Wednesday, January 5, 2011

20 Reader Space: A Linen Story

Oh linen closets.  Although I don't really have one {that's right... this house was built with next to zero practical storage}, most people do.  And I get a lot of requests for some linen closet help.  So I am turning this one over to expert organizer and reader, Toni, from A Bowl Full of Lemons!  Be prepared my fine friends, for some awesomeness to be seen!

Toni blogged:

This is unknown territory for me.  Its been one of those "I'll get to it next week" kinna things. If the kids need a blanket, they all come falling down.  

Im a little embarrased to show this area, BUT there are great "after" pictures & it feels good checking it off my list of things to do! 

What do your linen closets look like?
 
Before

I took (almost) everything out and vacuumed the floor.


I have an attraction to quilts, pottery barn & shabby chic bedding


All nice & neatly organized. I wonder how long it will last?


This is what will go in my annual garage sale, in the spring.  There is a ton of pottery barn bedding, etc. My 12 year old said this evening.. "Pretty soon, we are not going to have anything left!"  (I think she may be right).


Doesn't it look pretty now?


I only kept 2 extra sets of sheets per bed.  That's a good rule of thumb.


I still have my 12 year old's Lizzy Mcguire suitcase. My 3 year old uses it now.


One more time...

Before


After

This only took me 1 hour to complete.  If I can do it, you can do it! 



Did you see that!?  1 hour!  That really isn't much, and the long term benefits are beyond worth the time!  And wow.  Look at all those bins for the garage sale!  That's gotta feel INCREDIBLE!

And today, over on her blog, you can see the steps that she took to making her closet organized and lovely, and join in on the fun while you are there!


Thank you Toni for letting me share your fantastic project today!  You are a daily inspiration for me, and for that, I am grateful!

Pssst... Toni is also one of this months blog sponsors!  A perfect fit I tell you!  





P.S.  Have an awesome story to share?  How about some organizing tips and tricks?  Maybe a project completed from an inspiration found?  Please send your story and photos to iheartorganizing@gmail.com and I would heart to feature them right here, on the blog!!  Oh, and no worries my friends, we will NEVER judge "before" pictures because that just wouldn't be nice!  Only love goes on at this blog!

20 comments:

  1. It looks so much better! I must say the after picture looks wayyyyy better than the before picture!

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  2. I think It's time to start things off with a before shot. I'm not quite sure how the "after" is going to come out but i'll let ya know! =) lol!

    xoXOxo
    Jenn @ Peas & Crayons

    ps: yes i'm literally off to grab my camera now =)

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  3. Love this post. I had organized my closet last year, but it needs to be cleaned up a little bit again because things just get put in there with no reason. I will have to put that on my to-do-list and hopefully get to it soon and I will post and blog about it. I actually have a couple of closets and drawers that need organizing. I have to put a list together quick. ;-)

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  4. Thank you so much Jen!!! Its so funny that we both posted this area on the same day. :) You really do need a "I was featured" button!

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  5. love this! thank you for the inspiration :). your blog is great :). excited to be a new follower.

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  6. ps: i'm so using the 2 n's as my signoff when I comment here. either that or the other jenn ;) bahahaha!

    a girl I used to work with (another jenn) wanted to make jenn 1 and jenn 2 t-shirts. How did our name get so flipping common? love it regardless! <3

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  7. I fold one pillow, the fitted sheet and top sheet as nicely as possible, the put it inside of the other pillow case. Then stack them up, so never to have to dig for a missing portion of the set.

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  9. Looking good!

    I really need to do this with my linen closet, it's a nightmare right now. Every time I open the door I'm afraid something will fall on me!

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  10. OMG my heart went pitter patter from being excited at seeing the linen closet LOL. My problem with linen closets is getting the bedsheets folded so neatly.

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  11. I am just about to start my Linen Press I am following along with Toni. Thisi was like my littel reminder this morning to make sure I started my linen press. Thanks Jen

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  12. Yeah like you Jenn...I don't have a linen closet either her at the Love Shack! So I store linens under my bed and in various baskets around the house. I linked up my under-the-bed storage that I just talked about during my {21} Day Purge before the holidays. Hope this helps. Fondly, Roberta
    http://con-tain-it.typepad.com/my_weblog/the-21-purge

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  13. Fabulous job! It's amazing what just getting down and dirty and getting something done will do for you! I love it when I just GO for it! It feels so good looking at the "after."

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  14. Jen, I'm curious how you store your sheets and towels if you don't have a linen closet. We don't have one either and I'm always looking for the best way to store them. Thanks!!

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  15. I cleaned out my linen closet last year. Sadly I did not think to take a before photo, but that was partly because I started cleaning it on a whim, not a planned organization. I took EVERYTHING out, refolded everything nice and neat and got rid of a whole garbage bag full of stuff (I put it in my yardsale then the rest was donated.) I did take after photos and photos of the stuff I got rid of. Last year was my "year of purge" and this year is my "year of organization" but already I have found several things to purge. Struggling a bit with what to do with the things I need to keep but I have until December to figure it out! :)

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  16. Hi Emily!

    I use shelving in bathrooms for towels and a storage bench in the master bedroom for bedding along with a dresser in our lower level for extra linens. I also have a nightstand with lots of drawer storage in my sons room that holds their extra sets of sheets as well!

    xoxo,
    Jen

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  17. I LOVE,LOVE,LOVE your blog... thanks for sharing all the great ideas.

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  18. I too have very little space for linens... so I was wondering.. Where do you keep your linens if you do not have a linen closet? Right now we have comfoters folded and stacked next to the office desk.. sheets in the closets and extra blankets in every which room... something needs to be done to corral all of these!

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  19. Hi Lacey!

    I use a storage bench for our bedroom linens, dresser drawers for guest linens, and a nightstand with drawers for our kids linens... not idea, but it's working! We are lucky enough to have shelving/cabinets in our bathrooms for towels.

    xoxo,
    Jen

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