Hello friends! I understand that linen closets are a constant daily battle. Before, our linen closet was organized I found myself dreading to go into the space and also purchasing items we already had because I simply couldn’t find them. First off, we call this closet our linen closet, but we don’t really use it for linens persay. It is mostly used for medications, my diabetes supplies, Cecil’s meds/overflow, and bags. Personally, I find it hard to keep a space organized and efficient when everything is just thrown into a closet on random different shelves. I used 3 steps to get this space up to par.
1. Remove everything from the closet and organize it into categories.
2. Measure and decide which type or organizers or bins to use. Personally, I usually go with bins or baskets that are not clear. I have found that when there are several different items or size of things in one bin it can add visual clutter. Don’t get me wrong, there are certain circumstances where clear bins are the perfect solution, I just don’t think this is one of them.
3. Add everything into the bins or baskets and Voila! The linen closet went from a cluttered mess to an organized haven that is much more efficient.
I think these 3 simple steps work when organizing any space, closet, or drawer. One strong suggestion I would have before heading to the store to pick out a bin, basket, tub, or container of any sort is to measure, measure, measure! I can say this because I have definitely learned the hard way. I have went to the store without measurements, fallen in love with a certain bin, came home so excited and inspired to complete a space, and been completely crushed because it didn’t fit or it did fit but there is so much wasted space, that I just couldn’t feel right about using the bins I had just fallen in love with. After a long period of time pouting from my mistake, back I go to the store with my tail between my legs (with measurements of course!) to find a different solution. So, long story short, just please learn from my mistake and measure the length, width, height, and depth of a closet, shelf, or drawer before finding the perfect organizing solution. Ok, back to the project at hand, I think you get the picture of the importance of measuring before buying. It is also extremely helpful to separate and categorize things beforehand so you can purchase the correct size of bin that works the best with that specific category. As you can see with this closet, I have used 3 different size bins to accommodate the different categories the best. Everyone’s size bins for specific categories will probably be different. I added these cute little chalkboard closepin labels to really make things efficient. (Except for the fact that I mis-counted and now have one bin not labeled. And guess what?!? I can’t find them at Michaels anymore. Just my luck!)
We happen to be completely obsessed with our dog Cecil and have probably more than the average medicines, shampoos, clothes, sprays, and variety of treats than the normal person. That is why Cecil’s bin is the largest size. The funny part is this large bin doesn’t even hold all his stuff. His nail trimmers and travel bag sit along the side of this bin typically. We aren’t a household that gets sick very often and when we do get sick we don’t really take a lot of different medicine so I chose smaller bins because we didn’t need a lot of space for this. Some good ole rest, tea, and essential oils in the diffuser typically work the best for me!
The bottom shelf holds large thirty-one bags that don’t fit into the bag bin and the flow over of Cecil’s dog food that doesn’t fit in the tub stored right beside where he gets fed. I will do a separate post on how I have turned those ugly popcorn tins into cute storage bins.
On the door of the closet, I have hanging the microfiber mop, broom, and carpet scrubber. This is merely a temporary solution for these things. When we complete the mudroom- breezeway from the garage to the house, they will be stored in a closet out there but for right now, this is where they call home. I guess I will have to deal with them banging against the door every time I open this closet for a little while longer. So, you can see what a difference an afternoon and some bins can make for a closet! I hope this has inspired you to tackle that pesky unorganized linen closet once and for all!! Just for good measure he is another after picture!
