We can thank the perfectly-styled photos on Pinterest for shining a light on linen closets in recent years, and making it trendy to have one that looks like it’s straight out of a magazine. And, we’re ALL for it! We found that before there were #linenclosetgoals the space tended to get overlooked, and now that we’re all spending a little more time at home it might be the perfect time to dedicate some time to go through yours.
With the help of The Container Store we’ve put together an easy guide to organizing your closet, finding the perfect storage containers, and adding a few special touches to upgrade the space:
First, pull absolutely everything out of your linen closet. Before starting any organization project we tell our clients to pull everything out, because it lets you get a better idea of the space you’re working with and lets you see exactly how much stuff you’ve accumulated — you’d be surprised at home much stuff you have shoved in closets that you’ve forgotten about. Now that your space is clear, go ahead and give it a good deep clean from top to bottom. Dust, wipe down shelves, and vacuum the floor. If you have trouble getting the corners of your shelves completely clean, try using the Unger Connect & Clean Detail Brush. It’s V-shape makes it perfect for scrubbing hard-to-clean corners.
While you have everything out of the closet go ahead and thoroughly check linens for snags, stains, holes, or any other imperfections and toss them. We always like to keep a notepad and pen handy during this step to keep track of the items we need to purchase to replace the old ones.
When you’re ready to start picking out your storage bins remember to have fun with the space, everything doesn’t have to match perfectly in order to look put together. We actually like to mix up our storage containers by using different patterns, colors, fabrics, and sizes.
Just be sure to measure your space beforehand — particularly if you have shallow shelves — to make sure the bins you choose will fit in the space and use it efficiently. Knowing that the baskets you like will fit your shelves before your purchase them will save you the headache of having to make multiple trips — or online orders — to return them. There are a number of storage solutions we absolutely love to use in linen closets that always seem to work well — no matter the amount of space. We always rely on old faithful the white plastic bins from TCS that can be used in just about any space around the house.
Use larger baskets like the Open Canvas Storage Bins with Labels to store thick blankets, comforters, and extra pillows, and the Kiva Bins — which come in three different sizes and several colors — are one of best ways to keep sets of sheets neatly together, especially if you haven’t nailed the art of folding a fitted sheet. (If you’re interested in learning how to properly fold one check out our IGTV where Brooke walks you through folding a fitted sheet from start to finish.)
If you are using baskets to hold a variety of items be sure to label them, so you’ll be able to see exactly what’s in each basket easily. There’s nothing worse than having to dig through a bunch of baskets, messing everything up, only to find what you’re looking for in the very last one. These are our favorite bin clips because they’re extremely sturdy and will slide onto most containers.
The linen closet is also a great place to store all of your back stock items like extra toilet paper, toiletries, medicine, and first aid necessities. When it comes to storing extra toilet paper we like to take rolls out of the wrapper and store them in Grey & White Oslo Bins, and we use a Divided Lazy Susan for toiletries to make those items easily accessible for guests — we especially like this Lazy Susan with removable bins.
If you store your cleaning supplies in your linen closet consider getting a 3-Tier Rolling Cart to keep everything together. The rolling cart makes it extremely convenient to take your supplies from room to room while cleaning. If your space is a little more limited, the iDesign Linus Large Divided Tote is a great option for neatly storing cleaning supplies and its handle makes it easy to carry around.
Beyond organizing and storage, another easy way to elevate your linen closet is by adding special touches like the scented shelf liners from The Laundress that not only smell good, but are also very pretty! Or, if you don’t have shelves you can get the same heavenly smell from The Laundress Fabric Spray.
We hope these tips help you achieve your linen closet goals and we’re happy to help with any questions you may have! The Container Store has hundreds of linen closet storage and organization products to help you maximize space and accomplish any closet project.
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Thank you to The Container Store for sponsoring this post. All opinions are ours. We may earn a commission when you use one of our links to make a purchase.