Housekeeping: Clever Ideas to Bring Order to Your Linen Cupboard
Do you dream of a tidy airing cupboard or linen store with neat, labelled baskets, scented sheets and everything to hand? It can be done!
Janet Dunn
29 May 2015
Houzz Australia Contributor. Former NZ House&Garden writer and stylist, and avid interior design enthusiast. Ex-restaurateur and caterer, with a Professional Certificate in Gastronomy, University of Adelaide.
Houzz Australia Contributor. Former NZ House&Garden writer and stylist, and avid... More
There’s probably a good reason why most linen cupboards have doors. Behind many of them lurks a chaotic world of randomly crammed-in sheets, yellowing pillowcases, tatty towels and musty blankets. After a recent fruitless search for a single sheet for a visiting child, I was forced to confront the shambles that was my linen storage, and I resolved to do something about it. If yours is a symphony of crisp, folded sheets and pristine, colour-coded towels in labelled stacks, smelling faintly of lavender or jasmine, then well done you. Everybody else, make the move from havoc to handy with these helpful hints.
Plan for success
Is one large cupboard, ‘Linen Central’, the repository for the whole household’s bed, bath and table linen? This works well in a compact house, but means trekking back and forth in a spacious one. Multiple linen stations might be a better solution for your household. Consider storing items close to where they are used: towels in or near bathrooms, bed linen convenient to bedrooms, table linen in the dining area. Size up available storage and work out your strategy.
Is one large cupboard, ‘Linen Central’, the repository for the whole household’s bed, bath and table linen? This works well in a compact house, but means trekking back and forth in a spacious one. Multiple linen stations might be a better solution for your household. Consider storing items close to where they are used: towels in or near bathrooms, bed linen convenient to bedrooms, table linen in the dining area. Size up available storage and work out your strategy.
Divide and conquer
Fold duvet covers in sets with their pillowcases, and separate sheets into sizes – flat, fitted, single, double, etc. If you have decided on multiple storage stations, take appropriate stacks to the rooms where they are to be used.
TIP Try keeping bed linen sets together by tucking them into a pillowcase from the set. Another idea is to tie each set with a wide ribbon.
Fold duvet covers in sets with their pillowcases, and separate sheets into sizes – flat, fitted, single, double, etc. If you have decided on multiple storage stations, take appropriate stacks to the rooms where they are to be used.
TIP Try keeping bed linen sets together by tucking them into a pillowcase from the set. Another idea is to tie each set with a wide ribbon.
Do the numbers
There’s a mathematical formula for almost anything and linen storage is no exception. Work on two to three towels per person, two sets of sheets/pillowcases per bed, three to four hand towels and flannels per bathroom, plus ‘best’ guest linen according to your average number of guests. Add a supply of beach towels if you live or holiday at the beach, or have a pool. Keep a spare quilt, duvet cover and pillow per bed. A stock of 12 to 15 tea towels should handle a busy kitchen for a week or so. Factor in anything waiting to be laundered. Put any items surplus to these numbers with the rejects.
You can always adjust this supply if you find it doesn’t suit your turnover rate, but start lean and mean. You may even be able to downsize!
There’s a mathematical formula for almost anything and linen storage is no exception. Work on two to three towels per person, two sets of sheets/pillowcases per bed, three to four hand towels and flannels per bathroom, plus ‘best’ guest linen according to your average number of guests. Add a supply of beach towels if you live or holiday at the beach, or have a pool. Keep a spare quilt, duvet cover and pillow per bed. A stock of 12 to 15 tea towels should handle a busy kitchen for a week or so. Factor in anything waiting to be laundered. Put any items surplus to these numbers with the rejects.
You can always adjust this supply if you find it doesn’t suit your turnover rate, but start lean and mean. You may even be able to downsize!
Clear the decks
Drastic though it sounds, empty all of your linen storage from a central cupboard, bathroom baskets and anywhere else you have it stashed. Then, build a big, not-so-beautiful linen mountain. Include kitchen linen – tea towels can multiply like rabbits in kitchen drawers. Inspect ruthlessly and start a reject pile of frayed, dingy towels and sorry-looking, threadbare sheets. Sort the remainder into bed linen, towels and other.
When cupboards, shelves and drawers are empty, dust and wipe them clean. You might also like to put in some fragrant liners.
Drastic though it sounds, empty all of your linen storage from a central cupboard, bathroom baskets and anywhere else you have it stashed. Then, build a big, not-so-beautiful linen mountain. Include kitchen linen – tea towels can multiply like rabbits in kitchen drawers. Inspect ruthlessly and start a reject pile of frayed, dingy towels and sorry-looking, threadbare sheets. Sort the remainder into bed linen, towels and other.
When cupboards, shelves and drawers are empty, dust and wipe them clean. You might also like to put in some fragrant liners.
Deal with the rejects
If you can’t see over your reject pile, get it sorted. Put a few towels aside for drying wet pets and mopping up spills in the car, and chop one up to use as cleaning cloths. Keep a sheet or two to use as dust sheets when decorating. If you sew and do crafts, hold back some items for satisfying rejuvenation as cushions, patchwork squares or napkins. Weaving rag rugs is a dying art, but is easy and wonderfully rewarding.
Give all of the rejects a wash, then take them to a local charity. Usable linen will be given to needy families, and the past-it stuff will go to textile recyclers, who turn it into industrial rags or textile by-products.
If you can’t see over your reject pile, get it sorted. Put a few towels aside for drying wet pets and mopping up spills in the car, and chop one up to use as cleaning cloths. Keep a sheet or two to use as dust sheets when decorating. If you sew and do crafts, hold back some items for satisfying rejuvenation as cushions, patchwork squares or napkins. Weaving rag rugs is a dying art, but is easy and wonderfully rewarding.
Give all of the rejects a wash, then take them to a local charity. Usable linen will be given to needy families, and the past-it stuff will go to textile recyclers, who turn it into industrial rags or textile by-products.
Allow room to breathe
Before restacking, make sure that your items will have air. Circulating air reduces mustiness, moisture and dust. This will be much easier with a pared-down supply, as opposed to crammed shelves and drawers that are bursting. Mesh shelves, fabric bags and low-fronted drawers all allow ventilation, or simply arrange everything in tidy piles on open shelves with plenty of space in between.
Before restacking, make sure that your items will have air. Circulating air reduces mustiness, moisture and dust. This will be much easier with a pared-down supply, as opposed to crammed shelves and drawers that are bursting. Mesh shelves, fabric bags and low-fronted drawers all allow ventilation, or simply arrange everything in tidy piles on open shelves with plenty of space in between.
Use baskets to stay organised
Bravo for the basket! Versatile, breathable cane baskets make cheap and attractive storage. This practical style has short legs to maintain airflow around the shelves.
Bravo for the basket! Versatile, breathable cane baskets make cheap and attractive storage. This practical style has short legs to maintain airflow around the shelves.
Give your linen aromatherapy
Apart from scenting your linen, some aromas, like lavender, repel moths and other insects. Hang a posy of lavender, rosemary and bay leaves or tuck fragrance sachets between sheets and towels.
If you iron pillowcases – I do – spritz on some linen water. Be sparing with it and ensure fabric is thoroughly dry before storing. I was getting horrible spotting on my pillowcases until I read that some synthetics react to linen water, so it’s best used on natural fibres.
TIP Make your own linen water with 750ml distilled water, 60ml vodka and 1 teaspoon lavender (or your favourite) essential oil. Shake hard in a jar and fill a fine spray bottle. Substitute the oil for a dash of perfume if you like – how delicious to have Chanel No5-scented pillowcases!
Find out what other natural products can keep your home fresh
Apart from scenting your linen, some aromas, like lavender, repel moths and other insects. Hang a posy of lavender, rosemary and bay leaves or tuck fragrance sachets between sheets and towels.
If you iron pillowcases – I do – spritz on some linen water. Be sparing with it and ensure fabric is thoroughly dry before storing. I was getting horrible spotting on my pillowcases until I read that some synthetics react to linen water, so it’s best used on natural fibres.
TIP Make your own linen water with 750ml distilled water, 60ml vodka and 1 teaspoon lavender (or your favourite) essential oil. Shake hard in a jar and fill a fine spray bottle. Substitute the oil for a dash of perfume if you like – how delicious to have Chanel No5-scented pillowcases!
Find out what other natural products can keep your home fresh
Label with blackboards
Labelling is worth it to maintain organisation past your first laundry day. There are many options. Here, chalkboard paint turns cupboard doors into a handy linen map and is easily updated if anything changes.
Labelling is worth it to maintain organisation past your first laundry day. There are many options. Here, chalkboard paint turns cupboard doors into a handy linen map and is easily updated if anything changes.
Or try paper tags
Pick up plain gift tags or luggage tags from stationery shops and tie them on with string or ribbon.
TIP Position most-used items on central shelves, kids’ towels at reachable kiddy height, and low-usage things up high or down low.
Pick up plain gift tags or luggage tags from stationery shops and tie them on with string or ribbon.
TIP Position most-used items on central shelves, kids’ towels at reachable kiddy height, and low-usage things up high or down low.
Buy dedicated boxes
It’s a shame to shut the door on something this shipshape – I’d leave it wide open so all my friends could hate me!
It’s a shame to shut the door on something this shipshape – I’d leave it wide open so all my friends could hate me!
Max your storage
Still a bit tight on space? Create extra storage easily with rails fixed to the inside of cupboard doors. Free up kitchen drawer space with the same idea for storing your clean tea towels.
TIP If you are short on shelf and drawer space but have surplus hanging space in your wardrobe, clip folded sheets onto trouser hangers and hang.
Still a bit tight on space? Create extra storage easily with rails fixed to the inside of cupboard doors. Free up kitchen drawer space with the same idea for storing your clean tea towels.
TIP If you are short on shelf and drawer space but have surplus hanging space in your wardrobe, clip folded sheets onto trouser hangers and hang.
Utilise the under-bed space
Keeping bed linen under the bed couldn’t be handier. If your en suite is a bit short on storage, keep a towel supply under the bed in drawers or baskets, too.
Check out 12 creative ways to create under-bed storage
Keeping bed linen under the bed couldn’t be handier. If your en suite is a bit short on storage, keep a towel supply under the bed in drawers or baskets, too.
Check out 12 creative ways to create under-bed storage
Think outside the built-in
Although a beautiful time-worn piece adapted for linen storage looks fabulous, give it the sniff test before committing sheets and towels to it. Old furniture odours can hang around and will penetrate linen, especially pillows and blankets. Don’t put sheets and towels directly onto timber shelves either – line with perfumed drawer liners first.
Browse 10 beautiful French armoires and cabinets
Although a beautiful time-worn piece adapted for linen storage looks fabulous, give it the sniff test before committing sheets and towels to it. Old furniture odours can hang around and will penetrate linen, especially pillows and blankets. Don’t put sheets and towels directly onto timber shelves either – line with perfumed drawer liners first.
Browse 10 beautiful French armoires and cabinets
Be creative with storage
Lack of space, an awkward ceiling structure, budget constraints or style preference can all sometimes rule out built-in storage. This loft bedroom sports white cane storage baskets and trays ideal for bedding sets – love the look!
Lack of space, an awkward ceiling structure, budget constraints or style preference can all sometimes rule out built-in storage. This loft bedroom sports white cane storage baskets and trays ideal for bedding sets – love the look!
Go trad with a trunk
An end-of-bed trunk is a practical option for spare bed linen, as well as to keep an extra blanket and pillow handy. If you have a vintage piece, don’t fill it until all odours have been banished, and don’t overstuff it.
An end-of-bed trunk is a practical option for spare bed linen, as well as to keep an extra blanket and pillow handy. If you have a vintage piece, don’t fill it until all odours have been banished, and don’t overstuff it.
Stick to the in-out rule
Can’t resist those on-sale towels and sheets? Bring them home, and replace an older set. This revolving-door strategy is still one of the best clutter-busting methods and helps manage an out-of-control wardrobe, too.
Can’t resist those on-sale towels and sheets? Bring them home, and replace an older set. This revolving-door strategy is still one of the best clutter-busting methods and helps manage an out-of-control wardrobe, too.
Hang it all
Don’t overlook the trick of storing linen in full sight. A display of yummy towels is a luxurious bathroom look, saves space in bathroom storage and keeps kids’ towels in easy reach.
Don’t overlook the trick of storing linen in full sight. A display of yummy towels is a luxurious bathroom look, saves space in bathroom storage and keeps kids’ towels in easy reach.
Rack it up
An antique-style wrought-iron rack takes centre stage in this traditional bathroom and stores several towels as well.
An antique-style wrought-iron rack takes centre stage in this traditional bathroom and stores several towels as well.
Keep towels handy outside
During the summer months, when the paddling pool is out and the water fights start, displaying beach towels on pegs outside saves on storage, is super-convenient and gets you in a happy, holiday mood.
During the summer months, when the paddling pool is out and the water fights start, displaying beach towels on pegs outside saves on storage, is super-convenient and gets you in a happy, holiday mood.
Make it a feature
A lemon-coloured wall, a tree wall decal, some strategically placed hooks – here’s towel storage with attitude, right out in the open!
TELL US…
How do you keep your linen cupboard tidy and fresh? Share your tips in the Comments below.
A lemon-coloured wall, a tree wall decal, some strategically placed hooks – here’s towel storage with attitude, right out in the open!
TELL US…
How do you keep your linen cupboard tidy and fresh? Share your tips in the Comments below.
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so great ideas here. I need the awkward storage idea for our 2 bedrooms upstairs we have the high cathedral ceilings with a dwarf wall. this would be ideal.
I always store my spare soaps among my linens - between the towels & the pillowcases in which I store each bed linen set. It allows the soaps to harden so that it doesn't go all soggy at first use & lasts a lot longer as it's usually stored for ages. It also leaves all my linen smelling delicious. It's also nice to leave a cake of soap in the middle of a guest bed if it's kept made up. Keeps that yummy fresh smell in the sheets. I tend to have a lovely large stock of pretty soaps as I buy good ones when on sale & am also fortunate enough to be given some lovely ones as gifts.