Today I tackled my linen closet. I have been wanting to do this for so long. Since I had the big kids home today I thought I’d do it today while I had them to chase play with their little brother.
I followed my PROCESS steps. First my plan: I wanted to purge out a lot of the sheet sets we no longer use, put the items we don’t use often on the out of reach top shelf and just get the whole area functioning in a more efficient and manageable way. Sheet sets were literally shoved in and whenever I pulled one out the whole pile would come with it.
BEFORE
Next step up: remove everything from the space.
What a mess but the kids sure had fun jumping into the heap!
Next I organized into piles: all blankets together, double size sheets together, queen, single, beach towels, bath towels, etc… and then the big PURGE! Boy did I clean house. We don’t even have a double bed in the house anymore so out those sheet sets went. I also only kept three sheet sets for our bed and so only kept my favorites. Many of the towels had seen better days as well so I let them go as well.
Note: I keep two laundry baskets in my storage room, one for old sheets and one for old towels. These come in handy for painting drop cloths, spills and roof leaks.
Here is a picture of my beautiful purge pile:
Finally I got to move into my favorite step and put in some containers! Some wicker baskets in the back to hold the baby blankets and crib sheets and plastic in the front to hold hand towels and extra pillowcases.
(Updated: I forgot to mention that I had wanted to fold my sheets all fancy, one inside the other, I even went online to learn how. But, truth be told, most days I’m just happy if the sheets get folded any old way. By having less sheet sets I don’t have to worry so much about making my sheets compact enough to fit the space.)
AFTER
**Smile and relax**
Quietromance says
Laura,
I mentioned you in my post today. Please stop by read it if you have time. It is long, but I truly think you will enjoy it. 🙂
~Haley
palmtreefanatic says
Great job!
I also did some cleaning and organizing! check it out!
ChupieandJ'smama says
Looks fantastic! I think we are sharing a brain today. I did my linen closet too. Yours looks better 🙂 Mines not quite done yet though. I need to make a trek to Home Depot to complete my “Linen Closet Organization Extravagana”.
Chrissy says
Something I learned a long time ago. place each complete sheet set inside of one of it’s pillowcases and tuck in the end. Set is always together and if the stack falls over, they don’t unfold. Nice job there.
Barb, sfo says
Looks fabulous!!
I have a similar “old towel graveyard” in my basement. It has come in SO handy when the washer overflows, etc. We also keep a couple of old ones in the car in case someone gets super-wet (like after track practice in the rain) so they can dry off a bit and keep the seats dry.
Jane says
It’s lovely!
Debi says
You are truly amazing, girl! I think your “before” would probably look better than my “after”! But I’m trying!
momrn2 says
As always… a GREAT job! Now I’m wishing I would have taken pictures of our bedrooms and basement “makeover’s” last week. But instead, I just wanted to get it done!! *sigh*
At least it does feel better and I did it exactly as you said. We had huge piles of junk in the middle of each floor and went through them one by one. Thanks for teaching me how! 🙂
Becky says
Oh, great job! It looks fabulous! I’m glad you posted this…inspiration for me since my linen closet is on my long list of Needs To Be Done!!! Have a great week!
Jen Holland says
I didnt think it looked that bad at the beginning..but after seeing the finished picture…WOW what a great change!!
Good job! 🙂
Betty Jo says
What an incredible blog. I’m an org junky too! We just moved into a new, smaller apartment, and it is taking me forever to unpack because I want everything organized as I go. For the first time in my life, I don’t have a linen closet. So I sorted everything and now have it in clear Rubbermaid tubs on a closet shelf for the time being. I’ll probably buy a free-standing linen closet/cabinet as soon as I can locate just the right one. I purged my linens a long time ago, so I don’t have tons to deal with. I keep mine in sets, fitted sheets and cases folded into the large sheet. That way I can grab everything at once. Your closet re-org looks great. Now I must run and explore more of your super blog. xoxo
org junkie says
Hi Chrissy and Betty Jo: I just updated the post. It is funny you mentioned folding the sheets into sets. I did have every intention of doing that because I do love how it looks in the closet when folded all pretty but it just seemed like to much work for me. I know it probably isn’t so maybe one day I’ll do it.
Thanks for coming by!!
Laura
Carey says
Looks great! Can you do mine too?!
I need to add another shelf into my linen closet, for the space is just to big.
I enjoy reading your blog. Lots of good stuff!
Emmy says
BIIIG difference! I wish i was that good at cleaning!
sara - The Estrogen Files says
BEAUTIFUL! Very inspiring – I have a LOT of work to do on my own Spring Fling…
Proverbs31 says
Hi! I stopped by to tell you I mentioned you in my post today too. Think you’ll get a kick out of it. 😛
The closet looks great!! I don’t have a linen closet, so storage for our master bedroom and bath stuff is one of things I will be working on in my challenge. Yes, I decided to go with the bedroom. Hopefully I’ll get those pics up soon!
Have a good day!
Proverbs31 says
Oh, by the way, I LOVE Chrissy’s tip! I’ll have to remember that!!
Thea says
I actually started feeling GIDDY when I saw your empty closet. There’s just something beautiful about an empty shelf waiting to be filled. Good job purging and the end result is beautiful!
Andrea says
Looks awesome! Love the purging stage.
Judi says
Looks fabulous! You are an organizing machine. I just wish I had a linen closet. I just have a bathroom closet I have to try and cram everything in.
Quietromance says
Laura,
Thanks for reading my post and for your wonderful comment! 🙂 I am truly grateful to bloggers like you.
Haley
Thea says
I’m back! I just wanted to let you know that I posted an update on my challenge. Gotta love the purge!
jdoriot says
I LOVE to fold towels and sheets! lol!! Right now my linen closet is a little wonky because my littlest one organized it for me…sweet, but completely WRONG! lol!! I have to try to not be so OCD!!
devildogwife says
Wow! It looks great. I put my sheet sets inside of one of the pillow cases from the set, so it’s easy to pull out.
the night owl says
Your before picture, looks like my linen closet right now…..I need to tackle that job , plus my bedroom closets….When company is coming, I throw stuff in them, to look neat.If they only know my secret???
Have a good day tomorrow. Baba
Kim says
Your linen closet is truly a work of beauty. Mine is on my to do list! I’m still digging out from the laundry piles, but I promise to get something posted about the challenge soon.
I have lots of reading to catch up with what you’ve been up to lately. Chat with you soon,
Kim
Liz H. says
Wow! I did the exact same thing yesterday. I feel a connection:) I love your web page! Have a great day. God Bless U.
Midlife Mom says
Great job on the linen closet! You have really motivated me to do some really deep cleaning in my house, not just my challenge room but others as well. I am so excited about this, it just feels so good to get rid of some of this stuff that has been hanging around forever!!!
org junkie says
A reader emailed me the following awesome suggestion:
IF someone doesn’t have much space in a linen closet or if they just wanted to free up more space keep the extra set of sheets (or two if you own that many) folded in 1/4’s BETWEEN your mattress & boxsprings! This makes it so easy to swap sheets when it is time. Then there is never any running around wondering where the size sheet you need has ran off to…. or there isn’t an avalanche in the closet when you grab for them. I loved the idea & wanted to share.
***
Thank you for sharing that with us…I LOVE it!
Laura
Jen says
I loved this post….loved it.
And your Garlic recipe today….let me know how it goes….40 cloves?????
Sue says
Laura – I am adding you to my technorati faves and a post that I’m creating about this. Your site is SO similar to what I envision. I have only just begun and have great ambitions. Thanks for the inspiration!
Laura says
I knew you had the answer to my linen problem. Thanks for pointing me to the right spot to read about it. Funny thing is just 2 days ago I went to CVS and in the clearance section I found those plastic baskets with the swiss cheese holes and get this, I got them for 25 cents. Unfortunately, they had only 2 of them. I certainly would have bought more. Anyway, I plan on using them in the linen closet. Will post when I eventually get around to cleaning that closet out. Thanks again.