One of the biggest struggles of living in a home that is less than 1,000 sq. feet is coming up with creative and sneaky ways to store our linen closet essentials. Things like medicines, towels, toiletries, and linens each need a dedicated space in order for a household to stay organized and running smoothly. When we moved into our very small Chicago home, our linen closet needed a lot repairs because of water damage, and we had nowhere to store our towels and overflow bathroom supplies, like extra toilet paper or soaps. We have found a workaround in the meantime (#7 below), and over the past couple of months, I’ve considered other creative ways to store linens without a luxury of a linen closet.
1. Armoire
During our kitchen renovation, we used an armoire as an immediate solution to store our linens. This is a great option because an armoire usually has a variety of storage spaces within it, like drawers, large and small cubbies, and even a rod to hang clothes. You can use the hanging rod to install even more storage, like a hanging closet organizer (#8 below). Best of all, armoires have doors! That means you can keep your linen closet out of sight and reduce the visual clutter! This one on Amazon has plenty of room, and would be a great candidate for a special paint job. Still, I think the best choice for this option is to re-purpose a family piece.
2. Storage Bench or Ottoman
This is an option I considered after we moved in, but then I remembered that I donated our storage bench during the move. What I love about this idea is that storage benches are usually quite deep, and that means that with the right organizational tools, a storage bench could be a long-term solution to the “no-linen-closet problem”. For example, these handy stackable storage containers may fit a storage bench in your home that you already own. I would recommend that you use them to stack things you don’t need everyday, such as overflow toiletries and medication on one side. Then on the other side, I would recommend layering extra linens on the bottom, followed by towels on the very top. What I love about this option is that it conceals linens in something that you use as a seat! Double-duty!
3. Baskets
While a basket doesn’t always reduce visual clutter, if it is joined with 1-2 matching baskets, the look can be really easy on the eyes and create a pleasing and seamless pattern. Baskets are great because you can place them on top of other essential pieces (like a fridge, for example). Right now, I’m obsessed with this huge basket on Amazon; the tan, mix and black color blocking is neutral and classy.
4. Underbed Containers
Underbed storage is often overlooked because we usually have junk under our bed that needs to be cleaned out anyway. What makes this storage option smart is that it is located right under the spot where we start and end each of our days. You’re probably like me and head to the restroom right before bed or first thing in the morning, and that means that towels or other toiletries are easily accessible right at our feet when we are starting our day. I would recommend if you have a cat to find a covered container, or they won’t be able to resist napping on fresh towels =)
This version on Amazon has a lid and even comes in a 2-pack!
5. Nightstand
You may have a nightstand that isn’t working for you as smart as it can be. Take a good look at your night stand or side table and examine if it has a drawer that can easily be cleaned out and repurposed as a place to hold overflow toiletries, extra sheets and pillow cases or even toilet paper.
6. Standing Cabinet
This is one option we considered a lot because we knew that we needed time to save for a linen closet renovation. We found several options, and I was especially impressed with the options that are shallow enough to work in a decent sized hallway to work as an impromptu closet. One especially popular option is the variety of IKEA shoe cabinets. The slim design makes it so appealing to use in smaller spaces. I’ve found plenty of other similar options online as well. This one from Amazon would look great with a shiny coat of black paint because of those tan rattan doors!
7. Kitchen Cabinet
Right now, we are sold on this solution while we are saving to have our linen closet repaired. Depending on what kind of kitchen cabinets you have in your home, this option can be effective as-is, or it may need a bit of tweaking to make it work for all of the items you normally put into your linen closet. We installed IKEA cabinets in our home shortly after moving in. We decided to dedicate one of the cabinets for a linen closet, and for us, that meant it had to have room for a small hamper, medications, toiletries (like shampoos, lotions, toilet paper, feminine products, soaps, etc.). We also needed space to store extra pillow cases and sheets. Whew! That is a workhorse of a cabinet. Because of this cabinet’s features, we’ve been able to pull this off. For example, we use the largest cubby to store the hamper. We use the hidden drawer to store our medications, and the large, deep drawers are used for towels and toiletries overflow.
8. Hanging Closet Organizer
I love hanging closet organizers. They are made to work with the space you already have. They are easy to afford. They are made to keep various items in order. This is an absolute must in a small home. We use one in a living room closet that is doing way too much work. Right now, our closet organizer is used for all our family’s winter gear. We use one cubby for beanies, another for mittens and gloves, and another for scarves. We even have one just for our dog that contains her winter boots as well as a salve for her paws during cold weather. If you haven’t read my post about How to Dress for a Chicago Winter, I recommend you check it out to see the items that we can’t do without from November to April.
9. Tote Bag
This method is ultra easy, and depending on the tote bag that you have, it can be fun and inexpensive. A hook on the back of a bathroom door is all you need. Next, you hang up the tote, and you can stuff it with towels and another with toiletries. I found some very cute totes online that I think would be fun for behind the bathroom door; they come in a variety of colors- even leopard print! But I think the most unique idea would be to use totes from your own excursions, like museums or local shops.
So there you have it! These ideas for linen or bathroom storage are various. Some work especially well for tiny spaces while others make more sense for slightly bigger family homes. Let me know which ones you try out, or if you’ve already tried one, let me know how it has worked for you.