Linen closet upgrades you can try regardless of your organizational style.
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Are you looking to make some linen closet upgrades ahead of the holidays or at the start of the new year? If so, you’ve landed on the right page. While it may be tempting to think that you don’t need to upgrade your linen closet because you use it only to store your towels, sheets, and the like, it might be worth reconsidering, as small changes can go a long way to make your daily life simpler.
Ahead, we chatted with professional organizers and interior designers to learn more about linen closet upgrades you can make to your storage space right now.
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Place Blankets in Plastic Bags
Placing your blankets in plastic bags can level up your linen closet without being overly time-consuming. “Blankets can be stored in plastic bags, which makes them easy to store and won’t fall and flop off the shelves,” says Robyn Reynolds, a certified professional organizer and owner of Organize2Harmonize. I organized my linen closet using vacuum-seal bags to store any extra blankets after moving from New York City to Orlando, and it made a huge difference.
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Add Motion-Activated LED Strip Lights
If you don’t already have lights in your linen closet, Isabel Jackson, owner of Chelt Interiors based in Maryland, recommends adding motion-activated LED strip lights as soon as possible. “It eliminates dim corners, makes it easy to find items instantly, and adds a boutique-hotel feel,” she notes.
One of the great things about this linen closet upgrade is that it doesn’t need to be costly (unless you want to make a considerable investment). Jackson recommends the LUXJET 2 Pack Warm White Motion Sensor LED Strip Lights, which can be purchased on Amazon for less than $30.
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Add Some Fragrance
While it’s not one of the linen closet upgrades that first come to mind when revamping your space, Jackson notes that adding fragrance, such as cedar or lavender, can significantly elevate the aesthetic (and scent) of a space (or in this case, a linen closet). “Good fragrance makes a closet feel clean, luxurious, and well-maintained while also deterring pests (cedar is a natural moth repellent),” she explains. “To achieve this upgrade, place cedar blocks on shelves, tuck lavender sachets between towel stacks, or mount a mini diffuser in the corner. It costs approximately $10-$80, depending on the method.”
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Add Pull-Out Linen Baskets
Even though you can keep any static shelves you may have in your linen closet, Jackson notes that swapping them out or adding pull-out linen baskets, which you can use on top, can make a difference. “Pull-outs maximize space, reduce digging, and allow you to access everything, including items at the very back,” notes Jackson. “To achieve this, choose baskets sized to your existing shelf width and add simple runner hardware.”
This is one of the linen closet upgrades that can be as affordable as you want them to be, depending on your desired material and whether you prefer wire, rattan, or acrylic. Ensure you know the dimensions of your closet before ordering these baskets–and don’t forget to label them.
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Add Labels
Andy Yates, an interior designer at Andy Yates Design, recommends adding metal clip-on label holders (specifically these Hygge & Sage Metal Non-Slip Basket Labels) to label any pull-out baskets or other types of storage you may have in your linen closet. All you have to do is write whichever category you’d like on the front of the clip with the included reusable marker before expanding them and placing them on the front of your bins. While you can use stickers, he advises against it if you want your linen closet to appear more polished.
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Add an Organizer to the Door
Jackson notes that you can maximize the space in your linen closet by adding an organizer to the door. “Transform the inside of the closet door with shallow shelves, hooks, or pocket organizers made of wire, acrylic, or wood,” she explains.
As is the case with any interior baskets or shelving, it is best practice to label them to promote quicker access. She adds that this upgrade is a common one that her clients who live in apartments or smaller spaces leverage and enjoy the rewards of when it comes to optimizing space and finding items.
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Standardize Your Clothes Hangers
If you plan to hang sheets or towels in your linen closet, Yates recommends using uniform clothing hangers. “Purchase 100 to 200 velvet-flocked slimline hangers in a single color (black or gray are popular),” says Yates. “This looks uniform and saves space.” He recommends using these velvet hangers from Amazon Basics, which you can hang as needed. These luxurious-looking velvet hangers can be purchased at Amazon for less than $20.
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Optimize Vertically
As people have been looking for ways to optimize space, especially in their linen closets, Tonia Tomlin, a professional organizer and owner of Sorted Out, recommends optimizing your linen closet for vertical storage. “Depending on the space and budget, I always tell clients to consider going vertical with their space and invest in good shelving options to support their space, especially the linen closet,” says Tomlin. “In every closet in my personal home, I have upgraded and went vertical with my spaces to maximize storage capacity.”
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Organize Linens
While it might be tempting to place all of your linens in your closet in a disorganized fashion, especially if you’re in a rush, or don’t have a lot of time on your hands, Reynolds encourages organizing your linens by category and type for easier retrieval and for donating and/or getting rid of items that are no longer needed.
“Many times when we organize this space they may still have character sheets from when the kids were young but now they’re teenagers and no longer need them,” she explains. “Decluttering frees up the space and makes it easier to implement upgrades such as this.”
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Incorporate Adjustable Shelving
Adjustable shelving is one of the most popular linen closet upgrades and for good reason. “Adding adjustable shelving allows the space to be flexible as your inventory and needs for the closet change,” says Alyssa Trosclair, a certified professional organizer at Emend, LLC in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. “You can also add or subtract shelving as needed.” She adds that another benefit of adjustable shelving is that they often can accommodate items of various sizes and change them as needed whether you like to swap out your linens seasonally or as time passes.
About the Experts
- Isabel Jackson is the owner of Chelt Interiors, based in Maryland.
- Andy Yates, NCIDQ, IIDA, is a Michigan-based interior designer at Andy Yates Design.
- Tonia Tomlin is a professional organizer and owner of Sorted Out, LLC in Dallas, Texas.
- Robyn Reynolds is a certified professional organizer and owner of Organize2Harmonize
- Alyssa Trosclair is a certified professional organizer at Emend, LLC in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
