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How to organise your linen cupboard – I did it!

I’m lucky… I very rarely organise my own linen cupboard. My Mum does it for me! When I went to New York last year, she stayed at my house and as soon as I got home I went straight to my linen cupboard. It was perfect!

That was 5 months ago. It didn’t last very long. Try as I might, I just can’t look after it. It’s a bit of a mess. I am a neat person, clean and I don’t like clutter, but behind that cupboard door there is all kinds of messy.

I’ll let you take a little peek…

See, it’s awful. Who has those blue/pink old fashioned blankets? Me! You can’t buy them as good as those any more. This was a “Mum” purchase. Actually, I have rarely ever bought linen in my entire life. My Mum is obsessed with it and presents me with new towels and sheets for almost every birthday and Christmas. I’m not complaining!

Recently I had a huge garage sale. It took me days to prepare and I sold about 5 sets of sheets and a couple of quilt covers. We went from a Queen to a King bed, so it was time to get rid of some old sets.

Ok, so let’s get this cupboard cleaned up.

Start by pulling EVERYTHING out.

Sort in to 3 piles: Keep, donate and sell.

ONLY put the ‘Keep’ back in to the cupboard  Obviously bag up the donated stuff and think about how you can sell any old quilt covers, pillows, throw rugs (you could sell on eBay or have a garage sale). As long as it’s clean and comes from a smoke-free home, people will definitely buy them.

I only have 2 sets of sheets for my bed. It’s so unnecessary to be filling my cupboard with unused sheets. I like to keep only what I know I will use.

Winter is over so it’s time to pop all the blankets away. I chose to buy a few tubs from Officeworks to store these items up high and out of the way in my cupboard. I like the lids because it keeps them fresh until I need them again next year.

I’m not normally too fussy about making sure all my sheets are perfectly folded and together  but I was on a roll, so I decided to go all out and really step it up a notch… Check out what I did!

I put the sheet sets inside a matching pillowcase and LABELLED them! Get out! Oh, yes I did. I am so happy with myself. This is serious Martha Stewart stuff (I even used tags from Martha’s range found here). I’m also a fan of the third rule. Everything gets folded into thirds. It’s much neater and they sit perfectly.  The majority of my bathroom towels are kept in the bathroom cupboards too.

No one is allowed to touch the linen cupboard now. I am so happy with myself I even took photos and sent them to my Mum to show her. She’s proud :)

This is my favourite video from Martha. She shows you how to fold the perfect fitted sheet. Do you think you’ll give it a go? It’s very easy!

Ok, now it’s your turn. Time to sort out that Linen cupboard (and even make some money from it if you can). Pull it all out and start fresh. It only took me about an hour. So I wasn’t tied to it all day.

What do you think? Can you give it a go?

{Originally written for Kidspot – I am re-hashing this post today}

15 comments

  • Wish upon a star

    oh that is impressive! Lol, I watched the martha stewart clip its a good laugh!

  • Deb

    Too funny! That poor lady I can’t wait to try folding one. I did my linen press a whil ago and it makes me smile when i open the cupboard. The trick is as you have discovered is not to let anyone else put things in there, I may have to invest in some of those tags. Very nice,

    • Katrina (author)

      Thanks! I love it now.

  • Katie

    Looks great Katrina!! Love the photos!
    Another thing people could consider is donating any of their old towels etc to a local Animal Shelter.. 🙂

    Have a great day
    – Katie

    • Katrina (author)

      Great idea!

  • Nerida

    I love a nicely organised linen cupboard, and the sheets inside the pillow case is a great new idea. I will definately be trying it soon.

  • Melissa Davey

    My Mum still has those pink/blue blankets at her house. Always the ones we grab when you need an extra blanket! Watched the Martha video, look forward to trying it tomorrow… my linen cupboard needs a good clean out too!! Thanks for the photos and video as motivation.

  • Hayley

    I am a 3rds girl too. The grandma in law comes to visit and she is banned from touching the linen cupboard. She’s a roller, so daggy and messy.

  • Karyn

    OOhhh , love it ! Im going to order those tags now.
    Karyn x

  • Michelle Hayward

    Sooo tempted to do this, as it looks so good…but with moving, I cannot find the energy or motivation…

  • Jasmin

    Great job Katrina, nothing makes me happier than a clean and organised wardrobe or linen press.
    And yes I’m a third girl too!xx

  • boomerang jane

    The video had me in stitches. I’m not even going to try. I’m declaring one for the messy linen cupboard, and zero to me, the fitted sheet impaired lady 🙂

  • Renee

    I am a huge Martha fan, and do both the linen-in-a-pillowcase and the “thirds” rule… but I didn’t do the labelling thing, I will definitely start that one!!!

  • Penny H

    Looks SO beautiful Katrina!
    Martha taught me how to fold fitted sheets a few years ago – after so many years of wrestling with them who knew it could be so easy? Liberating I tell you!
    P.S. The pillow case thing was a big fail for me – lasted until the next wash!

  • Teresa

    Very nice. Impressive. I have a large family. I cleaned my linen press up while I was on holidays but now looks like I never touched it. I’m building a new house and that has a walk in linen press. I’m hoping that will make a difference and stay clean for longer.

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