How To Keep Linens Organized and Neat

The dreaded linen closet…

Everyone has one…very few people are happy with them.

Not all of us want to take the time to watch a Youtube video on how to properly fold your fitted sheet, so it’s able to stack nicely with the rest of the set like you see on Pinterest. (Exhibit A below)

While that linen closet is BEAUTIFUL and I’m envious of those who are able to keep their linen closets looking this way, the reality is that the majority of people that I work with hardly have time to wash the sheets once a week; let alone fold them back into the linen closet this way! (And trust me, I am right there with them!)

HOWEVER. You can still maintain your linens in an organized and pleasing way, without spending an extensive amount of time by following the tips below:

1. First and foremost: PURGE

   Any linens you haven’t used in the last year. If you haven’t needed 12 extra towels for potential guests within a year, you are likely just fine with the amount you have out in your regular rotation. Let go of the mismatched ones. Same goes for sheets and bedding. If you wouldn’t put it back on your bed this week, chances are you won’t need it again.

   *Remember- Keeping things “just in case” indicates a lack of trust in the future. Trust that you have enough, and allow yourself the clarity to let go of what you no longer need.

2. Sort by category

   Separate all king, queen and twin sheets in separate piles. If you can find a set with matching top, bottom and pillow cases- keep those together. If you keep extra toiletries or paper products in the linen closet, categorize those into separate piles as well.

3. Contain Similar Items Together

   This is the easiest way to keep a linen closet looking neat and tidy without spending the extra time for perfect folding. I like to use these drawers or baskets from the container store (see below). They are easy to label and keep all of your categories together and on display.

The drawers are easy to label, come in a variety of sizes to fit any linen closet, and make accessing your linens a breeze.

The lining on these baskets prevent snags on your linens. They come in multiple sizes and are great for extra toiletry storage as well.

If you’re trying to eliminate sheets in the linen closet altogether, consider storing them in drawers under the bed you rotate them on!

These basket labels clip on to any basket and let everyone in your home know where to find things and put them back!

TADAAA!!!

Is Charleston Actually Running Out of Room?

If you’re reading this over breakfast, the following may kill your appetite:

America has more than four times as many self-storage facilities as Starbucks locations. That's right: 53,000 storage facilities to 12,000 Starbucks coffee shops, to 14,000 McDonalds nationwide.

In fact, our country has more storage facilities than all the Starbucks, McDonald's and Subways combined.

53,000!!! The rest of the world has a combined 10,000.

An article from The Post and Courier has sparked some controversy amongst Charleston residents about yet another storage facility in the works to break ground on Coleman Boulevard. You can read more from this article here.

My takeaway message is this: storage facilities, and those who build them are not the problem here…

The NEED for so much off-site storage is the problem.

I am not against storage facilities. Storage units are a perfect temporary solution when used temporarily and wisely. Key word being temporarily. If you do store, have a brief time limit in mind and stick to it.

In Charleston especially, the demand for self storage units have risen due to:

• Historic homes with less original storage areas

• Need for storing furniture and items as you undergo home renovations and transitions

• The trend towards apartment and condo living with less storage space

• People downsizing (empty nesters) holding onto things for their children

“It’s driven by population growth and the anticipation of further population growth.”

With an average of 35 people moving to the region each day, we are simply running out of room for people to keep their stuff.

The problem is, as a society we’ve equated quality of life with having more, while in fact I would argue the opposite to be true.

What you do not have, you do not have to clean, sort, store, file, maintain, worry about, organize or pay for the real estate it takes up. Having too much stuff and being disorganized go hand in hand.

It’s up to US to lessen the demand for these types of storage facilities.

Before you store, check the following:

• Your motives- Sometimes paying to stash stuff away feels easier than facing the tough, emotional decisions of going through it. Sorting, selling and donating your things can be time consuming and draining, but it’s better to face the inevitable NOW rather than years from now when procrastination has cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars. Plus, hiring a Professional Organizer will help expedite and keep you on track :)

• What decisions you’re putting off- Then ask whether those choices will get any easier to make later. Delaying decisions you have to make anyway will cost you.

• Run the numbers- How much is your stuff really worth? If the cost of storing it for an extended time exceeds the value of the item, would you rather have the extra money or the item you never see?

• Family burdens- Letting stuff go is a gift not only to yourself, but also to whoever will be left when you're gone. Going through the stuff of a loved one is almost always emotionally draining. Taking care of your belongings before they get passed on to someone else can be one of the biggest gifts you leave them.