Your Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Your Linens Organized
I LOVE an organized linen closet! Being able to fold similar items into neat, tidy piles & contain them in pretty baskets or on shelves is such a beginner friendly organizing project! Besides it being an easy place to transform, it’s also incredibly helpful: no more scrambling for a fresh set of sheets in the guest room or wondering where your extra bedding layers are when the temperature outside hit freezing (yes - this actually does happen in AZ!).
Ready to get your linens organized? Read on for our step-by-step guide.
Step 1: Declutter & Sort
Before beginning any organizing project, it’s essential to declutter & sort. This helps us avoid wasting time trying to find room for items that we don’t even need to keep! I always start by gathering all like items together - such as all my homes bedding or all my kitchen linens. Then, I sort & declutter down any excess to create an appropriate (& minimalistic!) amount that I want to organize and store.
My rule of thumb for most bathroom & bedding items: one in the wash and one being used. This means two sets of light weight summer sheets, two bath towels per person, etc. Of course, there are always exceptions. When my kids were younger, I kept more than two pairs of sheets AND an extra mattress pad per bed incase of any accidents. It’s all about creating an amount of each item that works for you and your family.
Does it seem like there’s never enough clean linens in your family? Setting a laundry schedule can be so helpful! This way, you never have to waste time & energy remembering the last time you washed your sheets. I like to do my bed linens on Mondays, towels on Wednesdays (with my whites load) and all my other linens (tablecloths, dishcloths, etc.) on Fridays. Download our laundry schedule below to create your ideal linen washing schedule.
Step 2: Pick the Perfect Product
When it comes to linen closets, organizing product is fairly simple! We like to use montauk baskets as they have a washable, snag-free liner. These pretty ori bins are another one of our go-to’s. I recommend picking a basket that matches your homes style & accommodates the space you are placing your basket in. Make sure to take measurements before heading to the store or completing an online order!
Looking for help knowing what linens to keep & what organizing product to pick? Download our cheatsheet below!
Step 3: Label
I can’t tell you how many beautiful linen closets I’ve seen that aren’t maintainable, simply because they don’t have labels! In order to know which sheets are queen size and what spot to put that extra mattress pad in, we need to clearly label our spaces. I recommend either containing the item in a basket and labeling it with a bin clip, or putting a p-touch label directly into your shelf. You can also try out labeling elastics that both contain and label each sheet set.
A labeling system keeps ourselves and our families accountable because we know exactly where to put things AND how much space we have for each thing. If your ‘twin sheets’ bin is overflowing, it’s time to edit it down! If you have 6 pillowcases that don’t match in your ‘extra linens’ bin, it’s time to toss or donate them!
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