How is your linen closet? If you are like many people, you may struggle with keeping an organized linen closet. It might look great soon after you tidy it up, however, you may find that the more you go into your linen closet to grab towels and linen, the messier it becomes each time. Keeping your linen closet tidy makes it easier to find the linens you need when you need them and goes a long way into maintaining an organized space. So here are some linen closet ideas to help to get your closet organized.
What Is a Linen Closet?
If you’re wondering what the big deal is about linen closets and why many homeowners consider it a must-have for their homes, here are some things to note. A linen closet, usually located in a hallway, is a space you can use to store a number of key items for your home like bath towels, bed sheets, tablecloths and other linens. You may actually be surprised at just how easy it is to fill up the space in your hallway linen closet! If you consider all of the various types of linens that you have in your home, it only makes sense that you have a designated space for storing these items. Linens consist of the following items:
- Blankets, comforters, duvet covers and inserts
- Mattress covers, pillows and pillowcases
- Guest towels, pillows and sheets.
- Table cloths and other placements for your dining room, cloth napkins.
- Toiletries and bathroom supplies.
If you do not have a linen closet, finding a place to store the items listed above can be a challenging task. Although you may have some storage space in your bedroom, kitchen or bathroom, you will most likely find that storing your linens there creates a lot of clutter and the space is often inadequate to store all of your linens. That’s why having a hallway linen cabinet or closet is essential. It makes your linens easily accessible and allows you to keep the space organized better.
Why Storing Linens in Your Bathroom Is a No-No
Without a designated linen closet, many homeowners tend to use their bathroom storage space to store towels and other linens. This may seem to be a convenient option if you do not have a linen closet, however, there are a number of reasons why this is not a good idea.
- For one, bathrooms are prone to moisture and provide a very humid environment, which is not good for fabrics. Even if you consider your bathroom to be well ventilated, the moisture in your bathroom can have a long-term effect on your linens and promote the growth of mould and mildew.
- There are some storage accessories on the market that can help create more organized space in your bathroom for storing linens. And some homeowners go as far as adding shelves to their bathroom walls to create additional storage space. Although extra storage is a great way to reduce clutter and keep your bathroom organized, it can actually do the opposite and make your bathroom look crowded. Depending on how often you use the towels on your open shelves, you may find that they accumulate a lot of dust, particularly if they remain unused for months on end.
- Another thing to keep in mind about storing towels and linens in your bathroom is that toilet plume may be deposited on them. Studies have shown that some particles of bacteria are forced into the air from the toilet bowl each time you flush the toilet. And the spray can land on anything within 6 feet of the toilet. So think about that when you consider storing your linens towels in the bathroom.
Now that we have discussed the need to store your linens in a linen closet, let’s focus on how to keep your linen closet organized with some practical linen closet organization ideas.
Consult a Closet Design Professional
Some homeowners don’t consider the idea of hiring a professional to design their linen closet space because they view it to be small in scope and think linen closet design is simply a matter of adding shelves to a space somewhere. Whether you are renovating an existing linen closet space or adding a brand new one to your home, consulting a professional for the project is highly recommended. This is because closet design experts are knowledgeable on how to maximize interior space and can create a design that blends well with your home. At Closet Linens, we offer in-home consultations to see how best we can serve you.
Take Stock of The Contents of Your Linen Closet
It’s important to know exactly what you will be storing in your linen closet before you have it re-designed. Make sure the contents of your linen closet are up-to-date by removing items that are no longer usable. You may also discover that there are some items that are old or have faded or for whatever reason, are no longer useful. Remove those items from your stock and purchase new ones to replace them if necessary.
Keep in mind that bath towels tend to have a lifespan of about two years if they are being used often. If you notice that they no longer feel soft and fluffy, this is an indication that they no longer absorb moisture well and you need new ones. A lot of the clutter in linen closets is due to new items being added without old ones being thrown out. Don’t save linens for a rainy day, if they are worn, re-purpose them or throw them out. Either way, get them out of your linen closet.
Pillows, like towels, need to be replaced every two years. In some cases, you may only get a year out of a pillow. This depends on the type of pillow since different types of pillows have different lifespans.
If you discover in your linen closet that you have linen sets that are mismatched or missing, or you have sheets for a bed that you no longer have, this is a great time to discard and replace them.
Create Storage Zones for Your Linen Closet
Establishing storage zones inside your linen closet can make all the difference and help you keep your linen closet organized in a way that works for you. Have designated spaces for each category like extra toiletries, bedroom linens, dining room linens, kitchen linens etc. If you have ample space, you can even create separate linen sections for each bedroom. At the end of the day, your goal is to keep your linen closet as organized as possible and creating closet storage zones is an excellent way to accomplish that.
For linens that you use often like bath towels and washcloths, make sure that they are placed in an area inside your storage closet that is easily accessible to everyone in your home. For items that you use less frequently like pillows and linens for guests or special occasions, we recommend storing these in one of the higher shelves. To make sure everyone is aware of the various closet zones, label each zone accordingly.
Determine an Organization System that Is Convenient for You
There are many line closet organizers on the market. The way the shelves are organized in your linen closet can help keep things organized. For linen closet shelving, consider wood or wire shelves - that is if you are working with an empty space. In most cases, however, there is an existing linen closet space that already has built-in shelves. This shouldn’t discourage you. You can still organize your linens in a way that maximizes the space. Some tips you can consider are:
- Organize your linens by size. Most homes have different sized beds, so arrange your sheets according to size so you can access them easily.
- Install additional shelves to complement built in shelves. Adding vertical linen closet shelving is a great way to create additional zones and divide shelves into smaller sections that are easier to keep organized.
- Separate items into categories as far as possible. For example, use shelf dividers to separate washcloths from bath towels and hand towels. You can even go a little further and separate towels based on color.
- Used storage baskets to store bathroom supplies and other types of supplies you need for your home.
Use Storage Bins for Items Used Less Often
Your linen closet will most likely contain various items that you do not use on a regular basis like extra towels and linens for guests or seasonal linens that only come out at specific times of the year. Use storage bins to keep these items stored away and fresh. Using a sealed storage bin is best because it will protect your linens from tiny bugs like moths and dust.
Linen Closet offers a wide range of linen closet organizers that can help you keep your linen closet organized. We’re happy to help you maximize your linen closet space and create an organized closet you will love. Contact us today for all your linen closet needs!