxes

Separate things that have specific purposes or rooms using matching baskets and bins. Small items can be neatly corralled and unsightly ones hidden with this tip. All of your little “extras” like soap, cotton swabs, and shaving supplies, can find a home in the closet this way as well. A basket can be labeled for a specific room and swiftly carried there when guests are expected.

3. Hanging Tight

Looking for a way to squeeze just a tad more space out of that closet? Try installing towel rods on the back of the door for tablecloths. If you’ve got an ironing board and iron that need a home, there are holders that can go over the door , no mounting required.

4. Grouping and Sorting

There are many ways to group your items. If you don’t have specific colors or sets of linens for each room, grouping by size may be your best bet. If you’d like to have everything ready for a guest at the drop of a hat, separating things by room may work better for you. Consider rolling your towels rather than laying them flat – it may be just what you need to find that little bit of extra room on a shelf. Keep sheet sets together by placing a neatly folded set inside its matching pillowcase or, for a pretty and functional detail, tie the whole set with ribbon.

5. Label, label, label!

Using labels so that others can easily see where things belong may help in keeping the linen closet organized. Tags or labels for baskets and bins, or labels on the shelves themselves, make for smoother transitions from laundry basket to closet after washing and ironing is done.

6. What if it’s not all “linens?”

Apply the same principles mentioned above. Keep things as consistent as you can. Toilet paper and bathroom or kitchen surplus are often stored alongside linens, but if you have a few odds and ends that just won’t fit anywhere else in your home, give them their own shelf, basket, or specific space in the closet to keep the organization flowing.

Kayla Lilly is a photographer, writer, wife, and mama making a house a home in eastern Idaho. She met her mister while working at an amusement park and married him a year later after deciding there was no way to live without him. The amusement has continued as they’ve added three kids and a passel of pets to their lives while finishing college and starting a photography business. Drawing inspiration from the whirlwinds of marriage, parenthood, and the media, Kayla blogs at www.utterlyinexperienced.blogspot.com, and spends the rest of her time chasing chickens, organizing junk drawers, diapering toddlers, and photographing everyone willing to step in front of her lens.

Featured image via Better Homes and Gardens.