Do you often find yourself scrambling through clutter in your linen closet to find a single item that is nowhere to be found – until days later?

It probably occurs all the time around your newly built home plan, until one day you say enough – it’s time to clear the clutter! Luckily, you are not the only household guilty of gathering clutter in your linen closet. Most homeowners find this compact space a challenge to keep organized, whether they live in a small cottage house plan or sprawling luxury home plan.

The “linen” closet is referred to any small closet located in the house, but for most families it never actually houses linens. Choosing to completely overhaul these small spaces inside your home can be challenging, but a refreshing relief once complete!

First things first- dump it all out! How can you ever organize a small, often inconvenient space if you do not even know what there is to organize? This is usually the hardest part. Take everything out of the closet and start sorting it out. What can be thrown out, donated, or recycled? Look at bottles and jars for expiration dates. Makeups, lotions, and other such items are not meant to be kept forever. If it’s something you will never use but is still good, set it aside to be donated or given to someone who will use it. If it’s old or junky- toss it out.

Next, separate what’s left into similar piles. All the clean towels and sheets go into separate piles. Toiletries and medications should be set aside. House goods like bulk toilet paper, tissue boxes, and lightbulbs in another pile. Now really look at the empty space. Where is this closet located and what is the more important thing for it to house? Closets by bathrooms and bedrooms should hold towels and sheets. Place these items on middle shelves that are easy to reach by all family members.

Once all the items that need to be stored in this particular closet are arranged, look at what space is left and determine what else can be stored. Items like toilet paper and tissues usually need to be grabbed at random, so may be best stored on bottom shelves or the floor. (Keep lightbulbs and other breakable items on shelving.) Cleaning supplies and toiletries can be organized into buckets and kept on top shelves to be brought down when needed. While it may be more accessible to keep cleaning supplies on a lower shelf for regular use, it can also be dangerous in reach of young ones. Do what works best with your family’s safety in mind.