How to Organize Your Linen Closet | Linen Closet Organization

Need some help organizing your linen closet? Here is the linen closet organization method I that completely transformed my linen closet from top to bottom.

A messy linen closet is one of those things you close the door on and pretend doesn’t exist, until you can’t find a single matching towel or sheet set.

And not too long ago, my linen closet was one of the least organized spots in my entire house. It’s so easy to pretend there isn’t a mess when you don’t have to look at it every single day.

Even so, I got tired of the clutter and decided to do something about it! And let me tell you, nothing feels better than opening my linen closet to a tidy space. Sometimes I just open my linen closet to look at how pretty it is haha.

And since I just went through the whole process myself, I thought I would share my most valuable tips, tricks, and organizers that completely transformed my linen closet from a hot mess, to one of the most organized spots in my entire house!

This post is about how to actually organize your linen closet and keep it that way.

Step by Step Linen Closet Organization:

Step 1: Pull Everything Out First

Before we can truly transform your linen closet, you have to take everything out. It’s easiest to start with a clean slate.

Other wise, you’ll talk yourself out of throwing things away that you don’t really need, just because it’s convenient. Once that’s done, I highly recommend wiping down or vacuuming the shelves to make sure there are no crumbs or dust (chances are, the linen closet shelves are not something you clean on the regular).

Step 2: Sort Everything Into Three Piles

Now, if you’ve read some of my other organization posts, you’re probably familiar with these three categories. They’re pretty much the three pillars for actually organizing your items.

The Three Piles:

Trash – the items you will simply never use
Relocate – the items that are better suited somewhere else in your home
Keep – the actual essentials that you’ll use regularly

Putting things into piles makes things way more manageable!

Step 3: Zone Your Linen Closet By Category

Before you start putting stuff back into your linen closet, you’re going to want to make sure you zone your shelves so you know exactly where everything goes. I think of it as assigning different categories a home base.

Of course you can totally change this up depending on what works best for you, but here’s how I outlined my linen closet:

Top shelf: extra bedding, sheet organizers, etc. The things you need access to the least often should go highest.

Second shelf: extra towels (optional: organized by type and color). Towels take up a lot of space, so it’s reasonable to give them an entire shelf.

Third shelf: bathroom extras and back-stock. Pretty much any extra shower or toiletry items that you like to have on hand. Super helpful for when guests stay over!

Fourth and Fifth shelves: these ones were kind of my miscellaneous shelves. I put my first aid kit on the fourth shelf for easy access as well as a basket with some extra hand towels. And the fifth shelf I loaded up with extra bath towels (designated guest towels).

Bottom shelf: toilet paper, paper towels, and any other extra paper products. These items are bulkier so I put them on the bottom where there’s more room. Still super easy to access!

Step 4: Utilize Organizers

Organizers are going to be your best friend! They’re the difference between a linen closet that stays organized for a week max, and one that stays organized long term.

This is where a good system comes into place and does all of the heavy lifting for you! I would say that I only needed a couple of key organizers to really tidy up my linen closet. You can find the ones I used below!

Step 5: Put Everything Back

Once you have clear zones and “install” your organizers, it’s time to put everything back. I think this is the fun part, where everything really starts to come together. It’s the satisfying reveal you’ve been waiting for!

Best Linen Closet Organizers:

1. Bed Sheet Organizers

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Sheets are by far one of the trickiest items to actually keep organized. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve fought with my sheets. 🤦‍♀️ For one, they’re a pain to fold (we all know that). And for two, they hardly ever stay folded, no matter how well you think you did.

So after years of struggle (a little dramatic, I know), I decided to get some sheet organizers. And boy, I wish I had done this way earlier! These make all of the difference. And when it’s time to pull out a set of sheets, they’re all in one place.

No more digging through all of your sheet sets trying to find the missing pillowcase. Or even better, messing up all of the folded sheets in the process of trying to pull down your sheet set.

2. Metal Clip-On Labels

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Labels make everything better! They’re the finishing touch to any home organization project. If you want to avoid digging through your bins to find what you’re looking for, this is how.

I find them especially helpful when you’re living with other people. Because even if you know where everything is, other people might not. And it’s just an easy way to make sure that the items that are less visible, are still easy to find.

You can also reuse these ones as many times as you would like! These are pretty much the only labels I use in my house anymore.

3. Stackable Storage Bins

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Clear bins are a non-negotiable for storing liquid products! The last thing you want is to have your soap spill all over your wicker basket and have to throw the whole thing away. It’s best not to take chances with those kinds of things.

You’ll also find these in my laundry room and cleaning closet too. I like to keep things consistent. And when I find something that works, I stick to it!

4. Clear Shelf Dividers

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These make organizing shelves so much more manageable! No more falling piles of towels. It’s also just nice to be able to break the shelf up into different categories that actually stay separate. And because they’re clear, they don’t add to the visual clutter!

5. Scalloped Wicker Baskets

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These might just be the cutest wicker baskets! The scalloped edges are just too perfect. I use these ones to hide the items I don’t want on display. It helps give my linen closet a tidy look while making sure everything has a home. I also think it just adds to the aesthetic look, which is never a bad thing!

6. First Aid Box

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I have yet to find a cuter first aid organizer! This one is pretty big so you can fit all of the necessities plus some extras. I think this looks so much more clean than the regular plastic organizers. It’s more of a heavy duty one that you’ll actually want to hang onto. I have no problem keeping this one out in the open!

7. Wire Storage Bins

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These are the baskets I used at the bottom of my linen closet to hold all of my paper goods (mainly just paper towels). They’re bigger than the other baskets so they can hold quite a bit. They also come in different sizes depending on how much space you have at the bottom of your closet.

Linen Closet Organization Tips:

Before we wrap up this post, I wanted to share a couple of linen closet organization tips that really changed the game for me! This is how to take your linen closet organization to the next level:

Always Fold Towels the Same Way

I personally decided to fold my towels the traditional way since I had the room this time. But I know a lot of people like to roll their towels (the same idea as rolling your clothes in your suitcase). It saves a little extra room and allows you to keep your towels nice and pristine.

But no matter how you decide to fold your towels, just make sure it’s consistent throughout the whole closet! I know it doesn’t seem like that big of a deal, but it really does make a noticeable difference.

Group Similar Items Together

Grouping similar items together not only helps you keep your linen closet tidy, but it also just makes finding what you’re looking for WAY easier! If you’re able to group similar items together in a way that makes sense to you, you’ll be able to find what you’re looking for almost instantly.

You’re also more likely to keep your linen closet organized if you have a system that makes sense!

Use Shelf Dividers to Prevent the Avalanche

I touched on this earlier in the organizers section, but shelf dividers are going to be your best friend for making the most out of your shelf space. When you don’t want to dedicate an entire shelf to just one category, you can split it up without having your different categories mush together.

This is especially helpful with keeping your towel stacks from looking like the Leaning Tower of Pisa!

Label Everything

Sometimes I’ll use labels, even if I know exactly what’s in the bin. I like being able to open my linen closet and know exactly where everything is at a glance. There’s no second guessing needed when labels are involved.

I also just like the look of clean labels on my bins. I don’t know about you, but I always feel way more motived to keep my spaces organized when they look pretty too!

Don’t Forget Your Floor Space

Your floor space is so valuable! It’s seriously like a gold mine for extra storage. This is also a great spot to put your bigger/bulkier items that don’t fit on the other shelves. Bottom line: don’t let this space go to waste!