I remember when our young family moved into our first “real” house, and I just couldn’t believe how many spaces for storage there were. In particular I loved the linen closet. I had been accustomed to apartment living, where all four of our towels hung on a back-of-the-door rack, and we only had one set of sheets. Of course, within a few years my spacious linen closet was stuffed full of towels, linens, comforters and throws.
When you’re downsizing, it’s pretty much a given that your next space will have far less storage, and may not have a dedicated linen closet. When preparing to move, consider these pro tips to prepare for life without a linen closet.
Towels
- A good rule of thumb is to only store up to 3 bath towels for each person in the household.
- Rolling towels is a good space saver, and you can store them in fabric bins under cabinets or on shelves.
- Install a towel bar inside a closet door to hang extra towels.
Sheets
- Store linen sets inside one of their pillowcases.
- Store sheets in the room under the bed they fit or in the closet.
Blankets and Comforters
- Consider a storage ottoman or wicker chest if your furniture plan allows for the space.
- Store clean and very dry comforters in cotton bags designed for that purpose in the off season.
- Stay away from plastic zippered bags; buy breathable bags made for blanket storage.
Tablecloths
- First, how many tablecloths will you need? Probably very few! Think it over, and if you must keep them you can always hang tablecloths, etc. on hangers in a closet.
Looking for more inspiration? We made a Pinterest board with our favorite small-space linen storage ideas.
