Does your home have a small linen closet bursting at the seams with all your family’s stuff? Frustrated by digging for a matching pillowcase like it’s an archeological expedition? Yeah. Me too… Here’s 4 easy steps to declutter a tiny linen closet and be intentional about what to store in it.
Note, this post is Part 1 of 2 of “Simple Guide to Decluttering and Organizing a Tiny Linen Closet”.
Backstory
First off, I’m incredibly grateful for our hallway linen closet. One of the biggest challenges of living in an old house is the lack or, or limited, closet space. There were no linen closets in most of the old houses I’ve lived in. So I’m thrilled to have a linen closet.
RELATED POST: Why Do Old Houses Have Tiny Closets? A Quick History
BUT my linen closet is teeny-tiny, awkward and cramped. It holds way too many linens and toiletries, and nothing is organized.
4 Steps to Declutter a Tiny Linen Closet
If you’re here, you are probably also “blessed” with a linen closet with limited storage space. Together, let’s transform our overstuffed linen closets into a functional, efficient storage space that meets our families’ needs.
Using 4 strategic steps….
And without feeling overwhelmed…. just remember
The 2 key steps to a well-organized tiny linen closet is:
- Be intentional about what gets stored in this small space (aka declutter)
- Logically streamline where it goes (aka organize).
How My Method Differs from Other Declutter Guides…
Most decluttering guides preach “immediate” purges. Do it and be done. While that might work in some situations, I don’t think that applies for linen closets.
Why? This isn’t just a bedroom closet used by just ONE person. A linen closet is used by almost everyone in the household (unless of course you live by yourself…).
The best way to get an accurate handle on what to purge and what to keep is to take your time. Observe your family. Otherwise, if you declutter too rapidly, you might regret throwing something away that was useful.
Ready? Take a deep breathe….
Step 1: Create Baseline (Linen Inventory Sheet)
The first step to declutter a tiny linen closet is to get a baseline. What the heck is in there? Print out the below Linen Inventory Sheet with these main categories:
- Sheets
- Towels
- Toiletries
- Cleaning Supplies
List out everything currently residing in your linen closet. Be thorough! Sheets (including flat sheet, fitted sheet, and pillowcases). Towels (hand, washcloths, beach, guest). Toiletries (toilet paper, tissues, cotton balls, shampoo, hairspray, makeup, etc…). Everything gets its own line on the inventory sheet. You might be surprised to see how many small items have accumulated in this small space.
Creating a visual representation of your current linen stockpile as a first step to declutter a tiny linen closet is incredibly powerful. It allows you to see exactly what you have, how much you have, and (let’s be honest) just how out of control things might have gotten.
Step 2: Sit Back & Observe
For the next week or two, watch your family. What are they constantly grabbing – a specific set of fluffy bath towels? What sits in there and never gets touched? How long does it take to get through the huge 48-pack of toilet paper taking up prime real estate? Do you have sets of sheets mismatched a flat sheet fitted sheet? Or sheet sets without pillow cases? An ironing board handing on the back of the closet door that no one every uses (when a door organizer would be better)?
If you’re feeling wild and crazy, this might be the a great time to get help from your family. Tape up a piece of paper and pencil to the wall next to the closet or closet door. Ask your family to mark down everything they take out of the closet. At the end of the time period, tally it up and enter it into the second column on your Inventory Matrix.
Step 3: Find Sweet Spot
Now it’s time to revisit your linen inventory sheet and answer these two ESSENTIAL questions:
- What items REALLY need to be there?
- How many of each item?
Here’s how to do it….Look at each item category (towels, sheet sets, toiletries etc.) and consider your observations. Here are some factors to keep in mind:
- Number of Occupants: How many people live in your household? Do you need a stockpile of towels for a family of five, or is a smaller collection more fitting for a single person?
- Frequency of Use: How often do you change your sheets? Do you really need the beach towels in the closet for easy access when you only go to the beach twice a year?
- Linen Size and Weight: Do you prefer thick, luxurious bath towels, or are lighter, quicker-drying towels more your style?
Now comes the not-so-fun part – being honest with yourself about what you truly need. Not every towel you own deserves a permanent place in your linen closet. The goal here is to remove similar items that are superfluous (I’ve always wanted to use that word 😉). Here’s a breakdown of how to approach each category:
Sheets
Consider the number of beds in your household and your typical sheet-changing frequency. Do you have multiple guest beds that rarely get used? Perhaps one or two guest sheet sets are sufficient.
Towels
Be ruthless with your towel collection. Are there threadbare hand towels clinging to life by a single thread? Discard them! Do you have multiple sets of bath towels, all vying for attention? Disney princess washcloths yet your youngest daughter is 15 years old? Choose your favorites and donate the rest. Remember, quality over quantity is key here.
Miscellaneous Linens
Random throw blankets and extra duvet covers? Consider alternative storage options, like a decorative basket in your living room. Be honest – if you haven’t used an item in over a year, it’s probably time to let it go.
Toiletries
It’s amazing how these smaller items can accumulate. For the items that everyone uses (i.e. toilet paper, facial tissues, etc.) how many rolls or boxes did you go through? Do you only use 5 toilet paper rolls a week, yet you shove in the whole Cosco-sized 48-pack into this small space? Do you even use all that makeup and hair spray? Or is it a pile of makeup samples dating back to the Brittany Spears 2007 collection? Why do you have 3 opened bags of cotton balls?
Step 4: Remove and Relocate
Now you have an idea of what to keep, and what to remove in order to declutter a tiny linen closet. The next step is to completely empty your linen closet. Create a pile of what is returning to the linen closet and set it to the side. (Stick with me – at the end of this post I’ll have a link to tips on how to intentionally and strategically restock your linen closet 😉).
Next, it’s time to say goodbye or relocate the items that either no longer serve your family, or just not immediately needed.
1. Donate
These are linens still in usable good condition, but no longer needed. Think hand towels that are slightly worn, but perfectly functional for someone else. Or beach towels you accumulated yet rarely go to the beach. “Sets of sheets” that are comprise a mismatched fitted sheet and flat sheet. Send to local shelters, donation centers, or even friends and family who could use a refresh on their linen collection. Giving these items a second chance not only declutters your closet, but also helps others.
2. Repurpose
Some linens might be past their prime for their original purpose, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be repurposed! Threadbare towels and old sheets can be cut up and used as cleaning rags for messy jobs around the house.
Sentimental Stash: Let’s face it, some linens hold sentimental value. Faded beach towel from your childhood vacation, your oldest child’s baby blanket? They need an alternative storage spot. Place in a memory box or a dedicated storage bin outside of your linen closet space.
3. Overstock
Find an alternative storage area (aka larger area) for bulk toiletries and small items instead of shoving the whole case in a tiny linen closet. You know what I’m talking about. That Cosco 48-roll of toilet paper. Or 12 cases of facial tissues from Amazon Prime Subscribe & Save (guilty as charged).
4. Unsalvageable
This small pile goes into the trash. This includes linens that are way beyond repair. Or open toiletries and smaller items you’ll never again. Like the impulsive buy on Brittany Spears makeup or the half-used AquaNet hairspray from your Halloween 2014 zombie costume.
Next Step
Congrats on tackling how to declutter a tiny linen closet! Feel victorious? Feel accomplished? Didn’t feel overwhelmed, right?
Remember that pile of items that need to be returned to your tiny linen closet? Now it’s time to move on to tips on how to intentionally and strategically organize for easy access ….. 😉
ASDF Small Linen Closet Organization Tips.
Related Post
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