The Joyful Sort How To: Organize A Linen Closet
Well, it’s late January and that means I’ve officially shifted into hibernation mode: I spend 90% of my time at home bundled up in sweatpants and cozy socks, have to pep talk myself when it’s time to get out of a hot shower, and my down comforter has been a line item on my daily gratitude list more often than not. The bad news is that it’s likely that we still have a few months before any signs of spring here in Columbus, but the good news is that holing up at home is a great excuse to tackle some quick organizing projects! January is a great time for a linen closet refresh to ensure that those fluffy towels, flannel sheet sets, and sick kits are primed and ready to get you through the sluggish winter weeks ahead.
Take it all out.
Few things pair better with sweatpants and cozy socks than a good Netflix binge, and Marie Kondo’s new show was obviously at the top of my list. While, I don’t have my clients thank their belongings before parting with them or spend precious session time having me greet their house, one aspect of the KonMari method that I do identify with is taking everything out of a space to get a sense of volume and and a fresh perspective of how the space can be used more ideally. Linen closets can easily become a catch-all dumping ground, so this is your chance to relocate those miscellaneous items and think about what truly makes sense there. For example, I found myself grumbling about having to pop up and down the stairs for supplies when it was time to clean our two second floor bathrooms, so one of the Must-Haves for our linen closet, in addition to the basic sheets, towels, etc., is a stocked cleaning caddy that’s kept in an accessible spot on the floor.
Edit.
Once you’ve relocated anything that doesn’t belong, it’s time for a quick sort and edit of the items that do. Group items into major categories (bed linens, bath linens, toiletries, medications, etc.), then sort through each category one at a time. Start with the easy, no-brainer Toss/Donate items:
Mismatched sheet or towel sets
Ripped sheet or towel sets
Stained sheet or towel sets
Actually, any sheet or towel set that you’d think twice about putting out if your mom was coming to stay for the weekend
Expired medications (pro tip: check with your local police or fire department for guidelines on proper disposal of medications)
Then, think about reasonable volume for your Keep items. Generally, two sheet sets per bed (one for everyday use and one backup for laundry or sick days) and one towel set (bath, hand, and face) per person in the home plus two guests will do the trick.
Fold and contain.
When it comes to maximizing space in a linen closet, it’s all about how you fold and contain. I love this tutorial from Better Homes & Gardens for towels, but when it comes to folding sheets, specifically fitted sheets, my best advice is…may the force be with you. ;) I personally love storing sheet sets in their own baskets because I still, at 36 years old, cannot properly fold a fitted sheet and baskets help conceal my half-hearted attempts at doing so. If you are good at folding sheets, a) teach me, please and b) try placing folded sheets inside a pillowcase from the set and then stack neatly or even file fold directly onto the shelf. Other great options for containment include rolling smaller towels in a basket (no more toppling towel towers - say that three times fast!) and designating specific bins for sub-categories of medications and toiletries such as kids/baby, specific ailments (cold/flu, pain, stomach, etc.), or seasons (for example, our supply of bug spray, aloe, and sunscreen all have a home in a linen closet box labeled “Summer”).
Zone.
Once you’ve sorted, edited, and contained, it’s time to get in the zone. Keep everyday items (like toilet paper or bath towels) front and center, then go high or low for less frequently used or bulkier items (such as extra pillows or beach towels). If you’ve got kiddos at home, make sure to keep any medication on a shelf out of their reach. Whenever possible, try to group like items or categories together onto the same shelf and take advantage of your vertical space with stacking.
Then it’s time to step back, admire your work, and schedule in a few Self-Care Sunday sessions to get you through until spring. Stay warm, friends!