20 Linen Closet Ideas

The linen closet is one of those catch-all spaces that can get cluttered and disorganized really easily.

But with a few simple tips, you can get your linen closet organized and keep it that way.

1. Start by emptying the closet

The first step to organizing any space in your home is to take everything out. This is no exception.

As you remove the items, take a close look at each one. If it is torn, stained, or otherwise unusable, put it in a pile to be donated or thrown away.

If you have a lot of items in this category, you may want to consider donating the items to an animal shelter. They are often in need of towels and blankets.

2. Dust and wipe down the shelves

If your linen closet is anything like mine, it’s probably been a minute since you’ve seen the light of day on those shelves.

Remove everything from the shelves and give them a good dusting with a microfiber cloth.

If you have wire shelves, you can also use your vacuum’s dusting attachment to get into all the nooks and crannies.

3. Sort everything into categories

Once you’ve taken everything out of your linen closet, sort it all into categories.

This will help you see exactly how much of each item you have, and it can also help you identify which categories should go where in your closet.

For example, I have a lot of sheet sets, so I put them on the top shelf of my linen closet. I also have a lot of cleaning supplies, so I put those in a basket on the bottom shelf.

Some common linen closet categories include:

• Sheet sets

• Bath towels

• Hand towels

• Washcloths

• Cleaning supplies

• Blankets

• Pillows

• Seasonal items

• Rags

4. Declutter and donate

Once you’ve taken everything out of the closet, it’s time to go through each item and decide what you want to keep, what you want to donate and what you want to toss.

When it comes to linens, you should replace them every 5-10 years.

If you have linens that are older than that, or they’re starting to show signs of wear and tear, it’s time to toss them.

You can also consider donating them to your local animal shelter.

If you have linens that are still in good condition but you no longer use, consider donating them to a local shelter or charity.

You can also ask friends and family if they’re in need of any linens.

Once you’ve decided what you want to keep and what you want to donate, it’s time to organize your linens and put them back in the closet.

5. Consider using baskets to store small items

If you’re storing small items like hand towels, washcloths or small blankets in your linen closet, consider using a basket to keep them contained and organized.

I found these small, white baskets at Target for around $5 each. I used one to store extra hand towels and another to store extra washcloths.

I love how the baskets keep the items contained and make the closet look more organized.

6. Organize and fold linens for a neat appearance

To fold your linens, lay them out flat with the seams facing up. Then, fold the linens in half and tuck the seams in.

After folding the linens in half, fold them in thirds and stack them on top of each other.

When you fold your linens, it’s important to make sure that they’re all the same size. This will help you keep your linens looking neat and organized.

7. Group linens together by room

If you have the space, it can be helpful to group your linens by the room they belong in.

This way, you can easily grab what you need when you’re making up a bed or cleaning the house.

I like to use these fabric shelf dividers to separate my linens and keep them looking neat.

You can also use small bins to corral your linens and keep them from toppling over.

8. Keep small linens in labeled containers

Some linens, like pillowcases and duvet covers, are hard to tell apart when folded. To prevent any confusion, use labeled containers to keep them separated.

The Container Store has a wide variety of bins and baskets, and we love this one for sheet sets.

It has a pocket to tuck the pillowcases into, so you never have to go hunting for the right ones.

9. Make a list of what you need to replace

If you’re moving into a new home, you should go through all of your linens and make a list of what you need to replace.

You may not need to replace everything. You may just need to get a few new towels or bed sheets.

Once you have your list, you can start shopping for new linens. You can also keep your list with you as you start to organize your linen closet.

That way, you can make sure you have everything you need before you start putting items away.

10. Keep the linen closet organized

The linen closet can quickly become a dumping ground for anything and everything.

To keep it organized, you’ll want to do a deep clean of the space at least once a year.

Take everything out, vacuum the floors, and wipe down the shelves.

Then, sort through your linens and get rid of anything that’s old, stained, or torn.

Once you’ve decluttered, you can put everything back in an organized way.

Store sheet sets inside one of the pillowcases so you can easily find everything you need.

You can also use baskets or bins to corral smaller items like washcloths and hand towels.

Conclusion

This is the final post for the closet series (for now). I have been working on a few other closets that I will post in the near future. I will also be working on a few more of my own closets, so I will continue to post on this topic. I hope you have enjoyed the series and that maybe it has inspired you to tackle a closet in your own home. If you have any questions that I didn’t cover, please feel free to ask. I would love to hear about your closet projects too!