Organizing 101: Linen closets

There's something really satisfying about organizing the linen closet. It's a manageable task, plus items look great and are easier to find when they're in neat piles. Get started with our easy step-by-step approach, which takes a few hours - even fewer if you stock only linens in your closet.

Take inventory and edit
1 Empty the closet. Use the floor of a nearby bedroom to separate items into categories such as bed linens, towels, table linens, knitting supplies, sewing kit and so on.

2 Weed out items. As you sort, ask yourself, Could this be stored elsewhere? Where is the most convenient spot? (Remember the golden rule: Store items closest to where they'll be used.) And, of course, Do I need this? When did I last use it? When will I use it again? Your goal should be to keep only linens in the linen closet; however, you may need to store other items here, especially if you're an apartment dweller.

3 Make a clean sweep. Wipe off the shelves and line them with paper (wooden shelves may have oils that will stain linens). If using scented liners, check that they're safe for linens (scented oils could stain). Acid-free tissue paper is only necessary for storing vintage linens.

Organize
1 Designate what will be stored on each shelf. Keep towels and sheets easily accessible; blankets, hobby materials and other less frequently used or bulky items should go on the top and bottom.

2 Label the edge of each shelf, so every family member knows what goes where.

3 Keep everything in sight. As you return items to shelves, ensure that everything is visible to eliminate frustrating searches.

Bed linens
1 How much is enough? Three sets per bed is ideal - one on the bed, one in the laundry, one extra. Six crib sets and four sets for older kids should do. Mattress and pillow covers get changed less often, so two sets per bed is sufficient. Consider donating underused sets to a shelter.

2 Keep sets together. Store them by tucking the folded fitted sheet and pillowcases into a folded flat sheet. Face the folded edge of the flat sheet outward, so everything looks neat and you can grab a whole set easily.

3 Divide and conquer. Organize the sheet shelf with wire shelf dividers separating stacks of different-size sets; you can also label the shelf edge to identify at a glance which stack is for which size. Use freestanding stackable wire shelves (available at organizing stores) to separate each set within size categories.

4 Mark the seasons. Place items used seasonally (flannel sheets, heavy blankets) in a bedding bag (combo cloth-and-plastic bags allow you to see the contents and let fibres breathe) and store on top or bottom shelf, under a bed, or on the top shelf of a bedroom closet.